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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

 Lena Bernal is a biracial single mother of five children. Drug free for nine years, Lena is building a housing support program for people experiencing housing instability, and volunteers as a certified support group facilitator for women in transitional housing.

 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.

Tulika Dugar lives in Bellevue and supports South Asian communities helping to heal survivors of domestic violence and housing instability. Tulika also volunteered at The Sophia Way, a nonprofit providing holistic resources for women experiencing homelessness.

 Marissa Fitzgerald was born and raised in Skyway. Marissa 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.

 Krystal Marx is a lifelong Washingtonian, out bisexual woman, and proud mother of four children. Krystal served on the Burien City Council from 2018 – 2021, where she was also Deputy Mayor for two years (2019 - 2022). Krystal is currently the Vice President of Business Operations for the Seattle Seawolves major league rugby team.

Sarah Stewart lives in Shoreline and 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). 

Barbara Walker is a Kent resident and graduate of Seattle Central Colleges Social and Human Services program. 

Lana Bostic resides in Federal Way within Council District 7. Lana is a retired nurse and advocate for equitable, affordable housing who understands the deep connection between bousing and health. 

Indigo Brown resides in Skyway area of unincorporated King County. Indigo 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 resides in Seattle and is a current resident of the Health Through Housing Initiative's Sacred Medicine House. 

Andrea Paine resides in South King County. Andrea 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 resides in Seattle. Gloria 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.

Patti Yates-Starns resides in Kent. She was a former Program Coordinator for the Anti-Homelessness at the City of Auburn. Patti has lived experience at the intersection of homelessness and the criminal legal system, having battled through abuse, addiction, incarceration, and homelessness.