Trusted by over 6.000 Ambitious Brands Across the US
Pasco County Continuum of Care
The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
CoC Executive Committee
| President | Rosanne Smithwick |
| Vice Chair | Geoff Harlan |
| Past Chair | Greg Armstrong |
| Secretary | Christa Longo |
| At-Large Executive Committee | Mark Wickham |
| At-Large Executive Committee | Marcy Esbjerg |
CoC Leadership Council Members
Appointed By Department
Marcy Esbjerg, Director of Pasco County Community Development
Seat: Appointee by Pasco County Community Development
Committees: Executive Committee, Chair of Strategic Planning Committee
Marcy Esbjerg serves as the Director of Pasco County’s Community Development Department. She oversees the homeless initiatives, neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing opportunities and community partnerships implemented with federal and state grants. Arriving in Pasco in 2018, she brought with her 22 years of experience working with the City of Burlington, Vermont as well as county government in Collier County, Florida. Her experience includes 10 years of assisting over 500 low- and moderate-income families to become homeowners via a unique public/private partnership with a banking consortium.
Marcy has served on the CoC Leadership Council for 5 years as an appointed position from Community Development. She served as the Chair for 3 years and now serves as an at large member of the Executive Committee and the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. With Marcy’s knowledge and experience with federal and state grants, affordable housing, and homeless initiatives, she provides a connection to local government, funding opportunities and overall coordination for our homeless system of housing and services.
Marcy holds a BA in Human Services from Simmons College and a Master’s in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Trang Chitakone, Pasco County Department of Health Administration
Seat: Appointee from the Pasco County Health Department
Committees: Strategic Planning
On May 26, 2023, Trang Chitakone was confirmed as the new Department of Health in Pasco County Administrator. Mrs. Chitakone received her bachelor’s in business management from University of Phoenix and a master’s in public health practice with a certification in Infectious Diseases from University of South Florida in 2020. She is a board member of the Pasco County Opioid Task Force, Alliance for Healthy Communities, Early Learning Coalition, Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board, past President of the Business Managers Association, and an appointed member of the Continuum of Care Leadership Council. As the Administrator for the health department, she focuses on delivering quality service to the residence of Pasco County by making health a priority.
Jeff Sklet, Executive Direction
Seat: Appointee from the Pasco County Housing Authority
The Authority was established to develop, manage and maintain low-income housing and housing assistance programs for low-income families, disabled, elderly and single citizens of Pasco County. The Housing Authority has over 2,000 units under management in various housing programs. The mission of the Housing Authority is to assist low-income families with decent, safe and sanitary housing. The Authority will create and maintain partnerships with its clients and appropriate community agencies to accomplish this mission.
Barbara Kleinsorge, Supervisor for the Pasco SIT Program
Seat: Appointee from Pasco County Public Schools
As the Supervisor of the Students in Transition Program for Pasco County Schools, I oversee the SIT program dedicated to supporting students experiencing homelessness from grades PreK-12. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, the SIT Program’s mission is to remove barriers to education and ensure full participation in public schools, while also creating pathways to post-secondary educational opportunities for these students. The SIT Program collaborates with the CoC on an on-going basis.
Jason Saffels, Housing and Community Engagement Program Manager
Seat: Appointee from Lead Agency for Behavioral Health
Jason Saffels has worked in community mental health and substance use services since 2005. He is a State Lead for SOAR (SSDI/SSI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) and the Housing and Community Engagement Program Manager for Central Florida Behavioral Health Network. He is a member of nine Homeless Coalitions throughout the Suncoast Region and Circuit 10. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida and a Master’s in Business Administration from Florida Southern College.
Benjamin Ortberg, Fighting Human Trafficking Program
Seat: Appointee from United Way of Pasco County
As a member of the CoC Leadership Counsel, representing the United Way of Pasco County’s Fighting Human Trafficking Program, I bring over two decades of expertise to our mission. My focus on victim services has allowed me to directly assist nearly 200 survivors, & successfully house and safeguard over 38 of these individuals across Pasco County and the Greater Tampa area.
One of my key strengths lies in collaborating with landlords to secure safe and stable housing for survivors. I oversee the maintenance and utility issues of these apartments and houses, ensuring that survivors have a safe and comfortable environment. I conduct regular check-ins to ensure that survivors feel comfortable in their transitional housing and stay on track towards self-sufficiency and overcoming their traumas. This hands-on experience in managing housing solutions could greatly benefit the Council, as I can provide valuable insights and guidance on establishing and maintaining similar initiatives.
I’m dedicated to combating human trafficking, affiliated with organizations like the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force and the Safe Alliance-Safe in Tampa Bay. As a member of those organizations and a member of this Leadership Council, I foster relationships, engage the community, and mentor peers in survivor support. I’m committed to making significant progress in our mission.
Leesa Fryer, Sunrise of Pasco County, Inc.
Seat: Appointed position for state-certified domestic violence
Sunrise operates a 40-bed emergency shelter to provide protection for women and children in crisis; provides free counseling services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking; and fosters a culture of non-violence through various community engagement efforts.
