Liz Hersh, Director of the Office of Homeless Services, brings decades of experience unifying broad, bipartisan coalitions to build strong communities, expand affordable housing, and create opportunity for those experiencing homelessness. From her early work with the Philadelphia-based Tenants Action Group to 14 years heading the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Hersh has consistently found common ground across diverse groups of people to bring about change. At the Housing Alliance, Hersh worked to pass 17 state laws and leveraged nearly half a billion dollars to protect communities and affordable housing.  

Hersh earned a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and is a proud alumna of Philadelphia’s Girls High. She has served on numerous boards as well as the transition teams for Governor Ed Rendell and Governor Tom Wolf. Under Hersh’s leadership, the Office of Homeless Services has expanded its permanent supportive housing by hundreds of units and undergone comprehensive, agency-wide reforms to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

A lifelong Philadelphian, she lives in the house she grew up in and knows that having a stable, safe place to call home is something everyone in society deserves. She lives in Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy neighborhood.