Veronica has extensive expertise helping improve and transform complex systems of care and is a recognized leader who has helped shape homelessness, housing, substance use disorder, and reentry services systems through hands-on leadership and advocacy.  She has been effectively working to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations for more than 20 years through technical assistance, training, strengthening organizational infrastructure and leadership, program development and strategic guidance.

For more than 14 years, she served as Director of the Homeless Outreach Program/Integrated Care System Division (HOPICS), where she grew the funding to and oversaw $130 million annually across multi-service agency. Under her leadership, HOPICS pioneered innovative interventions, expanded workforce capacity 15-fold, and permanently housed over 12,000 households.

Veronica founded the SPA 6 Homeless Coalition, created the Family Crisis Housing Network, and opened the first publicly funded interim housing for transgender women and non-binary individuals in Los Angeles. She’s also chaired key boards or Committees including: the LA Continuum of Care Board (CoC) for $140M in federal funding where she helped transform the evaluation and strategic direction; the Measure J/Care First Community Investment Advisory Committee where she led the community driven process of developing a spending plan for the inaugural two-year $272 Million first of its kind funding to support alternatives to incarceration; and the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership where she has helped expand, build infrastructure and develop the capacity of reentry services across LA County.

Veronica helps shape policy and best practices as a Councilmember on the California Interagency Council on Homelessness and a former member of the California Courts Collaborative Justice Advisory Committee. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity, innovation, and sustainable solutions for communities in crisis.

Previous Experience 

Owner & Independent Consultant, Infinity Mentoring & Education Consultants, LLC

Project Management Consultant, Implematix

Mentoring Consultant, Kern County Building Healthy Communities AmeriCorps Program

Homeless Count Manager, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)

Experise and Skills

Veronica is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of impactful non-profit management. Recognized and respected community and system leader in the homeless/housing, substance use disorders, and re-entry service sectors in LA County, statewide in California and nationally. Strong business development of innovative service models, public/private partnerships, collective impact through strategic community collaboration, new lines of business and successful funding strategies. Professionally skilled in Nonprofit Organization Management, Program Development, Public Speaking, Systems Development, Fund Acquisition, Employee Engagement and Wellness Program Development, Strategic Expansion and Growth, Policy Development and Advocacy, Budget Forecasting and Organizational Leadership.

Contact me: 

veronica@changewellproject.com