Christy Respress has more than 20 years of experience working with individuals who are experiencing homelessness and living with complex behavioral health challenges. She has worked with Pathways to Housing for 17 years, and has been in the role of Executive Director of Pathways to Housing DC since January 2011. She has extensive knowledge of Housing First and has provided technical assistance to agencies and communities around the world to implement this innovative model. She is also the President of the Board of Directors of the DC Behavioral Health Association. Christy received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from The Catholic University of America and her Masters in Social Work from Howard University.

With over 20 years of dynamic leadership spanning both for-profit and non-profit sectors, Kelly Pence brings a wealth of experience to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Pathways. Her career includes significant achievements in team management and operational excellence, most recently serving as Senior Director of Domestic Operations for a global humanitarian organization operating in 30+ countries.

Kelly is recognized for her ability to streamline complex operations and foster diverse, inclusive team environments, driving efficiency, innovation, and impactful outcomes. Her expertise ranges from overseeing global procurement, contracting, insurance, and travel logistics to enhancing office environments, spanning strategic decision-making to hands-on project execution.

Driven by a passion for simplifying challenges and delivering tangible results, Kelly holds an MBA from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Towson University. She resides in Maryland with her husband Jack, their child Raegan, and a lively household of pets. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, staying active, engaging in hands-on DIY projects, and immersing herself in classic TV series marathons.

Kimberly Covington is the Director of Human Resources

Monica Harrington is the Director of Institutional Advancement

Jessie Henry is a dedicated professional with over 8 years of experience in the field of social work, specializing in addressing the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. Armed with a Master of Social Work degree and holding a license in the District of Columbia, Jessie has demonstrated a relentless commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those facing homelessness.

Throughout her career, Jessie has worked tirelessly to develop and implement effective strategies for assisting individuals in crisis, providing them with the necessary support to navigate the challenges of homelessness. Her expertise extends beyond the theoretical, as she combines academic knowledge with practical experience to create meaningful and lasting change.

In addition to her professional achievements, Jessie is a compassionate advocate for social justice and equality. Her work goes beyond the confines of a traditional job, reflecting a genuine passion for creating a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Jessie finds joy in spending quality time with her four-year-old son. Whether exploring the outdoors, engaging in educational activities, or simply enjoying the simple pleasures of life, Jessie values the importance of balance and family in her life.

Raymond Sallay comes to Pathways to Housing DC bringing more than 20 years of experience working in various leadership roles in Finance and Accounting. He most recently served as Director of Finance and Administration at Center for Research Libraries in Chicago. While there, he automated the accounting functions, developed rigorous internal controls, and built a healthy reserve due to his calculated budget, cash, and investment management.

Raymond, a native Washingtonian, joined Pathways to Housing DC in 2021 and serves as the Director of Finance. While growing up in Washington, D.C., he participated in the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment program where his first job was working at Pierce Shelter cleaning the facility. His exposure to people experiencing homelessness and the desire to serve the community where he was raised peaked his interest in working with Pathways DC. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Lincoln University, PA and has served on several non-profit boards including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, The Twenty Pearls of BETA Foundation, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the Dominican Republic Sports and Education Academy.

Michael Broughton joined Pathways to Housing in September 2023, with 4 years of experience in homeless services and program management. After graduating from St. Bonaventure University with a B.A. in Psychology, Michael went on to obtain his master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. As a Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Michael has developed a person-centered approach, using interventions such as motivational interviewing and strengths-based therapy to serve marginalized communities.

Sara Brown currently serves as the program manager for the Veteran’s Housing First Team at Pathways to Housing DC. She is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and received her Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Having begun her career in her first social work internship placement at a transitional housing center for homeless women and families, Sara has always been passionate about helping people find permanent housing. Sara is also extremely passionate about veteran’s issues and has been working with homeless veterans at Pathways since 2012. She is proud to be a part of the collaborative effort to end veteran homelessness throughout the country, and especially here in Washington DC.

Nykkira Cain has been with Pathways to Housing DC since December 2019. Her background includes 5 years of experience in social services encompassing direct community outreach, intensive case management, and program management. Nykkira received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Union University and continues to seek educational and professional development opportunities to expand her knowledge throughout her career. Nykkira believes in providing healthcare services from a client-centered model and works diligently to help facilitate individuals to develop a sense of self-determination throughout her work in homeless services.

Dedicated to fostering connection through supportive services and enhancing medical care via program partnerships, Nykkira remains unwavering in her commitment to both her work and career.

