A Day in the Life of a Housing Support Specialist

Housing Support Specialist, Amie, shares about her role.  Describe your role.  I am a housing support specialist. I assist clients with finding housing and provide case management to help them reach self-sufficiency.  What led you to become a housing support specialist?  I always wanted a job in the helping field because it is very fulfilling and rewarding. When I saw the opportunity to be a housing support specialist, I thought it was a perfect opportunity for me

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What is PIT Count? Community agencies and stakeholders will survey the community to conduct a Point in Time Count. PIT Count is where agencies & volunteers go out into the community and connect with individuals experiencing homelessness on the last Wednesday of January every year.   Staff and volunteers are tasked with going into the community to count and connect with the number of people experiencing homelessness in our 17-county community: Allamakee, Bremer, Butler, Buchanan, Chickasaw,

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Tiphanie, housing support specialist, talks to us about her position and what a day looks like for her.  Describe your role: As a housing support specialist, we support individuals fleeing domestic violence find safe and stable housing.  After clients find their housing, we financially assist them until they are back on their feet and can self-sustain their rental payments.    What led you to become a housing support specialist? A friend that was working for the

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What’s more relaxing than getting to hang out with some really awesome animals? Nothing! P.E.T. P.A.L.S which stands for Pets in Education and Therapy, People and Animals in Life Sharing made their way to Waverly recently for a visit! This organization was created in 1983, as a partnership with the Black Hawk Humane Society what we know today as the Cedar Bend Humane Society. The animals are the personal pets of the volunteers, these animals and owners go through an in-depth screening process

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Emily, Crisis Advocate, shares her typical day. What led you to become a victim advocate? A friend of mine had worked as a crisis advocate here at Friends of the Family. We were working together in Waterloo last year and she told me that I should apply because she had a feeling that I would be a good fit for FOF and I would really enjoy the position because of my past working with trafficking prevention. What time does your day typically start? I’m usually up by 6:30 so I have proper

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Executive Director, Ben Brustkern, joins Habitat for Humanity's Ali and J'Kalein on their podcast, Bringing Down the House.    

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In episode 32, Genie Berst, Outreach and Diversion Specialist with Friends of the Family, visits with Becky to talk about the Friends of the Family community table at the Waterloo Public Library.      

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FOR RELEASE ON 3.1.2021 Contact: Friends of the Family, Ben Brustkern   Phone: 319-352-1108, Ext. 207 Email: [email protected] Safely Home & Home Free New program options available for families experiencing housing instability in Northeast/Northcentral Iowa counties.   Effective January 1, 2021 – Safely Home – This Continuum of Care funded program is for survivors of domestic violence,

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FOR RELEASE ON 9.1.2020 Contact: Friends of the Family, Ben Brustkern   Phone: 319-352-1108 Email: [email protected] Service Expansion Additional funding increases service area   Effective September 1, 2020 – Additional funding has allowed for the expansion of services in our existing counties and the additional coverage of several new counties. The Federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief,

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