The Job Title is Housing Navigator. The Actual Job is...About 47 Other Things

This is LeAnne. The Housing Navigator in our North Central Iowa office in Mason City. We recently had a chance to sit with her and talk about what she does. When people hear the title Housing Navigator, they usually imagine someone pointing at apartments on a map and saying, "How about this one?" The reality is closer to being a tour guide, coach, problem-solver, translator, cheerleader, technology support desk, landlord liaison, and occasional emotional support human, all rolled into one. LeAnne

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After a long career in environmental consulting, Gayle retired at the end of 2025 and began looking for a meaningful way to stay connected and give back. Originally from Virginia, Gayle relocated to Iowa with her late husband, Tom, to be closer to his family. Today, she continues to build roots in the community and has found a new sense of purpose through volunteering with FOF. Gayle’s journey with FOF began with a simple step: stopping by the office to learn more. What stood out immediately

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When we entered T’s new apartment, she had her leg propped on a lime-green ottoman, an ice-filled Ziploc bag resting on her scarred knee. It's always hard to see someone sidelined by an injury, but she remained in good spirits. “Welcome to my home! Took y’all long enough. I got ready just for you. Showering is a tough job with a bum knee!” T has a 1,000 watt smile and radiant brown eyes. She’s the kind of person who is almost disarmingly positive, always able

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Across Waterloo, several outdoor encampments exist at any given time. These sites reflect a deeper need for stable housing and coordinated support. The Encampment to Housed project is a new approach designed to meet that need, bringing together multiple agencies and partners to help people transition from encampments into permanent housing. We are proud to announce that we’ve recently kicked off the program by housing 3 individuals formerly living outside in encampments. This work is

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I am excited to officially introduce myself as the new Director of Development at Friends of the Family.   I’ve spent much of my career building relationships, leading teams, and creating meaningful connections within our community through both small business and nonprofit leadership. What drew me to Friends of the Family was the organization’s belief that everyone deserves safety, dignity, and a place to call home.   As

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Housing Help & Coordinated Entry: What to Expect We know trying to figure out housing support can feel overwhelming - especially when you’re dealing with a lot already. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we get about Coordinated Entry, housing assessments, and how our partnership with Waypoint helps make this process more accessible. We hope this helps you feel more informed and a little less stressed about what comes next. Frequently Asked Questions What

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Hi, my name is Rich, and I’m the new Communications and Events Manager. I’m also a past program participant. My path here was a long and winding one. Just three years ago, a cycle of addiction had stripped away everything good in my life: a loving family, a promising career, and a sense of purpose. A moment of desperation and a forgiving family member led me to substance abuse treatment in Iowa, where I learned about Friends of the Family’s housing services. After completing

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Meet Brandy! She joined us in Mason City to help with the PIT Census. We sat down with her to learn more about her and her experience volunteering with Friends of the Family. Why did you choose to volunteer for FOF, and what makes you to continue to volunteer? I first learned about FOF when someone reached out to ask if I would be interested in volunteering for the PIT Census. Although I had always wanted to become more involved in volunteer work, I hadn’t yet made the time to do so—this

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At Friends of the Family, we provide a low barrier emergency shelter service. A Low barrier shelter service eliminates many of the obstacles that shelters often impose. By doing this we are able to help more people, despite possible obstacles they are currently facing.    We believe in the housing first approach. This means that we want to make sure survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault have a safe space to escape to without worrying about passing

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Friends of the Family has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2024 honor by Iowa Top Workplaces. This list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage,LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, to name a few. At the recent awards ceremony for Top Workplaces, Friends

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