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Lynda Schueler
Paul Goyette

Lynda Schueler, MPAChief Executive Officer

Lynda has devoted her career to helping men, women, and families transition from housing crisis to housing stability. As executive director since 2001, Lynda provides strategic vision and organizational leadership at Housing Forward. Her leadership has enabled the agency’s growth from a $450,000 a year shelter provider to a $13M agency offering a full continuum of housing and prevention programs in addition to safety-net services. Over the years, she has formed numerous collaborations whose expertise and resources have guided hundreds of Housing Forward clients on their paths toward self-sufficiency. Lynda is a founder and current board member of the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County and a founding member of the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition. She has received awards for her work from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Housing Action Illinois, West Cook Y, the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, the Maywood Chamber of Commerce and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Oak Park Rotary. In 2020, Lynda was named Villager of the Year in Oak Park for leading the agency’s COVID response.  

Lynda has a Masters of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Illinois State University.

Favorite Housing Forward value: Innovative Solutions

“We’re not afraid to venture into unknown territory to end homelessness. We look to communities to help feed the innovation and partner with us to solve homelessness.”

In her spare time, Lynda enjoys riding her bike around town and traveling with her family.

Lynda Schueler, MPA

Chief Executive Officer
Misti Faust

Misti Faust, MFAChief Financial Officer

Misti Faust was a key member of the finance department from 2007 to 2018, and has returned to Housing Forward in the role of CFO.  She is responsible for the financial management strategy including direct responsibility for the agency’s accounting, finance, forecasting, budget, strategic planning, oversight of all public contracts/agreements, financial compliance, and risk management.

Misti has spent her career working in the nonprofit field with various homeless agencies, including New Moms, Inc., Bobby E. Wright MHC and Bridge Communities. The past 15 years, she has focused on executive leadership roles. Prior to rejoining Housing Forward, Misti worked for Illinois Public Health Institute as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer overseeing the agency’s finances, human resources, and administrative operations. Her work continues to be about building administrative and financial capacity and improving financial and human resource systems and processes.

Favorite Housing Forward value: Person-Centered Approaches

"My favorite value is 'person-centered approaches'. This is my favorite because as individuals we are unique and similar at the same time. Each of us have a background or history, beliefs, experiences, values, thoughts, expressions, motivations, successes and defeats that are common but they are also different at the same time. Because of our uniqueness, our approach should not be self-centered, standard or generalized but centered around our individualities."

Misti has a MFA (Masters of Financial Accounting) from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science Degree from DeVry University.

Misti Faust, MFA

Chief Financial Officer
Armando Smith
Paul Goyette

Armando Smith, LCSWChief Program Officer

As Chief Program Officer, Armando Smith is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and oversight of Housing Forward's integrated service delivery system through six program areas – housing, interim housing, medical respite, outreach & diversion, prevention, and wraparound services. Armando has more than 35 years of leadership and counseling experience with prominent social service agencies such as The Night Ministry, Teen Living Programs and AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Most recently, Armando was Associate Director of Healthcare Clinical Operations for Vital Bridges, a division of Heartland Health Outreach. In that position, he was responsible for all program operations, quality assurance and improvement, outcome measurement and budget management. He is part time staff at the Cathedral Counseling Center and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and member of the National Association of Social Workers. 

Favorite Housing Forward value: Person Centered Approach

“When we put clients at the center of our work, we are guided by the very reason we exist as an organization: to be of service to those who seek and rely on us.”

Armando, a native of Panama, is fluent in Spanish.

Armando Smith, LCSW

Chief Program Officer

Prevention & Diversion

Romiesha Tucker
Romiesha Tucker
Director of Prevention, Diversion, and Outreach
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Teneshia Kuykendoll
Homeless Prevention Case Manager
Lauren Lofton
Lauren Lofton
Homeless Prevention Coordinator
Elvis Lomeli
Elvis Lomeli
Homeless Prevention Case Manager
Dorothea Pantelios
Dorothea Pantelios
Diversion and Intake Specialist

Outreach & Engagement

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Hugh Boswell
Street Outreach Specialist
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Freddie Gallegos
Street Outreach Specialist
Troy Garcia
Troy Garcia
Street Outreach Specialist
Reyna Gutierrez
Reyna Gutierrez
Street Outreach Specialist
Jennifer McWhorter
Jennifer McWhorter, MA
Supportive Service Coordinator
Maria Salinas
Maria Salinas
Street Outreach Specialist

Interim Housing

Janet Hotch
Janet Hotch, MS, MA
Director of Emergency Services
Adam Axley
Adam Axley
Resident Assistant
Lalema Bakate
Lalema Bakate
Lead Coordinator
Ian Givens
Ian Givens
Case Manager
Amos Jefferson
Amos Jamerson
Resident Assistant
Calvin Jefferson
Calvin Jefferson
Resident Assistant
Vincent Johnson
Vincent Johnson
Resident Assistant
Rachidah Kessougani
Rachidah Kessouagni
Resident Assistant
Laterriaus Lawry
Laterriaus Lawry
Resident Assistant
Rachel Lockhart
Rachel Lockhart
Case Manager
Aneesha Moore
Aneesha Moore
Program Coordinator
Eric Swiecki
Eric Swiecki
Resident Assistant

Emergency Overnight Shelter

Diamond Foster
Diamond Foster
Shelter Relief Worker
Allisin Johnson
Allisin Johnson
Shelter Engagement Specialist
Vivian Lott
Vivian Lott
Shelter Relief Worker
Luis Mercado
Luis Mercado
Shelter Relief Worker

