COLUMBIA, S.C. — Yvonda Bean, the CEO of Columbia Housing (CHA), announced Friday morning she will be leaving her position.
In a video posted to Columbia Housing’s website, Bean directs her message specifically to residents at CHA and Cayce Housing locations, calling herself “the People’s CEO” and telling residents she had made “the very difficult decision" to move on and has joined the Indianapolis Housing Agency in Indianapolis, Indiana.
"The organization is in trouble and in HUD receivership and needs my skill set to come in and turn things around, very similar to what we did here at Columbia Housing and Cayce Housing," she said.
She continued, “I wanted to make sure I told you, residents, personally, how much it has meant to me to garner your support as first the COO and now CEO, but also your trust. I have thoroughly enjoyed being your CEO and am proud of each and every one of you and want to assure you that although I am moving on, this team, this dynamic team, is equally committed to ensuring you all have quality housing.”
Bean came to Columbia Housing in August 2019, first serving as the agency’s chief operating officer before being voted interim CEO in February 2022 and then permanent CEO in June 2022.
In a statement released by CHA, Board Chair Ernest W Cromartie III said, “We thank Mrs. Bean for her service to Columbia Housing. The CEO is often the face of the organization, but Columbia Housing is a solid team of housing professionals. That won’t change. We wish Mrs. Bean well in her future endeavors. We will immediately begin the search for a new leader at Columbia Housing.”
Bean came to Columbia after the incident at CHA's Allen Benedict Court property in January 2019 that left two residents dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. The property was condemned, and over 400 residents were displaced. Since leading CHA, Bean helped oversee the construction of Oak Terrace and Oak Park communities at the former Gonzales Gardens site on Taylor Street and Haven at Palmer Point at Two Notch Road and Carver Street; she has also worked with Midlands Technical College to create a partnership for CHA residents to attend classes and work toward college degrees and certificates.
Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said, “It has been my pleasure to work with Yvonda Bean on our shared goal of creating more affordable housing units in the city of Columbia. The fruits of her leadership are evident in Columbia Housing’s development of Oaks at St. Anna’s Park and Haven at Palmer Point that serves our senior citizens. Altogether, more than 400 new affordable housing units were constructed during her tenure. We will miss her. We appreciate her leadership and know she will continue to do great things in Indianapolis.”
Bean begins her new position as CEO in Indianapolis on Feb. 17.