Our Team
Executive Director
Stephanie Thomas, Architect (she/her)
Stephanie is a survivor of the opioid epidemic that has claimed the lives of many of her friends and members of our community. Her lived homeless experience, along with the grassroots outreach and mutual aid work she undertook in the hardest days of the pandemic, provided the foundations for Shelter the People Cleveland.
After living in New York City for almost two decades, obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute, and working professionally for 16 years; Stephanie returned home at the start of the pandemic and hit the ground running. While serving our local communities, she shifted her career focus back to what had initially inspired her to become an architect. Stephanie began to apply her radical ideas for how we can provide dignified housing for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
In addition to her leadership duties for Shelter the People Cleveland, she also serves as the Director of the Pretrial Support Team at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland and sits on the Advisory Board of the Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services where she represents the community as a person with lived experience.
Assistant Director
Samantha Apriesnig, YYT (she/her)
Sam’s life experience includes five-and-a-half years of living on the streets.
She is a bicycle mechanic and enthusiast, and her love of cycling has her mobbing the streets of Cleveland with style and a no fear attitude. She received her certification as a Living Foods Lifestyle educator from the Ann Wigmore Institute in Aguada, Puerto Rico in 2010. She also holds a 200-hour Yoga training certificate and has been practicing for 22 years.
Her holistic wellness philosophy is one she lives and breathes daily and makes her an energetic and vital force within our team.
Director of Marketing & Engagement
Heather McCormick, (she/her)
Heather brings her unique grassroots vibe to our team. She is an artist with her own company, Kind Mind Art, where she focuses her efforts on social-emotional learning through her art. She has worked in our community and with local families for over 30 years.
Heather also works at our partner organization, Food Strong, assisting with their marketing and outreach. She has served as the coordinator for their Care Strong Project, and she helms the Care-A-Van monthly resource events.
Heather is a graduate of Avon Lake High School, she studies art therapy, and she practices ecstatic dance.
4th House Manager
Timothy Leslie, BFA (he/him)
An enlightened recovered alcoholic, Timothy has grown tremendously since the dark dreary days he spent at 2100 Lakeside Avenue. As our stoic house manager at 4th House, he handles the day-to-day operations where he enjoys his duties as the primary caregiver for our emotional support cat, Ms. Kitty (see below) and our established outdoor areas including roses, fruit trees and general feng shui.
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Temple University, and his experience in fire art restoration and repair, he owned the Carteaux and Leslie Art and Books gallery in Cincinnati for years before falling on hard times during the pandemic which led him to become homeless.
As a gay man living with HIV, he is an out and proud member of the local recovery community and leads by example in his duties with the organization.
For any inquiries on how to obtain a space at 4th House, please reach out to Timothy directly.
4th House Cat
Ms. Kitty, (she/they)
Ms. Kitty is our emotional support animal at 4th House and lives a life of luxury after spending many hard years as a disgruntled street cat. She fills her days by snatching birds out of the air mid-flight. At night you can find her curled up on the couch or at the foot of one of our restfully sleeping housemate’s beds.
She is an integral part of our support team at 4th House and we couldn’t be more blessed to have crossed paths with her on our life’s journey.
Our Board
Chair of the Board
Queen Jane Johnson (she/her)
Queen's journey includes 10 long years of struggles. After some time away from Cleveland, she returned home to be close to her family and recently received housing through nothing short of her own determination and strength. Because of her faith in God Almighty and her work on loving herself, she is now stably housed and has gotten her business back up and running!
The joy of living is strong in Queen's soul, and she looks to uplift herself and everyone around her with that love of life. Her journey shows that if you have faith, God will show up and show out with peace, blessings and wellness.
Vice President
Latoyka Priester, B.S. (she/her)
Latoyka was born and raised in inner city Cleveland. She attended the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and graduated from Kent State.
She utilizes her Bachelor degree in Human Development and Family Studies by dedicating herself and being in service to our most vulnerable neighbors. She has worked in direct care and administrative positions with the homeless, at-risk youth and the mentally impaired. It is her passion and purpose in life to continue being an advocate for those who are voiceless and vulnerable; by educating, empowering and providing resources to those in need.
A mother of three, she also cofounded and coaches the Reality Check Dance Team, where she elevates youths ages 8-17 through creativity and movement.
Latoyka enjoys helping others and is a light in the darkest of places.
Secretary
Stephen G. Thomas (he/him)
Recognized 2013 through 2022 amongst Metropolitan Cleveland’s Best Lawyers, he founded Chagrin Arts in 2007.
Treasurer
Charles Koenig (he/him)
For the better part of the last century, Charlie has dedicated his life to being fabulous!
With a degree in African American literature he is a notable author and queer family member! Using his drag career to help save lives, he and his late husband created a non profit organization that is dedicated to helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS. With this passion for his community, Charlie brings a unique perspective to the team and is excited to again, help take care of the community that has always taken care of him.