Our Leaders’ Impact
Guided by the HEARTH Act, these leaders work together to:
- Adopt and follow a written process to select the CoC Board.
- Review and approve annual funding allocations, including ESG and CoC funds.
- Appoint committees and workgroups to move our housing-focused frameworks forward.
By bringing together expertise from across the region, these individuals ensure that our homeless response system remains accountable, data-driven, and effective. All members must complete our Conflict of Interest form when they join the CoC and again each year.
Shape the Future: Join a Committee
Joining a Continuum of Care (CoC) committee is a powerful way to take an active role in shaping the strategies and decisions that impact how our community addresses homelessness. Committees focus on key areas such as youth homelessness, system operations, performance monitoring, and more. By participating, you can share your expertise, represent your agency or lived experience, and collaborate with others to improve policies, evaluate programs, and advance innovative solutions. Committee members are essential to driving progress, ensuring accountability, and building a more coordinated, equitable system of care in Columbus and Franklin County.
The CoC is seeking diverse candidates across a range of characteristics, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, LGBTQ+ identity, socioeconomic status, disability, and lived experience.
Our Leaders
CoC Board
Michael Wilkos
United Way of Central Ohio
Emerald Hernandez-Parra
City of Columbus
Malcolm Turner
Citizens Advisory Council
Sue Villilo
ADAMH
Scott Scharlach
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority
Matthew Martin
The Columbus Foundation
Ben Sears
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless
Ian Labitue
Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin Co.
Diane Alecusan
OCCH
Walter Dillard
Franklin County
Shannon TL Isom
Community Shelter Board
Lark Mallory
CSB Board of Trustees
Ritchie Peppers
Youth Action Board
Health McCall
House of Hope
Mayor Joe Begeny
City of Reynoldsburg
Dr. Nathaniel Overmire
Franklin County Coroner
Judge Jodi Thomas
Franklin County Municipal Court
Our Team
CoC Members
Non-profit Homeless Assistance Providers
(Rotating Consideration)
Ian Labitue
Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin Co.
Melissa Sirak
YMCA of Central Ohio
Shannon TL Isom
Community Shelter Board
Youth Homeless Organizations
(Rotating Consideration)
Beth Fetzer-Rice
Home for Families
Victim Service Providers
(Rotating Consideration)
Mary O’Doherty
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Lauren Wilson
LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence
Faith-based Organizations
(Rotating Consideration)
Jim Rose
Faith Based Committee
Local Governments/ESG Entitlement
Walter Dillard
Franklin County
Katie Fallon
Columbus City Council
Emerald Hernandez-Parra
City of Columbus
Marcus Johnson
City of Columbus
Street Outreach
(Rotating Consideration)
Katie Farabee
Mount Carmel Health System Street Medicine
Businesses
(Rotating Consideration)
Sonya Higginbotham
CSB Board Member
Lark Mallory
CSB Board Member
Alison Marker
CSB Board Member
Matthew Martin
The Columbus Foundation
Betsy Pandora
Short North Alliance
Nathan P. Wymer
CSB Board Member
Advocates and Other Homeless Subpopulation Advocates
(Rotating Consideration)
Ben Sears
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless
Terri Power
Corporation for Supportive Housing
Donna Mayer
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking
(Rotating Consideration)
Nancy Hashman
Sanctuary Night
Public Housing Authorities
Scott Scharlach
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority
School Administrators/Homeless Liaisons
TBD
Columbus City Schools – Project Connect
Social Service Providers
Shianne Howard
Franklin County Dept of Job and Family Services
Tina Rutherford
Franklin County Children Services & Committee to End Youth Homelessness
Michael Wilkos
United Way of Central Ohio
Chanda I. Wingo
Franklin County Office on Aging
Youth Advocates
Ritchie Peppers
Youth Action Board
Rei Scott
Youth Action Board
Individuals Currently or Formerly Experiencing Homelessness
Alexis Pettiford
Citizen Advisory Council
Malcolm Turner
Citizens Advisory Council
Affordable Housing Developers and Advocates
Ian Labitue
Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin Co.
Universities
(Rotating Consideration)
Elecia Spain
Columbus State Community College
Hospitals
(Rotating Consideration)
Joshua Raines
OhioHealth
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Organizations
(Rotating Consideration)
Health McCall
House of Hope
Sue Villilo
ADAMH Board
Employment Services
(Rotating Consideration)
Scott Johnson
ASPYR Workforce Innovation
Veterans Organizations
(Rotating Consideration)
Courtney Elrod
Veterans Administration
Matt Zelnik
Veterans Service Commission
Affordable Housing Developers and Advocates
Diane Alecusan
OCCH
Carlie Boos
Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio
Disability Service Organizations/Disability Advocates
Juliet C. Dorris-Williams
The P.E.E.R. Center
Jeff Pattison
Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Elected Officials
Mayor Joe Begeny
City of Reynoldsburg
Dr. Nathaniel Overmire
Franklin County Coroner
Judge Jodi Thomas
Franklin County Municipal Court
Law Enforcement
Lt. Kyle Kincade
Columbus Police Department
LGBTQ+-serving Organization or Advocacy Group
(Rotating Consideration)
Meghann Cicola
Equitas Health