Jim Canavan Email and Phone Number

Drawing from a wealth of experience, Jim Canavan Consulting offers comprehensive consulting services on a wide range of issues and topics, including, but not limited to, affordable housing, veterans housing, non-profit management, and leadership. Jim is available for trouble-shooting and for helping troubled agencies.

Asked by BSU President Fred Clark to manage the university's veteran services during COVID, and working with the inestimable Sabrina Gentlewarrior, we ensured that all BSU student veterans continued to receive benefits and advocated for out-of-the-box thinking for students activated by the National Guard. Collaborated with neighboring towns' Veterans Services Officers (VSOs). Redesigned BSU's veterans programs, offering 16 recommendations for change. President Clark implemented all 16 suggestions and he and Sabrina allowed me to hire my full-time successor. Go Bears!

Member of volunteer Steering Council at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville.

Taught Public Policy and Social Justice as a junior level course. Happy to join the Political Science Department of this world-class faculty. Co-led study abroad group of students to Dublin and Belfast in May, 2017. All returned safely.

Lecturing on Financial Management for Non-Profits in the Professional MBA Program, and on public policy in the History and Political Science Department. Initiated senior seminar on Public Policy and Social Justice.

Providing technical assistance to providers across the country who wish to apply for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs funding to create transitional housing for homeless veterans of U.S. military service; conducting workshops across the U.S. on the subject of permanent, supportive housing for formerly homeless veterans.

Appointed by the Mayor of the City of North Adams to serve on the board governing the development and provision of affordable housing in North Adams, Massachusetts. Elected Chair, August, 2012.

Soldier On provides shelter, treatment, and hope to formerly homeless veterans of U.S. military service. As V.P. for Housing Development, I was responsible for creating permanent housing solutions for formerly homeless veterans and, where appropriate, their families. Soldier On has completed construction in Pittsfield, Mass. of 39 units of limited-equity apartments, featuring green building design, transgenerational design, and individual development accounts for the vets who will own, occupy, and manage this development. This project is being emulated across the country with technical assistance from Soldier On, as Soldier On continues planning and building more such developments in New England and beyond.

CEO of a small, regional United Way in northwestern Mass. Managed campaign, consulted with 23 member agencies, and was fortunate to work with a small army of dedicated, selfless volunteers. Best job ever.

Coordinated the development of affordable housing solutions for formerly homeless veterans. In the spring of 2009, ground will be broken in Pittsfield, Mass. for a $6 million, 39 unit limited-equity cooperative housing development for formerly homeless veterans to own, manage, and occupy. 39 of the 200,000 homeless veterans in this country will no longer be sleeping on the street.

CTI is the anti-poverty agency for Greater Lowell and the regional nonprofit housing agency for northeastern Massachusetts. CTI operated with a budget of over $60 million and employed approximately 500 people. CTI seeks to address the causes and consequences of poverty, and to help people with education, jobs, and the support services necessary for a better life. Created the first Head Start Center of its kind in the country. Established Greater Lowell Small Business Assistance Center. Created Common Ground Development Corporation and Community Housing, Inc. Charter Board member of Lowell Telecommunications Corp. and Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce. Served as Legislative Chair for MASSCAP. Active in MNPHA.CTI is governed by a wonderful board of directors. My successor, Karen Frederick, has, for twenty years, continued the growth of the agency, including leading the community through the COVID19 pandemic.. She will retire in November, 2024.

Took on a number of roles including as Planner for the Commonwealth's USDOE Weatherization Assistance Program. In 1988 our partners and their crews weatherized over 45,000 homes across Massachusetts, ensuring that low-income homeowners and renters could be warm and safe through the winter, and cooler in the summer. Also served as Acting Director, Office of Community Economic Development. Managed the CEED Program whic provided operating assistance to 33 community-based organizations across the state. During a period of retrenchment I personally managed 26 contracts for 18 sub awardees.

Managed community school program in Area IV neighborhood. Initiated educational, recreational, and health program for the city's lowest income neighborhood. Organized teens and pre-teens as peer groups. Initiated successful campaign to establish a teen center in Area IV.

Managed residence life and student activities for a 330 student school of nursing. Initiated activities program, yearbook, and intramural sports.

Served aboard USCGC YAKUTAT (WHEC 380), search and rescue and ocean station patrols in the North Atlantic; Operation Market Time, South China Sea; volunteered for U.S. Navy Swift Boat duty. As a SN (E3) and YN3 (E4), in the absence of senior petty officers, operated and managed the ship's office, volunteered on the morale committee, and worked with LCDR Lawrence Opezio (XO) to provide excellent administative service to our officers and crew. As YN2 (E5) served aboard Coast Guard Group Boston. Vietnam veteran.