Dhakshike Wickrema

Dhakshike Wickrema was appointed Deputy Secretary of Homelessness at the California Housing and Homelessness Agency by Governor Gavin Newsom in March, 2022.

Dhakshike has more than 15 years of experience in addressing homelessness in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Most recently she served in the Office of Los Angeles City Council District 10, where she was Senior Deputy for Homelessness and Housing.

She has served as Senior Deputy for Homelessness and Mental Health in Los Angeles County, where she supported efforts in 2017 to pass Measure H, which funds housing and services to prevent and end homelessness in Los Angeles.

She has also worked at Shelter Partnership, a nonprofit focused on public policy and advocacy related to homelessness and affordable housing, and for the World Bank’s Poverty Alleviation, Health Services and Social Development sectors.

Dhakshike earned a Master of City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.