CoC Engagement

“I represent a large portion of homeless people. Male, over the age of 24, and single. I also chair an Indianapolis nonprofit Emergency Shelter. I have a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help create an understanding how organizations can better serve our HOMEBOUND individuals. I can represent
1) Persons with lived experience of homelessness,
2) Direct Homeless Service Provider, or
3) Special Populations Representative considering I am LGBTQ+, a Minority, and have had experience with substances, and chronically homeless.”

“Dear Neighbors, I respectfully accept my nomination to come alongside CoC and CHIP, to serve with joy our quest to sustain the most essential of needs: a place to belong and become the best of who we truly are. Everyone alive experiences uniting our need for a good home to shelter (verb & noun), to survive till we thrive.
It humbles me deeply. We each bring a fortunate panorama of “how’s that working for us?” From my own legacy of nonprofits wins and losses, to orphanage worker in Peace Corps Chile to heart surgery recovery alone in a van 30 years later, here in a rebounding Indianapolis. I care to share. I hope you vote for me and our collective impact, data driven, neighbor homing success. Thanks!”

“My name is I’Mon Robinson. Formerly homeless for 6 years prior to being referred to CHIP and COC services through the (HIP) Homeless Initiative Plan. I was then referred to Partners In Housing. Because of the (COC) Continuum of Care, these wonderful organizations have given me the opportunity to put my life back together. Throughout the struggle, I often slept outside and used college campuses for hygiene but remained persistent about inquiries to libraries, local community centers, shelters, churches, and hospital lobbies. With homelessness becoming a major issue, I pursued participation with the Salvation Army. After making it through the Salvation Army ARC, becoming ill, hospitalized, quarantined; I was sanctioned to the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center. While at the center I received a call the Homeless Initiative explaining that I may need to hurry a PIH property. For the past 10 years, I have obtained a thorough knowledge of how navigate homelessness in Indianapolis. I make it a priority to share resources and knowledge with people in my community, from local Neighborhood Associations, (KIB), Churches, Pantries, and other involvement. I believe that I can provide a great deal of insight, expertise, and dedication to organization. I am truly looking forward to being consider as a nominee for the 2025 Blueprint Council (BPC) for position One (1) consumer with previously lived experience of homelessness.”

“My name is Rachael Sanchez. I am originally from California. I’ve lived in Indiana for the last 13 yrs. I am a mother of 7, 4 grown children and 3 under 18. I work for the public school system. I started as an ELL interventionist. An ELL Interventionist is a person who works with children who speak other languages to teach them English. I now am an Office Manager for the school. I am very active at our school and with the school community. I try to make everyday a great day for our kiddos here at school. I’m very passionate about our elderly, children, homelessness, and poverty. Those generations have a soft spot in my heart. I care deeply about the community and am always trying to find ways to make things better. I am hoping that being part of the Blueprint Council will allow me to make a difference and make some type of impact on the community with my voice.”

