A former active duty United States Marine Corps Officer and presidentially appointed member of the Board of Governors of the USO, Inc., Darrell Irions continues his commitment to military service members in his work as a public housing administrator. The Chief Executive Officer of Florida’s St. Petersburg Housing Authority, Darrell Irions ranks the housing of homeless veterans and wounded warriors among his top priorities. Since 1995, Darrell Irions has overseen the operations of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. Recognizing that America’s veterans make up a disproportionate 30 percent of the nation’s current homeless population, Irions has focused on addressing this problem.

Under his leadership, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority has received 195 housing vouchers from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program. Currently, the Housing Authority is collaborating with the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Medical Center to issue these vouchers and to find housing for local homeless veterans. Irions is a proponent of the holistic approach to veteran reintegration, understanding that it is critical to offer not only housing, but the services and treatment that these veterans deserve and need to regain their lives. Irions also is proud of the ongoing support that the St. Petersburg Housing Authority offers to residents of Catholic Charities’ Pinellas Hope II facility.

The Housing Authority provides 40 vouchers to eligible residents of the 80-unit transitional housing facility, which is equivalent to approximately $280,000 per year of funding for Catholic Charities. Pinellas Hope II offers preference to homeless veterans, older adults, and disabled individuals. The Pinellas Hope II project is an extension of Catholic Charities’ Pinellas Hope facility, which offers not only shelter but social services and job placement assistance as well. Thanks to these efforts and Darrell Irions’ personal commitment to making good on the nation’s promise to support our veterans, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority is providing housing for more than 200 veterans. Before working to improve the accessibility and quality of affordable housing in St. Petersburg, Darrell Irions served as Chief Administrator for Operations and Chief Administrative Officer at the Chicago Housing Authority and held senior management positions at housing agencies in Denver, Colorado, and Lincoln, Nebraska.