"I know because I used to work for HomeFirst. During that time, I had to call 211 for housing assistance because my paycheck wasn't enough to cover rent and bills. HomeFirst employees can't access their own programs, so I had to explain to a stranger that I worked in homeless services but needed help myself. The operator said, "Yeah... you're definitely not the first." That moment told me everything."
"How do you expect staff to show "kindness, passion and excellence" when they can't always afford groceries? When they're covering caseloads that should be split among three or more people? When they go home to the same instability they're supposed to be ending? The National Alliance to End Homelessness found that most workers in this field can't afford housing on their own."
A former HomeFirst employee recounts needing public housing assistance despite working in homeless services, illustrating that frontline staff often cannot access the programs they administer. Many workers face low pay, unaffordable housing, excessive caseloads, and personal instability, undermining service quality. National data show most workers cannot afford housing, over half rely on a partner's income, and nearly 40% of unpartnered employees lack sufficient pay. Black and Latinx staff face the greatest financial hardship yet remain committed to the work. Program metrics can mask temporary subsidies; fully funding permanent "housing first" placements would require substantially more resources.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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