Action Nexus on Housing and Homelessness
About the Nexus
Based in ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, the Action Nexus on Housing and Homelessness is a team dedicated to connecting efforts across siloed systems and agencies in Maricopa County in order to improve service delivery and maximize effectiveness, bringing ASU resources to bear in the pursuit of lasting solutions.
The good news is, agencies working toward ending homelessness in Maricopa County are already collaborating. The Human Services Campus and its partner agencies are a national model in collective impact. However, there is room for greater communication, alignment and shared action among the diverse agencies needed to solve housing and healthcare insecurity.
The Action Nexus’s task is to connect and boost existing efforts, identify opportunities for system alignment and identify opportunities for new solutions, engaging ASU in research and applied solutions. We are currently asking providers what training could help to elevate the quality of service provision. If you have a project you would like to work on with ASU, please contact us.
Contact: [email protected]
Follow our page: Action Nexus LinkedIn
Shana Ellis, Executive Director
Shana Ellis has more than 25 years of experience in non-profit management in the areas of aging, disabilities, fundraising and incubation of new programs. Most recently, she was a Vice President of Programs and Services at Area Agency on Aging in Phoenix, Arizona, overseeing programs that enable seniors to enrich their quality of life and remain as independent as possible.
Amber Maiberger, Program Coordinator, Sr. - Shared Housing
Amber Maiberger has over 9 years of experience in social services, higher education, and community-based programming. As the Program Coordinator Sr. for the Shared Housing Initiative of Maricopa County, she leads efforts to expand access to affordable housing by supporting organizations in implementing shared housing models. Her work includes program development, training and technical assistance, research, and evaluation aimed at advancing evidence-informed shared housing practices and improving housing outcomes across the region. She also coordinates Community Voices, a lived experience advisory group at Key Campus, that partners with interns and individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness to provide ongoing feedback and recommendations for improving the homeless response system. Since Fall 2023, Amber has served as a Faculty Associate in the ASU School of Social Work, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on social policy, macro practice, and social service delivery systems.
Chaelee Chavez, Project Manager
Chaelee Chavez joined the Action Nexus as the Project Manager after three years working in housing in Tucson, Arizona. Chaelee worked at Our Family Services which provides housing services to youth and families experiencing homelessness in Pima County. She was also on the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness (TPCH) Continuum of Care board and the System Performance and Evaluation Committee.
Jessie Helmes Program Manager, Evaluator
Jessie Helmes has more than 10 years of experience advancing innovation, evaluation, and community engagement across higher education and the human services sector. As Program Manager and Evaluator for the Arizona State University Action Nexus on Housing and Homelessness, she leads cross-sector initiatives focused on homelessness prevention, health equity, and systems transformation. Her work includes designing and implementing community-informed research and evaluation projects, facilitating partnerships among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals with lived expertise, and translating findings into actionable strategies. Jessie is committed to using evidence to strengthen programs, inform policy, and improve outcomes for communities across Arizona. In addition to her program leadership, Jessie serves as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University, teaching courses focused on cross-sector collaboration and community impact.