CEO Frederick Shack to Step Down After 21 Years of Service
After 21 years of extraordinary service, Urban Pathways CEO Frederick Shack has shared with the Board that he will be stepping down from his role as CEO effective January 1, 2026. Fred will remain with Urban Pathways as a special advisor to the Interim CEO through February 17th to help shape the transition. Effective January 1, Gary P. Jenkins, our Chief Administrative Officer, and a former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Social Services, will serve as Interim CEO, ensuring stable leadership as the organization moves into its next chapter.
Mr. Shack joined Urban Pathways in 2005 and has since guided the organization through a period of significant growth and strategic advancement. Under his leadership, Urban Pathways has nearly tripled in size and expanded its housing portfolio by nearly 1,000 units of affordable and supportive housing. This includes the development and construction of ten residential buildings across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, strengthening Urban Pathways’ role as a premier provider of permanent solutions to homelessness.
Mr. Shack is also committed to developing future leaders in the field. He serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work, where he teaches courses in homeless policy and practicum instruction.
His governance and sector leadership roles include serving as Treasurer of the Human Services Council of New York and Vice-Chair of the Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHNNY). He is Co-Chair of the Nonprofit Advisory Council to the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services and a member of the Governor’s Not-For-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee. His past appointments include service on the Board of Homeless Services United, the Board of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) New York State Chapter, the Mayor’s Supportive Housing Task Force, the Mayor’s Non-Profit Resiliency Committee, and the Co-Chair of the Human Services Recovery Taskforce. He has been repeatedly named to the Nonprofit Power Players list.
“Fred’s leadership was both strategic and profoundly human,” said Adam Heft, President of the Urban Pathways Board of Directors. “He built an organization that not only provides housing and vital services to thousands but also restores dignity and hope to some of our city’s most vulnerable citizens. His legacy will live on in every person whose life has been changed through Urban Pathways.”
Board Vice President Erin Abrams added: “Fred has been a powerful force for good in this city. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his decisive leadership saved countless lives. New York is a more humane place because of his decades of advocacy.”
In his message to the Board, Mr. Shack expressed his deep gratitude, writing that it has been “one of the greatest honors of my professional life” to lead Urban Pathways and to work alongside staff whose dedication and compassion “define this organization.”
About Urban Pathways
Since its founding in 1975, Urban Pathways has been committed to addressing homelessness in New York City. At the heart of our mission is the adoption of a housing first approach in everything we do. We recognize that secure housing acts as the foundation for each person we serve as they aspire to improve their quality of life. Through our 30+ programs and housing options, we meet people where they are and provide individualized support tailored to their needs. This person-centered approach empowers each client with the services and guidance they need to move toward their ideal future.
