Our Board

Members & Meetings

Our Board Members

Marilyn Richards

Board Chair
James Brooks

Governor’s Appointee, Board Vice Chair
Jeffrey Jones

Board Member
Emily Laufer

Tenant Representative

Term ending June 2023

Marilyn holds graduate degrees in both Human Services and Health Care Administration and has been employed her entire career in senior level positions in those arenas. For the last twenty-six years, she has worked locally for Cooley Dickinson Health Care.

Being active in the community, Marilyn has been on many local boards including the Lathrop Retirement Communities; Academy of Music Theatre; Northampton City Democratic Committee; and, the United Way of Hampshire County serving as the Board Chair and Campaign Chair. She also acted as the Co-Chair of the Northampton Senior Center Building Committee.

Nationally, Marilyn is on the Board of the Kendal Corporation, Kendal New York and Kendal California. The Kendal Corporations provide value-based senior retirement continuing care and independent living services throughout the country; Marilyn is currently the Chair of the Kendal Charitable Funds in Kennett Square Pennsylvania, which funds innovative programs for older adults all around the county.

A resident of Northampton living in Florence, Marilyn was elected and served two terms on the Northampton City Council and for four years, a member of the Northampton Planning Board. Marilyn is a proud participant in the Pioneer Valley Symphony where she has played the violin for the last eleven years. Marilyn freely shares her love of community, politics, philanthropy and the arts.

Marilyn Richards | Jonmar2@comcast.net

Term ending March 2023

James D. Brooks was appointed to the NHA in 1996 by Governor Charles Baker. Jim is a native of Northampton, born, raised and schooled in “Hamp”. He worked for 25 years in the gravure printing industry before becoming disabled with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997. He holds an Associates degree in the Arts from Holyoke Community College and a BA in History from UMass Amherst.

James Brooks | Jim-Bo@comcast.net

Term ending February 2025

Jeffrey W. Jones has been on the Northampton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners since 2008. He is a past Chairperson. He serves on the board as the representative from organized labor. He is Vice President and Staff Representative for UFCW Local 1459, based in Springfield serving the four western counties of Massachusetts and southern Vermont. He is a member of the Executive Board of Local 1459. In addition, he is a member of the Executive Board of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO State Federation and a delegate to the Vermont AFL-CIO, Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, Pioneer Valley Workers Center, Hampshire/Franklin Labor Assembly, and the Northampton Community Preservation Committee.

He resides in Florence with his family and two cats.

Jeffrey Jones | beyejeff@comcast.net

Term ending June 2023

Emily Laufer was appointed to the Northampton Housing Authority Board in 2018. Ms. Laufer is a resident of Hampshire Heights and is passionate about building a strong relationship between tenants and the Northampton Housing Authority. She works full time at a nonprofit in Holyoke MA and is a mother of a 6 year old boy. She is honored to volunteer for the community.

Our Board

Members & Meetings

Our Board Members

Meeting Agendas & Minutes

July 2021

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Board Documents

Board Documents