Staff Spotlight: Camille Johnson
“There are so many people who are one check or one job loss away from homelessness. We all need to be kind to each other.”
Q: How did you get into homeless services as a field of work?
A: I always knew I wanted to work with underserved populations, and I was drawn to outreach work. In college, I majored in sociology, and I volunteered with Hanover Safe Place where I got to work with domestic violence survivors. I was talking with people who were in crisis, and I saw how it connected to so many other social issues, like homelessness. Those experiences cemented for me that I wanted to pursue outreach work as a career.
Q: What’s your job at Homeward and has it evolved since you first joined?
A: I started at Homeward in May of 2024 as a Lived Experience Coordinator. I was focused on connecting people with lived experience of homelessness to homeless services work. Their insight and perspectives can be invaluable when we are looking at understanding client needs. My colleague Choice East has since taken over that work, and he is really well suited to it since he brings his own perspective of having lived experience of homelessness.
My current role is CoC Referral Coordinator. I coordinate shelter referrals for single men, single women, and families. I help them get into emergency shelter. I work with rapid re-housing providers to get clients connected to them. I also run a case conferencing group to connect our more vulnerable clients to shelter.
Q: What are some parts of your job that you enjoy?
A: I enjoy talking to clients. I am often talking to people who are going through really difficult situations. Sometimes the thing they need the most is someone to lend an ear and be a supportive voice, and I can be that person for them. My favorite part of my job is when I can give someone good news: that they’ve been connected to a shelter program or the right supportive service for their needs. Sometimes people break down in tears of relief or they’re really happy. I love that I was able to help them take a next step towards solving their crisis. I also love my team. Jen and Choice are so supportive and they’ve taught me a lot!
Q: What have you been working on recently?
A: Right now, I’m working with Choice on a project that helps people experiencing domestic violence get connected to housing intervention and shelter services. We have weekly case conferencing where we talk to these clients, try to get them somewhere safe and use the resources that we have.
Recently, I worked with the case managers at the Inclement Weather Shelter (IWS). We developed a system where we can refer people from the IWS to other forms to shelter. We created shelter match slips for more vulnerable clients who can’t be easily contacted by phone (possibly because they are sick, disabled, or don’t have easy access to a phone). So that evening when they are staying at the IWS, they get notified by the slip that they’ve been connected to a shelter program. It’s been very successful. A lot of clients who might have otherwise fallen through the cracks have been reached this way.
Both the emergency and IWS shelters have been at capacity, so it’s been a relief for the participants and the staff to be able to move more people to other solutions.
Q: Is there anything you wish more people knew or understood about homeless services as a field of work?
A: As a field of work, it takes a lot of empathy and compassion. These people are going through the worst crisis of their life, and it’s our job to try to get them back on track. It can be difficult work, but I get the chance to be a bright spot in their day, showing them that something good is coming, being a door or a window to move them forward on their journey. This work is tough, but seeing a client pull through is the best reward you can be given. There are so many people who are one check or one job loss away from homelessness. We all need to be kind to people!
Q: What motivates you?
A: Getting into shelter can be such a big breakthrough for people, and that’s my motivation to keep calling clients. I think, “Maybe this connection I am able to give them will be the things that changes their life.”
My team, Jen and Choice, also keeps me motivated. When rough stuff is happening or we’re working through a lot of problems, they are both always available to teach me what they know. They always stay positive. We have monthly coffee meetings where talk through what challenges we’re facing at work and how we can support each other as a team.
Homeward has been such a great experience for me. Every single person on the Homeward team is personable and professional. You feel like everyone has your back. I have felt so supported as I have taken on new roles and challenges.
