Homelessness (RTFH), has 19 years of senior leadership roles in state and local government specializing
in poverty and homelessness, nonprofit, and mortgage lending experience, including spending more
than eight years helping lead nationally-noted homelessness reduction programs in the State of Utah.
Since assuming the role of CEO in November 2018, Ms. Kohler has led the RTFH in its growth as a trusted
leader and expert for the San Diego County region.
Her strategic planning expertise and deep knowledge of the issues and proven solutions have framed
the organization's growth, strengthened connections to the community, and fostered trusted
relationships with government, civic leaders, and service providers alike. She has attracted top talent to
her executive team and has increased funding for the San Diego Region to address homelessness by $40
million annually, which she and her team administer to programs throughout the region.
At RTFH she has created a unique two-board structure to help ensure that homelessness is a rare, brief
and nonrecurring issue for people. One, a 31-member advisory board that brings together a deep array
of lived experience, government, civic and nonprofit leaders to enact policy and best practices to
address and end homelessness. The other, a smaller non-profit board formed of executives focused on
fiscal oversight and philanthropy.
Ms. Kohler joined the RTFH after having served in Seattle's Human Services Department as Division
Director of Homeless Strategy and Investment where she oversaw 45 employees, a $58 million budget,
and the implementation of a new homeless strategy. Before Seattle, she served eight years at the State
of Utah as the Assistant Division Director of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the Utah
Department of Workforce Services. There she oversaw federal and state funding and strategic planning
for CSBG, CDBG, HOPWA, HOME, LIHEP, WAP, EITC, FEMA, TANF, the State housing loan fund, State
homeless trust fund, and the Emergency Food Network. She staffed and facilitated the Utah Lt.
Governor's Homeless committee with all department heads on the board and oversaw the Community
Impact Board fund, including the state mineral rights resources.
Ms. Kohler has served on national committees and panels and as the Vice President of the National
Association for State Community Services Programs board. She has a strong track record in community
engagement, strategic planning, contracting, and the data-driven system improvements critical today to
achieve measurable results and ensure resources are allocated wisely. She is well known and a trusted,
effective change agent with indispensable big picture, system-level planning expertise and brings a
unique connection and network to the highest level of national and state leaders in homelessness.