Calyx Foundation is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to stable housing, healthcare, and economic opportunity for individuals facing homelessness and complex barriers.
We focus on practical, long-term solutions that help people rebuild independence and create lasting stability.
Our mission is to expand access to treatment, mental health services, and medical care while creating pathways to employment and long-term housing stability. We believe housing, health, and work are deeply connected — and that lasting change happens when all three are addressed together.
Calyx Foundation is guided by experienced professionals in operations, technology, and community leadership—
bringing both executive expertise and lived experience to the mission.
Paula Cushman is a seasoned administrative professional with 16 years of experience helping organizations operate with clarity, consistency, and efficiency. Throughout her career, she has developed a strong reputation for optimizing processes, coordinating complex schedules, supporting executive and organizational leaders, and handling sensitive responsibilities with precision and discretion. She brings strong technical skills, sound judgment, and a steady commitment to operational excellence, making her a trusted resource in environments where organization, communication, and follow-through are essential.
In addition to her administrative background, Paula serves in pastoral ministry, where she is deeply committed to supporting individuals facing addiction, abuse, homelessness, and other profound life challenges. Her work is grounded in a desire to restore dignity, offer hope, and walk alongside people through some of the most difficult seasons of their lives. As president of the Calyx Foundation, Paula brings together professional discipline, compassionate leadership, and a clear commitment to serving vulnerable individuals and strengthening the systems that support them.
Samuel Cooley serves as Executive Director and Secretary of the Calyx Foundation, where he is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission to expand access to stable housing, healthcare, and economic opportunity. As Executive Director, he provides strategic leadership, oversees organizational performance, and represents the Foundation in partnerships with public agencies, funders, and community stakeholders.
In his dual role as Secretary, he also ensures that governance processes are executed with accuracy and transparency, maintaining the records and systems that support effective board oversight and organizational accountability.
Sam brings nearly 25 years of experience in the information technology field, with a professional background that spans systems administration, database management, systems analysis, network engineering, and cybersecurity auditing. This technical foundation informs his approach to leadership, emphasizing structured problem-solving, system design, and the development of scalable, reliable infrastructure. He combines this expertise with a strong understanding of business operations, holding a degree in Business Administration earned with a 4.0 GPA.
At Calyx, Sam plays a central role in aligning the organization’s strategy with statewide priorities in housing, health, and equity. He leads multi-year planning efforts, supports the development of flagship initiatives such as Safeharbor Village, and ensures that programs are designed to deliver measurable, long-term impact. His work is characterized by a focus on integration, bringing together housing, services, and economic opportunity into a coordinated system that reflects the complexity of the challenges the Foundation addresses.
Sam’s leadership is also shaped by personal experience. Having witnessed the effects of addiction and housing instability, he is deeply committed to creating pathways that support recovery, stability, and independence. He approaches his work with a belief that dignity is foundational to lasting change, and that effective systems must be both practical and humane. Through this perspective, he continues to guide the Calyx Foundation in building solutions that strengthen individuals, families, and communities.
Taylor Allen serves as Assistant Executive Director and Vice President of the Calyx Foundation, where he plays a central role in translating the organization’s vision into effective, day-to-day operations. In his capacity as Assistant Executive Director and Head of Housing Programs, Taylor oversees the execution of key initiatives such as Safeharbor Village, ensuring that property management, supportive services, and facilities operations are coordinated, responsive, and aligned with a housing-first, trauma-informed approach.
Taylor is responsible for developing and refining the operational systems that support Calyx’s housing programs. This includes establishing workflows for intake, lease-up, crisis response, and resident support, while also managing program budgets, staffing models, and performance standards. His work emphasizes consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement, supported by close collaboration with evaluation and program teams to monitor outcomes such as occupancy, housing stability, and service engagement.
As Vice President, Taylor supports the President and Executive Director in advancing the Foundation’s strategic priorities and maintaining organizational continuity. He contributes to cross-functional coordination, helping align staff, board members, and external partners around shared goals. His leadership ensures that complex initiatives remain organized, actionable, and grounded in the Foundation’s mission.
Taylor is also a founding board member of the Calyx Foundation and has been instrumental in shaping its strategic direction and community relationships. He holds an Associate’s degree in Business Administration, graduating magna cum laude, and brings both academic rigor and practical experience to his role. Prior to joining Calyx, he worked with a nonprofit focused on training dogs for adoption, where he developed skills in program coordination and community engagement.
Driven by a strong commitment to service, Taylor is passionate about addressing housing instability and its underlying causes. His leadership reflects a belief that stability, dignity, and opportunity are interconnected, and that effective systems must be both structured and compassionate.
