Our Staff

Shamus Roller is Executive Director of Housing California and has an extensive background in coalition building, community outreach, fundraising, and leadership. Before joining Housing California in 2011, Shamus served as the Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing Alliance, where he spearheaded major policy initiatives (including campaigns for mixed-income housing and transit-oriented development); developed and nurtured relationships with community leaders as well as national, regional, and local government officials; and tripled the organization's revenue.

Prior to his time at the Sacramento Housing Alliance, Shamus worked as an attorney at Justice First LLP, a private law firm practicing in areas of employment discrimination, civil rights, and criminal appeals. Shamus has served on the boards of the Environmental Council of Sacramento and the Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee, as well as on the Regional Advisory Committee for the U.C. Davis Center for Regional Change, and the Interagency Council of the Ending Chronic Homelessness Initiative.

Shamus received his B.A. in history at Reed College, and J.D. from the University of California, Hastings.

Julie Snyder has served as Policy Director for Housing California since 2000. As director, Julie designs and implements Housing California's legislative strategy and response for its 1,000 members across California. This includes building and maintaining strong alliances with developers (market-rate and non-profit), environmentalists, land-use reformers, local governments and labor unions.

In 2002, she helped win the Proposition 46 campaign as an Executive Committee member and Treasurer, in which 58% of voters approved a $2.1 billion bond to build places to live for people of low and moderate incomes.

From 1993 - 2000, Julier held a variety of positions in California's Assembly including assembly fellow for Assembly member Richard Katz; legislative director for former Assemblymember Hannah Beth Jackson; and consultant to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee under former Assemblymember Tom Torlakson.

Julie received her Bachelor's degree in American Studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles. She grew up in Ventura County, California.

As the Homeless Policy Director, Zack Olmstead advocates for policy reform to prevent and end homelessness and coordinates the efforts of homeless advocacy partners throughout the state. Efforts include tracking and lobbying legislation relating to homeless policy, the development of policy positions advocating for state leadership plans and initiatives to end homelessness, and building support among homeless advocates for legislative and funding priorities.

Prior to joining Housing California in 2006, Zack worked directly with homeless individuals and families in transitional and permanent housing settings as a case manager at St. Vincent De Paul Village in San Diego, CA. Due to a desire to work for systematic change within homeless policy, Zack then obtained his Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from California State University, Sacramento. While in graduate school Zack worked as a graduate assistant for the California Student Aid Commission and for the Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy.

Zack studied as an undergraduate at the University of San Diego where he received a Bachelor's in Spanish and a Bachelor's in Theology and Religious Studies. He grew up in Sacramento, California. Zack's favorite hobbies include traveling with his wife, playing golf, and reading.

Karen Naungayan joined Housing California as Communications and Development Director in 2006 and is responsible for all Housing California communications and media relations. Prior to joining Housing California, Karen worked as a marketing programs manager at Global Inventures, where she created and oversaw marketing and communications programs for three non-profit, international high-tech consortia. Before joining Global Inventures, Karen was the managing editor of the B2B arm of Barnes & Noble.com.

Karen is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento and holds a degree in English. She is also active in the community as a volunteer, working as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster youth, mentor for Women's Empowerment (assisting homeless women return to work and regain homes for themselves and their children), and Sacramento Habitat for Humanity.

Karen is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (California Capital Chapter) and the Sacramento Public Relations Association.

Lynda Chandler is Housing California’s Conference Director. Joining the organization in December 2009, Lynda’s responsibilities have ranged from office administration to the planning and coordination of the Housing California Annual Conference.

Prior to joining Housing California, Lynda worked for nine years with New Mexico Voices for Children, a children’s advocacy organization, in the roles of office manager, publications director, and web administrator. Lynda’s prior experience also includes positions as the regional administrative director for an industrial gas company and as a legal secretary.

In her personal time, Lynda enjoys spending time with her husband running, biking, swimming, skiing, and cooking. She is also a huge animal lover and currently has two spoiled cats.

John Simmons joined Housing California in December 2012 as the Field Campaign Director. John is responsible for coordinating field campaigns related to policy work around homelessness and affordable homes, running the major field campaign for the California Homes and Jobs Act, and engaging the organization's membership around the need for tax reform in California.

Prior to joining Housing California, John accumulated more than 15 years of experience working with diverse groups of volunteers, elected officers, and staff to plan and implement comprehensive campaigns aimed at mobilizing workers in efforts to pass legislation, influence the budget process, and win strong collective bargaining agreements.

A Marine Corps veteran of the Persian Gulf War, John parlayed the G.I. Bill to receive his B.A. in government at California State University, Sacramento. He grew up in Evansdale, Iowa. John currently coaches his son’s Little League baseball team, and enjoys running, cycling, and hiking with friends. 

Felicity has 10 years of experience developing and advocating for homes affordable to all Californians. Before joining Housing California, she was the Community Development Specialist at the California Coalition for Rural Housing. There she worked on a number of smart-growth and community-development initiatives to benefit the San Joaquin Valley, particularly small communities.

To further her understanding of community and economic development issues, especially in rural areas, Felicity recently completed a Master's degree in Community Development at UC Davis. Felicity also completed her undergraduate degree at UC Davis, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Community and Regional Development. She grew up in Sebastopol, CA.

Deborah Cosentino joined Housing California in August 2012 as the Office Manager/Program Associate. Deborah's responsibilities range from overseeing day-to-day administrative operations to assisting the executive director and governing board and committees. She also provides staff support for special projects, campaigns, and the organization’s annual conference.

Deborah’s background includes administrative and marketing roles in risk management, environmental, and healthcare consulting; higher education and research; fundraising; and domestic and international sales. A native of California, she was employed on the East coast for ten years before returning to Sacramento in 2001.