Scott Smith has been hired as the executive director of the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo, replacing Carol Hatley, who retired after 36 years.

Hatley had been executive director since 2005.

Smith was deputy director at Peoples’ Self-Help Housing, a tricounty organization that has produced more than 1,000 units of affordable homes and 1,400 units of affordable rental housing. He worked there for 28 years.

Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCLA and a masters’ degree in international development from American University in Washington, D.C. HASLO, started in 1968, said it emphasizes self-sufficiency and serves more than 2,800 households a year countywide through rental housing for the poor and disabled, and homeownership programs for low- and moderate-income families.