Yvette is the Housing Director at HomeAid Orange County. HomeAid acts as the developer for non-profit service providers and the building industry to provide affordable housing at reduced cost to those experiencing homelessness.

Yvette was previously the VP of Operations for Illumination Foundation and worked in direct service, operation, logistics and housing development for over a decade.

Yvette’s passion is in the provision of healthy safe housing for those experiencing homelessness. Yvette serves as the Chair of the FSC Human Resources Committee  and has served as a past FSC Chair in FY 21-22.

As Chief Operations Officer, Sara provides leaderships, oversight, and management of Human Options continuum of integrated programs and services. Since 2013, she has capitalized on her experience working with survivors of relationship violence to help establish Human Options as the most comprehensive domestic violence service provider in Orange County. Her passion for the work stems from a lifelong commitment to ending gender-based violence, beginning with a volunteer position at an Orange County-based domestic violence shelter at age 14.

She is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University of California Hastings College of the Law, and a member of the California Bar Association. She served as the Chairperson for the Legal Issues Subcommittee of the Orange County Family Violence Council and is an alumnus of the Women’s Foundation of California Solis Policy Institute. She is a member of the HOME (Housing Opportunities Mean Everything) cohort, a group compromised of leadership from domestic violence organizations across California working to eradicate women’s homelessness, and of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

Sara serves as the FSC Secretary and serves on FSC Data and Compliance Committee.

LaVal Brewer is the proud President & CEO of South County Outreach in Irvine, CA, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent hunger and homelessness by helping people help themselves.

LaVal possesses more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit management and more than a decade of experience in executive and development roles. LaVal grew up in South Los Angeles as part of a middle-class family that didn’t have a lot of money, but never went hungry and always had a roof over their heads. At 16, LaVal landed a part-time summer job at LA’s Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department that would change his life by sparking his interest in the nonprofit sector.

For 21 years, LaVal served in variety of leadership positions at Southern California YMCA’s and then brought his dedication and expertise to the role of Executive Director of Playworks Southern California. Prior to joining South County Outreach, LaVal served as Director of Business Development and Partnerships at OneOC.

LaVal earned his bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College. He is a board member for Center Club Orange County and council member for the County of Orange, Senior Citizen Advisory Council, and also serves as an Elder at the Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo.

LaVal serves as the current FSC Chair (FY22-23), and serves as the past FSC Marketing and Messaging Committee Chair. He also serves on the Governance Committee and Human Resources Committees for the FSC.

Jessica has extensive expertise in program management and direct services, with over 15 years of homeless collaborative services experience. She has managed outreach teams, emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing in Orange County and has been serving as the Chief Program Officer with non-profit organization City Net since July 2019.

City Net provides street outreach services and, in many cases, is the first responder to families who are experiencing street level homelessness. Jessica is committed to ending family homelessness and is honored to be part of the FSC Executive Committee. Jessica serves on FSC Human Resources and Governance Committees.

Carrie Buck is the Executive Director of Homeless Intervention Services of Orange County, HIS-OC (formerly HIS House) in Orange County, California. Carrie works with leaders in education and homelessness to make a difference for people who do not have a strong
voice in Orange County.

HIS-OC supports families and individuals to overcome homelessness and
achieve independence. In 2020, HIS-OC added two new programs, HomeShare OC matching students and seniors and a CHESS Program for 18- to 24-year-old men.

Carrie also leads the monthly Placentia Collaborative meetings that unite
local community efforts to cultivate strong and healthy neighborhoods. She is the immediate past chair of the Family Solutions Collaborative.

In 2020, she was recognized as a California 29th Senate District Woman of Distinction. In 2016, she was nominated for Something More’s Woman of the Year award. In 2018, HIS House was named the Placentia Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year and recognized it as the California 29th Senate District nonprofit of the month in October 2019.

Carrie has served as a member of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Education since 2010 and serves as the President of the Orange County School Board Association. In 2020, she received the Marian Bergeson Award for Outstanding School Board Member.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from California State University, Fullerton. Carrie, her husband, and three daughters live in Yorba Linda.

