Amazing Grace

Grace Ann Young joined AHFEID as our Volunteer Intake Specialist 10 months ago, during a time when inquiries for our services were increasing rapidly. She manages text messages and inquiries from potential clients, and as she puts it, the experience has been incredibly mutually beneficial.

Grace Ann and fellow volunteer Brent at Frontline Response

After the sudden and very unexpected loss of my son to cardiac arrest, I knew I needed help during my grieving process. I was pulled to helping the unhoused in our community  because my of my son’s own compassion, non judgment, and generosity to others since he had been a young boy. 

Lo and behold, I had the good fortune to remember that my neighbor Natalie Snedden was always busy volunteering and I paid her a visit.  I knew nothing of A Home for Everyone in Dekalb or that she was a board member. The rest is history——she immediately actively engaged me in so many activities that I named myself “Natalie’s Assistant”, not all of it AHFEID related.  What a gift Natalie is to humanity and to me….when I needed help, she beckoned my call!  

I particularly gravitated to AHFEID ‘s intake process and receive incredible fulfillment in briefly engaging those asking for our help. Most of our inquiries are naturally related to housing issues.  However, the types of housing issues may range from dire homelessness to facing eviction to domestic violence to medical problems or finally to only needing assistance with a security deposit for a newly approved rental unit. Bingo!  Security Deposit assistance  is our only direct financial assistance at this time. 

I am very privileged to be on the front end of the incoming requests for assistance and I can almost feel the pain and desperateness of those who want to explain the reasons they have met such hardships. I know it’s not easy to ask for help. 

It is very important to me to treat every person who contacts us, for whatever reason, with the utmost and timely respect, dignity and compassion even when we so often have to immediately deny their requests because they do not meet our basic criteria. Sometimes, all we can do is to be kind/empathetic and refer them on to our very extensive resource list or other specific resources that may be helpful. It’s sad and touching to me, that even in receiving a denial for help, so many will express gratitude for our kindness and that we even called them back. 

The number of inquiries per day may range from 3-15 which doesn’t seem like that much but I do try to engage each person in a professional yet personal manner. 

For those who meet our basic criteria for financial assistance, I then refer them to our intake specialist for further review and processing.  During the processsing, I help the intake specialist as needed in bringing the cases to completion. It’s always a celebration when we have a successful completion for our clients!  

There isn’t just one case that has touched my heart. The ones that are particularly heartfelt are those that I have developed  rapport and trust with in the beginning process, usually some of our more difficult cases. It brings me great joy to then know and experience with them that they have finally attained housing security.   They know me by name and I know them by name and that makes all the difference…it feels like we’re in this together.  That touches me beyond words and I wish them all the best in their journey to stability.