Kennedy Freeman
Blowing Rock,NC
Summary
My time working with those experiencing homelessness reaches far beyond my professional years. Growing up, my family volunteered at a variety of local agencies that introduced me to my passion early on. From running a children's summer camp at my local homeless shelter in high school to spending my entire post-grad career working at Hospitality House, my volunteer and professional experience have instilled a passion for working with those experiencing homelessness. I have seen the numerous barriers up close and personal and I want to further my education so I can continue working to help people overcome any barriers they might be facing.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Leadership and Intake Coordinator
Hospitality House Of Northwest NC
03.2023 - Current
- All of the same job responsibilities as the Data/Intake Specialist position in addition to the following:
- Supervisor for the agency's Shelter Associates (front-line staff that run the front desk)
- Play a role in the interview and hiring process for new Shelter Associates
- Plan, organize, and lead trainings for the Shelter Associates
- While it is not a main job responsibility, I do provide case management about 1-2 hours a day most days. Some days, my entire day will end up being filled with providing case management, helping clients in crisis, or just meeting a need when no one else is available
Data/ Intake Specialist
Hospitality House Of Northwest NC
02.2021 - 03.2023
- Coordinate the completion of intake paperwork with all residents of our Emergency Shelter and Night by Night programs
- Intakes include: mental health history, substance use history, homeless history, creating a housing plan, discussing possible barriers and how they can use their strengths to overcome those barriers, figuring out a plan to obtain income if they do not receive income, discuss how to stay successfully housed once they find housing, let them know of resources that are available to them in the community, and going through the shelter guidelines with them
- Enter the Data Elements from the intakes into Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
- Share the role of Lead System Administrator for our agency, which means I have the highest level of clearance in our database for reporting and managing data input
- Use reports to manage all of our agency's programs' entries and exits to make sure our data is accurate and reflective of the people we are serving
- Run reports for Director of Grant Funding to use when communicating with our agency's funders or applying for new grants
- Assist in completing a requisition to send to our state funder (Emergency Solutions Grant) each month
- Manage a variety of paperwork and files that can be audited or monitored by our funders (client files, log sheets, vulnerability assessments, etc.)
- Manage the Prioritization List, which uses a vulnerability assessment to determine how much assistance a household needs to stay successfully housed. I present this list to our Coordinated Entry Team bi-weekly to determine households that need Permanent Supportive Housing or Rapid Rehousing assistance
Shelter Associate
Hospitality House Of Northwest NC
09.2020 - 02.2021
- Front-line staff managing the front desk for 8 hour shifts at a time
- Completing the beginning steps of the Coordinated Entry process for those inquiring about services
- Meeting clients' needs coordinating laundry and shower times, helping with resumes and job applications, managing donations both monetary and supplies
- Referring clients to local agencies
- Enforcing shelter guidelines
- De-escalating clients and managing crises
- Relaying larger case management needs to appropriate service coordinator
- Helping in kitchen preparing meals and assisting in food pantry
Urban Camp Coordinator
Carolina Cross Connection
06.2020 - 07.2020
- Worked with agencies in the Asheville area that serve people experiencing homelessness
- Led simulations for other Camp staff to teach them about diversity, vulnerable populations, and privilege
- Completed home repair projects for housed individuals that would not normally be able to afford the projects
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC05.2020
Skills
- Recognizing and cultivating the potential in others
- Empathetic
- Strong de-escalation skills/helping those in crisis
- Adept at dealing with problems
- Organized
- Observing needs and meeting those needs
- Goal-setting
- Helping others find common ground
Timeline
Leadership and Intake Coordinator
Hospitality House Of Northwest NC
03.2023 - Current
Data/ Intake Specialist
Hospitality House Of Northwest NC
02.2021 - 03.2023
Shelter Associate
Hospitality House Of Northwest NC
09.2020 - 02.2021
Urban Camp Coordinator
Carolina Cross Connection
06.2020 - 07.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
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