HOMES FOR GOOD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Property Management Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Property Manager
Job Titles:
- Rent Assistance Division Analyst
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant / Bilingual
Bailey has over 13 years of experience in the Human Resources field, accepting her first HR role in her senior year of undergraduate studies. She believes strongly that employees are an organization's most valued assets, and that strategic & supportive HR Leadership is essential in achieving organizational objectives.
Bailey has a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from Oregon State University as well as a Senior Professional Certification (SHRM-SCP) from the Society of Human Resources Management. A native to Southern Oregon, she enjoys exploring Oregon's many waterfalls, river rafting and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Rent Assistance Division Director
Beth Ochs oversees the implementation of over 3,000 housing subsidies within Lane County. She has worked in public service for over 15 years; working with Section 8 Programs, Home Ownership Programs, Veteran housing programs and other affordable housing endeavors in Oregon. She believes that housing should be accessible to all and everyone should strive to be an excellent partner in the process; whether landlord, tenant or community agency. As part of her devotion, she serves on the Board of the Rental Owners Association, working to build partnerships that benefit renters and owners.
A graduate of the University of Oregon, Beth has been in Eugene since the mid-1990s and loves the outdoor spaces and beauty of the county.
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Property Manager
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Property Manager
Job Titles:
- Permanent Supportive Housing Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator
Chloe Chapman is a commercial lender with Summit Bank, a Eugene-based community bank, where she partners with Lane County businesses and non-profits to achieve their financial goals and further their missions. She holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Securities Analysis from the University of Oregon and a BA in Philosophy from Whitman College. Prior to her career in banking, Chloe spent 10 years in the nonprofit education and healthcare sectors and co-founded the UO Impact Investing Fund while a student at the UO. She is passionate about community finance and serves as Co-Chair of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce Women Business Leaders Committee, Board Treasurer of Springfield Young Readers, and is a member of the Oregon Bankers Association BIPOC Task Force. In her free time, Chloe can be found playing with her husband and twin one-year-olds at the coast or in the mountains. What does home mean to Chloe? Home to me is a stable place where my family and I feel safe, loved, nurtured, and happy. A loving, safe home is my foundation for joy, growth, and thriving.
Job Titles:
- Rent Assistance Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Account Administrator
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Curtis graduated from Indiana University in 2009 with a Master's in Library Science, and previously worked in public and academic libraries. Before moving to Eugene, he lived in the Boston area for around 7 years.
Curtis has always pursued a life of public service, starting with his first job in a public library in high school.
In addition to improving the IT environment for Agency staff, he hopes that IT can provide support and training to residents at their point of need, and make sure residents have access to the technology they need.
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant / Bilingual
Job Titles:
- Project Coordination Specialist
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Job Titles:
- Landlord & Community Relations Specialist
Esteban joined Homes for Good in October 2020. Since then, he has been enhancing existing partnerships with local and regional utilities, expanding community connections, and helping low-income residents be more comfortable while supporting a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.
After working as an English-Spanish medical interpreter for over a decade, he went back to school to pursue a career he feels would be more rewarding and have more positive impact in the community. He recently received his Energy Management Degree from Lane Community College, Eugene.
Esteban also had the opportunity to work as the Assistant Community Liaison Officer for the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica where he coordinated with several groups of volunteers and community members.
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Heather Buch is a mother, military spouse, community housing advocate and Lane County Commissioner for District 5. Heather was born and raised in Lane County and has spent her professional career running a small business to help people access and afford housing in Lane County. Heather pursued this career path because, as the daughter of a single, working mother growing up in Veneta, she learned firsthand the effects of unstable housing. Heather also spent several years working as the Special Projects Director for St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc, Lane County's largest nonprofit human services organization, where she helped the agency work towards community-driven goals. She worked on many unique, innovative community-based projects and took a lead role in the nonprofit's acquisition and rehabilitation of aging mobile home parks - a new approach and solution to the need for more affordable housing that the state and local governments are working to replicate throughout Oregon. What does home mean to Heather? As a child, home was always a symbol of security and stability even though I couldn't articulate it at the time. When the world seemed unknown and unpredictable this was, and still is, very important to me. Children often have little voice in the housing they are provided and deserve to feel safe and secure at all times.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Generalist
Jacob Fox joined Homes for Good in 2013 and became Executive Director in 2015. He is passionate about transforming organizations in order to better serve communities. Jacob began his career in the mid-1990s and is a national leader and advocate for affordable housing.
