Bio

Polly Donaldson

THC - Housing Families, Transforming Lives
Ms. Donaldson has served as executive director of THC-Housing Families, Transforming Lives (THC) since March 2004 and of THC Affordable Housing, Inc (THCAH) since its founding in June 2005.  She is an experienced non-profit organization leader and fund raiser, with years of D.C. community experience and a deep commitment to affordable housing and homeless programs.  Under her leadership, THC has vastly increased the number of homeless families it provides housing and services, now serving over 250 families in transitional, permanent supportive and permanent affordable housing.  Donaldson joined THC’s staff after a 17 year career in international community development in senior management positions at the Institute of International Education, Partners of the Americas and The Center for Democracy.  She was a founding board member of THC in 1990 and president of the board from 1995-1997.  From 1997-1999, she was elected and served as the chair of the Mt. Pleasant Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1-E.  She has been a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Dupont Circle for over 20 years and is currently serving as Senior Warden.  In January 2009, Donaldson was nominated and confirmed to serve on the D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness.  She also serves on the board of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development and as co-chair of its Housing Committee and Resident Services Working Group.

Donaldson Appointed to Interagency Council on Homelessness

THC is proud to announce that Polly Donaldson, THC Executive Director, was appointed to the District of Columbia’s Interagency Council on Homelessness on February 24, 2009.  “It is critically important to have the voices that represent all parts of the homelessness crisis– including homeless men and women, single and heads of families, as well as government policymakers and funders – on the Interagency Council,” said Donaldson.  Ms. Donaldson has been THC Executive Director since 2004 and has been active in the causes of homelessness for more than 10 years, beginning with her Board tenure with Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington.  Ms. Donaldson’s activism also includes previously chairing the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1–E in Mt. Pleasant and her current elected position on the Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.  “My reason for serving on the Interagency Council on Homelessness is quite simple:  I want to be part of the District Government’s effort to end homelessness in our city and not to just alleviate the suffering or treat the symptoms (although these services are vitally important), but to end homeless,” stated Donaldson.