Delene Rankin

Director of Supportive Housing
“I was drawn to MidPen because of its deep and ever-growing commitment to supportive housing–a model I deeply believe in. Supportive housing holds the promise of transformation by fostering meaningful relationships that are central to its success. It challenges us to move beyond traditional transactional approaches and instead asks us to lean into relationships because it is in our relationships where life-long transformation happens. As MidPen expands its portfolio and deepens its impact, it leans into these relationships by prioritizing the voices of residents and communities, ensuring their needs and experiences remain at the heart of its mission. I am proud to be part of this transformative journey and grateful to have found my own place within the MidPen family.”

Delene initially joined MidPen in 2024 as Associate Director of Supportive Housing and was soon promoted to Director of Supportive Housing. 

Her role is to support MidPen to continue shaping and implementing its supportive housing strategy by investing in the supportive housing team and cultivating partnerships within MidPen and across the counties. 

Most recently Delene held the role of Director of Supportive Housing Services at TNDC. Over the course of two decades there, she played a pivotal role in growing a team of four social workers to a team of 50. Prior to that Delene was a medical social worker in New Orleans, a family worker in a residential treatment program outside of Boston, and a health educator in Nigeria.

When she’s not at work, Delene is an aspiring chocolatier travelling the world one cacao farm at a time. On the weekends you can find her walking around Oakland’s Lake Merritt.

Fun Fact