July 28, 2006


Bon Voyage

Today we said goodbye over spicy Thai Food and soothing ice cream to our summer intern, Nolan Hunt. We have been blessed to have Nolan with us over the past few months. Over the course of the summer he took on some serious tasks and responsibilities. His intelligence and conscientiousness showed in all of the work he did here. He was truly dedicated too, working way past five everyday to complete anything required. More than anything, he was an excellent example of compassion for our clients. He always asked how could we do more to help.

I also think that I speak for everyone when I say that his questions made us reflect on our own professional growth and development. It wasn’t more than a few years ago that I was the intern in a new work environment and taking on new challenges. Social Work and similar professions can be daunting careers to undertake. Burnout, or emotional exhaustion, is just too common. Which is why mutual support and constant learning is so important.

Nolan begins a semester traveling abroad. Over the course of the next several months he will cover nearly every corner of the globe. We all wish him a safe, fun and educational journey!
Posted by Tom on July 28, 2006 @ 11:00 AM | 0 Comments | Post a comment

July 24, 2006


Happy Dance

We all love it when we get new funds for our programs. It’s confirmation that what we’re doing is important and other people recognize that. But perhaps no one loves it more than Shannon “Dancing Machine” Steene, our Executive Director.

Whenever we get word of a new grant or donation Shannon can be seen performing his “happy dance”, as it’s known around the office. Reminiscent of the “Elaine Dance” from Seinfeld, it’s kind of a funny combination of bobbing, kicking, swiveling and pointing. It’s always a sign of something good.

Today we were blessed with another performance when Shannon received word that we are receiving $10,000 from Wachovia for our ABC Program!

Thank you to all of our generous partners. Your money is put to good use here at Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services.
Posted by Tom on July 24, 2006 @ 11:00 AM | 0 Comments | Post a comment

July 18, 2006


Fresh

It’s nearly a meaningless adjective these days. Half of the so-called fresh and natural food in your local grocery store are far from it.

Well thanks to George Klett, a founding board member, we were blessed with some truly fresh tomatoes today. There’s nothing better than a homegrown vegetable. So sweet, so juicy. It’s the best.

The best part of my day is having lunch with the rest of the Good Shepherd staff. Unlike most offices, where there’s a mad dash out the door for lunch, we actually break bread together. Part staff meeting, part venting session, part cooking show; it’s a time to stop, reflect and refresh. We’re a stronger team because of it.
Posted by Tom on July 18, 2006 @ 11:00 AM | 0 Comments | Post a comment

July 14, 2006



Privacy

I was meeting with a family the other night in their home. A fan roared in the background, the kids were playing and screaming in the other room, and there was the smell of fish sticks in the air. Not a typical environment for business, right?

We were creating a family budget. Our first task was to document every monthly expense. I would ask, “How much do you spend on food?” “How often do you shop for clothes?” “What do you do for entertainment? …and how much does it cost?”

How many of us are willing to open up our lives that way?

It’s something that we might not even share with our therapist. I recognize that it is difficult for my clients to let me into their homes and their spending habits.

I salute them, and anyone else who tries to improve their situation in life. Self-improvement takes the courage to be brutally honest and dream of something better. I am glad that my clients trust and feel comfortable with me enough to involve me in the process. I’m glad that I can help.
Posted by Tom on July 14, 2006 @ 11:00 AM | 0 Comments | Post a comment

July 11, 2006


Your Credit is Real

Our ABC (Apartments – Budgeting – Counseling) Program places a strong emphasis on money management. We believe that smart budgeting and wise use of credit is essential if our clients want to reach their personal goals. Last night we had a workshop that focuses on understanding credit reports.

Worrying about a credit score is something new for a lot of our clients. Who cares about APRs or a FICO score when you can’t pay your rent, right?

Well, for most of our ABC clients the relevance of credit became very real when they were denied an apartment because of their credit. Imagine you need a place to live. You have a good job and the money to pay for the deposit but you are told, “No”. That happens to people everyday. Instead of suitable housing, they are looking at less than ideal options. Do you live in wildly expensive hotel, paying way more than you can afford to live ina single room with no kitchen? Maybe you can beg your parents or siblings for room on the couch for you and your kids? That doesn’t usually last long. For some people, living in a shelter or in their car is the only option.

Our goal is to help each client assess how they got to their current situation and plot a course out of it. We insist clients look squarely at themselves for responsibility. Most people acknowledge mismanagement and lack of foresight. For some clients it’s harder than others. We always say that it took years to get into debt and it’s going to take awhile to get out.

I promise my clients that if they make an effort to take control of their spending that they will feel the positive effects immediately.

And that’s what I found last night. As each participant came to realize that their situation was not hopeless and that they had control over their future, I saw them all come to life. They came to the table anxious and scared. They were ashamed of what their credit had become. It, in many ways, feels like a reflection of their own worth. I was happy to see their enthusiasm and desire to change. It’s what we’re all about.

I have to also thank all of the past and present volunteers that have participated as Budget Counselors. We could not do this work without you.
Posted by Tom on July 11, 2006 @ 11:00 AM | 0 Comments | Post a comment

July 10, 2006



Hello...

Thank you for joining me and the rest of the Good Shepherd Housing staff on this blog. I believe this is the start of something special in the world of social services.

Every week you will be treated to behind-the-scenes details of our agency, as well as our reflections on outside events.

But this blog is more than a one man show. Each entry is the beginning of a new conversation. Whether you’re a member of our local community, a client, a supporter or someone from across the country, we need YOUR VOICE in this conversation.

So please leave your comments and represent.
Posted by Tom on July 10, 2006 @ 11:00 AM | 0 Comments | Post a comment
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