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After four decades of dedicated service to the City of Elizabeth, Catherine J. Hart, deputy executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth (HACE), has announced her retirement, effective June 30. 

The urban housing authority has consistently worked to meet the community’s housing needs by providing a comprehensive range of social, economic, educational, and redevelopment services. Hart championed that mission throughout her tenure at HACE.  

“Cathy’s leadership was visionary and deeply connected to the needs of our residents,” said William Jones, executive director of HACE. “She transformed programs into lasting opportunities and helped build stronger, more connected communities. Cathy didn’t just serve the people of Elizabeth—she uplifted them.” 

Hart began her journey with HACE as a tenant interviewer in 1986 and rose through the ranks — serving as senior account clerk (1989), employee benefits coordinator (1994), and director of staff operations (1996) — before becoming deputy executive director in 2006. She has not only witnessed the evolution of public housing in Elizabeth over the past four decades but also played a central role in reshaping it. 

Hart co-facilitated a landmark HOPE VI project using a $28.9 million HUD-funded initiative that transformed two aging public housing complexes into modern, mixed-income townhouse communities, relocating over 650 families and restoring hope to generations. She also introduced HACE’s “Hub and Spoke” model, centralizing case management while connecting residents to partners in employment, education, and health. 

During her long tenure, Hart championed programs that lifted underprivileged residents economically and professionally. These efforts included her work on grant-funded workforce development programs, a successful culinary certification initiative, a YouthBuild program that trained youth in construction and healthcare, and many others. 

“After 40 years with the Housing Authority, I leave not just with memories, but with the faces and stories of the people we've helped etched in my heart,” Hart said. “This work was more than a job — it was my purpose, my passion, and my privilege.” 

About the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth 

Since its formation in 1938, the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth (HACE) has worked to meet housing needs and improve the quality of life for all the residents it serves. The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth is responsible for over 1,350 units of public housing and delivers a broad range of services, ranging from social, economic, educational, and redevelopment.