MAYOR ELICKER ANNOUNCES NEW STAFF APPOINTMENTS TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

[NEW HAVEN, CT] - Today, Mayor Justin Elicker announced the appointment of two new staff members that will serve in key positions in his administration: Christina McMillan as Director of the Department of Community Resilience and Kelly Craft as Coordinator of the Office of Housing and Homelessness Services. McMillan's first day was Tuesday, October 13th and Craft began on Monday, October 5th. Both positions are charged with serving many of New Haven's most vulnerable residents, including individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, mental health crises, substance use disorders, violence and incarceration.

"New Haven is a city that extends compassion and care to our residents who are struggling and fallen on hard times. Every day our team works alongside our community partners to connect individuals to stable, supportive and long-term housing options and to provide folks with the sustenance, care and services they need to stabilize, get back on their feet and chart a better future for themselves and their families," said Mayor Elicker. "Christina McMillan and Kelly Craft will be key leaders in these efforts and in advancing our administration's collective commitment towards providing more of our residents with the opportunity to thrive. I'm grateful to both of them for stepping into these critical roles and bringing their knowledge, expertise and commitment to support our residents and our city."

CHRISTINA MCMILLAN - DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

As director of the Department of Community Resilience, Christina McMillan will be responsible for coordinating, planning, organizing and directing programs and policies serving many of New Haven's most vulnerable residents, including individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance use, victims and perpetrators of violence, and individuals returning from incarceration.

Director McMillan is an accomplished nonprofit leader with extensive experience overseeing programs that serve vulnerable populations, including juveniles, individuals experiencing homelessness, reentering society after incarceration, mental health challenges and substance use disorders. Most recently, McMillan served as Chief Program Officer at the Chrysalis Center, where she managed a diverse portfolio of permanent supportive housing programs, Department of Corrections initiatives, and a newly established residential recovery home in partnership with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Born and raised in New Haven, McMillan earned her bachelor's degree in history and criminal justice from Southern Connecticut State University and went on to receive a master's degree in psychology from the University of Arizona.

"I am thrilled to join Mayor Elicker to lead the Department of Community Resilience and partner with the community to serve New Haven's most vulnerable residents and tackle many of the city's most urgent challenges," said Director McMillan. "My goal is to build upon the solid foundation established by those before me and create meaningful programs that help vulnerable residents move toward stability, recovery and a stronger, more empowered future."

The role was previously held by Tirzah Kemp who left the position in June 2026 and filled in an interim capacity by Deputy Community Services Administrator Carlos Sosa-Lombardo. The Department of Community Resilience oversees many city services and includes the Office of Housing and Homelessness Services, the Office of Community Mental Health Initiatives, and the Office of Violence Prevention. It also supports the Elm City COMPASS community crisis response team.

The position reports to Community Services Administrator Eliza Halsey.

KELLY CRAFT - COORDINATOR, OFFICE OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

As the coordinator for the Office of Housing and Homeless Services, Craft will serve as city's lead in overseeing all city activities on behalf of individuals experiencing homelessness. This includes coordinating city programs and partnering with community organizations to provide individuals and families with access to emergency housing and to connect individuals to other direct services that support their employment, health and overall well-being. Craft is also responsible for developing short- and long-term policy recommendations, strategies and programs that better serve unhoused and housing insecure individuals and families and reduce homelessness in New Haven.

Craft brings over a decade of experience serving vulnerable individuals, including most recently as the director of the Coordinated Access Network (CAN) for the Middlesex, Meriden and Wallingford region, where she oversaw homelessness response efforts across multiple municipalities. In that role, Craft managed system coordination among shelters and warming centers, outreach teams, housing providers, healthcare providers, municipal leaders, state agencies and community organizations to improve housing outcomes for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Craft's background also includes extensive experience in individual and family case management, crisis intervention, housing navigation, and advocacy. She earned her bachelor's degree in English, Communications and Media Studies from Mount Saint Mary College.

"Individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity are often going through the most challenging chapter of their lives - the unexpected loss of a job, escaping domestic violence, a traumatic life event that negatively impacts their mental health. It's critically important that we support residents in those moments of crisis and get people connected to stable housing and services so they can stabilize," said Coordinator Craft. "I'm excited to join the City of New Haven and look forward to working alongside my colleagues, the community and our partners to contribute to the important work already happening here."

The role was previously held by Velma George-James, who retired in April 2026 after serving over a decade in the position and nearly three decades in municipal government. The position was filled in an interim capacity by Jair Pinedo, Special Projects Director for the Community Services Administration.

The position reports to Department of Community Resilience Director Christina McMillan.

In the City of New Haven, there are currently seven homeless shelters and four daytime navigation hubs that connect individuals in crisis with housing, meals, health and wellness care, employment and educational opportunities, among other services. Additional seasonal warming centers are scheduled to open on November 15th.

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Press Contact:

Lenny Speiller | (203) 725-4249; [email protected]