Kristin L. Faust was appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) effective November 2019, bringing more than 30 years of affordable housing industry experience to the Authority. As the state’s chief affordable housing official, Ms. Faust provides leadership in state housing policy to advance IHDA’s mission of financing the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout Illinois.

Prior to joining IHDA, Ms. Faust served as President of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS), a community development organization committed to helping homeowners and strengthening neighborhoods. As President, Ms. Faust’s strong leadership and holistic vision helped spur community revitalization by creating homeownership opportunities for those most vulnerable, improving not only their lives, but their neighborhoods as well. Before joining NHS, Ms. Faust was Chief Credit Officer and Director of Lending & Network Services at Partners for the Common Good. In that role, she was responsible for the growth and oversight of the domestic and international loan portfolio. In addition, Ms. Faust served as president of the Enterprise Community Loan Fund, one of the largest non-depository community development financial institutions in the country. Earlier in her career, Ms. Faust spent fifteen years in community development banking in Chicago, primarily with LaSalle National Bank, where she started the Community Development Lending Department. Her work in Chicago earned her distinction in Crain’s Chicago Business “Forty Under 40” list.

Ms. Faust is a graduate of Harvard University, where she obtained a Masters in City and Regional Planning, and Brown University, where she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy.