Deanne Pearn (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of Hope Solutions, whose mission is to heal the effects of poverty and homelessness by providing permanent housing solutions and vital support services to homeless people in Contra Costa County. Founded in 1997, Hope Solutions serves over 4,000 of the community’s most vulnerable, including those with histories of chronic homelessness and disabilities, mental health and substance use challenges, survivors of domestic violence, homeless youth, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
Deanne became CEO of Hope Solutions in 2017 and has led the organization through transformative growth and impact. Under her leadership, the organization’s budget has grown almost five-fold, increasing from $3.6M in 2017 to $25M in 2025, while the staff has grown by more than 300%, deepening organizational capacity and expanding the reach of its programs. Over 40% of the staff – including 25% of leadership – have lived experience with homelessness. Prior to joining Hope Solutions, Deanne co-founded First Place for Youth, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to ending poverty and homelessness among transition-age youth. For 27 years, Deanne has had “a front-row seat witnessing the transformative effect dignified housing and individualized support services have on the people and families we serve and the community as a whole.” In 2023, California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan named Deanne the Assembly District 16 Woman of the Year.
Deanne says about her upcoming sabbatical, “For many years I ran triathlons. One thing you learn as an endurance athlete is that rest days are just as important as max-effort days. I often say to our staff that this work is a marathon, not a sprint, and resting along the way is crucial for being able to bring our best. I am long overdue for some deep rest.”