Skip to main content

KingCounty.gov is an official government website.

Official government websites use .gov
Website addresses ending in .gov belong to official government organizations in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Only share sensitive information on official, secure websites.
King County Washington home

Frank Chopp Health Through Housing Advisory Committee

The Frank Chopp HTH Advisory Committee is a 12-to-16-member group that advises the King County Executive and King County Council on current and future implementation of the HTH initiative. In addition to providing guidance, the committee is responsible for: 

  • Reviewing the initiative’s performance data 
  • Providing annual certification of the HTH Dashboard 
  • Reporting annually to the King County Council and the community at large on the expenditures, accomplishments, and effectiveness of the HTH Initiative

In alignment with our commitment to center the voices of those most impacted by chronic homelessness, at least 50% of the Frank Chopp HTH Advisory Committee is comprised of individuals who self-identify as having lived experience of homelessness. All committee members reside in King County and demonstrate a track record of allyship and advocacy for equitable, affordable, and supportive housing in our region. 

Recruitment 

When the Frank Chopp Health Through Housing (HTH) Advisory Committee was established in 2022, King County launched a robust recruitment process to ensure diverse representation from communities across all regions of the county. Outreach efforts included public postings on the King County and Boards and Commissions websites, as well as direct communication with more than 50 community-based organizations, coalitions, boards, and committees focused on human services and housing.

In addition, King County solicited nominations and feedback on recruitment strategies from City Councils, City Managers, and Mayors throughout the region to further broaden engagement and representation.

As vacancies arise, King County continues to implement this comprehensive recruitment approach, reaching out to community organizations, regional coalitions, and local government leaders, to identify and appoint new members.

 All appointments to the Frank Chopp HTH Advisory Committee are made by the King County Executive and require confirmation by the King County Council.

Advisory Committee Members

Mary Lynn Arns is a retired LPN who grew up unstably housed. Mary is passionate about helping others avoid the cycle of homelessness and has a long history of volunteering for programs that serve the unhoused.

Avon Curtis is a single mother and founder of Arms Around You (AAY) - a reentry resource program. A Certified Manager of Housing through the National Center for Housing Management, Avon has over 20 years of experience in the field of Residential Management and Case Management.

Aisha Gordon currently serves as a Community Service Specialist at Reclaim, an emergency shelter in Snoqualmie. Before joining Relcaim, Aisha faced homelessness for a significant period of her adult life and even accessed services from the Reclaim shelter. This personal experience gives her a unique persepctive and deep empathy for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Marissa Fitzgerald began her anti-poverty and anti-racist work nearly 10 years ago as a student at Washington State University. Marissa has a background in community and social services, program management, and policy analysis.

Sarah Stewart has worked closely with the Housing Justice Project (HJP) and Washington Community Action Network (WashingtonCAN!) to advocate for and implement equitable changes to Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) policies and procedures. In 2020, she collaborated with the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) on eviction-related processes and also served as a member of the King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP). 

Kawika Johnson is a current resident of the HTH Haven Heights site, an emergency housing building run by the Salvation Army Kawika also serves on the Washington State Department of Commerce's Permanent Supportive Housing Advisory Committee. 

Lana Bostic is a retired nurse and advocate for equitable, affordable housing who understands the deep connection between bousing and health. 

Indigo Brown is an active member of the community who cares deeply about supporting those experiencing homelessness. She currently works for the City of Seattle and previously worked at the state's Migrant Education Division, which supports migrant youth experiencing homelessness, and at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's Elementary and Early Leaning Department. Indigo volunteers for the Plymouth Healing Communities Board, the People's Institute, and the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ Board of Directors. 

Donnell Olebar is a current resident of the Health Through Housing Initiative's Sacred Medicine House. 

Andrea Paine has over 30 years of experience in social services and behavioral health and viewing housing and homelessness as the central issues that impact the lives of vulnerable individuals. She currently works for the King County Housing Authority, where her focus is on improving housing stability for individuals with low and extremely low incomes, while also facilitation services and connections to support residents' health and overall well-being.

Gloria Ramirez Santiago is an empathetic and visionary leader within the Indigenous Mexican, Central, and South American immigrant communities in Seattle and King County. She identifies as an Indigenous woman, Nuu Savi from Oaxaca, Mexico, with lived experience of homelessness. Gloria is co-founder and co-director of the Afro descendant and Indigenous Health Board (AIHB), a participating member of the Community Health Board Coalition.

Cedric Lilly currently works for Hopelink, where he serves as a community transportation navigator at HTH sites. 

Adam Renehan is a previous resident of HTH Gateway site, an emergency housing building run by DESC.