Martin’s House & Barn names Ouida Joi Cooper-Rodriguez as Director of Programming for Homelessness and Housing Services
Martin’s House & Barn has named Ouida Joi Cooper-Rodriguez of Dover, Del. as the nonprofit’s new Director of Programming for Homelessness and Housing Services.
As the Director of Programming for Homelessness and Housing Services, Cooper-Rodriguez leads the development, creation, and implementation of all programming related to homelessness, housing services, and Martin’s House & Barn’s emergency family shelter. Cooper-Rodriguez will also be linking external agencies through programming while working with grantors and other funding agencies and strengthening the community’s awareness of Martin’s House & Barn.
Cooper-Rodriguez graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science degree before receiving a Master of Arts in Management, both from National University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree from Salem State University. Her previous work was focused in the San Francisco Bay Area and includes serving as the Deputy Executive Director for 16 years at the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement and as the Founding Executive Director for the Women’s Center for Economic Empowerment.
She served with the California Army National Guard as a Public Affairs and Broadcast Journalist, and with the United States Air Force as a Medical Social Worker, Mental Health Technician, and Aerospace Ground Equipment Specialist, with honorable discharges to both her terms of service.
Cooper-Rodriguez’s volunteer work includes serving as the House of Hope’s Acting Shelter Director. She has served on the boards of Urban University, Young Women United for Oakland, and the YWCA of Oakland, and has volunteered as a Financial Literacy and Job Search Coach with People’s Place Whatcoat Shelter, and as a Career Development Coach with Covenant House, both of Oakland, Calif.
“Having Ouida and her expertise will help Martin’s House support more people facing homelessness,” said Martin’s House & Barn Executive Director Deborah Hudson Vornbrock. “Our shelter provides safe, emergency housing for up to 12 families on a year-round basis, and is staffed 24/7 in our 10,000 square foot facility with private bedrooms, shared cooking and living spaces, and any needed articles of food, clothing, and personal hygiene items.”
Hudson Vornbrock says Martin’s House & Barn’s homelessness prevention services focus on a housing first approach to help clients avoid eviction and quickly move into their own housing. She says Martin’s House & Barn’s commitment to compassionate individual case management services help clients determine obstacles, make a plan, and navigate available sources to address the issues of homelessness and housing stability, with attention to food insecurity and poverty in general.
“Ouida is an experienced and passionate nonprofit professional with extensive experience in trauma-informed, strengths-based program management,” said Martin’s House & Barn President Rick Lincicome. “Her dedication to grants management and community engagement for homelessness will help further our mission of helping to meet basic human needs.”
Martin’s House & Barn connects families and individuals with resources supporting self-sufficiency while providing essential shelter, food, and clothing, with more by calling 410-634-2537or visiting martinshouseandbarn.org.