Our Board & Staff

Eliza Wilson, Chair
Lived Experience, Affordable Housing Developer, Cross-Sector Coordination, RHC, CHRO
Redmond, Deschutes County

Eliza Wilson is the Executive Director of RootedHomes in Central Oregon and a leader in housing justice, youth and family homelessness prevention, and systems change. She brings nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, community collaboration, and equity-centered practice.

Eliza has played a key role in advancing programming for youth experiencing homelessness in the Region, including securing the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grant for the CoC and serving on the team to implement YHDP in Central Oregon. Eliza is proud to support system change, cross-sector coordination, and community-led solutions to prevent and end homelessness. She currently serves as Board Chair of the Central Oregon Continuum of Care and participates in regional and statewide housing bodies, including the Regional Housing Council, The Coordinated Homeless Response Office Board, Homeownership and Asset Building Committee with the Oregon Alliance, and is a member of Housing Oregon.

Grounded in lived experience, Eliza is committed to building responsive, coordinated systems that expand access to safe and stable housing.

Carly Congdon, Secretary
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Rapid Re-Housing (RRH), Long Term Rental Assistance (LTRA), Community Action Agency (CAA)
Bend, Deschutes County

I have served in the Central Oregon Community since 2019, beginning my work in homeless services in 2018 with Corvallis Housing First in Corvallis Oregon, where I provided direct street outreach and supportive services for individuals entering permanent supportive housing. I joined NeighborImpact in 2019 as a Housing Advocate and moved into the Associate Director of Housing role in 2023. I provide oversight for a range of homelessness response programs, including RRHP, PSH, LTRA, our short-term rental assistance program, and our low-barrier shelter. I earned my Master of Social Work from Portland State University in June 2025, completing internships with ODHS Child Welfare and the VA’s HUD-VASH team. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Homeless Leadership Coalition and to continue advancing solution for our region.

Jared Arzaga
High Barrier Shelter Services, Transitional Housing (TH)
Bend, Deschutes County

Program Manager Bethlehem Inn. I have worked for Bethlehem Inn for 4 years and provide managerial level oversight to both the Bend shelter and the Redmond Community Housing Program (BIRCH). I have a personal family history with homelessness and started my social service career in Minneapolis, MN when I turned 30 years old. At that time, I was lost and needed a life change – I now have found my career calling. I have a deep passion for providing dignified service to all my residents. My favorite aspect of my job is directly interacting with residents and community members in need.

Alexandra Canales, YAB
Central Oregon Youth Action Board (YAB), Oregon YEHP YAB, Foster Club
Prineville, Crook County 

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Kira Newman, YAB
Central Oregon Youth Action Board (YAB), Oregon YEHP YAB, Foster Club
Bend, Deschutes County

Kira Newman is a dedicated advocate passionate about driving meaningful systemic change and transforming systems to better support Youth Experiencing Homelessness. Kira serves as a vital bridge between lived experience and policy development. Their work focuses on providing strategic feedback on agency priorities, crafting actionable recommendations for youth support, and collaborating with local organizations to create community-driven solutions that create lasting, positive impact and provide more responsive care.

Stacey Witte
Street Outreach, Housing-focused Case Management, Safe Parking
Bend, Deschutes County

Stacey Witte is the founder, president and visionary of REACH. She and her husband moved to Bend in 2014 from the Seattle area, where Stacey was the Director of Case Management and Housing at Congregations for the Homeless for 11 years. In Bend, she wanted to engage with the community in a meaningful way. Stacey soon learned there were numerous supportive services and community partners in the area for those experiencing houselessness. Stacey brings 22 years of direct experience in this field, including private practice for at risk teens and youth, as well as crisis management working with vulnerable populations. Her background in special education, has been a critical component in building this outreach /case management program. Stacey taught parenting classes, as well as conducted service trainings for teachers and other professionals in the field of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), Media and Violence in Young Children, and Communicating with Youth and Teens. Stacey did her undergraduate work at San Jose State University and received her Parent/Family Coaching certification at Seattle Pacific University in partnership with The Parent Coaching Institute.

Working with a vulnerable group of people in constant crisis is the most rewarding and the most challenging role I have ever had in my life. Treating people with grace and compassion is the foundation of building trusting relationships that make a difference every day.”

Ryan Smith
Treatment Services & Mental Health Services
Prineville, Crook County

I grew up in Central Oregon and have spent most of my life here. I currently work for Best Care Treatment Services in Prineville as a co-occurring clinician (mental health and SUD). I also proudly identify as a member of the recovery community and have been since 2020. Through my own recovery, I have been blessed with the opportunity to help others.

