Aaron Gornstein

Aaron Gornstein became the President and CEO of POAH, Inc. in June 2015.  He provides overall leadership and oversight of the organization, including strategic planning, financial management, supervision of the executive team, and external relations and partnerships.

From 2012-2015, Gornstein served as undersecretary for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), under former Governor Deval Patrick, where he greatly expanded rental assistance and homeless prevention programs, reformed and improved state public housing, and launched a comprehensive supportive housing initiative.   When recognized as a Barr Fellow in 2011, Gornstein was executive director of Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), a role he had held since 1990. There, he spearheaded passage of state and federal legislation, launched innovation programs, and helped to form numerous coalitions.

Gornstein earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, and his Master of Arts degree in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University.  He is a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and serves on the board of directors of the Technical Assistance Collaborative and the Massachusetts Community Preservation Coalition.