- What inspired you to join the board of Corvallis Housing First?
My decision to join the board of Corvallis Housing First grew out of both professional experience and deeply personal reflection. During the height of the pandemic, I worked with the San Francisco Department of Public Health as a project manager, helping to expand physical space and programs to help people experiencing homelessness at a time when systems were strained and human suffering was especially visible. Walking through San Francisco, I saw people sleeping on sidewalks, in doorways, and in makeshift shelters—doing their best to create a sense of safety and home in conditions that were anything but safe.
That experience stayed with me. Homelessness is not an abstract policy issue when you see it up close. It is people trying to survive while navigating illness, trauma, loss, and profound instability. The scale of the problem was overwhelming, but what struck me most was how easily it could be ignored by those not forced to confront it daily. I came to believe that inaction is not neutral—it has real human consequences.
When I later moved to Corvallis, I felt a responsibility to engage rather than look away. I wanted to be part of a community that does not accept homelessness as inevitable. At the same time, I carry a personal story that shapes how I see this work. My sister struggled with addiction to prescription opioids for more than 20 years. During the most difficult periods of her life, she relied heavily on family support. Without that safety net, she likely would have experienced homelessness herself. Many people who struggle with addiction, mental health challenges, or medical conditions do not have family members who can step in.
That reality is what makes Corvallis Housing First so powerful to me. The organization provides not just housing, but counseling and supportive services that recognize how complex the transition into stable housing can be. In many ways, Corvallis Housing First offers what a caring, informed family member might provide: consistency, compassion, expertise, and patience during moments when setbacks are part of the journey.
There is no single solution that addresses all the reasons people become unhoused. Homelessness is the result of intersecting factors—economic, social, medical, and systemic. But the Housing First model, which prioritizes stable housing alongside voluntary supportive services, is the most humane and evidence-based approach we currently have. It affirms dignity, restores stability, and creates the conditions where healing and progress become possible.
- What professional experience or perspective are you most excited to bring to our work?
My professional background is rooted in healthcare, where I learned early on that outcomes improve when we see the whole person rather than just the problem in front of us. When I worked at a Veterans Administration medical center that served as both a teaching hospital and a long-term care facility serving elderly and chronically ill veterans, it taught me the importance of respect, continuity, and trust—especially when people are navigating complex systems during vulnerable moments in their lives.
Over time, I expanded my skill set to include project management, process design, and business fundamentals, including earning a Master of Business Administration. This combination allows me to bridge compassion with structure—to ask how systems can better support people while remaining financially and operationally sustainable.
What excites me most is bringing a person-centered mindset into organizational decisions. Budgets, strategies, and processes matter because they shape real experiences for real people. Thoughtful planning helps ensure that resources are used wisely and that staff and volunteers are supported in doing difficult, meaningful work.
At Corvallis Housing First, much of the strategic direction is already clear, particularly with the development of Third Street Commons, which will create 47 units (studios and 1-bedrooms) including funding for supportive services. I am grateful to contribute where helpful—whether through fundraising, operational thinking, or simply listening and learning from those closest to the work. The need in our community is significant, and I am motivated to help strengthen an organization that is already making a measurable difference.
- Why do you think supportive housing is a critical issue in our community right now?
There is a proverb: the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now. As a society, we should have addressed homelessness decades ago, particularly when funding for public health, mental health, and affordable housing was reduced. Those decisions did not happen in isolation, and their consequences are now painfully clear. While we cannot go back and undo the past, we can choose to act with urgency and care today.
Corvallis is uniquely positioned to lead. We are large enough to share resources and build partnerships, yet small enough to see the direct impact of our efforts. The most recent point-in-time count identified approximately 200 people living unsheltered who were willing to be counted. While these counts are imperfect, they provide a tangible place to begin. When we frame the issue this way, the challenge feels human and achievable rather than abstract and overwhelming.
Supportive housing matters because housing alone is often not enough. Many people experiencing homelessness are also navigating trauma, mental illness, substance use, chronic health conditions, or economic instability. Stable housing creates the foundation, but supportive services help people stay housed, rebuild trust, and regain a sense of control over their lives.
Third Street Commons represents more than a building. It represents a commitment to addressing homelessness with compassion, evidence, and accountability. With housing and funded supportive services working together, we can reduce suffering, improve health outcomes, and strengthen the fabric of our community. Homelessness is a complex problem, but it is not an unsolvable one. Progress happens when communities decide that dignity and stability are shared responsibilities.
- Is there a podcast, book, or idea that influences how you think about this work?
One resource that has shaped how I think about complex challenges is My Favorite Mistake, a book and podcast series by Mark Graban, a colleague in the field of healthcare improvement. Each podcast episode features honest conversations with people about a meaningful mistake they made—and what they learned from it. I was honored to be interviewed for episode #323, which focused on trust, verification, and learning. The episode is also available on YouTube.
A quote from that conversation captures how I approach work like this: “We can’t fix the whole world, but we can fix our small piece—and that makes a difference.” That perspective feels especially relevant when addressing homelessness. The scope of the problem can feel daunting, but meaningful change often begins with focused, local action.
Mark’s premise is that creating space to acknowledge and learn from mistakes fosters innovation. At first glance, endorsing mistakes seems counterintuitive, but innovation rarely comes from repeating the same approaches that produced the current outcomes. The challenges that contribute to homelessness—generational trauma, mental health conditions, substance use as self-medication, housing costs rising faster than wages, limited access to education, and gaps in affordable healthcare—require new ways of thinking and acting.
Supporting Corvallis Housing First is, in many ways, an act of thoughtful optimism. It reflects a belief that we can learn, adapt, and do better together. We may not solve every dimension of homelessness at once, but by taking informed risks and centering compassion, we can make life safer and more stable for people who deserve dignity, security, and hope.