Leslie Wise Email and Phone Number

Portfolio Lead, Direct Community Support - Currently leading a team to design targeted support strategies for domestic and international communities to build and improve systems to end homelessness.Deputy Director, Built for Zero - Led all activity related to the core content and strategy for our work with Built for Zero communities. Supervised a team responsible for supporting community efforts to achieve functional zero for veterans and chronically homeless individuals. Led strategy and progress of our work through the 25 Cities initiative, a partnership with the Veterans Administration.Director, Southern CA Field Organizing, 100,000 Homes Campaign - With local elected officials, key funders and policy leaders, designed a pilot and scaled a countywide Coordinated Entry System to match housing and service interventions to the most vulnerable homeless individuals in Los Angeles County. Designed and implemented an initiative to improve the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. Led local fundraising efforts resulting in over $1M in financial support for Los Angeles specific Community Solutions initiatives. Los Angeles Program Manager, 100,000 Homes Campaign - Enrolled 40 Los Angeles communities in the 100,000 Homes Campaign and trained community leaders on all aspects of this successful national campaign that resulted in over 105,000 individuals housed. Led systems improvement initiatives in local communities resulting in measurable increases in housing placement rates and targeting of the most vulnerable homeless individuals.

Led team to complete research, data collection, and reports on various policies and programs that prevent and end homelessness in Los Angeles. Completed a federal, state, and local policy agenda to increase appropriations and programs to better address homelessness. Led all activities related to the 2009 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. Led City of Los Angeles multi-department team to design and implement the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program ($29.4 million) as part of the President’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Bill).

Advised the Mayor on key local, state, and federal policies targeted to end homelessness in the City of Los Angeles. Worked with state and federal elected officials and staff of key departments to create and modify legislation and increase funding to Los Angeles. Convened key city agencies to create homelessness and housing programs focused on the Mayor’s strategic goals. On behalf of the Mayor, brokered city budget and policy decisions related to housing and homelessness with City Council Offices.

Started the Los Angeles office of the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Developed and launched office strategy to provide products and services that strengthen the supportive housing industry and inform housing policy in Los Angeles City and County. Provided leadership to key local and regional collaborative projects and homelessness policy initiatives. These include the Skid Row Collaborative and the Mental Health Services Act (State Proposition 63). Provided relevant information to local and state leaders to effectively create and reform homelessness policy and develop community acceptance strategies for supportive housing. Provided acquisition and predevelopment lending to local not-for-profit supportive housing developers.