Transcript
Have you ever looked at someone’s life and thought, “I can’t imagine how they got there?” Maybe it’s a woman holding a sign at an intersection, a man sleeping in his car, or a child dropped off at school, hungry and disheveled. These stories might seem far removed from your own life. But what if your knee-jerk reaction is wrong? What if the people we quickly judge are more like us than we think?
Not That Different is a podcast about the stories behind the statistics – the real people behind the word “homeless.” Because when we stop and listen, we start seeing something surprising: individuals experiencing homelessness aren’t “those people.” They are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters – our neighbors. The very people Christ calls us to love.
Today, we’re talking with someone who hears these stories every day, often at the very first moment of a woman’s journey at Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center. And as you’ll hear in this and future episodes, one truth keeps rising to the surface: we’re really not that different.
Hi, I’m Jamie, Senior Community Engagement Manager at The City Mission in Cleveland, Ohio. I’ve spent my entire career in this ministry and dedicated my life to serving men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. My passion is to de-stigmatize the labels we put on those experiencing homelessness.
Today, I’m joined by Katie, Intake Specialist at Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center. I’m thrilled to have her help us kick off this new journey into podcasting as we explore the real stories behind the statistics
Why Do You Work at The City Mission?
Katie: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been surrounded by social work. My mom and grandma were social workers – it’s in my blood. I didn’t know I’d end up working with people experiencing homelessness, but God brought me here through a story I’d love to share.
Jamie: I remember being part of that story when you interned here, and I quickly saw that you were called to this. Watching you grow and flourish in this ministry has been a joy. That’s why you were the first person I wanted to do this episode with.
Katie’s Daily Role at Laura’s Home
Jamie: Katie, describe what your day looks like in your current role.
Katie: My favorite thing about Laura’s Home is that every day is different. I start by reviewing the “unable to shelter” list from the day before and sending reports. Then, we look at room availability and start calling ladies from the list if we have space. We do pre-intake assessments, welcome guests, work through paperwork, and then settle them into their rooms.
I also handle orientations – after a few days, I sit down with guests to go more in-depth about our program and why we do what we do. It’s a big commitment, and we want everyone to understand the “why” behind it.
We wait a few days for orientation because, when women first come in, they’re usually overwhelmed and traumatized. We want to give them space to decompress before introducing more information.
About the Waitlist and Why It Exists
Jamie: Laura’s Home has been full for 13 years, operating at capacity except for emergency overflow during extremely cold weather. Katie’s role was created to add dignity to the wait time, helping women connect with other services, supports, and resources while they wait – sometimes for months.
Katie: Most people find us through word of mouth. Often, they know the basics – Laura’s Home is a shelter with a good reputation – but they’re surprised when they find out about our classes and the depth of our programs. That’s why I try to provide as much information as possible before they arrive.
Currently, our waitlist has around 132 adults and 110 children. Many are staying with friends, family, and sometimes even strangers, in other shelters, in their cars, or in unsafe situations.
How Are Admissions Decided?
Jamie: How do you decide who comes in next?
Katie: It’s difficult. We try to honor the waitlist and fill rooms based on how frequently someone reaches out, but in urgent cases – like domestic violence – we may prioritize safety and move someone up the list. Most of the time, though, it’s by waitlist order. We also match the family size to available rooms for the best fit.
What Might Surprise You About Homelessness
Jamie: What would surprise people most about what you do?
Katie: The stories are so similar to my own or people I know. These aren’t strangers who’ve made poor decisions for years. These are moms with young children, doing everything they can to stay stable. Often, just one life event triggers a downward spiral.
Jamie: People assume homelessness has a single cause – addiction, domestic violence, etc. – but every story is unique. The needs are deeper than just housing.
A Memorable Story
Jamie: Is there a story you can share that really impacted you?
Katie: There’s a mom with seven children who reached out to us. She was working a great job – making more than I do. People are surprised that having a job doesn’t always solve homelessness. Housing insecurity can happen even to working families, especially when there’s domestic violence. We couldn’t admit her immediately, but two days later, a room opened and she came in. The bravery it took to move her kids and the sacrifices involved were remarkable.
Jamie: Many people don’t realize how many of our clients are employed. The cost of living is so high that even full-time work isn’t enough, especially for large families.
Faith and Compassion
Katie: Jesus is a core part of what we do. We’re a faith-based crisis shelter. While our guests aren’t required to be Christians, we want everyone to know they’re welcome here and that our hope for them is found in Christ.
Courage and Building Trust
Jamie: What would change about people’s perceptions if they saw intake firsthand?
Katie: People would see the immense bravery and humility it takes women to ask for help – to walk into an unfamiliar place in hopes of a better life for their families.
Building trust starts with the first call. Sometimes I talk to new guests for half an hour, just listening, making them feel heard and known. Consistency and genuine care help build that trust.
Improving the Intake Experience
Jamie: How has your role improved the intake process?
Katie: Before, guests might talk to several different people before admission. Now, there’s a single point of contact, making the process clearer and more personal. After intake and orientation, I hand things off to case managers, ensuring continuity of care.
We’re always refining this process to be more dignified, trauma-informed, and compassionate.
How This Work Changes You
Katie: This job has increased my empathy. I see every person as someone fighting unseen battles, so it’s deepened my commitment to treating everyone with love and compassion – both here and in my personal life.
What Keeps You Coming Back?
Katie: This is a calling. Every staff member here is called to serve. Even on my hardest days, I remember that this may be the hardest day of someone else’s life – and it’s a privilege to walk alongside them, bringing hope in their darkest moments.
Get Involved
Thank you, Katie, for joining our very first episode of the Not That Different podcast. We hope this episode reminds you: we’re really not that different from those experiencing homelessness around us.
If this episode resonated with you and you want to get involved:
- If you’re in the Cleveland area, visit https://thecitymission.org to volunteer, join our associate board, or come by for a tour.
- If you’re outside of Cleveland, search for local homeless or crisis centers and see how you can get involved.
- Contact:
- Podcast by The City Mission, Cleveland, Ohio
- Learn more: https://thecitymission.org
- Questions? Email: connect@thecitymission.org