Mercy Housing Northwest Names New President

Bill Rumpf retires from Mercy Housing Northwest, paving the way for Joe Thompson to lead the Seattle-based affordable housing nonprofit that serves over 5,600 residents.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2020

Contact: Kate Peterson | 303.830.3443 | kpeterson@mercyhousing.org

SEATTLE — Mercy Housing Northwest (MHNW) names Joe Thompson, MSW as their new president, as Bill Rumpf retires in mid-June following a decade in this role. Thompson will assume his role on June 29, 2020.

During Rumpf’s tenure as MHNW’s president, he was famed for accomplishing their mission with determination, compassion, and a healthy dose of humor. Today, Mercy Housing Northwest has 54 communities providing homes to over 5,600 residents in Washington and Idaho including families, veterans, seniors, and people with special needs who have low incomes.

Rumpf oversaw the completion of 1,500 apartments, including redeveloping the long-vacant former barracks at Magnuson Park into 148 apartments, with an early learning center and health clinic.  MHNW has just completed the Paul Allen-funded community, Gardner House, serving families who were formerly homeless in Seattle. The Gardner House includes a family resource center on the ground floor for the neighborhood. Rumpf led innovative initiatives to combine housing and health, to facilitate educational success, and to expand affordable housing access in communities that face displacement because of light rail.

MHNW is excited to see Thompson back. From 2004-2014 he was Mercy Housing Management Group’s Regional Vice President of Property Operations, where he was responsible for overall operations of Washington and Idaho.

“I’m thrilled to be with Mercy Housing Northwest again.  I thank Bill for the legacy he’s left. The organization is in a good position and is ready to continue serving people with low incomes while fostering stable, vibrant, and healthy communities. This is a crucial time for the Northwest region, and I look forward to serving these communities that have inspired me so much over the years.”  – Joe Thompson, MSW

Thompson’s former role as Chief Operating Officer of The Peoples’ Self Help Housing/The Duncan Group in San Luis Obispo from 2014-2020 was an ideal precursor to his new position as MHNW’s president. He oversaw rapid organizational growth with total assets increasing from $78 million to $116 million. Thompson holds a Master of Social Work in Non-Profit Administration from the University of Washington, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arizona, and he attended an Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University, with the Kennedy School of Government.

“It’s been an honor to serve as the Mercy Housing Northwest president these last 10 years. I’m so proud of the family housing boom we are helping to create in Seattle. I’ve been inspired by the founding vision of the Catholic Sisters to combine high-quality housing and services I know that MHNW is in great hands with Joe and can’t wait to see his success leading a truly inspirational organization.”  Bill Rumpf

About Mercy Housing Northwest

Since 1991, Mercy Housing Northwest (MHNW) has provided affordable homes to people with low incomes, including families, seniors, people who have experienced homelessness, and people with disabilities. With 54 properties in Washington and Idaho, MHNW serves more than 5,600 people every day. MHNW supplements much of its housing with Resident Services, programs that help residents build stable lives. MHNW is a regional branch of Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), a leading national affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver, CO.