National Network Co-Leads
Amanda Aykanian, PhD
Assistant Professor
University at Buffalo School of Social Work
Amanda is an experienced program evaluator and researcher. Her work focuses on homeless service systems, including continuums of care, program and policy implementation, and workforce issues. She is also the former research and project lead for the National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services and has helped develop several curricular resources for strengthening social work education to meet the grand challenge of ending homelessness.
Emmy Tiderington, PhD
Associate Professor
Rutgers School of Social Work
Emmy's areas of expertise in homeless services research include the implementation and effectiveness of permanent supportive housing, Housing First, and Moving On initiative service models; best practices for facilitating transitions out of homeless services; and mental health and substance abuse recovery in homeless populations.
Senior Advisors
Benjamin Henwood, PhD, LCSW
Professor
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Ben is a researcher and licensed clinical social worker who has served as an administrator, clinician and researcher for organizations serving adults experiencing homelessness and serious health conditions, including mental illness, physical disease and addiction.
Deborah K. Padgett, PhD, MPH
Professor
NYU Silver School of Social Work
Dr. Deborah Padgett has a doctoral degree in anthropology and post-doctoral training in public health and services research. In addition to her research on homelessness and Housing First, Dr. Padgett is internationally known for her mentorship and advocacy of qualitative and mixed methods in research.