Our goal is to assist survivors during their journey to gain independence and stability by using an empowerment focused plan that helps them acquire safe housing.
Working with the COC Leadership Council allows Sunrise to collaborate with other community agencies that deal with the homeless population. This collaboration is vital in our community as we work together to solve the homeless crisis in Pasco County.
Eric Munroe, Pasco County Fire Rescue (PCFR)
Seat: Appointee from Pasco County Fire Rescue
PCFR has a pulse of the community as we are the ones who see firsthand the environment that the citizens of Pasco County are in. We can advise on the needs of the citizens that are directly affected by housing struggles. On the other side, we can use information that we gather from the CoC to better serve the community by making them aware of the services
that are available. Since becoming a member, my knowledge as greatly expanded of where we are and going as a county to solve homelessness.
Jennifer Watts, Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County
Seat: Lead Agency Chief Executive Officer
I have always had a passion for serving the community, beginning with aspirations of becoming a teacher before getting introduced to the non-profit world. I spent several years working with children in foster care and at-risk youth before finding my way to the Coalition in 2017. During my time here, I have been able to grow and learn with the organization in continuing to find more opportunities for partnership to best serve our unhoused and at-risk neighbors. Working alongside staff of the Coalition, our Board of Directors, the CoC Leadership Council, community partners, and leadership in the County I feel we have made great strides. We continue to push and challenge one another within these roles to implement efficiency within our system and increase positive outcomes.
Kathy Hunt, BOD Coalition for the Homeless
Seat: Chairperson, Board of Directors
CoC Leadership Council Members
Voted in by General Membership by Category
Christine Long, Metropolitan Ministries
Seat: Housing Service Provider
For 30 years I have been privileged to serve the needs of our homeless neighbors. I am honored to use my years of experience and knowledge to support the important work of the CoC leadership council. My service on other local CoC’s and state level board positions have given me opportunities to learn and understand how important a strategic and unified community approach is for solving our community challenges. Serving on the leadership counsel gives me insight into community needs and resources, ensuring that Metropolitan Ministries will play a vital role as part of our collective work to end homelessness.
Geoff Harlan, Blue Sky Communities
Seat: Affordable Housing Developer
Committees: Vice Chair of CoC, Executive Committee, Master Leasing Workgroup
Mr. Harlan currently serves as Vice President of Acquisitions at Blue Sky Communities and has 24 years of commercial and residential real estate experience. Blue Sky Communities develops affordable housing for many different clients, such as families, the elderly, persons with disabling conditions, and the homeless.
Jena Blair, Bay Area Legal Services
Seat: Legal Services
Jena Blair is the New Port Richey Managing Attorney for Bay Area Legal Services and came to the firm after 23 years at Gulfcoast Legal Services, where she held several leadership positions. As GLS’s family law director, she represented clients and managed the delivery of services in four counties to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. She has also taught the Civil Litigation Clinical at Stetson University College of Law for six years. Jena earned a political science degree from the University of South Florida, with a minor in Art, and her JD from Stetson Law. Before law school, Jena worked at the Spring of Tampa Bay’s transitional housing program and The Good Samaritan Migrant Mission. She is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to vulnerable populations who otherwise have no access to legal representation. She is delighted to be a part of Bay Area Legal Service’s vital mission, and her current seat on the Leadership Council is Legal Services. Bay Area Legal Services works collaboratively with the CoC to assist referred unhoused clients with vital legal services – in an effort to empower them, and increase economic stability, and to prevent the housed in our community from experiencing homelessness.
Sam Picard, Baycare
Seat: Hospitals/Emergency Care
Committee: Chair of HMIS
Sam Picard works for BayCare Health System as the Community Engagement Coordinator for behavioral health. In that role Sam works with community partners to strengthen the behavioral health system of care. He also shares leadership of BayCare’s hospital bridge program, which places people in recovery at hospitals (Including Morton Plan North Bay in New Port Richey) to help patients with substance use disorder find services and support. Sam serves in the hospital provider seat on the CoC Leadership Council to help connect the hospital with the CoC. Homelessness hinders patients’ ability to stay healthy, so BayCare’s commitment to community health fits with the CoC’s commitment to end homelessness.
Erica Smith, Career Source Pasco Hernando
Seat: Workforce
To work in conjunction with the homeless coalition to assist the homeless population with gaining employability skills, transferrable skills, and assist with job placement to become employed and self-sufficient.
Liz Rhodes, State Attorney Mobile Medical Clinic
Seat: Local Judicial Representative
As the Director of the Mobile Medical Clinic, an outreach of the Office of Bruce Bartlett, State Attorney, I oversee our medical clinic where we provide free essential healthcare services to uninsured residents of Pasco County. In the Local Judicial Administration position for the coalition, I offer a unique perspective where the State Attorney’s Office and access to healthcare for vulnerable populations converge. Through direct interactions with patients in our community, I witness firsthand the challenges they endure, which deeply informs my advocacy within the coalition. Our mission is clear: to ensure every patient receives dignified and respectful care, as we steadfastly uphold the belief that healthcare is a fundamental right for all, regardless of circumstance.
