Nicole Richards
Senior Vice President of Adult Services, HELP USA
For 27 years, Nicole Richards has devoted her career to HELP USA, embodying the organization’s mission to empower individuals and families experiencing homelessness through housing, healing, and support. Her leadership has spanned nearly every level of the organization’s programmatic operations. Through times of transformation and growth, Nicole has remained a steady, compassionate force—advancing trauma-informed care, strengthening clinical services, and building programs that prioritize dignity, accountability, and long-term stability.
Over the years, Nicole has led multiple HELP USA sites, including the HELP Women’s Center and the Brownsville Women’s Center in Brooklyn, as well as the 107th Street Employment Program. She has overseen teams through complex regulatory environments, designed culturally responsive service models, and mentored generations of staff with the belief that lasting change is possible when people are met with empathy and structure. Her exceptional leadership earned her promotions to Associate Vice President, Vice President of Clinical Services, and now, Senior Vice President of Adult Services, where she oversees a broad portfolio of shelter programs for adults across New York City.
Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and a Mental Health Counselor Certification from Long Island University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Buffalo State College. She is currently completing licensure as a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Deeply committed to client-centered practice and operational excellence, Nicole continues to shape HELP USA’s future while honoring its founding mission every day.
