Homeownership, financial education, and wealth creation

Hacienda, CDC is building community partnerships, collaborating with service providers, funders, and building supports to provide affordable housing, economic opportunities and educational tools designed to strengthen Latino communities and underserved populations across the state. In my role as Sr. Deputy Director, I will grow the Homeownership and Empresario programs to reach their potential. Assisting households and inspiring entrepreneurs to understand the value and structure of wealth creation. Working with staff on curriculum that will educate applicants on the value of credit, money, and goal setting.

As a State of Oregon Homeless Program Coordinator, I manage the distribution of state and federal homeless support service funds to designated Community Action Agencies across the state. Dollars are allocated to agencies to assist homeless individuals and families who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless, people who are unstably housed and people who are literally homeless. The amount of the award is legislatively mandated and approved by the Community Action Programs of Oregon Board. The funds are determined based on American Community Survey, Census data and the Point in Time Count. Other responsibilities include the oversight of a discretionary grant process where funds are allocated to agencies within the Community Action network to increase an agency’s resources and capacity. I review and approve agency work plans and budgets to ensure both state and federal funds deliver support services to populations in need while reaching out to and serving historically underserved populations and marginalized communities. My goal each and every day is to deliver effective support and services to people who are homeless, unstably housed and or at risk of homelessness.

Project management assistant to the PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) senior management team. Tracking of timeline and flowchart activities designed to keep staff on task for implementation of new web-based medical software application.

Assist with the building of relations between east county and mainstream services in the Portland area for housing, employment training and placement and healthcare opportunities to people without shelter. Enter into relationships with Multnomah County information and referral sources to increase the usage of centralized data. Work with homeless ministry team on food delivery and preparation of meals to street friends in downtown Gresham. Explore relations with City of Gresham staffers and the broader community in order to initiate dialogue on the plight of homeless people living in the area.

Assist Executive Director expand contacts with agencies and businesses on the concept of an innovative entrepreneurial movement designed for people existing the prison system. Propel message of a systemic re-entry approach.

Worked with area funders, agency providers, trade organizations, and city and county officials to strengthen communities, increase quality employment and training program resources while improving affordable housing opportunities for individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless. Oversaw grant development and implementation of awards designed to build community through workforce training and affordable housing opportunities across the region. Convened and facilitated discussions with partner agencies, funders, stakeholders, and government entities focused on social enterprise, competitive employment for adults with disabilities, and housing for individuals and families.

Responsible for the oversight of a regional competitive grants process designed to assist social service agencies. Researched, assessed and reviewed program effectiveness. Provided technical assistance in the way of collaborative training, mediation and fiscal oversight. Assessed the validity of collaborative economic stability programs for replication to produce a collective impact across education, financial stability and health .

As Housing and Financial Education Manager, I was responsible for supervising, planing and evaluating homeownership and financial education programs. Program services included financial education, credit counseling and assistance with improving credit scores. Delivered class instruction to over five hundred prospective homeowners annually. Over a three year period, my team worked to increase the the number of people that completed homeownership classes by twenty-five percent. In partnership with Neighbor Works America I was also responsible for the continued education and certification of PHC homeownership staff.

Managed individual and corporate volunteers, secured local donations and facilitated monthly orientations for people interested in becoming home owners through the Habitat for Humanity process. Managed AmeriCorp volunteers who served as construction leads. Oversaw the installation of a network computer system and volunteer database.