Youth homelessness prevention organisation Kids Under Cover announced the appointment of experienced homelessness campaigner Stephen Nash as its new CEO.
The former Managing Director of affordable housing provider Common Equity Housing joins Kids Under Cover in late November of this year, building on a career in homelessness and housing over the past 25 years.
Stephen replaces outgoing Kids Under Cover CEO Jo Swift who has been with the organisation for almost 20 years.
In a sign of her commitment to the organisation, Jo will continue to work with Stephen at Kids Under Cover over a four-week transition period before departing in late-December.
Kids Under Cover Acting Chairman Nathaniel Popelianski said the Board had been impressed with Stephen’s deep focus on preventing homelessness and his strong alignment to the organisation’s values.
“We are pleased to have appointed a dedicated, passionate and authentic leader like Stephen to lead our team into the future, building on the extensive legacy we’ve built over 30 years,” said Nathaniel.
“Stephen is ready to build on our strategy of combining secure studio accommodation with scholarship support to help young people to stay in school and break the cycle of homelessness.”
Stephen joins the organisation at a time where children and young people comprise two-fifths of people experiencing homelessness in Australia, and the pandemic is placing greater pressure on disadvantaged young people than ever before.
“I welcome the opportunity to lead Kids Under Cover in its efforts to prevent youth homelessness and stop the damaging impact this lack of stability and safety has on young people and their future potential,” said Stephen.
“My entire career has been dedicated to reducing homelessness and there’s never been a more important time to reach out to our most vulnerable young people by giving them a stable home in which to thrive.”
Nathaniel thanked Jo for her exceptional leadership and dedication to Kids Under Cover during her almost 20 years with the organisation.
“Over this time Jo has changed the lives of so many young people for the better, and her contribution to our organisation and reducing youth homelessness should be both commended and celebrated.”
“To have achieved so much for so many young people and their families for so long is an enormous credit to Jo’s inherent values and something for which she should be immensely proud,” said Nathaniel.