Sarafina Cooper is the Director of Population and Integrated Health. Before Pathways to Housing DC, Sarafina led a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded pilot project to support multi-state physicians in implementing health equitable care coordination for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Her previous experience also includes creating award-winning grant proposals and continuing medical education at the American College of Preventive Medicine and producing trauma-informed injury and violence prevention projects and strategic planning at the Maryland Department for Health. Sarafina is a Certified Health Education Specialist and earned a Master of Public Health from Liberty University’s School of Health Sciences.

Ismatu Daramy directs quality activities for our DC and Maryland programs to ensure compliance with voluntary and contractual requirements including data acquisition, analysis, reporting, and improvement. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (CLSSGB) and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ). She holds a B.A. in Communications & Political Science from McDaniel College and a certificate in Project Management from Cornell University.

Ismatu has lived in the DMV for almost 25 years and enjoys serving people & animals in her community. She is an active member of the Church of the Redeemer in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Adam Maier, a native Washingtonian, joined Pathways to Housing DC in 2011 and serves as the Director of Housing Partnerships. Adam and his team have successfully created relationships with over 150 Washington landlords who rent to our tenants. Adam brought over 27 years of experience with the City Council of the District of Columbia and 5 years’ experience at the United States Senate. At the Council, he oversaw the operations of thirteen human service and public works agencies. Among many responsibilities, he served as Staff Director of the Committee on Human Services and as Staff Director for the Committee on the Environment and Public Works. He was also the Executive Director of Independent Living for the Handicapped that provided housing in Washington, DC for adults with severe physical disabilities, and has been an owner of commercial real estate for over 40 years. For eighteen years Adam has been a member of National Community Church where he is an active member of their international mission teams, homeless and youth ministry. Adam is a Joslin Diabetic Center 50 year Medalist, a Mayoral appointee to the District of Columbia Human Rights Commission, and is a former Board member of The Arc of DC. Adam received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Public Administration and Philosophy from the University of Maryland.

Nan Roman, President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, is a leading national voice on the issue of homelessness. The Alliance is a public education, advocacy and capacity-building organization with over 10,000 nonprofit and public sector agencies and corporate partners around the country. To implement this plan, Ms. Roman works closely with members of Congress and the Administration, as well as with cities and states across the nation. She collaborates with Alliance partners to educate the public about the nature of homelessness and successful solutions. She has researched and written on the issue, is frequently interviewed by the press, and regularly speaks at events around the country. Her unique perspective on homelessness and its solutions comes from over thirty years of local and national experience in the areas of poverty and community-based organization. Ms. Roman received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois.

Rebecca Bond
Chief of the Disability Rights, Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department

Rebecca B. Bond currently serves as the Chief of the Disability Rights Section in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department. In that capacity, Ms. Bond supervises all aspects of the office’s work, including investigations and litigation, the provision of technical assistance, and the development of regulations under the Americans with Disabilities. Ms. Bond previously served as Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and was responsible for oversight of the Division’s disability rights enforcement, educational civil rights enforcement, and Title VI inter-agency coordination. Ms. Bond also has experience supervising and litigating Fair Housing Act cases, involving sexual harassment, race discrimination, and disability discrimination. Ms. Bond was appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Georgetown Institute for Tech Law and Policy’s project on algorithmic fairness and disability rights. Ms. Bond clerked and practiced in Puerto Rico and California. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Yale University. Ms. Bond lives with her husband and two sons in Bethesda, Maryland.

Kevin is a program officer with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Economic Mobility and Opportunity team. Based in DC, his work focuses on helping local governments improve long-term economic mobility outcomes for individuals experiencing poverty and advancing academic research on poverty and opportunity. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, he served as a management consultant working across sectors with leading philanthropies, local governments, and direct service organizations seeking to expand opportunities for our nation’s most vulnerable individuals. Kevin has a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. He joined the Board of Directors in 2023.

Albert Townsend joins the Alliance as its Director of Lived Experience and Innovation. He supports community leaders in developing and implementing the Alliance’s plan to partner with people with lived experience. He develops the Alliance’s position around incorporating people with lived experience to assure the organization is practicing diversity, inclusion and equality. His role will create face to face, virtual, and social dialogues that intentionally support unsheltered and formerly unsheltered advocates on how to make change in their communities and be the best possible version of themselves. Albert will be building a network of coalitions and creating a community framework to assure all community voices are heard, and that the Alliance’s infrastructure is aligned to provide ongoing support and guidance for community advocates to be the developers, creators, and implementers of their work.