Lorissa Villarreal has been appointed as Riverside’s homeless solutions officer, pledging Tuesday “to working with the city and our community partners to make real and important progress on this issue.”
Villarreal was introduced to the city during Tuesday’s city council meeting. She will begin her new duties Dec. 10, Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said.
Villarreal has eight years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, having most recently worked to support adult populations in Los Angeles County jails and communities.
As the reentry and workforce manager at New Opportunities Organization, she used a prison to employment grant to provide people with support services and subsidized employment opportunities through community partnerships and secured millions of dollars in support of adult education.
“We need a data-driven strategy to reduce the number of people without shelter in our community” Lock Dawson said. “Dr. Villareal’s knowledge and experience will help us develop a more informed approach leading to real solutions in our city.”
Villarreal has a doctorate in social work from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from San Diego-based Ashford University.