Housing Forward names Tyler Parette as Founding Executive Director
Tulsa, Okla. (Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024) – Housing Forward, a new nonprofit, non-partisan effort to advance solutions to Oklahoma’s housing crisis, is pleased to announce Tyler Parette as the Founding Executive Director. With a deep passion for data-driven solutions and a strong background in policy and housing services, Parette brings a wealth of experience to this pivotal role.
Housing Forward was seeded with funding from The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation earlier this year in response to the 2024 Tulsa Housing Strategy, a community-informed framework for addressing Tulsa’s unmet housing demand of 13,000 units over the next 10 years. Housing Forward will serve as a driving resource for housing development focusing on data, systems improvement, policy and resource alignment, and innovative housing partnerships.
“Housing Forward will complement the existing housing resource network in this state by focusing on non-partisan, data-driven policies and strategies,” said Jeff Hall, Senior Program Officer at The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation,
“Tyler’s policy and housing experience, further amplified by his unique ability to build relationships and advance critical housing initiatives, make him an excellent choice to be Housing Forward’s first executive director.”
Parette, an Oklahoma native, comes to Housing Forward after serving as the Chief Policy and Partnerships Officer at Aeon, a Minneapolis based non-profit developer, owner, and operator of affordable housing. While at Aeon, Parette oversaw housing services, data-driven policy initiatives, and was instrumental in fostering partnerships that promoted long-term housing stability.
Previously, Parette served as the Director of Outreach and Engagement at Housing Solutions in Tulsa, where his work with individuals experiencing homelessness earned him the distinguished honor of being awarded the key to the city. Parette’s experience in housing-related efforts with the City of Tulsa and at the Oklahoma State Legislature provides familiarity with Oklahoma’s policy-making processes, enabling a smooth entrance into statewide policy work for Housing Forward.
"I am thrilled to bring my passion for housing back to my home state. I look forward to collaborating with local, statewide and national organizations to advance Housing Forward's vision of vibrant, high-quality, and affordable housing for all Oklahomans. Tulsa is at a pivotal moment that should inspire everyone in the housing sector. To meet the challenges ahead, we’ll need to be creative and leverage our local strengths while harnessing national support. Together, we can ensure that Oklahoma remains a place where people can thrive for generations to come."
- Tyler Parette, Executive Director
“Quality, stable housing is a critical driver for a successful community, impacting educational outcomes, reducing homelessness, improving healthcare, and directly supporting economic development initiatives” said Bill Major, President of The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation, “Our Trustees have been committed to improving housing in Tulsa with over $80 million in investments over the past decade. Through that work, we have seen firsthand the importance of maintaining and disseminating accurate housing data to inform and advance housing development at every income level.”