Our Team - Homeless Remedies, Inc.

Our Founders

Alicia Simmons

Founder

When Alicia was in high school, she was a member of Future Business Leaders of America, and she was a member of the Girl Scouts. After post-graduate school, she was a member of the American Society of Public Administration. These organizations gave Alicia the initial experience and the foundation to become a public servant in New York City.

Having a background in social services, Alicia developed a curious mind with regard to public policy, coupled with new public management. For this reason, Alicia decided to pursue a course that was related to preparing service providers for working in nonprofit organizations.

In 2002, Alicia received a master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Affairs from Metropolitan College of New York. After graduation, she spent the next two decades working as a public servant leader within the human service field, such as preventive services, substance abuse, mental health, HIV housing, and shelter programs.

During this time, Alicia had the honor of sharing some of her experience with other public servants by way of creating and implementing training for staff and developing policies and procedures to help improve overall performance.

Alicia has over 20 years of experience in the public sector and running non-profit, assisting homeless individuals in finding homes, jobs, and overall independence.

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David Simmons

Co-Founder

David Simmons experienced home insecurity as a child and as an adult. During his childhood, his family lived in a building abandoned by its owner. As an adult, David found himself living in an abandoned apartment building. These experiences had a profound effect on David. Professionally, he gravitated toward careers that provided pathways to assist those with little to no means and who are currently experiencing homelessness.

David's professional endeavors include working as a public servant at a residential reentry program for individuals suffering from substance addiction. While working as a residential manager, he implemented bookkeeping and property management software, scored an 81 and 91 on the New York City Fire Department's Fire Life and Safety Director's test, and sourced donations to help the organization and people he served.

With years of practical experience, compassion and positivity are recurring themes throughout David’s interactions with residents and fellow staff members. David’s personality enhances his ability to cultivate relationships with organizations and individuals. When faced with complex situations, David approaches problem-solving through the scope of a solution- based lens.

David enjoys writing. He has a series of poems patented by the Library of Congress. Motivated by his love of humanity, his dream is a world without homelessness.

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Our Board Members

Tenisha Forbes

Tenisha started her career working with children in an educational setting. She provided support to the lead teacher in the classroom and reinforced lessons by tutoring individual students or small groups.

In 2007, Tenisha started working with FDNY and became part of the recruitment department to help educate the communities about the New York Fire Department. To fortify her community outreach, she goes to local communities and provides hands-on training for interested candidates and job awareness.

Additionally, Tenisha goes through the city and conducts fire safety inspections to ensure specific buildings do not violate the fire safety code. She is a member of the United Women Foundation, and she was given the Leon W. Smith Jr. Foundation Award in honor of a falling firefighter.

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Carrie Iseghohi

Carrie Iseghohi started her career in the early 1980s working with the mentally challenge population at the state level. After she completed her undergraduate studies, she pursued a career working with drug addicted families in a residential substance abuse program. She eventually moved forward to work in New York City foster care division where she licensed homes to create a safe and healthy environment for foster care children.

While working in the foster care system, she attended graduate school at Adelphi University and obtained a Master degree in Social Work, which led her to manage the Home Finding department. After fifteen years in the Social Service field, a decade working with the Mental Challenge populations and several years working with substance abuse families, she felt that it was time to retire. Although she has retired, she continues to serve the public by advocating for the elderly to gain access to their Medicare benefits.

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Karen Whyte

Karen Whyte is a recent retiree of the New York City Department of Education. Her career with the Department spanned three decades. While Karen began her tenure as a substitute teacher, she retired as the Dean of Students. Karen also held positions as a Mathematics Teacher, a Mathematics Coach of teachers, the Chair of the Mathematics Department, a Mentor for new teachers, and a Supervisor of grade-level teachers.

Karen graduated magna cum laude from Lehman College, earning a bachelor's degree with a concentration in Psychology. At Lehman College, Karen was employed by the college as a peer tutor for English and Sociology. She was on the Dean's List and held the position of President of the Lehman College Chapter Honor Society in Psychology, PSI CHI. She also has a Math Education certificate from Lehman College, a master's degree in Special Education from Manhattan College and a master's degree in School Building Leadership from Mercy College where Karen graduated with distinction.

Despite her retirement, Karen continues to dedicate herself to education through travel, reading, and exploring new places.

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