Goleta creates and fills new Homelessness Services Coordinator position

GOLETA, Calif. – The City of Goleta has hired Chuck Flacks as its first Homelessness Services Coordinator.

“We are excited to have someone with Chuck’s credentials and experience join our team to help with the City’s response to assisting people experiencing homelessness and implementing the City’s Homelessness Strategic Plan," said the City of Goleta's Neighborhood Services Director Jamie Valdez. 

"Chuck has an extensive background in social issues, particularly with regard to homelessness, which he has gained through his work in various settings locally and throughout the state."

Flacks earned a master's degree in Family and Child Counseling fromSan Diego State University and a master's degree in Government and Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Professionally, Flacks is a former Director of Programs for People Assisting the Homeless and Executive Director for Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness in addition to other housing and skills-building assistance organizations.

"My interest in Goleta is simple: I live here!" exclaimed Flacks. "My hope is that because a relatively small number of Goleta residents are homeless, that we can get our arms around this problem quickly and make homelessness a rare and brief experience for anyone who happens to find themselves in that situation."

"Goleta is a uniquely compassionate and engaged community," continued Flacks. "I have been very impressed with the city, businesses, and its residents sharing resources to help people in need. My hope is to make the most of those resources.”

The new Homelessness Services Coordinator has an accompanying email for any interested parties at cflacks@cityofgoleta.org.