Matthew brings to his role more than 22 years of leadership in both the private and public sectors, focused on the creation and integration of housing, services programs, and economic opportunities for communities and households. Prior to becoming USICH’s Executive Director, Matthew served as Director of National Initiatives, guiding the agency’s work with state and local partners for the implementation of Opening Doors.
Matthew has held leadership positions at the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the San Diego Housing Commission, and the King County Housing Authority in Washington State, and has also served as a consultant to local agencies across the country. He ensures that such community-based perspectives inform federal actions to support and drive progress across the country.
Matthew has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington.
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As Deputy Director, Jasmine leads our Policy Team, including the Council's work to prevent and end youth and family homelessness. Over the past 15 years, Jasmine has worked with local and state leaders to drive child welfare practices. At the state-level, she led the Planning, Policy, and Quality Improvement divisions along with the Resource Development Office for the District of Columbia’s child welfare agency. In addition to spearheading the development of short-term and transitional housing resources for child welfare-involved families along with increasing access to permanent settings, Jasmine helped shape and launch the District’s Title IV-E waiver demonstration project. Jasmine has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto.
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Darren’s public service career spans two and a half decades. As part of the senior leadership team, Darren helps to shape and lead the strategic direction of the Agency. In addition to formal training as an accountant, Darren’s expertise in critical areas such as human capital, information technology, organizational management and operations supports USICH advancements in accomplishing its crucial mission. Darren is a Senior Fellow with the Partnership for Public Service, and is completing a graduate degree in executive leadership.
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Bev has extensive experience building local partnerships to end homelessness, and has held leadership roles in supportive housing development and service design, delivery, and coordination. Her background includes capacity building and technical assistance with HUD grantees, strategic planning and restructuring of Continuums of Care, and convening stakeholders to promote the alignment of resources for persons experiencing homelessness, with an emphasis on developing permanent supportive housing. Bev has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Wayne State University.
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Saralyn advises the Executive Director and directs the implementation of the agency’s strategic plan. She has 10 years of experience building strategic partnerships and managing programs for both domestic and international organizations, including in refugee resettlement. Saralyn’s term in AmeriCorps allowed her to further develop her commitment to ending homelessness and her passion for life-long learning. A proud University of Georgia Bulldog, Saralyn also holds a master’s degree in International Education from George Washington University.
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Jennifer is a former New York Times reporter with more than 10 years of experience designing and implementing national communication strategies related to ending homelessness. She has led award-winning teams responsible for branding and brand management, communications planning, website design, and content development. A journalist by training, Jennifer has also written for publications like Foreign Policy and MSNBC, while living in São Paulo, Brazil. She has a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University.
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Lindsay is a seasoned leader with a strong track record of advancing the goals and objectives of Opening Doors, both nationally and at the local level. She led a variety of projects for the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, including the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Initiative, Continuum of Care project monitoring, and the statewide Point-in-Time count. Lindsay holds a Master of Social Work degree from West Virginia University, and began her career on assignment in rural Romania.
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Katie began her career with a youth-serving non-profit, where she first came to understand what is possible when people are given the opportunities, services, and supports they deserve. Katie brings to USICH over seven years of experience in project management and event planning. She works closely with the Director of National Initiatives and Regional Coordinators to help drive progress in communities across the country working to achieve the goals of Opening Doors. She has a degree in International Affairs from American University.
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Harnessing the power of personal communication in a digital age, Diane shapes the messaging of the agency's digital media engagement. She has more than 10 years of experience leading comprehensive marketing and communications campaigns in the public and private sector. She has directed the development of consumer-driven websites and spearheaded social media campaigns for public sector companies recognized nationally as leaders in innovation. Diane is a graduate of Elon University's School of Communications and a certified Project Management Professional.
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Jenny has more than five years of experience in the public interest and policy arenas, particularly in the fields of affordable housing and homelessness. She brings to her work a deep-rooted passion for protecting civil rights. Jenny is currently obtaining her master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Georgetown University with a focus in Housing, Community, and Economic Development. She received her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University.
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Britt’s passion for connecting community needs to evidence-based solutions drives her work at USICH, where she manages a policy portfolio that includes our work to end family and chronic homelessness. Britt has over six years of experience in international development and capacity building. She began her career at the U.S. Institute of Peace, with a focus on peacebuilding initiatives in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Britt holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University.
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Katy has worked with local leaders to design and implement innovative solutions to homelessness in the northwestern United States for more than two decades. For 13 years, both in government and non-profit sectors, she led high-performing teams to maximize local, state, and Federal resources for the greatest impact. As a public and private funder, she formed partnerships that created thousands of housing and service opportunities for individuals and families and launched new initiatives that helped people move out of homelessness permanently.
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Liz is a versatile communications and public affairs professional, who has spent over a decade shaping policy and media strategy on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch and international non-profit sector. At USICH, Liz directs the legislative affairs and media relations efforts. In her policy capacity, she manages a portfolio that includes health care and criminal justice. Liz received her Bachelor’s degree in music and communications from UNC Chapel Hill, and holds a Master’s degree in International Public Policy and Management from NYU.
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Mary currently manages a policy portfolio that includes our work to end Native American and Youth homelessness. Mary previously served as a confidential assistant to the Executive Director. Prior to joining USICH, she interned for the White House Domestic Policy Council and worked as a law clerk at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Executive Counsel’s Office for the Governor of Louisiana. Mary received a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2012.
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Bob directed the Division of Housing Stabilization for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, funding a statewide system of family and individual shelter programs as well as shelter diversion and rehousing programs. Bob spearheaded efforts to transform a system that relied on shelter as the primary response to homelessness to one that offered a range of flexible resources to prevent homelessness and provide rehousing assistance. Bob has also served as executive director of a variety of community agencies in the Boston area.
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Joe is a recognized leader with over 15 years of experience in the fields of homelessness, social policy, economic development, and human services administration. His passion for this work has cultivated years of skills and expertise that have helped bring over $150 million of funding to support housing and services for the homeless and community development projects. Joe’s commitment to this work is rooted in his belief in the dignity of human life. He has a PhD in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware.
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Chrischanne works closely with the Director of Finance and Administration and has served as the Staff Assistant for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness since December 2009. As part of the Washington, DC, based Finance and Administration team, Chrischanne participates in the management of the office by controlling and performing a variety of administrative, finance, and mission-supported activities, as they relate to the Council.
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Kenya has over twenty years of experience in non-profit human services management, including leading programs within community-based organizations providing workforce development, parenting, life skills, and case management services for youth and families. Kenya uses her strong skill set in managing projects and events as a key member of the Executive team and works closely with the Executive Director and Chief of Staff. She holds a degree in Social Work from Bowie State University, and lives by the mantra “to whom much is given much is required.”
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