Caroline Hood, LICSW, is a mission-driven executive leader with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of homelessness, substance use, mental health, and justice reform. Most recently, she served as President & CEO of RS EDEN, a $29M (AUD) nonprofit in Minneapolis–St. Paul, where she led 190 staff delivering integrated housing, addiction treatment, withdrawal management, and mental health services across 18 sites.
Caroline’s leadership is anchored in evidence-informed practice and a people-centred ethos. She is widely recognised for championing innovative approaches to addiction recovery and housing, launching new models of care including Minnesota’s first fentanyl-specific withdrawal management program and expanding telehealth services to reach rural communities facing acute barriers to access. She has testified before legislative bodies, worked in coalition with local and national partners, and represented U.S. innovation on the international stage.
In 2024, she joined a global delegation to Helsinki, Finland, to examine that nation’s fully funded Housing First framework, where homelessness has been nearly eradicated. Drawing from her U.S. leadership in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Minneapolis–St. Paul, Caroline brings unique comparative insights into what works—and what doesn’t—when systems attempt to address homelessness, substance use, and co-occurring disorders.
Now based in Sydney, Caroline is dedicated to fostering systems change that ensures housing and recovery are treated as human rights. Her voice blends lived insight, executive leadership, and global perspective to inspire innovation, accountability, and lasting impact.
