Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) has promoted Matt Tillery to vice president of rental assistance.
“Matt will provide oversight for rental assistance operations and identify additional methods to address housing needs in our community,” said Ben Bentley, executive director and CEO of KCDC. “He recognizes that KCDC is a crucial partner in Knoxville to find solutions that make long-term, sustainable change for residents in our communities.”
Tillery, who is a Knoxville native, had served KCDC for the past year as a housing operations director. Prior to joining KCDC, he held positions in property and asset management and in social and community services, outreach and development. Tillery recently served as assistant director of trauma and addiction for the Knoxville Leadership Foundation and managed the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) pilot program.
He replaces Debbie Taylor-Allen, who is retiring from KCDC after 30 years of service.
“I would like to thank Debbie for her service to KCDC and the excellence she brought to the organization for three decades,” Bentley said. “This is a well-deserved retirement.”
The vice president of rental assistance oversees multiple Section 8 programs for KCDC, including Housing Choice Vouchers; Homeownership; Project-Based Vouchers; and Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab); as well as Special Purpose Vouchers, including Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) and Veterans’ Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) and the Family Unification Program (FUP), which assists families for which living conditions are the only obstacle preventing them from being reunited with children in foster care and also helps young adults who age out of foster care.
Tillery received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in human development and learning from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City in 2008. He earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Austin-Peay State University in Clarksville in 2019.
Tillery serves on the board of directors for the Equality Coalition for Housing Opportunities (ECHO) and is president of the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition. He recently was appointed vice chair for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Advisory Council by Gov. Bill Lee.
He is a graduate of the Knoxville-Knox County CAC Community Leadership Class of 2018 and is a Certified Professional of Occupancy (CPO) and trainer and presenter of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention. Tillery also is co-author of “Knoxville’s Plan to Address Homelessness: Case Management Standards of Care.”
Tillery resides in Knoxville with his wife, Christina Magráns. He enjoys hiking, canoeing, playing guitar and singing, and relaxing with his wife and their three dogs.