Luis Ulerio was appointed by Mayor Ras J. Baraka to lead the City’s first Office of Homeless Services in early 2022. He oversees the office’s programs and activities, and leads the Mayor’s projects and initiatives that aim to end chronic homelessness in the City of Newark. In late 2022, his office launched Newark’s first Homelessness Strategic Plan. This plan was developed with support from residents, community partners, business leaders, and stakeholders and focuses on key strategies that will reduce street homelessness, improve the shelter system, and expand housing opportunities. With the plan implemented, the City of Newark saw a 57.6% decrease in unsheltered homelessness in 2023. Born and raised in Newark, Luis has over 15 years of experience in government and nonprofit leading housing and homeless programs and initiatives. He is the former Director of the New Jersey Housing Collaborative, a statewide housing initiative formed in 2017 by the New Jersey Department of Health to address homelessness in impacted communities in New Jersey. Previously, he managed various supportive housing programs in Newark as the Director of Housing for the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children and led several housing initiatives and programs during his tenure at the Newark Housing Authority.