Laila Bernstein

Laila Bernstein, M.S.W., M.P.P., is a systems transformation leader with over 18 years of experience advancing innovative strategies to end homelessness. From 2014 to 2023, she served in key roles within the City of Boston, including being appointed the first-ever Advisor to the Mayor for the Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness. In this role, she led citywide efforts that ended chronic homelessness among veterans, reduced overall chronic homelessness by 19%, and cut homelessness among youth and young adults by 45%. She also co-designed an equitable system to ensure Boston’s most vulnerable populations have access to permanent supportive housing and launched consumer advisory councils to embed the voices of people with lived experience into policy and program design. Previously, Laila served as Director of Data and Evaluation for the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness, shaping cross-agency housing and homelessness policy and informing annual state budget investments exceeding $200 million. She brings this expertise to communities across the country through consulting and coaching, supporting local leaders to align housing, healthcare, and service systems to drive measurable, lasting reductions in homelessness.