Vanessa Rios

Senior Program Manager | LAHSA

“I believe equity is about investing in people, offering our time, energy, and commitment. What that translates into is money, how we allocate and redirect funding to those who need it most, how we take the time to listen to the needs of community members. And most importantly, how we work alongside those who have been impacted.”

Vanessa Rios, a longtime humanitarian worker for vulnerable populations, joined CSH in 2018.

Rios grew up in East Los Angeles during the early 1990s. Her passion for public service ignited as a child when she was exposed to the destructive effects of poverty and powerlessness in her community. She considers her lived experience the driving force of her passion to advocate and dedicate her work to developing and organizing for economic, social, and environmental justice.

She began working with AB 2034 (funded services to reduce homelessness among the mentally ill) homeless persons on Skid Row in Los Angeles at age twenty-one. It was here that she gained a deep understanding of homelessness—why they were there, what they needed to survive, and their greatest obstacles.

As the first member of her family to earn a college degree, she is excited to fulfill the promise her family and community envision for her. She believes voices struggle to be heard, and given the opportunity, she hopes to make her voice speak strongly for many.