Staff
Kait Gillis-Hanna
Executive Director
Kait provides strategic direction and oversight to BHA: its mission, vision and programs. She is also responsible for financial and property management for the organization. Kait has a B.A. in Corporate Communications from Susquehanna University and an M.B.A. from Villanova University. Kait lives in Camp Hill with her husband, two kids and their two dogs.
Marilyn Bellesfield
Program Director
Marilyn assists the families in our programs to develop and achieve goals surrounding employment, education, parenting, relationships, health, and housing. Marilyn has a B.A. in Family Studies from Messiah College and over 20 years of experience serving homeless families in the Harrisburg area. She is the recipient of the 2016 Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) Outstanding Alumni Award at Messiah College. Marilyn, her husband Mark, and their three children live in Etters, PA.
Ella O'Bell
Youth Coordinator/Family Advocate
Ella leads the weekly youth program that fosters resiliency and emotional regulation while also creating an environment for growth in children of all ages. She manages all youth programming with the program staff while training and supervising volunteers and Youth Program Assistants. She is also the Side By Side program coordinator. She aides the Side By Side families by teaching budgeting skills and how to maintain a rental unit, while also connecting them to resources/supports in the community. Ella has her Bachelor's degree of Psychology with a minor in Human Services from Elizabethtown College, which is also the town where she currently resides.
Sarah Swankler
Family Advocate
Sarah works with families in the Transitions program. Sarah received a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Messiah College and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Shippensburg University. Sarah has a background in child welfare as a Children & Youth caseworker as well as working in drug and alcohol treatment as an outpatient counselor. Sarah currently resides in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
LaToya Burns
Family Advocate
LaToya works with families in the Transitions Program.LaToya received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Wright State University and a Master's Degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix.She has experience working as a Crisis Worker, Mental Health Adult Intensive Case Manager, and a Case Worker II.LaToya lives in Middletown with her two children.
Abbey King
Director of Operations
Abbey oversees financial and personnel matters in addition to daily office management at BHA.She is also the point person for volunteer work groups. Abbey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Eastern University.Abbey and her daughter, Miya, live in Ono.
Dennis Saylor
Property Manager
Dennis oversees the general maintenance of BHA's current properties in use, as well as the renovations of new properties being developed. His entire career has been spent in the construction and carpentry trades. Dennis, his wife Ann, and their children reside in Manheim and attend BHA member church, West Greentree Church of the Brethren.