CSH Supportive Housing Training Center

Lauren Velez is a Associate Director with CSH’s Metro Team, focusing on advancing supportive housing initiatives in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Lauren’s portfolio includes work with youth and families, single adults and high utilizers of Medicaid and emergency systems, Moving On, Aging in Place, and Keeping Families Together as well as expertise in harm reduction and Housing First.

Kevin James has nearly ten years of diverse experience exploring the intersection of housing, homelessness, and behavioral health and each system’s impact on the overall wellbeing of our displaced neighbors. Mr. James comes to CSH from providing training and technical assistance at Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Homeless and Housing Resource Center, co-developing and leading the HMIS Learning Community for State PATH Contacts. Kevin also has experience supporting the capacity-building efforts of local behavioral health authorities on effective interventions, considerations, and policies on operationalizing quality supportive housing programs and support services. Mr. James developed the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Guidance Document for OhioMHAS’ street outreach programs, as well as contributed to the production of the Quality Housing Criteria set forth by OhioMHAS, which addresses the programmatic and environmental structures of supportive housing and recovery housing programs when applying for capital funding. At CSH, Mr. James leads projects throughout Texas that help local communities strategically plan and implement quality supportive housing, as well as provides training on behavioral health disorders.