By providing housing, wellness offerings, vocational support, and community connection, Mesa cultivates possibility for young adults facing homelessness, supporting an upstream solution to housing insecurity.
When co-founders Dan Parziale and Kyle Thompson first met in early 2020, Dan was commuting from Ojai to LA where he was Senior Director of Housing Navigation at LA Family Housing. Kyle had recently sold the business he co-founded and was looking for a new project that would help give back to his community.
Prior to his work with LA Family Housing, Dan had spent several years doing international redevelopment work and received his Masters in Nonprofit Administration. In transitioning to homeless services, Dan wanted to focus on an issue closer to home and spent 7 years with LA Family Housing before pitching Kyle on the initial concept of an integrated, community-centered approach to homeless prevention. Over the next 6 months, Dan and Kyle explored the data behind homelessness and the statistically poor outcomes for those exiting the foster care system and for other young adults with an unstable upbringing. Recognizing that housing was a necessary, but insufficient solution, the groundwork was laid to build out an individualized program.
Dan and Kyle got to work quickly registering as a 501c3 and forming strategic partnerships. The Ventura County Executive Office, Ventura County Supervisor Matt LaVere, and State Assemblymember Steve Bennett were early and enthusiastic partners. With the support of Ventura County and in partnership with People’s Self-Help Housing, Mesa applied for and won a Homekey grant through California's Housing and Community Development Department to support the acquisition and development of Mesa in Ojai.
At present, tiny homes are in production and site work is ongoing as the Mesa team approaches opening day. We look forward to meeting our first cohort of participants and creating a last impact, knowing that this work can only be done in collaboration with an incredibly supportive community. Thank you for joining us.
I am a full-time student at UCSC (go Banana Slugs!) studying history and education. As a former foster youth myself, Mesa's mission is personal to me. Providing young adults with the tools they need to be successful is crucial to creating both an equitable and healed community.
As an entrepreneur, I am very proud to have been able to contribute to the founding of Mesa. Now as a member of Mesa's board, I'm excited to contribute to our jobs program, connecting participants with small businesses in our community.
As a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner working with youth within Child Welfare Services for over 25 years, I see Mesa’s mission to prevent homelessness models a new and necessary paradigm of intervention among society's most vulnerable and high-risk population. It is a privilege to be involved as Mesa becomes seeded.
There is great satisfaction in being able to use my legal and real estate development background to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth by providing supportive housing at a time of great need.
Anna Getty Oster's remarks will be featured soon.
Each of us deserve to be safe and supported as we determine our own future. I am honored to be part of the team at Mesa as we provide this opportunity for our participants.
