Governor Newsom Appoints Vishesh Anand, Dhakshike Wickrema to California Housing Agency

California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Indian American Vishesh Anand as Senior Advisor and South Asian M. Dhakshike Wickrema as Deputy Secretary of Homelessness at the newly established California Housing and Homelessness Agency (CHHA).

Anand will serve as Senior Advisor, focusing on policy and strategy within the agency. Wickrema will take on the role of Deputy Secretary of Homelessness, overseeing efforts to address homelessness across the state.

The CHHA was created to streamline and coordinate California's housing and homelessness programs under a single agency. The appointments are part of the governor's broader initiative to tackle the state's housing crisis and homelessness challenges.

Both Anand and Wickrema bring experience in public policy and community advocacy to their new roles. Their appointments reflect the administration's effort to include diverse perspectives in addressing these critical issues.