About Us > Our team

Our Team

Our Advisory Board

Barbara St. Thomas (President)
Judy Friedman (Vice President)
Ly Cecilia Nguyen (Secretary)
Matt Nelson (Treasurer)
Simon Costello
Sutton Fannon
Amy Favat
Chelsea Gray
Peter Micelli
Dorit Reichental
Sally Paquette
Judy Ranan

Spy Staff

A brief paragraph about our staff goes here.

meet our staff

youth coordinated Entry SYSTEM (YCES) Lead

YCES is a decentralized, “no wrong door” method to serving houseless youth, by connecting them to organizations providing shelter, housing, and services, in a fair, systematic, and efficient manner. CES is practiced throughout Los Angeles County, which is divided for service provision into 8 distinct geographical Service Planning Areas (SPAs).

learn more about YCES

Advocacy & Policy

Ending youth homelessness requires the involvement of a multitude of stakeholders: public and private service providers, county systems representatives, policymakers, researchers, funders, coalitions, community members and volunteers. Safe Place for Youth recognizes that youth who access our services need us to be their voice of change at the city, county, state and federal level. Our Executive Director and Director of Housing Advocacy participate as members and leaders of multiple advocacy groups across LA County working on advancing public policy that is responsive to the needs of youth.

Additionally, SPY's youth advocacy panel, "SPY Squad" meets weekly to communally address the issues that matter to them most. This work includes awareness around issues facing homeless youth (such as affordable housing options and the need for employment opportunities), and advocating for appropriate solution to end youth homelessness at conferences locally and nationwide.

Leadership and Coalitions:

Westside Homeless Youth Partners (WHYP), Convener
Los Angeles Coalition to End Youth Homelessness (LACEYH), Tri-Chair and Steering Committee member
Westside Coalition, Board Member
Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership (HHYP), Member
National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness, Presenter
West Coast Convening, Presenter
Coordinated Entry System Policies and Procedures, Member
Department of Mental Health Service Area Advisory Committee (SAAC5), Participant and Steering Committee
Service Planning Area (SPA) 5 Adult Coordinated Entry System, Participant
Westside Mental Health Committee, Participant

Innovations

This should be a brief paragraph about Innovations program offered at SPY.