Meet Paul Mahoney, one of the newest members of the city’s team who helps Bridge Shelter clients on a daily basis to get out of homelessness.
Paul served a stint in the U.S. Navy until 1992, where he was a Hospital Corpsman.
He used his medical background from that service and got a job as a vocational nurse and was studying to be a registered nurse. However, he realized nursing wasn’t his destined vocation, so he changed paths and chose to major in the field of psychology.
Paul graduated with a Bachelor in Psychology from California State University Long Beach. Since then, he worked with the developmentally disabled population in various roles including independent living skills, and management.
Shortly after graduation, he began a 12-year career with the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center in downtown Los Angeles. His role was a Service Coordinator specializing in the senior population, overseeing skilled nursing and assisted living facilities that housed Regional Center clients.
In 2009 his focus shifted to forensic cases. At this time, Paul became involved in working with the court system, parole, probation and legal matters. Housing clients became difficult due to the inability to house felons with the state law restrictions so Paul became adept at housing navigation.
Paul continued his education and later received his Master in Business Administration with an emphasis on Health Care Administration and Finance from Brandman University.
In 2017, after 12 years at Regional Center, Paul left to take a position with Illumination Foundation. His primary duties and responsibilities included ensuring that all spending, staff allocation, budget allocation, planning and requirements for housing and compliance were being adhered to as per HUD requirements on several different federal, state and county contracts.
He also oversaw the case managers and housing navigators to ensure units were located, developed and maintained. Additionally, he was responsible for retention of the individuals placed in housing.
Paul bring to Costa Mesa a vast portfolio of education and experience and his impact can already been felt and seen as he works daily with some of the most vulnerable clients at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
Thank you Paul for your hard work and dedication to the City and to the clients of the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
For more information and/or to volunteer or donate to the Bridge Shelter, visit our website www.costamesaca.gov/homelessness, or contact the shelter operators by calling 714-836-7188 ext. 222.