Carrie has served as Past Chair of the FSC (FY 20-21) and serves on the FSC Human Resources and Governance Committees.

David Gillanders has served as the Executive Director of Pathways of Hope since 2017 and serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Family Solutions Collaborative.

Born and raised in North Orange County, David works with the Pathways team focused on housing justice and food security for all North Orange County residents.

David serves as the Chair of the FSC Finance Committee and serves on the FSC Human Resource Committee.

Timothy Huynh serves as the Chief Program Officer at Mercy House. He began working at Mercy House in 2010 and through 2015 served in a variety of roles on the Development Team including: Grant Writer, Grant Manager, and Director of Grants, Data and Compliance.

Timothy, then returned to Mercy House in 2020 where in his current role, provides executive oversight to the execution and implementation of Mercy House’s various programs. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of California, Irvine.

Timothy serves on the FSC Finance Committee.

Nishtha Mohendra, is a creative and committed strategy builder, program implementer and a nonprofit management specialist.  Nishtha has 12+ years of working in the social work sector and nonprofit community on issues of homelessness, violence against women, poverty, anti-oppression, family crises, capacity building and community-driven actions. She brings with her years of rich experience spanning three countries- India, Canada and the USA

Currently, Nishtha serves as Chief Program Officer of Families Forward.  In this role, she is responsible for providing strategic direction, management, and coordination for Families Forward programs and services. She is currently on the board for People for Housing and Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) for Orange County. She is an active member of the local Continuum of Care Board subcommittees. She co-chairs the Emergency Shelter committee and is a member of the Coordinated Entry System (CES) Steering committee, Data Performance and Management committee and the HMIS working group.

Nishtha started her career in India with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) where she was part of the National AIDS Control Organization at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. As a technical manager she helped build five-year strategic plan for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS all over the country and instituted the pioneer prevention program for vulnerable population like female sex workers. In addition she played an instrumental role in the team that helped plan and draft the first Anti-Trafficking Bill for India. In Canada, Nishtha was involved with the domestic violence and homeless shelter work. She gained foothold in managing a shelter and developing individualized and need-driven programs for the underserved sections of the community. She continued this work locally in Orange County with Human Options before she immersed herself in the issues of housing and homelessness. She led the program and services for Pathways of Hope as the Director of Program before joining Families Forward. She has a published article in Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIMA) journal called Vikalpa, and had also presented a paper at the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington DC.

Nishtha serves as the Chair for the FSC Data and Compliance Committee.

As a refugee whose family relied on the kindness of strangers, Jack understands first-hand the power of a collective community that cares and actively works to lift others up. His experience drives his belief in creating social change through action. In February 2021, he joined the Illumination Foundation as the Chief Operating Officer to help the organization in its mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness. Prior to his current role, Jack had an 18 years career in corporate social responsibility at Wells Fargo where he oversaw more than $10M of the of the company’s charitable giving, volunteerism and community development programs in the Southern California Region. Jack holds an MBA from UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and is a graduate of the Southern California Leadership Network but more importantly, he is a proud father of four amazing children!

“No agency will solve the problem of homelessness alone so I am excited to join the FSC Executive Committee which has proven to be a best practice in collaboration to respond to this overwhelming need in our communities.”

Jack serves as the FSC Vice-Chair.

Nishtha serves as the Chair for the FSC Data and Compliance Committee.

Lisa has served as the CEO at Casa Teresa for six years. During that time she financially stabilized the organization, run a successful capital campaign and launched an innovative program for women and babies leaving the program. Prior to Casa Teresa, she spent more than 20 years in healthcare philanthropy.

When asked why she wanted to serve on the FSC Executive Committee, Lisa said, “I am excited to serve I want to be part of a bigger movement to positively impacting homeless families.”

Lisa serves as the FSC Chair of the Marketing and Messaging Committee and also on the FSC Finance Committee.