Meet Lisa. Lisa is our Outreach Case Manager for Seniors and Veterans. She has been in her role at POM for about 9 months and in that time, we have seen our senior and veteran neighbors truly shine! You see, Lisa has a heart for her clients. When asked what it is about seniors and veterans that she likes so much, she says, “I love history. I love how they tell their stories. They so often want someone just to listen, and I love doing just that.” Her eyes light up as she tells of the many stories of histories lived and lives experienced by her special clients.
Lisa was raised in several towns within Washington. When she married and began a family, she and her husband wanted to raise their children in a small town. They moved to Buckley in 1990 and then to Enumlcaw a few years later. By trade she is a Certified Nursing Assistant, having worked in long term care, hospice and in health and rehab.
She discovered POM through a connection with people who had benefited from Winter Shelter. When the Case Management job came open, she knew it was a dream come true, to be able to work with, and help, the very group of people that touch her heart so deeply. Lisa explains how, over the years, she has developed the habit of speaking slowly, taking time to just listen and not be in a hurry. Her clients appreciate that. She has also experienced her own struggles in life that give her some perspective and insight into her clients’ challenges. They know when they are with Lisa, they’ll be truly heard.
Lisa’s job as ‘Outreach Case-Manager’ at POM takes her into the communities where the seniors and veterans live. She visits them in the local senior centers and their neighborhoods. She does everything she can to help them stay in their homes, here in the community they love. She helps them apply for home weatherization and accessibility improvements to keep their homes safe and reduce utility costs. She works with the local VFW to help veterans apply for much deserved benefits and she is becoming an expert at the available state assistance programs. It can be a challenging job. As the cost of living rises faster than social security benefits, affordable housing and utilities become a struggle for those on a fixed income. When asked what would help the most she said, “Anything to help them stay in the homes they hold dear, from affordable rent to small repairs! I’d also love to see places that would seek to hire these folks for part-time jobs. Many have the ability and drive to work; they just need that little boost of confidence that somebody values them.”
In 2020 Lisa will branch out to bring her skills to vulnerable populations within our service area as well; with particular focus on guiding clients through available resources from the County and State. We are so incredibly grateful for Lisa’s passion and skill. We know clients will be well taken care of as she works to give them help and hope.