Functional Zero Partners Information

Akash Kalia and Jen Klose are the founding members of Functional Zero Partners. Jen is an attorney with experience in real estate and government affairs, and Akash, a hotel owner and entrepreneur. Jen and Akash came together to transform the Palms Inn, a budget hotel in Santa Rosa, California, into a permanent supportive housing community for 120 previously homeless veterans and vulnerable individuals. Akash Kalia studied business with a focus on Entrepreneurship at the University of Oregon before returning home to save his family business. While still in high school and in college, Akash started a number of small businesses in the technology sector. After college, Akash bought and overhauled his familys hotel; nearly doubling the profits within a year while paying each employee a living wage. Akash saw the innovative value of leveraging existing housing vouchers to convert his Palms Inn into permanent supportive housing. Akash was very hands-on in the conversion, particularly with the collaborative efforts to build a sustainable community and in fostering positive respectful relationships between the residents and staff during the transition. Aptly named a social entrepreneur by the India West newspaper, Akash is focused on creating sustainable opportunities for business owners to serve their communities while maintaining business viability.