Emily Cohen serves as the Interim Director of Strategy & External Affairs at San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). She oversees internal and external communications and legislative affairs, and she guides strategy for the department.

Prior to rejoining HSH in March 2020, Emily served as Mayor Breed’s Policy Advisor on Homelessness, focusing on local, state, and federal policy to expand and improve the local Homeless Response System. Before joining the Mayor’s office, she was the Manager for Policy and Special Projects at HSH from 2016-19. In this capacity, she managed government affairs at the local, state, and national levels for the Department. Emily also supported the communications and community relations work of the Department, as well as serving as the Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing, Opportunities, Partnerships, and Engagement (HOPE) under Mayor Ed Lee.

Emily has worked to end homelessness since 2004 and is committed to improving the way homelessness is addressed locally and nationally.