Ms. Niklaus will be discussing the issues surrounding homelessness and how to alleviate the problems for homeless people.Ms. Niklaus has been a strong advocate for children, youth, families, and seniors for nearly two decades. As Chief Executive Officer, she is responsible for leadership and strategic direction for the agency, including managing organizational activities, programs, fundraising, and infrastructure. Previously, she served as Director of Senior Community Services at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, and later as Interim Executive Director and Director of Self-Sufficiency Programs at Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose. Ms. Niklaus also worked for the Support Network For Battered Women, YWCA of Santa Clara Valley, and Community Solutions. She has served as Chair of the Santa Clara County Child Abuse Council and Vice Chair of the Santa Clara County Social Services Commission. She is also on the Leadership Team of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits. In 2004, Ms. Niklaus was named one of the “Top 40 under 40” by the San Jose Business Journal and in 2013 was named one of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence. She is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and holds a MA in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and a BA in Psychology from the University of California at Davis.