For Kate Eppers, a Housing First Coordinator at Eliot Community Human Services, working in homelessness services isn’t just a career—it’s a calling rooted in compassion, persistence, and humanity. With more than 20 years in human services and over two years with Eliot’s Homelessness Services Division, Kate has devoted her professional life to helping people find safety, stability, and hope.
“We’re called Housing First Coordinators,” she says, “but sometimes I think it’s really Humans First. There’s a humanity at Eliot that’s just wonderful. I’ve been in this field for a long time, and I’ve never experienced such a warm, caring, and compassionate culture. It’s not just our little team, it’s everyone.”
Building Trust, Restoring Dignity
Each day in Kate’s role looks a little different. Some mornings begin quietly, catching up on notes, checking housing lists, or coordinating benefits and applications. Other days bring crises: an unlawful eviction, a last-minute appeal, or a client in urgent need of safety. But whether she’s in court, doing outreach, or tracking down paperwork, her approach remains the same: steadfast empathy.
“It could be anything a client needs,” she explains. “Legal support, housing searches, advocating in court, or just being there. Sometimes it’s about finding a short-term place where someone can feel safe and warm tonight, while working toward a long-term home tomorrow.”
That balance between immediate support and long-term stability is at the heart of Eliot’s Housing First model, meeting people where they are and helping them establish the foundation to move forward.
The Power of Persistence
One of Kate’s proudest moments came after more than a year of persistence on behalf of an older client with disabilities. After months of appeals and setbacks with major housing authorities, the client faced another potential loss. “We were devastated,” Kate recalls. “We had been fighting and fighting, and it felt so unjust.”
But Kate didn’t give up. She had also applied for a rare Community Based Housing (CBH) unit, a specialized, accessible apartment for individuals with disabilities. Miraculously, the application came through.
“They’re like unicorns,” Kate says with a smile. “They’re so rare. But he got one. We signed the lease [recently], and he sent me a beautiful letter thanking us. Now we’re working on furniture and all the details. It’s amazing. Everyone on the team celebrated with us. It’s those moments that remind you why you do this work.”
Wins, Big and Small
Not every success story involves signing a lease or moving into a new home. Kate emphasizes that even the smallest steps forward can carry enormous meaning for clients and staff alike.
“The payoff isn’t always a huge success,” she says. “Sometimes it’s finally getting a document we’ve been waiting on for weeks, or helping a client access their DTA account. For many of our clients, those little things are major victories. When they see progress, you start to see them come out from under that dark cloud.”
That transformation—the shift from despair to hope—is what fuels Kate and her colleagues. “Sometimes our clients have worked with other systems that didn’t help them, or they’ve burned bridges. They come to us skeptical, guarded. But when they see we don’t give up on them, that’s when trust begins. And that’s when real progress happens.”
Homelessness Challenges and Collaboration
Despite the successes, the work isn’t without its challenges. Navigating the maze of housing authorities, agencies, and healthcare providers can be daunting even for seasoned professionals.
“Connecting with other agencies is probably the hardest part,” Kate admits. “We’re responsive, we upload documents right away, but sometimes it’s hard to get a call back or a simple form from another office. You have to stay persistent without damaging relationships, and always advocate for your clients.”
Even when systems are slow or uncooperative, Kate and her team keep pushing forward, motivated by their shared commitment to people who have nowhere else to turn.
Why This Work Matters
For Kate, homelessness work is about humanity as much as it is about housing. She believes that recognizing the shared vulnerability in all of us is essential to creating compassionate, equitable communities.
“A lot of people don’t realize how close any of us could be to homelessness,” she says. “How many paychecks away are you from losing housing? It can happen to anyone, and it happens fast. Our clients never wanted this, never asked for it, and they don’t deserve it. They just need someone to help pull them out of a dark place—and not give up.”
That belief drives Kate every day. Whether she’s celebrating a lease signing or helping a client secure an ID, her work reflects the heart of Eliot’s mission: treating every person with dignity, compassion, and respect.
“We’re all the same community,” she says. “We’re not so different. And it’s up to us—those who are stable, who have the resources—to help those who don’t. That’s what being human is all about.”
