Dale Zuchlewski

Executive Director

zuchlewski@wnyhomeless.org

Dale Zuchlewski, formerly of the Office of Strategic Planning in City Hall, is currently the Executive Director of the Homeless Alliance. During his tenure at City Hall, Dale managed 4 federally funded housing programs with 37 non-profits contract agencies. In addition, he has written, drafted and evaluated numerous grants designed to aid the homeless population in Buffalo as well as serving on the Buffalo Common Council for 8 years.

Currently, Dale continues to impact the community through his volunteer activity. As a former board member of the Western New York Coalition for the Homeless and member of the Coalition’s homeless outreach team, Dale’s face is familiar to most in the homeless community. Dale has also showed tremendous initiative in his volunteer efforts. He is a founding member of both the Black Rock Riverside Good Neighbors Planning Alliance and the Foundation for Arts and Athletics in Buffalo (later the Buffalo Schools Foundation under Superintendent James Williams).

Rebecca Detlef

HMIS Bas-Net Coordinator

landseadel@wnyhomeless.org

Rebecca Landseadel received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Canisius College in May of 2010, majoring in Sociology. She also had a concentration in Child, Family, and Community Studies.

Rebecca worked throughout college as well volunteered at various non profits throughout the community. She volunteered at Hope Refugees Services in Buffalo. Rebecca also taught religious education for her church for five years. She also volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul and Response to Love soup kitchens, as well as helped many others in need.

Rebecca became interested in housing issues during her senior year of college. She conducted a Needs Assessment for the Gloria J Parks Community Center which introduced her to the housing needs of the city of Buffalo. She is looking forward to beginning her career at the Homeless Alliance, while becoming a more prevalent face in the Buffalo homeless community.

Kexin Ma

Research Coordinator

kexinma@wnyhomeless.org

Kexin Ma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from China Agriculture University and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University at Buffalo, with a specialization in GIS and economic development.

Her variety of background experience have focused on her interests of data analysis, GIS, design, and planning. Her internships with a construction/design firm and with a private consultant have allowed her to apply and strengthen her designing and planning skills. Her experience as a teacher, research assistant in research methods at UB and intern at UB’s Regional Institute further developed her interest in the data analysis and have given her an understanding of this region from a unique perspective.

Kexin seeks to help people improve their quality of life and help society have a better understanding of its needs. She is very proud to become part of Homeless Alliance and looking forward to joining this organization in their mission of ending homelessness in Western New York.

Suckie Smith

Operations Manager

smith@wnyhomeless.org

Suckie Smith holds Masters’ degrees in Urban Planning from the University of Oxford Brooks and Business Administration from the Conservatoire National Des Arts ET Meitiers’ International Institute of Management. Prior to that, Suckie received her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from the Polytechnic Institute of Namibia.

Before starting at the Homeless Alliance, Suckie worked in the homeless service provider community as a Case Manager for the Matt Urban Hope Center’s HPRP program. She also has experience in program development and oversight on an international level, as she was an Assistant Program Officer for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

In addition, Suckie has always been active in her community through volunteer work. Currently she sits on the Education Committee for the Western New York Coalition for the Homeless. Previously, Suckie had volunteered to provide supportive services to community development projects of Erie County. She also intern and did some volunteer work at Inland Empire Women’s Business Center at California State University, San Bernardino. The experience, Suckie says ‘helped shaped and strengthened her interest in making a difference in people’s livelihood’.

Alecia Zimmerman

Community Analyst

zimmerman@wnyhomeless.org

Alecia Zimmerman is currently finishing the Masters of Social Work Program at the University at Buffalo. Prior to that, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, also from the University at Buffalo.

Throughout her education, Alecia has maintained an active interest in the well being of Buffalo and its residents. She served the community through Western New York AmeriCorp by working as a Project Coordinator for the Parkside Community Association. In addition, Alecia has worked at the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, assisting in the creation of community needs assessments.

Alecia has also demonstrated her commitment to our community outside of her employment. She has worked with self-advocacy groups in West Seneca and Batavia. Alecia has also served on numerous committees representing the UB School of Social Work and the NYS Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Connie Sanderson

Continuum of Care Program Coordinator

sanderson@wnyhomeless.org

Connie Sanderson has extensive experience working in the field of homelessness.  For the past eight years, Connie was the CoC Coordinator for Rochester/Monroe County.  Previous to that, she was the Assistant Director of Sojourner House, an organization providing transitional and permanent supportive housing for homeless women and women with children.  In Rochester, Connie was the former chair of the Homeless Services Network, a member of the Local Board for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and member of the Crisis Services Blueprint Committee at the United Way.

Connie is new to Buffalo and very excited to be here.  She is looking forward to getting acquainted with all of the homeless program providers and becoming involved in the community.

Andrew Gaber

Community Analyst Assistant

gaber@wnyhomeless.org

Before moving to Buffalo, Andrew Gaber received Master’s degree in Community Planning and Public Administration from Auburn University, where he also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for courses in political economy. He also holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Early in his undergraduate education, Andrew became interested in American urban and metropolitan areas and their challenges. Working for the Homeless Alliance gives him the chance to contribute to the strengthening of the Buffalo/Niagara region’s communities. It will also allow him the opportunity to get to know the metropolitan area’s communities better.

Andrew is an active participant in his community. He has taught religious school in his religious community for 3 years, and was an active participant in both of his graduate and undergraduate schools’ Hillel. He also tutors in an afterschool program for Buffalo Public Schools through Upgrade Academics. Andrew is currently getting ready to start PhD work in American Studies at UB, with an interest in urban studies, religious groups, and food history.

Michael Knott

AmeriCorps VISTA

knott@wnyhomeless.org

Michael Knott recently graduated from Canisius College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a focus in pre-med.

In college, Michael was a student-athlete on the golf team and participated in local and international service trips.  His role in these community service and social justice projects directed him towards the AmeriCorps VISTA program to help better serve this area.  His desire to bring awareness to the community encouraged him to apply with the Homeless Alliance.

Serving the community through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, Michael will work for the Homeless Alliance throughout the year before applying to medical or dental school.