David J. Amaral

I am a social scientist studying inequality, local governance, and public policy, working to better understand the politics of social problems so we are better prepared to collectively solve them.

Ph.D. Candidate | Dept. of Politics at U.C. Santa Cruz

I am currently the Program Analyst for All Home where I contribute analytical and research support to efforts aimed at improving regional responses to homelessness and disrupting the cycle of poverty. I previously served as policy analyst for homelessness at the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and led community-engaged research on food insecurity for the Blum Center on Poverty, Social Enterprise, and Participatory Governance. I will defend my dissertation on the local politics of homelessness in urban California in December, 2022.

My research has been published in the Urban Affairs Review and supported by the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy.

Prior to graduate school, I managed education programming for a nonprofit arts organization in Chicago, seeking to expand arts education opportunities to historically under-resourced schools, neighborhoods, and communities.

Areas of Expertise

Research & Policy Analysis

Extensive experience designing and conducting research ventures, analyzing public policy and the political environments and processes from which they emerge; expertise in homeless policy and urban politics.

Communication

Practiced ability to clearly, accurately synthesize complex research into salient takeaways; excellent written and verbal communication skills; engaging presenter.

Collaborative Partnership

Experience forging collaborative partnerships with governing boards and direct service providers, academics and equity advocates.

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