Megan Perkins
Mayor Pro Tem, Bend City Council, Human Rights & Equity Commission (HREC), Coordinated Houseless Response Office (CHRO)
Bend, Deschutes County

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John Lodise, Vice-Chair
Low-barrier Shelter, Lived Experience
Redmond, Deschutes County

I have served on the HLC Board for approximately 4+ years  and as the continuum Vice Chair for 3+ years. I am a Director at Shepherd’s House Ministries (SHM), where I have been employed since December 2015. SHM provide sheltering and outreach services across the Central Oregon region.

I bring a diverse cultural experience to the Board and this work. I do not know my birthplace of origin. I grew up in NYC for 24 years (riding the NYC subway everyday to high school and later work for 5 ½ years).  I worked on a delivery truck travelling through all boroughs and counties of NYC for my college summer job.  I have an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Williams College in MA (a very different setting from Queens NY where I grew up.) I have a law degree from UCLA and was in the legal profession (as a paralegal or lawyer for 12 ½ years). Before coming permanently to Central Oregon in 2013, I resided in Los Angeles for 26 ½ years.  I have lived experience as both a program and staff resident at the Shepherd’s House Men’s Center.  In my employment at SHM, I have been Director of Emergency Shelter and Director of SHM Redmond Center. I have lived in Redmond for 5 ½ years.

I do this work motivated by the reality of homelessness and the awareness of my own journey.

I have played high school baseball, rowed crew in college, done extensive hiking in the mountains surrounding L.A. and here in CTRL Or, and also enjoy wilderness photography, canoeing and camping with my wife Dart Eastwood (to whom I have been married for 8 ½ years).

Captain Brian Beekman
Law Enforcement Officer
Bend, Deschutes County

Brian Beekman is a Captain with the Bend Police Department. He has 25 years of local law enforcement experience. He received a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Western Oregon University and a master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University. At Bend Police Department, he leads several specialty teams that focus on improving community safety and solving major crimes. A lifelong Central Oregon resident, he lives in Bend with his wife and three children.

Josie Anders-Mize
Low-barrier Housing Focused Shelter
Redmond, Deschutes County

Josie has over 20 years working with people in a non-profit community based setting. She holds a BA Degree in Sociology and Human Services from Fort Lewis College and a Professional Certificate in Human Resources from Oregon State University. Josie’s roots began working with youth involved in the juvenile justice system. She is a certified High Fidelity Wraparound Facilitator and Coach. Josie has served as Chair of different Boards and has led multiple collaborative initiatives in her career in Western Colorado. Through her work with Hilltop Community Resources, Josie held many roles including the Director of Regional Services. In this role, Josie oversaw a designated Family Resource Center; was responsible for leading community housing initiatives; children, youth and family programs, intimate partner violence services and a residential program for youth among many others. In the summer of 2023, Josie and her family moved to Central Oregon. In January of 2024, Josie joined the Oasis Village team as Executive Director. Josie has a passion for facilitating community processes that invoke change, equity, justice and advocacy for people whose voices have been in the margins of communities. In her free time, Josie loves to read, listen to podcasts, camp and travel with her family.

Neil Marchington
Law Enforcement and Deflection Program
Bend, Deschutes County

Deputy Neil Marchington is the Deflection Program Coordinator for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. He has served with the Sheriff’s Office for 18 years in many assignments. Deflection is a program to reduce incarceration and improve community safety through rapid access to drug treatment and wrap around services. Neil also serves on the boards of Mountain View Community Development, Western Cave Conservancy, Bend Education Initiative and the Oregon High Desert Grotto. Neil is an Air Force Veteran. Neil holds a BS in Criminal Justice Administration summa cum laude. Neil graduated from Redmond High School. He lives in Bend with his wife and two children

Scott Jones
Higher-Barrier Safe Parking and Emergency Shelter through the use of Temporary Outdoor Shelters
Bend, Deschutes County

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Truett Shilling
Faith-Based Network, Rural Low Barrier Shelter, Business Owner
Madras, Jefferson County

Truett Shilling stepped into his role as Jefferson County Faith Based Network Executive Director at the Madras Shelter on January 1, 2025. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep heart for service, having worked for many years as pastor in Arkansas, Colorado, and Oregon. Through those experiences, Truett developed a strong calling to support individuals in need. “I want to make those whom society has deemed unimportant, important,” he says—and he loves this job let’s him put that into action. Truett would love to connect with you and share more about what is happening in Jefferson County Oregon. Please feel free to reach out, he’s from the South, so he’s never met a stranger!

Kathryn Osborne
Redmond Council Member
Redmond, Deschutes County

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Madras City Council Member
Madras, Jefferson County

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Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

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