Daly brings 20+ years of housing, finance and legal experience to the role
May 23, 2023 — Jacksonville, Fla. — Ability Housing, a nonprofit developer of affordable multifamily housing, today announced the appointment of Thomas J. Daly, Jr. as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer, effective April 11, 2023. He brings more than 20 years of housing, finance and legal sector experience to the position.
In his new role, Daly oversees the nonprofit organization’s business operations as it expands its portfolio in multiple regions of Florida. He is responsible for managing the property development strategy, including an estimated 375 units of housing anticipated to begin construction this year; asset management policies for the organization’s 800+ apartment and scattered-site homes across the state; programs that serve nearly 1,900 residents each day, executes the business plan and is accountable for financial performance.
Most recently, Daly served as the City of Jacksonville’s Chief of the Housing and Community Development Division. Under his leadership, the division developed more than 1,400 new rental housing units within the urban core by effectively managing city, state and federal funding programs.
“Tom has significant experience in the affordable housing sector, and has been a trusted collaborator of Ability Housing for many years. His familiarity with our projects and programs, as well as the complex legal and financial requirements of our industry, made him the perfect choice to guide our continued growth and mission fulfillment,” said Shannon Nazworth, President and CEO of Ability Housing.
Daly’s career in the affordable housing sector spans several roles in both the public and private sector. Prior to his tenure as Chief of the Housing and Community Development Division, he served nearly five years as the Manager of Finance for the Downtown Investment Authority — a role that helped bring more than 1,000 new affordable, workforce, student and market-rate housing units to Downtown Jacksonville. Additional positions that contributed to his professional acumen include Vice President, Public Finance for Raymond James & Associates; Assistant Vice President, National Housing Group for Evensen Dodge, Inc.; and Senior Financial Analyst for the Indiana Housing Finance Authority. He also served two years as an attorney for Lewis, Longman, and Walker, P.A.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from Purdue University, a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in public finance from Indiana University and a Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law. He is a Certified Housing Development Professional through the National Development Council, and an active member of the Jacksonville Bar Association and American Bar Association.
“Knowing what Ability Housing is all about, and seeing how they build and manage housing for the greater good, made me want to be a part of its future success,” said Daly. “The firsthand experience I have gained working with Ability Housing fostered my deep respect for the organization; respect not only for the organization’s work, but also for how the leadership team carries out its mission of building strong communities where everyone has a home. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve our current and future residents who trust Ability Housing to provide a safe, stable and affordable home.”
For more information about Ability Housing, including open staff positions, visit abilityhousing.org.
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About Ability Housing:
Ability Housing is an industry-leading not-for-profit multifamily rental housing developer dedicated to creating high-quality affordable housing. We invest in communities through properties that enhance their surrounding neighborhoods, improve each community’s quality of life, and connect residents with a network of voluntary support services.
For more information, visit AbilityHousing.org, like the organization on Facebook (facebook.com/AbilityHousing) and follow on Twitter (@AbilityHousing).