Staff
Joe Finn, Executive Director and President. Joe was named executive director of the Massachusetts Housing Shelter Alliance (MHSA) in 2003. Joe has worked on homelessness issues for nearly 15 years. Prior to coming to MHSA, Joe served as executive director of Shelter, Inc. in Cambridge and Quincy Interfaith Sheltering Coalition in Quincy. Throughout his career, Joe has concentrated on the expansion of permanent supportive housing opportunities for individuals, including chronically homeless individuals, the most difficult to serve segment of the homeless population.
Joe is a 1978 graduate of Siena College. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Theology from the Washington Theological Union, a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from the New School for Social Research, a Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law and an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Bentley College. In 2001, Joe was elected City Councilor for the City of Quincy. Joe and his wife Dolores McIlmail have seven children.
Tom Brigham, Housing First Coordinator. Prior to joining MHSA, Tom worked for 17 years at the Housing Assistance Corporation on Cape Cod (HAC). While at HAC, Tom was Finance Manager and Deputy Department Director, among other roles. As Housing First Coordinator at MHSA, Tom works with partner agencies to implement the Home & Healthy for Good initiative.
Erin Donohue, Development and Communications Director. Erin joined MHSA in May 2006 after graduating with a Master of Social Work degree (concentration in policy and planning) from Boston College. Before entering graduate school and joining MHSA, Erin was a project manager at a non-profit substance abuse treatment organization in San Francisco and worked at an agency serving chronically homeless adults in Sacramento, CA.
Dr. Jessie Gaeta, Physician Advocate. Dr. Jessie Gaeta joined the MHSA staff as a Physician Advocacy Fellow sponsored by Columbia University. As a physician advocate, Dr. Gaeta draws upon her specific knowledge of the health issues facing her homeless patients living on the streets and advocates for appropriate health care and housing resources to meet the needs of this population. Dr. Gaeta is on staff at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and is a faculty member at Boston University Medical Center where she regularly attends on the inpatient medical ward that is largely responsible for the care of the sickest homeless people in Boston. Her clinical experience with homeless patients has led to her interest in affecting housing policy as a strategy to improve the chronic illnesses and lives of her patients.
Nicole Silva, Development and Communications Associate. Nicole joined MHSA in 2007, following her internship as the communications assistant at AARP Massachusetts and working as editor for the Title I Dissemination Project, Inc. She earned her bachelor’s degree in print journalism from Quinnipiac University and her master’s degree in non-profit public relations from Boston University. Nicole is also involved in Kayla’s Vision, a start-up non-profit working to reduce financial burdens for visually impaired and blind students.
Patrick Walsh, Policy and Advocacy Director. Prior to joining MHSA, Pat worked for 32 years at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). For 12 of those years, he served as Director of Homeless Services for the Department. While at DTA, Pat oversaw the expansion of the Commonwealth’s public safety net, pioneering public-private relationships by encouraging the state to partner with communities and non-profit organizations to develop new resources for homeless people. At MHSA, Patrick acts as a liaison to state agencies and MHSA members.
Janice Whalen, Executive and Financial Assistant. Jan joined MHSA in January 2007 after 18 years working at Father Bill's Place in Quincy. She served in a variety of roles at the shelter, beginning as a volunteer and eventually progressing to Marketing Director. As Executive Assistant at MHSA, Jan brings her development and administrative expertise to her new role. She lives with her husband in Quincy and enjoys designing jewelry in her spare time.
Kaye Wild, Vice President. Kaye formerly worked at the Department of Social Services where she was the Housing Coordinator for the Domestic Violence Unit. While at DSS, she managed contracts and developed programs for state and federally funded domestic violence providers throughout Massachusetts. Before DSS, Kaye was Assistant General Counsel at the Boston Housing Authority, working primarily on contracts and real estate development projects. Kaye is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and Suffolk Law School. Originally from Nebraska, she has lived in New England for the past twenty-one years.
Tom Yotts, Director of Finance and Administration. Tom first came to MHSA in 2006 as a contractor and joined full-time in 2007. He was employed by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department for 25 years, with roles that included Chief Financial Officer, Director of Administrative Services, Budget Director and Analyst. At MHSA, Tom manages finances, human resources, information technology and more. Tom is a graduate from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Boston University.
