Raj Rambob,
Executive Director

Raj Rambob, Executive Director, joined Home & Hope in August, 2009.

Raj comes to us from the Area Health Education Center of Southwest Oregon where he served as the Executive Director, heading the agency in its collaborative, inter-disciplinary mission of connecting students from under-served populations to careers in health care, and connecing under- served communities to health care services.

Among the achievements Raj is most happy to announce is the 42% increase in program capacity since his acceptance of the position of Executive Director.

Raj served the homeless and under-served in El Dorado County,
California as co-founder of Grace Place and United Outreach of
El Dorado County (UOEDC), and for 23 years has been board vice chair of Mahima, a school he helped found in his native India in 1986. Committed to the non-profit world since 1984, his experience is enhanced by his undergraduate studies in Psychology at Columbia Union College, and is an Masters of Divinity student at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

Director's Remarks – 2011 Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration

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Arlina Ramirez, Weekend Office Manager

Arlina, a founding employee of IHN, joined the organization in September 2001. Alina has spent 20 years working with housing in San Mateo County as a Housing Specialist assisting homeless and low-income populations. She was recognized by County Supervisors and Women in Government as outstanding Woman of the Year in 2002 for her extraordinary commitment and service. She is responsible for assisting clients in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.

Jim Smelker,
Program Supervisor,

Another founding employee of IHN, Jim joined us in January of 2001. An electrical engineer, Jim retired after 40 years working as a computer programmer and senior systems design specialist, the last 30 years of which were served at United Airlines. At Home & Hope, Jim serves multiple roles including managing the Home & Hope Day Center facility. In addition, Jim is a dedicated volunteer managing various functions at Home & Hope Host Shelter Site, Hillsdale United Methodist Church.

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Tessa Weston,
Assistant Program Director

Tessa joined Home & Hope in March 2011.

Tessa graduated from Santa Clara University in 2007. While majoring in Religious Studies she worked for the university's Community Action Program organizing student volunteers for local homeless shelters. She has also spent four summers coordinating a summer camp for children experiencing homelessness in Eugene, Oregon. Tessa spent the year after graduating traveling the world and has since returned to the Bay Area. Tessa is grateful for the opportunity to reinvest in issues of homelessness and connect with the guests and congregations of Home & Hope and we are grateful to have her on the team.

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Jessica Jesus
Program Support/Assistant Case Manager/Van Driver

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