A New Chapter at MCH: Welcoming Our New Executive Director, Matt Traynor
A New Chapter at MCH: Welcoming Our New Executive Director, Matt Traynor
Matt Traynor here, and I’m excited to share some news: I’ve officially stepped into the role of Permanent Executive Director at the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
This hasn’t been an easy decision. It came after a lot of reflection on MCH’s future and how I can best support our team, our future, and this work. My previous role as Director of Advocacy was truly my dream job; working alongside folks with lived experience, pushing policy, and building real change from the ground up. That’s the kind of work that should be at the heart of MCH, and as Executive Director, I’m committed to helping shape the strategy to keep it there.
Given our current financial situation, bringing on any new permanent staff simply isn’t possible right now. That reality has led to tough conversations about how to move forward while staying true to who we are. The clarity has come from our people: this community, the MCH Fellows, our frontline advocates, and the unwavering support we receive from partners, members, and YOU.
“The Board of Directors is proud to affirm our full confidence in Matt’s leadership and vision by formally transitioning them into the permanent role of Executive Director of MCH. Over the years that he has been with the organization, he has demonstrated exceptional dedication, strategic insight, and an unwavering passion for our mission. We are excited for the future and look forward to the continued growth and success of the organization under their permanent leadership.”
– MCH Board of Directors
The MCH Fellows encouraged me to take on this role through their honesty, strength, and willingness to step into spaces that often overlook them. They reminded me that I can’t ask others to speak truth to power if I’m not willing to do the same.
MCH is built on collaboration, community, and centering those most impacted. That’s not changing. In fact, it’s exactly why I’m stepping into this role.
Over the past decade, I’ve been deeply rooted in lived experience (LE) work. From 2012 to 2016, I organized with shelter guests at CHUM in Duluth. From 2017 to 2023, MCH ran the LE Regional Expert Network. And since 2023, we’ve been building the MCH Fellowship. Through all of that, one thing has become clear: without genuine buy-in from high-level leadership, especially around LE engagement and LE leadership, the work doesn’t move forward.
I share this to challenge the idea that LE leadership is too hard to fund or implement. In my experience, the real barrier isn’t resources, it’s commitment and passion. The hardest situations I’ve faced weren’t about funding or structure; they came from working with staff who had all the technical knowledge but lacked passion. Skills can be taught. Passion can’t.
As Executive Director, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve always done: center lived experience leadership in our work. Not just because it’s the “right thing to do” (although, YES, it absolutely is), but because it’s the only way we’ll find real, lasting solutions to end homelessness. It’s the most effective way to influence decision-makers. Period.
What This Means for the MCH Community
As we move forward, MCH will continue to experience some growing pains while we seek funding to return to full capacity. I’ll still be leading our advocacy efforts alongside the MCH team, and we’ll continue working with our incredible lobbyists at Momentum Advocacy. To keep MCH healthy, we ask for your continued support as we navigate this transition.
At the same time, we ask that you continue holding us accountable. A recent example: scheduling our Annual Conference during Yom Kippur was a harmful mistake. When we tried to correct it, our apology also caused harm. We are deeply sorry. Our intent was to be inclusive, but the impact missed the mark, and we’re committed to learning and doing better.
MCH remains grounded in our Advocacy Model, which centers both LE leadership and LE engagement. You can learn more about how this shapes our work in the MCH Advocacy Model Booklet here on our website.
We’re also expanding how we listen. In addition to in-person listening sessions, we’ll launch a survey designed for individuals and organizations, especially those who work directly with community members. This will help us better understand needs across Minnesota while giving our staff and Fellows more time to build strong, local relationships.
The MCH Fellowship will continue as a core part of our work. It’s one of the most powerful ways we support LE leaders and develop real, community-driven solutions; not just at the Capitol, but in communities across the state. We’ll also be launching a Fellowship Alumni Program (funding pending) to ensure LE leaders stay connected, supported, and active in the movement to end homelessness.
We should all be proud of the advocacy we’ve accomplished together over the years. We need to hold onto that as we push forward because with federal programs facing cuts, now more than ever, we need to lean on Minnesota’s legislature and join national efforts to push for real change at every level.
Though ‘thank you’ is a simple phrase, it holds sincere appreciation from me. To our community, partners, MCH Fellows, members, donors, funders, advocates, and most importantly, those of you who have experienced homelessness, thank you for your ongoing support, passion, and commitment. I’m honored to serve alongside you in this new-ish role and look forward to the progress we’ll make together.