David Miller, The Sword and Spoon
Seat: Outreach Services Provider
In my youth I experienced time on the streets of Clearwater as an incorrigible teenager. Later on, I volunteered at Madeira Beach Fire Department where I quickly grew a passion for helping people in distress. Having completed my EMT certifications, I started putting my skill set to use on an Americare Ambulance in downtown Tampa. I am now a retired Firefighter/EMT after 16 years of service in Pasco County. I have been doing homeless outreach for 10 years with The Sword and Spoon in the streets, woods, and abandoned establishments throughout Pasco County. I specialize in locating, identifying, and assessing homeless citizens in distress, as well as guiding them through the system with direct contact. My passion for the last 30 years has always been to be of service to others in need, regardless of the risk.
Mark Wickham, Youth and Family Alternatives
Seat: Youth Service Provider
Committees: Executive and Strategic Planning Committees
YFA has been providing shelter services for homeless and runaway youth since 1970, and 10 years ago, Mark Wickham joined the agency as CEO & President. With its administrative office located in New Port Richey, YFA is an integral part of the community and our array of services have increased over the years to meet unmet needs of the county’s at-risk children and families. Currently YFA provides foster care and adoption case management services, in-school prevention services, supportive housing, DJJ prevention and shelter services, and a school-based Community Partnership School located in Gulfside Elementary School. YFA’s continuum of services fully aligns with our mission, and we are responsive when meeting new or emerging needs in our community.
CEO Mark Wickham has significant experience developing supportive housing. As former CEO for Lakeview Mental Health Services in New York, Mark led the development of four (4) affordable housing developments totaling 100 housing units. The developments ranged from 8 to 40 units and were developed 2005 – 2009. Mr. Wickham’s experience is diverse and includes Community Residences, Singe- Room Occupancies, and Supportive Apartments. Mr. Wickham was responsible for the rehabilitation and new construction of the Lakeview Health community residence and the Lakeview Heights apartments, comprised of 26 units of supportive housing and 14 units for low-income residents.
YFA unique perspective on the issues related to children and families in crisis, and our broad continuum of care provides insight and opportunities for the CoC to better understand and respond the complex issues facing Pasco County. Along with Mark’s expertise in developing affordable and supportive housing, Mark’s role on the CoC will support the goal to create opportunities for self-sufficiency and permanent homes for individuals and families.
Christa Long, Baycare PATH
Seat: Healthcare Provider
Committees: Executive Committee
My placement on this council is beneficial to Pasco County’s Continuum of Care because I have worked in Behavioral Health for 23 years where I am the Supervisor of The Supported Living Program For people with Mental illness and The PATH Program ( Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness). BayCare provides outreach and case management services throughout Pasco County. Through the utilization of outreach and case management we can link individuals to behavioral health services, medical services, job training, educational services food, shelter, identification, birth certificates. PATH can
also help with the SOAR program(SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery). My goal is to bring all those years of knowledge to the COC leadership council so we can end homelessness.
Rosanne Smithwick, Our Lady Queen of Peace
Seat: Faith based community representative
Committees: Executive and Strategic Planning Committees
The purpose of the Continuum of Care is to see that every person who is homeless is assisted, as their particular situation dictates, with the services they need to be permanently housed. This means that providing services for people who are homeless requires a broad spectrum of services. Some of the people being served by the more than 60 agencies that are a part of the Continuum of Care require immediate services such as food and clothing. Some require mental health services for trauma, recurring mental health issues, drug or alcohol addiction. Some require help to find employment or increase their income. In addition, the Strategic Plan of the CoC strives to reduce the number of months a person must wait for an opportunity to be housed. In addition, the CoC is acutely aware of the long term needs of persons in Pasco County that find themselves working, but unable to find housing that is affordable for them or their family. This requires cooperation between agencies and a recognition that we must be vigilant in examining the systems already in place and willing to examine the systems that must be altered to accommodate everyone asking for services.
Cpl. Karen Norris, New Port Richey Police Department
Seat: Local law enforcement
Committees: Outreach and unsheltered committee
Karen Norris has been a corporal for the New Port Richey Police Department since February 2013. Cpl. Norris is on the L.I.F.T. team at the department, which provides support and services for the citizens of New Port Richey, and has been the city’s Crisis Intervention Training Coordinator, is part of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office Hostage Negotiation Team and has served on the Leadership council for the Homeless Coalition and COC since 2018. Cpl. Norris works in community partnership with all of the agencies of the COC, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and the county to establish the best practices for providing alternatives to incarceration for persons experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health crisis. She is dedicated to continuing and supportive and collaborative relationship between law enforcement and resource organizations, striving to end homelessness in Pasco County.
Kendra Brown, Department of Veteran Affairs- Coordinated Entry Specialist
Seat: Veterans Service Provider
I have been employed with VA for 16 years, working with Homeless services for the past 15 years. I worked with HUD VASH program for 13 years and I have been the Coordinated Entry Specialist for the past 3 years. As CES my role on the council is to be a voice for Veteran’s healthcare, provide information on VA services to our Community leaders and coordinate services for homeless veterans with continuum of care and other key partners.
Pastor Troy Pederson, Church of Brotherly Love
Seat: Persons with lived experience