Pascale Desir

Pascale Desir serves as Chief Operating Officer of Elm City Communities, bringing more than two decades of experience in affordable housing and community development, with a background spanning executive leadership, organizational strategy and operations, real estate development and finance, law, and public-sector administration. As Chief Operating Officer, she provides strategic and operational leadership across ECC’s Housing Choice Voucher and property operations functions and works across the enterprise to advance organizational priorities, operational effectiveness, and resident- and program participant-focused service.

Prior to joining Elm City Communities, Pascale served as Chief Legal Officer of Way Finders, a regional nonprofit housing organization in Massachusetts, where she led the organization’s legal function and served as principal advisor to the Board and executive leadership on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, strategic transactions, enterprise risk, and other complex legal matters. As a member of the executive leadership team, her work also extended beyond the traditional legal function. She partnered across real estate development, finance, property management, and program teams on enterprise-wide priorities, operational improvements, financial performance, and organizational strategy, bringing a practical, cross-functional approach to solving complex business and operational challenges.

Pascale has substantial experience in affordable housing development and finance. During her tenure at Way Finders, she provided executive and legal oversight supporting approximately $225 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit transactions representing more than 1,000 affordable housing units. She worked closely with development and finance leadership on project and site feasibility, development strategy, financing structures, strategic partnerships, and engagement with municipalities and other public and private partners. Her experience includes 4% and 9% LIHTC transactions, tax-exempt bond financing, RAD conversions, New Markets Tax Credits, historic tax credits, and other complex public-private financing structures used to develop and preserve affordable housing.

Pascale also brings extensive experience navigating highly regulated housing and public-sector environments. Her leadership approach combines operational and business discipline with a commitment to resident- and program participant-focused service, translating regulatory requirements and organizational strategy into practical, effective solutions.

Before joining Way Finders in 2015, Pascale served as State Plan Manager for the MaineCare Policy Division. She previously worked as a staff attorney in the housing division at Neighborhood Legal Services and as a regional housing coordinator for the North Shore Community Action Program.

Pascale holds an LL.M. in Real Property Development, a Juris Doctor, and a Bachelor of Arts in American History. She is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and Maine.