Verna Jones, MSW is the Founder and Executive Director of Under 1 Roof, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the homeless population in Dallas, Collin, and Denton counties. With 25 years of experience in homeless services, she has been a driving force in providing housing solutions and critical support for individuals and families in crisis.

Before U1R in 2010, she spent 11 years at the Housing Crisis Center, where she held progressive leadership roles, including Caseworker/Co-Director of the Long-Term Transitional Housing Program, Director of Permanent Supportive Housing for Veterans, and Interim Executive Director.

She provides strategic oversight of U1R's programs, supervises caseworkers and social work interns, ensures the effective delivery of services, and manages contracts and data compliance. Since 2011, she has mentored and supervised over 100 social work interns  equipping them with the skills to become effective social workers.

Tatyana Williams is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Since graduating, Tatyana has obtained several certifications including, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and SOAR. Tatyana has 5+ years of dedicated experience in housing case management. She maintains a full case load, providing intensive case management to up to 25 households at any given time. She helps homeless individuals and families navigate through the system to secure housing and then on housing stability to ensure that these individuals and families do not return to homelessness. Tatyana plays a core role in helping clients reach self-sufficiency through impactful connections to mental health and substance abuse treatment, and community resources.In addition to her case management responsibilities, Tatyana maintains a leadership role as well. She provides support and mentorship to other case managers, and makes certain that

client files are complete and current.

Pat Hawkins  has Bachelor Degree in Accounting with 30 years of experience in working in nonprofit finance. She supports the day to day accounting needs of U1R, reviewing request for funds, cutting checks and maintaining required documentation. She supports completion of required reports.

Kimisha Peterson has a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a Licensed Master of Social Work and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  Kimisha provides intensive case management to program clients. She moves homeless individuals and family’s women and children from the streets, into “bridge” housing and then into Permanent Support Housing, while maintaining a relationship with the program clients. 

Kimisha is responsible for helping clients achieve successful placements, connecting each of them to mental health and substance abuse treatment resources, and provide on-going housing stabilization supports.  She assists clients in connecting with and support from established agencies, charities, and government programs.

She maintains a leadership role, supports the lead case manager and assist in assigning interns to new program participants, reviewing case notes, and ensuring all files are complete and accurate.

Janet Akorikin obtained a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With Community and Administrative Practice as her focus, Janet is able to utilize her macro skills throughout the agency. She oversees the Social Services Program which provides rental and utility assistance to clients in Dallas and surrounding counties. This service allows clients to receive assistance to prevent possible eviction, disconnection, or even homelessness. She ensures all client files, reports, and payments are complete and accurate.

Janet also serves as the task supervisor for the Social Work interns, where she ensures the interns are assigned and successfully carrying out tasks that will aid in their experience and knowledge of the Social Work field.