Kara Capone is the Chief Executive Officer of Community Housing Advocates, Inc. (CHA), the parent organization of Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation and My Sisters’ Place. Under her leadership, CHA serves more than 6,000 individuals each year across Hartford and Middlesex counties, providing a comprehensive continuum of housing and homelessness services, including emergency shelter; rapid rehousing; Hub, diversion and coordinated entry programs; youth transitional housing; supportive housing; and affordable housing development.

Kara’s prior leadership roles include Chief Operating Officer at New Reach, Inc.; Director of Grants and Development at the Norwalk Housing Authority; and national consultant with Housing Innovations, where she supported communities in advancing strategies to end homelessness.

A respected advocate and thought leader, Kara actively engages in policy and legislative efforts to expand housing access and strengthen Connecticut’s response to homelessness, including providing testimony at the State Capitol and working in partnership with state leaders and coalitions to drive systemic change. She currently serves as Vice Chair/Chair-Elect of the Connecticut Nonprofit Alliance Board of Directors and is the former Chair of the CCEH Policy & Advocacy Committee. Kara has presented at state, national, and international conferences and contributed to innovative, award-winning programs. She holds master’s degrees in Community/Counseling Psychology from Marist College and in Epidemiology and Public Health from Yale University.