Ramirez replaces Deputy Mayor Christina Miller, the first person ever to hold the post
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti today named longtime homelessness services advocate and provider, Jose “Che” Ramirez, as the new Deputy Mayor for City Homelessness Initiatives. With more than a decade of experience in this field in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, Ramirez will oversee the Mayor’s agenda to construct temporary shelters, build supportive and affordable housing, deliver vital services, and bring homeless Angelenos indoors.
“When COVID-19 reached our city, we doubled down on our work to deliver housing, healing, and hope to Angelenos experiencing homelessness — and we remain laser-focused on putting a roof over the heads of our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Homelessness has long been the most urgent moral and humanitarian crisis of our time, and Che’s life experience and professional expertise make him the perfect person to lead our efforts to confront it.”
Ramirez has spent his career working to improve the lives of our state’s most vulnerable populations. Before joining the City, Ramirez was the Executive Director of the St. Anthony Foundation in San Francisco, where he took the helm of a landmark institution’s work to feed, clothe, serve, and house homeless residents from the surrounding community.
“I’m excited to come back and work in Los Angeles with an amazing team and Mayor who are dedicated to serving our homeless community,” Ramirez said. “I look forward to leading a movement of compassion in Los Angeles to house and heal our homeless guests in these challenging times. We all have a role to play in solving homelessness, and it’s in these unprecedented moments that we truly learn what it means to be a community.”
Previously, Ramirez served as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at St. Francis Center (SFC) in Downtown Los Angeles, where he led programs to connect people experiencing homelessness to housing, employment, medical needs, and referral services.
Prior to joining SFC, Ramirez was Job Development Director for the Boys & Girls Club in Oxnard, where he supported at-risk youth and helped direct the organization’s Youth Empowerment Program. He also worked as a Residential Recovery Counselor at Telecare Corporation in Camarillo, a transitional housing facility for individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
Ramirez replaces Christina Miller as Deputy Mayor, carrying on her leadership in starting the A Bridge Home program; implementing voter-approved Proposition HHH and Measure H; dedicating new resources to Skid Row; securing unprecedented state investments in local homelessness solutions; and instituting rapid COVID-19 response initiatives like Project Roomkey, emergency homeless shelters, and isolation and quarantine hotels and motels.
After departing the Mayor’s Office, Miller will take on a leadership role with The National Alliance to End Homelessness, where she will continue contributing to the battle against homelessness across our country.
“Christina brought her determination, resolve, creativity, and dedication to the monumental task of housing and helping our city’s homeless population — and she’s laid an incredible foundation for progress in the months and years ahead,” added Mayor Garcetti. “I know Christina will remain a strong partner, a tireless advocate, and a powerful voice in the fight to end homelessness in our nation, and I look forward to seeing her seize this new opportunity to make an impact on this cause.”