Donna C. Smith
Donna C. Smith has served as Executive Director of the Russellville Housing Authority since 2020, bringing more than 30 years of experience in management, finance, human resources, healthcare administration, community relations, and organizational leadership. A graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Donna holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management, Accounting, and International Marketing, as well as associate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Child Development.
Donna is currently participating in the Emerging Leaders Program through the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), further developing her leadership skills while connecting with housing professionals from across the country. Her participation reflects her commitment to continued professional growth, innovative leadership, and bringing new ideas and resources back to the residents and community she serves.
As Executive Director, Donna oversees the daily operations of the Russellville Housing Authority, including Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs, financial management, HUD compliance, capital improvements, maintenance, personnel, and community partnerships. She also successfully secured the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) grant, which has become an important part of the Housing Authority's efforts to help residents achieve greater financial stability and independence.
Donna believes that housing is essential, but housing alone is not always enough. Providing someone with a safe, affordable home is only successful long-term if that individual or family also has the resources and support necessary to maintain it. Transportation, employment, education, childcare, utilities, food insecurity, financial stability, and access to community resources can all determine whether a family simply receives housing or truly becomes stable.
That philosophy has led Donna and the Russellville Housing Authority to build strong relationships with Restore Hope, 100 Families, Russ Bus, the Russellville School District, Arkansas Tech University, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, local food organizations, employers, and numerous other community partners.
Through the 10:33 Initiative and the collaborative model established by Restore Hope and 100 Families, Donna has worked to change the way housing needs are addressed in the Russellville community. Applicants are encouraged to connect with 100 Families early in the housing process so barriers to stability can be identified before they become crises. Rather than one organization attempting to solve every problem, community partners work together, each bringing its own resources and expertise to the table.
This approach allows housing to become part of a much larger pathway toward independence. One partner may help a family develop a realistic budget, while another assists with employment, education, transportation, utilities, food, or household necessities. By the time a family receives the keys to a home, the goal is for them to have more than an address—they should have a support system and a plan for maintaining their independence.
Donna has also helped align the Housing Authority's work with HUD's Work & Dignity Coalition, reinforcing her belief that employment and opportunity can restore confidence, dignity, and self-esteem. Through ROSS and community partnerships, Russellville Housing Authority residents are increasingly entering the workforce and becoming more financially independent.
For Donna, the success of these partnerships demonstrates what can happen when organizations stop working in silos and begin working toward a common goal.
Her philosophy is simple: Housing should not merely provide someone with a place to live. It should provide a foundation from which people can build stable, independent lives with dignity.
