Veronica Lewis stands as a prominent figure in Los Angeles County’s efforts to combat homelessness and support reentry. As Director of the Homeless Outreach Program/Integrated Care System Division at Special Service for Groups (SSG/HOPICS), she commands an impressive annual budget exceeding $65 million. This funding fuels a comprehensive network of services under her guidance, encompassing mental health, substance use disorder treatment, reentry assistance, homeless outreach, permanent housing initiatives, and trauma-informed care. Under her strategic direction, HOPICS has successfully secured permanent housing for thousands of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Since assuming the Director role in January 2011, Veronica Lewis has spearheaded remarkable growth at HOPICS. The organization’s annual budget has surged by 1500%, accompanied by an eightfold expansion of its workforce over eleven years. Her unwavering advocacy has been instrumental in enhancing and coordinating homeless services across Los Angeles County, with a particular focus on Service Planning Area Sixth Region (SPA 6), encompassing South LA and the cities of Compton, Lynwood, and Paramount. Recognizing the need for local collaboration, Veronica established the SPA 6 Homeless Coalition, a thriving collective dedicated to addressing regional homelessness.
Veronica’s influence extends to the broader Los Angeles Continuum of Care homeless systems. She has played a vital role in shaping its expansion, notably leading SPA 6’s Coordinated Entry System for homeless individuals and families. In 2014, she pioneered the SPA 6 Family Crisis Housing Network, an innovative response to the evolving landscape of family homelessness in LA County. This network unites homeless and housing providers to offer short to medium-term crisis and bridge housing for families actively seeking permanent solutions through the local Family Solutions Center. This crucial network continues to provide interim housing for 300 families with children nightly, preventing them from experiencing street homelessness.
Demonstrating her commitment to inclusivity and addressing the unique needs of vulnerable populations, Veronica championed the opening of Los Angeles’s first publicly funded interim housing facility specifically for transgender women and non-binary individuals under HOPICS leadership. Her decade-long tenure has seen HOPICS achieve a significant milestone: permanently housing over 5000 homeless families.
Veronica Lewis actively represents the interests of SPA 6 and the LA Continuum of Care (CoC) through her service as a member and former Chair of the CoC Board and Coordinating Council. Her dedication to public service is further exemplified by her appointment as a Los Angeles County Public Social Services Commissioner by Supervisor Janice Hahn. Through her multifaceted roles, Veronica Lewis continues to drive impactful change within the homeless services sector, advocating for integrated care systems and ensuring vulnerable populations receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.