Medical Respite

Holly Rotman-Zaid
Holly Rotman-Zaid, MA
Director, Medical Respite
Denise Call
Denise Call, RN
Registered Nurse
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Theodore Carter
Engagement Specialist
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LaChaina Conwell, MPA
Engagement Specialist
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Jessica Gutierrez
Case Manager
Josephine Martey
Josephine Martey
Case Manager
Tamera Russell
Tamera Russell, MA
Medical Assistant
Contracted
Housing Forward
Rosalind Sellers, MA
Medical Assistant
Veronica Spicer
Veronica Spicer, MA
Medical Assistant
Monica Tolliver
Monica Tolliver, RN
Registered Nurse
Tamika Watson
Tameka Watson, MA
Medical Assistant

Supportive Housing

Patricia Stokes
Patricia Stokes, MSW
Senior Director, Supportive Housing
Teneesha Perry
Cathy Bracco
Substance Use Specialist
Gem Canada
Gem Canada
Housing Case Manager
Claudette Cosby Bond
Claudette Cosby Bond
Substance Use Specialist
Gail Diop
Gail Diop
Housing Case Manager
Donna English
Donna English, MS, LCPC
Behavioral Health Specialist
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Esther Franco
Family Case Manager- DV
Tunisia Frazier
Tunisia Frazier, MA
Housing Case Manager
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Etta Carol Fuller
Family Case Manager - DV
Agnieszka Hajkowska
Agnieszka Hajkowska
Substance Use Specialist
Anthony Hemphill
Anthony Hemphill
Case Manager Supervisor
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Franchesca Hoyt
Housing Case Manager
Terri Hunter
Terri Hunter
Housing Case Manager
Demetrius Lawry
Demetrius Lawry
Housing Case Manager
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Brian Lewis
Housing Case Manager- VA
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Porcha Lucas
TH/RRH Case Manager
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LaVonda Lyles
Housing Case Manager
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Jay Miller
Clinical Case Manager
Tiffany Moore
Tiffany Moore, MBA
Housing Case Manager
Jennifer Nelson
Jennifer Nelson
Housing Case Manager
Cecilia O'Neill
Cecilia O'Neill
Rental Assistance Manager
Sean O'Gara
Sean O’Gara
Clinical Supervisor
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Erica Randall
Housing Program Assistant
Aaron Rapoport
Aaron Rapoport, LCSW
Housing Case Manager/Internship Coordinator
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Cristina Romero
Housing Case Manager
Clarice Shackelford
Clarice Shackelford
Housing Case Manager
Todd Sher
Todd Sher, MSW
Housing Case Manager
Cherise Tolliver
Cherise Tolliver
Housing Case Manager
Tiffani Gardner
Tiffani Gardner
Housing Case Manager, FIT

Housing Navigation Services

Shannon Chatman
Shannon Chatman
Housing Navigator
Prentice Hill
Prentice Hills
Housing Coordinator
Pamela Howard-White
Pamela Howard-White
Housing Coordinator
William Jones
William Jones
Housing Navigator
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Victoria Miller
Youth Housing Navigator
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Elizabeth Murray
Housing Navigator
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Douglas Smith
Housing Navigator Manager

Wraparound Services

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Arletta Curtis
Community Health Nurse
Teneesha Perry
Chelsea Dare
Coordinated Entry Assessor
Carla Gordon
Carla Gordon
System Navigator
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Jenny Hupp
Coordinated Entry Dedicated Assessor
Michael King
Michael King
Community Case Manager
Erica Knighton
Erica Knighton
Community Case Manager
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Louada Lee
Employment Specialist
Ebony Martin
Ebony Martin
Family Support Specialist
Matthew Thomas
Matthew Thomas
Behavioral Health Specialist

Administration & Operations

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Reginald Burton
Assistant Facilities Manager
Abigail Canchola
Abigail Canchola
Executive Assistant
Susan Cronin
Susan Cronin
Manager, Human Resources
Megan Dearden
Megan Dearden, MBA
Human Resources Assistant
David Flint
David Flint, MPA, CCEP
Manager, Compliance
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Cristy Harris
Project Consultant
Ryan Russ
Ryan Russ
Facilities Manager
Sandra Stillo
Sandra Stillo
Office Manager

System Performance

Erin Harmon
Erin Harmon
Data & Analytics Manager
Tammy Verticchio
Tammy Verticchio, MBA
Sr. Manager of Systems Performance

Finance

Emmanuel Vazquez
Emmanuel Vazquez
Senior Grant Accountant
Quentin McGee
Quentin McGee
Controller
Lorie Reid Fuller
Lorie Reid Fuller
Accounting Operations Manager
Kristin Bell
Kristen Smith
Grant Administrative Accountant
Shemika Stinson
Shemika Stinson, MBA
Grant Administrative Accountant

Development

Erik Johnson
Erik Johnson
Major Gifts Officer
Tara Dabney
Tara Dabney
Director of Development
Libby Foster
Libby Foster
Director of Communications
Cherrell Jackson
Cherrell Jackson
Volunteer Manager
Alice Kloska
Alice Kloska
Events & Engagement Manager
Sarah Catalano
Sarah Catalano
Development Manager

AmeriCorps & VISTA

Jacara Davis
Jacara Davis
Database Coordinator VISTA
Reba Hughes
Reba Hughes
Community Outreach VISTA
Ezella Miller
Ezella Miller
Homelessness Prevention Associate VISTA
James Purrenhage
James Purrenhage
Fund Development VISTA