City of Portland Announces Quisha Light as Interim Director of the Portland Housing Bureau

(PORTLAND, ORE.) - Deputy City Administrator for Community and Economic Development Donnie Oliveira today announced that Quisha Light will serve as the interim director of the Portland Housing Bureau. Current Interim Director Michael Buonocore will step down May 15 to serve as the next executive director of Home Forward. Light will join the bureau starting May 18.

"I am grateful to Quisha for her willingness to step up and lead this bureau and ensure there is no lapse in leadership as the City makes challenging budget decisions to address the ongoing housing and budgetary crises," said Oliveira. "She brings a customer-focused lens to the work, and when we are talking about providing housing to Portlanders, that service can be life-saving."

Light, currently the Public Works Customer Service Division Manager, oversees citywide customer service strategy, service delivery systems, affordability programs, and customer experience modernization-ensuring public services are accessible, equitable, and human-centered. Light has also served as the Interim Director of the Portland Water Bureau, leading almost 600 employees, including through complex operational, cultural, and organizational transitions. She joined the City of Portland in 2022 as the Water Bureau's Director of Customer Service, where she led major technology modernization efforts and strengthened end-to-end customer operations. Before entering public service, Light spent over a decade at Portland General Electric, working in Legal, Strategy, Integrated Resource Planning, and Product Development, where she launched innovative clean energy and demand response initiatives. Prior to PGE, she practiced law in Tennessee.

She will start as interim Housing director May 18, ensuring a smooth transition as interim Director Buonocore takes the helm at Home Forward on the same day.

"Thank you, Michael, for your partnership and for leading this team with expertise, passion, and empathy," Oliveira added. "As your colleague and friend, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work with you again and trust our collaboration will continue in the future."

The Portland Housing Bureau is one of several bureaus and programs in the Community and Economic Development service area. This service area creates and delivers efficient, transparent, and equitable solutions for a resilient built environment - as well as services, resources, and experiences for our community. This work is accomplished by aligning City programs focused on building prosperity for all Portlanders.

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