Tim Thomas, Ph.D.

Dr. Tim Thomas is the Chief Research and Data Officer at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), where he leads efforts to use advanced research methods and data-driven strategies to address homelessness. With a focus on liberation research, Tim is dedicated to uncovering systemic inequities and creating transformative solutions that center the dignity and humanity of every individual. He believes that every data point represents a person and approaches his work with respect and care for the lives behind the numbers.

Previously, Dr. Thomas served as the Research Director for U.C. Berkeley’s Urban Displacement Project, specializing in urban sociology, demography, and data science. His research explored how neighborhood change, housing dynamics, and displacement impact socioeconomic stratification across race and gender in the United States. As the founder of the Eviction Research Network, Tim pioneered innovative methods such as text-mining court records to analyze eviction trends and their drivers. His work has informed tenant protection laws, extended the CDC eviction moratorium during the pandemic, and provided critical insights for national policymakers, including advising the White House, HUD, and Treasury Department. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Washington.