Gov. Kristi Noem is appointing Chas Olson as executive director of the South Dakota Housing Authority.
Olson has served as Interim Director of the agency since April.
He replaced Lorrain Polak who departed the Housing Authority after 25 years. Noem appointed Polak in January of 2021.
Olson entered the department during a tumultuous moment—the rollout of a contentious, $200 million dollar housing infrastructure program.
Lawmakers and the governor’s office disagreed about what department should run the program and the pace of its rules creation.
Lawmakers approved the program earlier this summer.
The South Dakota housing Infrastructure Financing Program will start accepting applications at noon Monday.
