Staff Spotlight: Pam Kirby
"Homeward is there to bring all the different pieces of homeless services together. "
Q: How did you get into homeless services as a field of work?
A: Homeward is my first job in homeless services. Previously, I was an ESOL teacher, and before Homeward, I worked in operations at a local nonprofit that’s focused on solving the childcare crisis in our community. There is definitely an overlap between struggling to find adequate childcare and housing instability. At my previous job, we noticed that rising housing costs were one of the top barriers associated with affording childcare. A portion of the children that we helped to place in daycare were from families that were experiencing some form of homelessness, such as living in a hotel. It really brings to light that these issues are systemic and interconnected.
Q: What’s your job at Homeward and has it evolved since you first joined?
A: I was initially hired as Office and Events Support. I supported the community engagement manager with events logistics. I also assisted with The PIT count. It was the first time I directly interacted with people experiencing homelessness. It was intense but deeply meaningful. Then, we had some staff changes and retirements, and I took on more responsibilities related to grant management. I’ve been doing that work for about the past six months, and I am still learning! Each grant has different reporting requirements for how we allocate the funding we receive. It can be complex, but as a very detail-oriented person, it is work that I enjoy.
Q: What have you been working on recently?
A: Currently, I am working with our CFO to prepare next fiscal year’s budget and funding allocations. I am also supporting the team that’s working on planning the Best Practices Conference in May.
Q: Is there anything you wish more people knew or understood about homeless services as a field of work?
A: I wish more people understood that Homeward is there to bring all the different pieces of homeless services together. I don’t think people appreciate fully what that entails. It takes so much cooperation, nuance, and creative problem-solving to address homelessness, to bring services to people who need it, making sure efforts aren’t duplicated, to bring in new partners across different sectors, and to ensure that limited resources are being used efficiently to help the most people. We know there is more to be done, but what is already being done is remarkable.
Q: What motivates you?
A: I am proud to be a part of an organization that is helping to solve a crisis in our community. Knowing that I am able to use my skills to do work that is benefitting others is a great feeling.
