July 21, 2017 – Nevada County’s Health and Human Services Administration is pleased to announce the selection of Brendan Phillips as the new Housing Resource Manager. He will assume this role on July 31, 2017.
Mr. Phillips received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from Evergreen State College, and his Master’s degree in Social Work from Portland State University.
He served as an Analyst for the Washington Office of the Governor for two years, where Brendan provided assistance to constituents in accessing agency services, responded to their concerns and inquiries, and worked closely with the Governor’s policy and communications advisors and staff on communications and analyses.
Mr. Phillips then moved on to Sisters of the Road as their Community Leadership Coordinator. Sisters of the Road is a nonprofit Cafe in Portland’s Old Town neighborhood working to create systemic change that will end poverty and homelessness forever by providing nourishing meals in a safe, dignified space. While there, Brendan developed and co-facilitated trainings and workshops which provided necessary skills and support to community leaders, facilitated the inclusion of community leaders with direct experience with homelessness into city and county planning and policy meetings regarding homelessness and poverty, and assisted with the grant for the Empowered Voices Media Program.
Mr. Phillips completed the first term of his graduate program with JOIN in Oregon, serving as a Mobile Housing Team Coordinator. JOIN’s mission is to support the efforts of homeless individuals and families to transition out of homelessness into permanent housing. Brendan secured housing, mental health care and employment for clients, conducted assessments and provided counseling. He finished his graduate program with the Department of County Human Services working on Operation 424 (a plan to end Veteran’s homelessness by 2018 and a Veteran’s System of Care), assisted in the development of the Assertive Engagement trainings and resources, and provided street outreach and advocacy to the homeless community.
Brendan returned to Nevada County two years ago and worked with a community partner, Turning Point Providence Center, as a Forensic Mental Health Specialist. In that capacity, he immersed himself within the community to outreach and engage individuals needing services, participated in local committees, met with community partners and leaders. Brendan provided direct client support, including facilitating access to housing, to seriously mentally ill individuals in jail, on probation, and homeless. He was the lead coordinator for both the crisis intervention team and the forensic mental health program providing services to inmates and individuals in crisis.
Please join us in welcoming Brendan Phillips to the position of Housing Resources Manager, effective July 31, 2017.