Jacob has worked for three different housing authorities in numerous capacities including resident services, property management, asset management, development and executive management. Before joining Homes for Good, Jacob worked for the City of Portland where he directed investments in ending homelessness, affordable homeownership and affordable housing developments. Jacob is active in housing policy deliberation and legislative advocacy at the local, state, regional and national levels.
He feels strongly that housing is a basic human right and he believes in our ability to create stronger communities by linking affordable housing residents with health care, education, employment and other supportive services. When Jacob isn't working he enjoys traveling, and fishing in Alaska.
Job Titles:
- Housing Inspector / 541 - 682 - 2524
Job Titles:
- Executive Support Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Maintenance Services Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Communications Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Job Titles:
- Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Job Titles:
- Commissioner
- Community Outreach Manager at Cascadia Mobility
Justin Sandoval is the Community Outreach Manager at Cascadia Mobility, the nonprofit operator of PeaceHealth Rides, the City of Eugene's bike share program. Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon by proud immigrant parents, he has followed the same footsteps as his parents in serving his community. Justin graduated from the University of Oregon in 2018 with a graduate degree in public administration and nonprofit management. For the last 15 years, he has worked with nonprofits and government agencies in areas of food injustice, mental health, and transportation equity. In his role at Homes for Good, he is interested in the intersectionality of transportation mobility and affordable housing, and how that plays a factor in creating sustainable and livable cities. Justin likes to spend his free time exploring Oregon's natural beauties with friends and loved ones either by biking, hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, or camping. What does home mean to Justin? Home are all the spaces where the warmth of family and loved ones and peaceful refuge exists. The more we create it for others, the bigger home gets.
Job Titles:
- Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager
Job Titles:
- Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- CAP Project Manager
is a 20-year resident of Eugene who believes that housing is a human right. Having experienced homelessness and housing instability throughout her childhood, she is devoted to helping find solutions to houselessness that recognize the inherent dignity of all people regardless of their current circumstances. Larissa is currently the director of community relations and sponsorships for University of Oregon, and serves on the Eugene Chamber's Business Leader's Task Force on Homelessness. A first-generation college graduate, Larissa earned a Bachelor's degree in English from Washington State University, and a Master's and PhD in English/Film Studies from University of Oregon. In her free time, Larissa is president of the board of Oregon Mozart Players, and enjoys karaoke, gardening, and watching sci-fi movies and tv series with her spouse and their three lazy dogs. What does home mean to Larissa? Home is sanctuary: a safe space to be my whole self. At home I am cared for, finding respite from the challenges of the outside world. Home is stability, strength, and peace, the foundation of wellness.
Job Titles:
- Housing Inspector / 541 - 682 - 2614
Job Titles:
- Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Specialist
Job Titles:
- Property Management Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Passionate Leader
Michelle Thurston is a passionate leader and advocate with lived experience as a Homes for Good participant from Cottage Grove. Her passion and advocacy focuses housing, homelessness, food stability and medical access, with a focus on seniors, disabled, diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice. She serves on numerous boards, councils, and committees, where she uses her voice, experience, and training to communicate the needs and wants of the community. It is her belief that those with lived experience and who are directly impacted are essential to understanding and creating lasting change and solutions, and that they must have a "real" seat at every table and be a part of the conversation and action. When she is not advocating, she is an avid photographer and love spending time with her family, spoiling her cat, Fiona, and just living life! What does home mean to Michelle? Home is a safe place where love is shared, friends are welcome. Where memories are made and a space I can grow and thrive.
Job Titles:
- Rent Assistance Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Property Management Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Program & Grants Specialist
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant / Bilingual
Job Titles:
- Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Property Management Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Project Coordination Specialist
Job Titles:
- Supportive Housing Director
Wakan Alferes oversees the operations of our Public and Assisted Housing as well as the Resident Services, Family Self-Sufficiency and Permanent Supportive Housing programs that are focused on helping residents increase stability and success in housing and in life.
Wakan graduated from the University of Oregon in 2004, served in the PeaceCorps in Panama and has spent the better part of the last 15 years working in homeless services, affordable housing and resident services in Oregon. Before coming to Homes for Good, Wakan lived in Portland and worked as a Resident Services Supervisor at Home Forward and Human Solutions in Portland, gaining experience in both the nonprofit and public housing realms.
She is an advocate for supportive housing, a trauma informed approach, increasing resident leadership and developing strong partnerships to meet the needs of our communities. Wakan likes spending time with her family, exploring new places, being on or near the water, crafting and playing in the garden.