SAN DIEGO–Gordon Walker, the nationally-recognized expert on homelessness who joined the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless (RTFH) as chief executive officer in June, 2017, is taking an extended leave to pursue a personal mission in Italy where he will assist with opening the Rome, Italy, Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Walker’s last day at the RTFH will be October 18. The RTFH Executive Committee will meet on Oct. 11 to discuss the interim appointment of Chief Operations Officer Tamera Kohler as acting CEO in Walker’s absence. The Governance Board of the RTFH will be asked to ratify this appointment at their meeting on October 18.
“Gordon’s familiarity with the federal government, and the great successes he achieved in Utah, have transformed the RTFH and laid the groundwork for the agency to be a leader in addressing regional homelessness. While we will miss his leadership, I’m confident that COO Tamera Kohler, herself one of the nation’s top homelessness executives, will continue to lead the agency forward,” said County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who also serves as chairman of the RTFH.
“The evolution of the RTFH under the direction of Gordon Walker has allowed the organization to redevelop our data systems, connect people with workforce training, and direct state dollars towards housing our homeless population,” said Councilmember Chris Ward, Vice Chair of the RTFH. “I look forward to working with Tamera Kohler in this new role as we move forward on community planning and maximizing the youth and emergency funding available to the San Diego region.”
The Regional Task Force on the Homeless provides comprehensive data and analysis that empowers the entire community to identify, implement and support policy and system changes to prevent and alleviate homelessness.
