Community Homeless Solutions Opens Our New Youth Program In Marina
February 23,2023
On February 23, 2023 Community Homeless Solutions Opens doors to our new Youth Housing Demonstration Program (YHDP) We will be serving 18–24-year-olds. The goal of the YHDP program is to successfully reintegrate youth back into the community by focusing on Trauma informed services and supports that build safety, and interpersonal/independent living skills while helping youth obtain and retain permanent housing, access appropriate health services, improve their quality of life, connect them with educational opportunities, and increase their income.
Services are offered throughout Monterey County. Housing is located in Marina. Referrals are provided from the C.A.R.S active housing list. To request additional information contact Program Manager Priscilla Ortega (323-335-0263) Email: Portega@communityhomelesssolutions.org
Welcome Our New Executive Director
May 3, 2022
On May 3, 2022, Community Homeless Solutions, the largest provider of permanent supportive housing and operator of domestic violence and homeless shelters in Monterey and San Benito Counties, announced the appointment of Mr. Greg Baker as the Executive Director of the agency effective May 3. Greg Baker succeeds Eric Johnsen who has served in the interim role since September, 2020 and who continues to serve on the Board of Directors in the role of Vice President.
“The Board of Directors has undertaken a long and thorough process vetting, interviewing and selecting its’ next Executive Director to lead the organization at this important and pivotal time in the history of the agency. Greg has a very unique background in both the non-profit and for-profit worlds and brings tremendous strength in finance, human resources, strategic planning and community development that are vital to the agency at this time,” says Lisa Griffin Burns, the Board president.
Mr. Baker has an extensive Consulting background which has allowed him to work with countless different businesses and agencies in their strategic planning, finance and human resource needs. His background includes overseeing the local VNA/Hospice organization, working at McGraw Hill, and more recently acting in the role of Board Chair and CEO of a Marina Charter School. Greg energetically embraces his new role in community advocacy, especially in the áreas of housing affordability and homelessness, domestic violence, education and youth. “Our ‘industry’, per se, needs both the wisdom and experience of those who have been working in homeless services for many years, but also new visionaries with fresh thinking and strategies that continue to help those who find themselves unhoused and struggling to simply survive. I believe Greg will bring this new breath of air to help Community Homeless Solutions continue to expand its’ own mission while bringing strategic insights into addressing some of the gaps in services we have in our communities,” says Eric Johnsen, outgoing Executive Director. For nearly 45 years, Community Homeless Solutions has been a key leader in successfully addressing the issues of homelessness by creating opportunities for people to move forward to housing, from shelters, the street, respite care and even from living in a car. The agency’s team of highly qualified and compassionate managers and staff provide vital information, case management, housing navigation, career coaching and enrichment activities for men, women and children in its’ multiple programs throughout Monterey and San Benito Counties.