Project Hope for the Homeless is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Erica Shaw as Social Services Advocate.
Shaw of Madison Township works closely with the organization’s Social Services Director and Aftercare Coordinator to serve guests and former guests.
Her role includes direct service with shelter guests, hotel program guests, and assisting with the aftercare program as needed. She will help problem solve when needs arise.
“I’m assisting the Social Services Director and Aftercare Coordinator during the day on their behalf and helping the guests get the services they need that can’t be done in the evening,” Shaw said.
She will also be trained in entering data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and on-call supervision of the shelter to relieve duties of current staff.
Shaw began service with Project Hope for the Homeless as a volunteer in the fall of 2015 and then worked as a staff member for the Families Moving Forward program.
She left the organization in 2017 to stay at home raising her two children but continued volunteering for the past three years. Now that her children are older, she wanted to resume working to serve those in need.
“I am drawn to working with homeless people and those with mental health issues as well,” Shaw said.
Judy Burr, Project Hope for the Homeless executive director, said Shaw is a great fit for the organization.
“Erica has life experience that is invaluable to this role,” Burr said. “She is a very compassionate person who is willing to learn and reach out to advocate for the needs of others”.
Project Hope for the Homeless is the only emergency shelter in Lake County and guests have an 86% positive transition rate to permanent housing or entering a behavioral health treatment facility.