Mystic — Always Home has announced it has appointed a new executive director.

Tricia Cunningham, the former president of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, succeeds Betty Smith, who has served as Always Home executive director since 2019. 

In announcing the appointment, Always Home called Cunningham "a dedicated nonprofit professional who brings to the position experience in nonprofit management and community relations along with a deep commitment to Always Home’s mission, Preventing Family Homelessness."

“Tricia is a positive and energetic leader,” said Annemarie Seifert, president of the agency's board of directors. “Her warmth, collegial style, and active engagement in Southeastern Connecticut will be an asset to Always Home. The Board is confident we will be well positioned under her leadership to continue to thrive in the years to come.”

Most recently, Cunningham has worked at Fairview in Groton as its director of community relations & development.  

Always Home is a nonprofit organization created in 1998 to address the needs of eastern Connecticut's homeless and imminently homeless families. It was previously known as Mystic Area Shelter & Hospitality. It helps more than 300 families a year "find immediate and lasting solutions to their housing crisis." It also works closely with other social service providers to ensure families at risk of being homeless receive the services they need.