A native of Rock Island is the new leader of Humility Homes and Services. Ashley Velez started working as Executive Director in April, overseeing a staff of 47 full and part-time workers, plus nearly 100 apartments and a 70 bed emergency shelter for men and women.
Along with those responsibilities, Velez says she intends to remind local residents that there are people in the community who need help.
"We have a shortage of affordable housing right now so providing that education to the greater community - what that means, providing services to the most at-risk population we see, and just being their voice."
Velez has a Bachelor's Degree in social work from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a Master's Degree in Public Administration, also from SIU-E. She has worked with the homeless and led a transitional housing program for people just released from prison.
In the Quad Cities, she has worked for Family Resources to manage domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking programs.
