San Diego Housing Federation Honors Departing Board Members and Welcomes New Leadership
San Diego Housing Federation Honors Departing Board Members and
Welcomes New Leadership
San Diego, CA — The San Diego Housing Federation (SDHF) extends its deepest gratitude to five esteemed members of its Board of Directors who recently concluded their six-year terms of service. Their leadership, dedication, and steadfast commitment to advancing affordable housing have left an enduring impact on the organization and the region it serves.
The Board members completing their terms include:
Diep Do, California Housing Partnership
Ted Miyahara, San Diego Community Housing Corporation
Jonathan Castillo, PATH and Social Advocates for Youth
Charles Davis, Urban West Development
Michelle Sites, ConAm Properties
Over the past six years, these leaders have guided the Federation through periods of growth, challenge, and opportunity—helping to strengthen SDHF’s role as a trusted advocate for housing solutions across the San Diego region. The Federation offers heartfelt thanks for their service and looks forward to maintaining strong, ongoing relationships with each of them as partners in the shared mission to expand housing opportunity.
At the same time, the San Diego Housing Federation is pleased to welcome five new members to its Board of Directors, each bringing a wealth of experience, perspective, and passion for housing justice:
Joyce Roberts, Residents United Network
David Allen, Trestle Development
Melissa Peterman, Townspeople
Zach Schlegel, PATH
A.J. Galka, Hope Through Housing Foundation
With the election of these new Board members, the San Diego Housing Federation is energized by the depth of talent and shared passion they bring. Together, the Board and staff look forward to continuing to build a region where everyone has the opportunity to find a safe, quality affordable home.
“Our departing Board members have given six years of thoughtful, steady leadership to the San Diego Housing Federation, and we are deeply grateful for the time, expertise, and care they brought to this work,” said Stephen Russell. “At the same time, we are excited to welcome a new group of Board leaders whose experience, lived insight, and commitment to housing justice strengthen our ability to meet this moment. Together, we will continue working toward a San Diego region where safe, quality, and affordable housing is within reach for everyone.”
David Allen
Founder and CoOwner
Trestle Development
David Allen is the founder and co-owner of Trestle Development, where he specializes in the acquisition, financing, and development of urban multifamily affordable and workforce housing. Since founding Trestle in 2013, he has led the development and financing of nearly 1,000 housing units across California and Washington, working with both public and private partners.
Previously, David held senior development roles at the San Diego Housing Commission and Housing Development Partners, where he oversaw complex transactions and the deployment of nearly $100 million in public capital. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Western Washington University and remains actively engaged in housing policy and development initiatives across the Western United States.
A.J. Galka, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President, Operations and Supportive Housing
National CORE & Hope Through Housing Foundation
A.J. Galka is a nationally recognized leader with more than 23 years of experience designing, launching, and evaluating supportive housing and resident service models. Her work spans communities across California and Texas and focuses on seniors, veterans, individuals experiencing chronic illness, and people exiting homelessness. Known for her strategic insight, governance perspective, and operational discipline, A.J. brings a data-driven, mission-aligned approach to complex housing systems.
Her career includes leadership roles across nonprofit, healthcare, and public-sector housing organizations, guiding projects from concept through stabilized operations. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work and psychology, earned her doctorate in 2020, and is a graduate of UCLA Anderson School of Management’s Affordable Housing Development Program.
Melissa Peterman
Executive Director
Townspeople
Melissa Peterman is a secondgeneration San Diegan with more than a decade of experience in affordable housing and homelessness services. She currently serves as Executive Director of Townspeople, where she has expanded the organization’s advocacy efforts, spearheaded the San Diego Shared Housing Collaborative, and advanced systemslevel approaches to increase access to shared housing and supportive services.
Previously, Melissa held senior leadership roles at the San Diego Housing Commission, where she led transformative initiatives including Housing Our Heroes and Housing First – San Diego, helping secure permanent housing for more than 4,000 individuals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in political theory from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Joyce Roberts
Senior Leader
Residents United Network
Joyce Roberts is a respected community leader and longtime advocate for residents and affordable housing in San Diego. Drawing from her lived experience, Joyce became involved with Residents United Network (RUN) and the San Diego Housing Federation’s HEAL program, where she mentors residents and supports civic engagement and leadership development.
Joyce has played a central role in community organizing, voter education, public advocacy, and collaboration with elected officials and local agencies. She previously served on Housing California’s Board of Directors, including as First Vice President, and has helped residents connect individual challenges to broader housing policies and community solutions.
Zachary Schlagel
Senior Director of Public Policy
PATH (People Assisting the Homeless)
Zachary Schlagel is a seasoned public policy and government affairs leader advancing housing and homelessness solutions across California. As Senior Director of Public Policy at PATH, one of the state’s largest homeless service providers, he leads advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, with a focus on securing funding and shaping effective housing policy.
Zachary brings more than a decade of experience in government affairs, including 12 years leading government relations at UC San Diego Health and prior service as a congressional advisor on healthcare, housing, and environmental policy. A committed public servant, he has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including San Diego Pride, the Mexican American Business and Professionals Association, and the American Lung Association.
About San Diego Housing Federation
The San Diego Housing Federation is the region’s voice for affordable housing. The Federation is committed to increasing the supply of housing for San Diego’s most vulnerable families, seniors, veterans and those living with disabilities. For more information, visit www.housingsandiego.org.
For Media Inquiries, please contact:
Sarah Buchanan
Executive Vice President
San Diego Housing Federation