Board of Directors
Lourdes Castro Ramírez, Chair
Unanimously appointed by the HACLA Board of Commission, Lourdes Castro Ramirez leads the second-largest public housing authority in the nation, serving over 200,000 individuals. As President and CEO, Castro Ramirez is strengthening the agency’s collaborative commitment to people, place and pathways by expanding affordable housing, creating greater access, investing in people and building strong communities.
Before joining HACLA, Lourdes served as Chief Housing and Homelessness Solutions Officer for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. In this role, she led the Mayor’s comprehensive citywide priorities focused on preventing and reducing street homelessness, fast-tracking affordable housing production, forging partnerships that lead to increased housing and service coordination, and developing unified regional solutions by working closely with city, county, state, and federal partners. She continues to serve as housing advisor to Mayor Bass.
Previously, she was the Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency under Governor Gavin Newsom. She led 12 entities, including 40 boards and bureaus, responsible for preserving and expanding affordable housing, advancing statewide efforts to prevent and end homelessness, protecting consumers, and safeguarding California’s civil rights.
Castro Ramírez has held other prominent positions, including her appointment by former President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Public and Indian Housing, her leadership as President and CEO of the San Antonio Housing Authority, as a Director at HACLA, where she oversaw rental assistance and resident development programs, and as President of the University Health System Foundation in San Antonio.
Castro Ramírez earned her Master of Arts in Urban Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Chicano Studies at UCLA.
Delfino De La Cruz Jr., Director
Delfino De La Cruz Jr. is a Business Agent, Organizer and Auditor for Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 300. Delfino administers local union agreements and ensures contracts comply with the terms of local collective bargaining agreements to avoid workers’ rights violations. Delfino has been a member in good standing since 1996. Delfino received a state vocational teaching credential in 2004 and served as Assistant Supervisor and Instructor at Laborers Training School of Azusa California from 2004 to 2013, during which time he was 1 of 14 out of over 250 instructors to receive recognition as a Certified Instructor. Delfino looks forward to serving on the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles Commission and using his work experience, knowledge and skillset to assist underserved communities and connect residents to great careers throughout the City of Los Angeles.
Aileen Morales, Director
Aileen Espitia Morales brings a unique blend of lived experience as a longtime HACLA resident and educational background to her role as Resident Commissioner. Aileen’s hands- on experience in the community, positions her well to contribute meaningfully to HACLA’s mission of providing quality housing and services.
Currently serving as a teacher at Carver Middle School in LAUSD, Aileen has over five years of experience in education, working for students with diverse learning needs, including those with Individualized Education Program (IEPs) and English Language Learners. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, from California State University, Los Angeles, where she earned a Dean’s List recognition in 2019.
As a resident of Ramona Gardens since 2016, Aileen has been deeply engaged in community advocacy through her photography line, “Aileen Patricia Photography.” She has provided visual documentation and storytelling support for the Ramona Gardens Resident Advisory Council (RAC), LAUSD programs, CSP community outreach efforts, local food banks, and community back-to-school initiatives. Her work creates visual narratives that increase community support and volunteer engagement. Her volunteer work has earned her multiple recognitions, including the Outstanding Volunteer Award and Certificates of Recognition from Council District 14.