Stacey Nugent is a dedicated, client-centered advocate who has spent over two decades empowering and supporting the most vulnerable populations in Marion County, particularly those experiencing homelessness. Throughout her career, Stacey has focused on creating lasting, positive change for individuals facing barriers such as substance use disorders (SUD) and serious mental illness (SMI). She is passionate about ensuring every person has access to the care and resources they need to thrive and achieve their self-identified goals for success. Stacey’s leadership roles have spanned multiple areas of social services, including serving as Supervisor of a Community-Based Mental Health Team at a leading Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). She has also led case management for the Community Outreach Task (COT) Force Initiative under the Housing Trust Fund grant through the Homeless Initiative Program, working closely with the Marion County Courts and IMPD’s Homeless Unit. At the Reuben Engagement Center (REC), Stacey was the first and Lead Coordinator under the Office of Public Health & Safety, which served unhoused individuals in need of detox and SUD support to achieve sobriety and stable housing. Stacey also spent over a decade working within the Indiana Department of Corrections, focusing on reducing recidivism and supporting successful reentry for individuals coming out of prison incarceration. Currently, Stacey leads Adult & Child Health’s Homeless Resource Team (HRT) under the federal PATH grant through SAMHSA. In this role, she continues her commitment to client advocacy, helping to house individuals experiencing homelessness and providing the necessary resources to ensure their stability and long-term success. Over the years, Stacey has had the privilege of guiding and supporting dozens of individuals into permanent supportive housing, always with a focus on long-term outcomes and individual empowerment. Stacey’s approach to service is deeply rooted in empathy and measurable results. She has a proven track record of developing and leading successful collaborative programs that address the complex challenges of homelessness, SUD, and mental health. Her work has helped countless individuals find recovery, stability, and hope, with a special emphasis on breaking down the systemic barriers to care that often prevent vulnerable individuals from receiving the help they need. Known for her ability to unite diverse community organizations, Stacey has forged lasting partnerships with over 100 service providers, creating systems that produce real, sustainable outcomes for individuals in need. Her leadership style is direct, compassionate, and focused on achieving tangible results, which has earned her respect from both the individuals she serves and the agencies she collaborates with. Stacey’s influence extends beyond her work with clients. In 2024, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) for her decades-long dedication to vulnerable populations. She has built her expertise through training at the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) IMPD Training Academy, earned Recovery Coach Certification through ICAADA, and supervised Peer Recovery Coaches at both a prominent Community Mental Health Center and a highly respected men’s recovery house in Marion County. Additionally, she was among the first graduates of the Indianapolis Case Management Institute (ICMI). Stacey’s work in the community has been widely recognized, including her early involvement with the original Blueprint Council at CHIP in the early 2000s. She also appeared in the 2015 documentary Under the Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness, where her expertise in homeless outreach was highlighted. Stacey’s unwavering dedication to advocacy, client care, and collaborative problem-solving makes her an ideal candidate for the service provider seat on the council. With her deep expertise, passion, and results-driven leadership, Stacey is hoping to contribute to shaping policies that ensure every individual in our community has the opportunity to lead a healthy, stable life.

“I have spent seven years working in the housing field, with six of those years at the Damien Center, where I currently serve as the Director of Essential Services, overseeing all of our housing programs. My experience includes managing PSH, ESG, DVRRH, YHPD, IHCDA Housing First, HOPWA Formula, and HOPWA Competitive grants. I’ve also worked closely with the City of Indianapolis DMD to pilot a Master Leasing program, which has recently begun housing participants. I am passionate about housing work and would be honored to have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change within our systems.”

Derris “Dee” Ross is one of the most influential leaders in housing justice and tenants’ rights in Indiana and beyond. As someone who has personally experienced homelessness, lived in shelters, and been unlawfully evicted, Dee’s advocacy is deeply rooted in lived experience and an unyielding commitment to ensuring every Hoosier has safe, stable housing. Dee is the Tenant Leader Fellow for the National Low Income Housing Coalition, where he leads tenant movements on a federal level, ensuring that renters across the country have a voice in housing policy. He also oversees the Indianapolis Tenant Rights Union and the Indiana Tenant Association, the first tenant union and tenant association in the state, both of which have transformed the landscape of tenant advocacy in Indiana. Under his leadership, the Indiana Tenant Association has mobilized thousands of rural and urban renters through initiatives like Housing Advocacy Day at the Statehouse, ensuring tenants are at the forefront of legislative action. His tenant union is a recognized champion in homelessness prevention, having helped prevent thousands of Hoosiers from being evicted and ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect. In addition to organizing direct action, Dee led the Rent Too High rally, where hundreds of people with lived experience gathered to demand fair housing policies. His relentless work in housing justice earned him a seat on Governor Holcomb’s Indiana Housing Task Force, where he influences statewide housing policy, and he is a founding member of the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition, driving collaborative solutions for housing insecurity across the state. For his extraordinary leadership, Dee was honored with the Indiana Governor’s Next Level Award, recognizing his impact in communities throughout Indiana. The list of his accomplishments goes on—Dee has built a movement that continues to empower tenants, protect families from displacement, and push for systemic change. His vision, leadership, and deep-rooted experience make him an undeniable force in the fight for housing justice and an outstanding candidate for this seat.

