Denae Murphy of the Noel Housing Authority said the best thing about her job is helping people in need.
As executive director of the 100-unit housing authority, Murphy is in charge of funding, administration, paperwork, overseeing construction and more -- but does not always get to interact with the residents.
"I enjoy helping people in need -- people who really need an apartment," she said. "It really makes it all worthwhile."
Before becoming the executive director of the housing authority, Murphy was city clerk at Noel City Hall. Before that, she was an insurance agent. She began work at the housing authority in September 2013 after being hired by the board of commissioners.
The housing authority has a diverse tenant population, including Somalis, Asians, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders and elderly people, she said.
"Language is always tough, but one of our maintenance men speaks Spanish, so that helps a lot," she said.
Maintenance is an ongoing issue, however the staff is on top of it.
"There's always something going on here. We're always having to fix something. You can imagine, with 100 units," Murphy said.
Gary Davis and Carlos Sosa are maintenance men, and Carolyn Lindquist is the housing manager.
"The staff here works really hard. We have a good team. Our tenants are pretty happy," Murphy said.
The waiting list to get into the housing authority is long, especially for families wanting a two- or three-bedroom unit, she said. More one-bedroom units are available. People can wait on the list for a year for a three-bedroom apartment before someone moves out, she said.
The senior citizens' program meets in a new addition to the building, and Crowder College holds GED classes in a classroom that the Housing Authority loans out to various organizations.
"In Noel, we're kind of the go-to for community space," Murphy said.
The board of commissioners includes chairman Michael Deaton, vice chairman Evelyn White, resident commissioner Cleo Crosby, and members Genaro Salas and Jean Hook.
General News on 05/05/2016