Cloquet – Carlton
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Shari Olson
Executive Director
Supporting Lives, One Home at a Time
About
Shari Olson brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as Executive Director at HRA. With a strong leadership and community engagement background, she previously served as Executive Director at Cloquet Hockey and the Duluth Heritage Sports Center, later renamed the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center.
Shari’s expertise lies in working with the public, understanding people’s needs, and excelling in planning and organizing. Her extensive training in Fair Housing, HUD Executive Directorship, inspections, ethics, and public housing programs and planning reinforces her commitment to community service and housing programs.
A Central High School graduate, Shari pursued various trade-related courses to enhance her knowledge and skills in her field. Her upbringing as an Army brat shaped her disciplined and rule-following nature, having spent her formative years in France and Germany before settling in the U.S. at age 14.
Beyond her professional life, Shari enjoys reading, gardening, and cooking. She is known for her patience, compassion, and kind nature, qualities that make her a strong advocate for those facing homelessness and financial hardships. Passionate about helping others, she continues to work toward creating sustainable solutions for individuals and families in need.
Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family houses to high-rise apartments for elderly families. There are approximately 970,000* households living in public housing units managed by some 3,300 HAs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing, and managing these developments.
In Carlton County, public housing is available at two sites – one in the City of Cloquet (Aspen Arms) and one in the City of Carlton (Woodland Pines).
*The number of households changes daily.
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal program that helps low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities afford safe and stable housing in the private rental market. Administered locally by the Cloquet/Carlton HRA, the program provides financial assistance to eligible households, enabling them to secure housing that meets their needs.