Niki’s life experience and journey has led her to the field of social work. She used her skills as a student-athlete as a vehicle to attend college and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Minority Studies. After relocating to Indianapolis in 2001, she returned to school to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Spalding University. Niki’s entire career has been centered on social services where she has worked in a variety of environments: foster care, youth residential services, juvenile and adult corrections, school/home-based care coordination, medical, and homeless services. Niki joined the Horizon House team in May 2019 as Clinical Supervisor for our Service Center programs (basic services, case management, employment and peer support). Niki was familiar with Horizon House programs – she referred patients previously as an emergency department social worker – and she quickly became valued for her passion and skills as a Horizon House employee. In February 2023, Niki accepted the role of Street Outreach Manager/PBSO Coordinator at Horizon House and worked quickly to strengthen existing partnerships as well as establish new community connections that support quality service to unsheltered neighbors in Indianapolis. In her roles as Clinical Supervisor and Street Outreach Manager/PBSO Coordinator, Niki is known for her ability to build close collaborative relationships and engage with a wide network of people and resources to support and assist each neighbor as effectively as possible. Niki is also an active member of several committees including the Horizon House Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access (DEIA) committee, the Trauma Informed committee, the Continuum of Care CES Implementation workgroup, CoC Case Conferencing, and the Point-in-Time Count planning committee. Niki shares that God has gifted her personal and professional life is such a way that she is dedicated to serving, supporting, and empowering the underserved, overlooked, muted, and misunderstood.

“I have extensive experience in early childhood education and collaborative systems. Currently serving as the Head Start Collaboration Director with the state of Indiana, I focus on strengthening early childhood systems and improving access to comprehensive services. My role involves facilitating partnerships, engaging with stakeholders, and Head Start is recognized and represented in state policies and initiatives. Homelessness is a regional priority goal for the Head Start Collaboration Directors in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. We want to work with national, regional, and local agencies and organizations that can assist the Head Start grantees in serving those children and families experiencing housing insecurities with supportive resources and services to alleviate family needs. It is hoped that these resources, including training, will allow Head Start and Early Head Start recipients to further expand and strengthen their outreach efforts to these families. The collaboration directors will collaborate with state agencies, organizations, committees, etc. to represent Head Start Families experiencing homelessness.”

“I have spent seven years working in the housing field, with six of those years at the Damien Center, where I currently serve as the Director of Essential Services, overseeing all of our housing programs. My experience includes managing PSH, ESG, DVRRH, YHPD, IHCDA Housing First, HOPWA Formula, and HOPWA Competitive grants. I’ve also worked closely with the City of Indianapolis DMD to pilot a Master Leasing program, which has recently begun housing participants. I am passionate about housing work and would be honored to have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change within our systems.”

“My name is Rachael Sanchez. I am originally from California. I’ve lived in Indiana for the last 13 yrs. I am a mother of 7, 4 grown children and 3 under 18. I work for the public school system. I started as an ELL interventionist. An ELL Interventionist is a person who works with children who speak other languages to teach them English. I now am an Office Manager for the school. I am very active at our school and with the school community. I try to make everyday a great day for our kiddos here at school. I’m very passionate about our elderly, children, homelessness, and poverty. Those generations have a soft spot in my heart. I care deeply about the community and am always trying to find ways to make things better. I am hoping that being part of the Blueprint Council will allow me to make a difference and make some type of impact on the community with my voice.”

Since August 2021, Rachel Scott has served as President & CEO for Coburn Place Safe Haven, Indiana’s largest provider of housing and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence and their children. Her leadership team has reset the organization’s mission, vision, and values, and built a healthy survivor-centered culture. The team built internal systems that helped Coburn Place significantly turn around performance on HUD CoC and DV Bonus grants. For the last two years, she has worked to build functional collaboration between the domestic violence and housing systems. Rachel previously served as Chief Strategy Officer for Indiana United Ways, and in leadership roles for the State of Iowa, such as Governor’s Policy Liaison on Education and Workforce and Director of the state’s Commission on the Status of Women. She is a childhood and adult survivor of domestic violence. Rachel grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Arsenal Tech High School. She holds Master’s degrees in English and Public Administration.