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
Our Team
CoC Members
Non-profit Homeless Assistance Providers
(Rotating Consideration)
Ian Labitue
Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin Co.
Beth Lonn
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
Columbus Mayor’s Office
Marcus Johnson
City of Columbus
Tiara Ross
Office of the Columbus City Attorney
Street Outreach
(Rotating Consideration)
Katie Farabee
Mount Carmel Health System Street Medicine
Businesses
(Rotating Consideration)
Sonya Higginbotham
CSB Board Member
Alison Marker
CSB Board Member
Matthew Martin
The Columbus Foundation
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
Employment Services
(Rotating Consideration)
Scott Johnson
ASPYR Workforce Innovation
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
Homeless or formerly homeless persons
Malcolm Turner
Citizens Advisory Council
Hospitals
(Rotating Consideration)
Le-Ann Harris
OhioHealth
Law Enforcement
Lt. Kyle Kincade
Columbus Police Department
LGBTQ+-serving Organization or Advocacy Group
(Rotating Consideration)
Meghann Cicola
Equitas Health
Local Jails/Courts
Makaylah Downour
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Organizations
(Rotating Consideration)
MarQuan McCarrel
Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare
Sue Villilo
ADAMH Board
Universities
(Rotating Consideration)
Dr. Desiree Polk-Bland
Columbus State Community College
Veterans Organizations
Robert Bramlish
Veterans Service Commission
Courtney Elrod
Veterans Administration
Youth Advocates
Rei Scott
Youth Action Board