June 1, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Alisa Orduña will Lead Santa Monica’s Regional Collaboration on Homelessness in Senior Advisor Role

City Manager Rick Cole has selected Alisa Orduña as Senior Advisor on Homelessness to coordinate the community’s comprehensive efforts to address homelessness. Orduña is currently the Director of Homelessness Policy for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a post she’s held since 2015. A Southern California native, she has been on the front lines of homelessness and social services for nearly two decades in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. She was chosen from a competitive applicant pool of more than 120 candidates for the position.

Orduña comes to Santa Monica to fill a new position that the City Council approved last fall in response to the dramatic increase in homelessness across Los Angeles County. In the role, she will build on her experiences in Los Angeles to lead Santa Monica’s extensive regional collaboration on homelessness.

“Homelessness has become our most urgent challenge. Alisa has the extensive knowledge, relationships and passion to make a difference by mobilizing our entire community’s resources and energy,” said City Manager Rick Cole. “We can’t solve homelessness in 8.3 square miles, yet Santa Monica is determined to continue to lead on this regional challenge. Because homelessness affects everyone, our goal is to mobilize everyone in our community to join together to ensure no one in need goes without help and our public spaces are safe for everyone.”

As Los Angeles’ Director of Homelessness Policy, Orduña led Mayor Garcetti’s homeless cabinet, coordinated City department action plans, extensively engaged community partners, and worked closely with the Los Angeles Police Department to increase service connection among unsheltered homeless residents. Orduña has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including Business Improvement Districts, faith-based organizations, persons with lived experience, academic institutions, the veterans community, and neighborhood councils.

Orduña served in community and government affairs for the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, where she worked to expand resources for permanent supportive housing. Before returning to Los Angeles in 2011, Orduña worked for a Philadelphia homeless services organization providing emergency shelter, supportive affordable housing, workforce development, and early childhood education to homeless families.

“I look forward to joining the City of Santa Monica team to address the issue of homelessness,” said Orduña. “Santa Monica has long been an innovator in the field of homelessness services and I look forward to advocating for new resources to help bring the best ideas to scale so that together we can address this crisis within the city.”

As the Senior Advisor on Homelessness, Orduña will actively engage the growing array of Santa Monica stakeholders participating in developing and implementing solutions in the city’s ever-accelerating homeless efforts. She will also ensure the City is participating in policy and resource discussions with county and regional partners, while facilitating coordination across City departments.

“Alisa brings extraordinary heart and integrity to everything she does,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Her leadership and expertise have helped us get thousands of people off the streets and into permanent housing — and her optimistic spirit has inspired so many Angelenos to get personally involved in helping our homeless neighbors rebuild their lives. We’ll miss Alisa’s energy and expertise, and wish her all the best in her new assignment.”

Orduña graduated cum laude from Xavier University of Louisiana with a BA in English and a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburg. She has an additional Master of Psychology and is pursuing her Doctorate of Philosophy focused on Community, Liberation, and Eco-Psychologies from Pacifica Graduate Institute.

She starts on February 5, 2018 and will report to Deputy City Manager and Director of Policy Anuj Gupta. Her monthly salary is $10,937.

City Manager Cole introduced Alisa Orduña at the Santa Monica Homeless Count as of January 24.

Alisa Orduña.
Related Posts

Defensible Space, Defined: How A Plus Tree Protects Communities from Wildfire

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

In the wildfire-prone landscapes of the Western United States, safeguarding homes and communities requires proactive measures. A Plus Tree, a...

WeHo Pride Weekend Begins and 2025 Icons Announced: Parades, Concerts, and Community Celebration Kicks Off

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

Three-Day LGBTQ+ Festival Features Performances by Lizzo, Maren Morris, and Kim Petras West Hollywood is preparing to kick off its...

Palisades Village to Reopen in 2026 with Revamped Retail, Dining, and Community Spaces

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Elysewalker Set to Return With Park Reconstruction, Holiday Events, and Streetscape Upgrades Palisades Village, the open-air shopping and lifestyle destination...

Bel Air Seventh Grader Reaches Finals of Scripps National Spelling Bee

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Oliver Halkett of Mirman School Competed on Thursday for a $50,000 prize Thirteen-year-old Oliver Halkett, a seventh grader from Mirman...

(Video) Signs That Your Aging Loved Ones Are in Need of Caregiving

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

To Find Out More, Go To Safelyhomeagain.com To Find Out More, Go To https://t.co/ZCPyKHj5aq pic.twitter.com/cDTEPjfA6s — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) May...

Two Men Charged in Culver City Kidnapping and Robbery After Victim Forced to Withdraw Cash

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Suspects Allegedly Abducted Man at Gunpoint, Drove Him to Multiple Banks  Two men have been arrested and formally charged in...

Salt & Straw Unveils Summer Pie Series with Five Seasonal Ice Cream Flavors

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Five New Flavors Inspired by Classic Summer Pies Will Be Introduced Salt & Straw is giving summer a scoopable twist...

(Video) Interviews with Rick Caruso and Elyse Walker, with a Dennis Quaid cameo

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

We spoke at the Press Conference to announce plans to reopen Palisades Village Shopping Mall. Actor Dennis Quaid arrives to...

Levain Bakery Debuts ‘Levain à la Mode’ with Local Ice Cream Partners for Summer

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Seasonal Offering With Wanderlust Creamery is a First in Cookie Shop’s History For the first time in its three-decade history,...

Beverly Glen Sixth Grader Advances to Finals of National Student Cook-Off

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Twelve-Year-Old Heads to Virginia to Compete in K12 Culinary Competition Abijah Levy Minor, a 12-year-old student from Beverly Glen, has...

Sarah Paulson to Host Charity Bingo Night for Pasadena Humane Society on June 5

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Evening of Food, Wine, and Live Music to Raise Funds for Animal Rescue Efforts Emmy-winning actress Sarah Paulson will host...

Bay Cities Italian Deli Responds to Health Code Closure, Commits to Corrective Action

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Santa Monica Landmark Disputes Rodent Claims but Acknowledges Violations Bay Cities Italian Deli, a Santa Monica staple renowned for its...

Film Review: Bring Her Back

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

By Dolores Quintana Grief is the price of love.  Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou’s second feature film, Bring Her Back,...

County Assessor Stresses Need For Fire-Affected Households to Update Addresses to Receive Relief Checks

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Assessor’s Office Offers Automatic Tax Relief for Fire-Affected Homeowners Following the destruction caused by wildfires earlier this year, the Los...

Caltrans Schedules Public Meeting for $143.7 Million I-405 Rehabilitation Project

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Virtual Forum Set to Brief Residents on Upcoming Construction The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will hold a virtual public...