Academic Internship - Deborah's Place

Within Deborah’s Place (a non-profit providing shelter and housing opportunities for women experiencing homelessness), I am interning at Teresa’s Interim Housing. Teresa’s is a ten-bed, 120-day interim housing program. I give initial intake assessments, facilitate group activities, and allocate resources to 4 program participants. I use the harm reduction framework while practicing motivational interviewing techniques as I work with clients to find permanent, stable housing. My overarching goal is to transition 5-7 clients into permanent housing. Many steps go into getting clients housed - some within my control and many are not.. I have the following learning and achievement goals that will help me accomplish my primary goal: Develop my skills in leading groups confidently. Building rapport with my clients and earning their trust is key in establishing good working relationships. Learn the local housing resources and supportive services to best assist my clients. Gaining this resource-based competency will build upon itself with each client I help. Gain skills, confidence, and understanding to work with a population that has mental health struggles. Experiencing homelessness is traumatic in itself, but coupled with mental health concerns, it can make the work to house my clients even more difficult. Learn what is required to be an effective case manager - reading body language and social cues from clients, knowing when to assist vs allowing the client to work on their own, and delivering trauma-informed care to every client. Ultimately, the path to success will look different for each client I have the privilege of helping. Compassion, empathy, and understanding will be at the forefront of the work I do. And even when a client doesn’t achieve their goal, I will have learned things in our time together that will allow me to better assist my next client.