Spotlight on a Team Member: Sarah Fuentes
For more than four years, Sarah Fuentes has worked as the Homeless System Coordinator at Miriam’s House. In our work to end homelessness, we serve as the region’s backbone agency for the local homeless coalition, the Central Virginia Continuum of Care, which was started by Miriam’s House in 1998. Leading the coalition involves collaborating and coordinating with 30 other service providers to ensure every person experiencing homelessness in Central Virginia has a pathway to safe and affordable housing. We interviewed her to give you the chance to get to know a bit more about Sarah and the work that she does every day in pursuit of our mission to end homelessness.
Miriam’s House (MH): How do you normally describe your job to people unfamiliar with what a Homeless System Coordinator does?
Sarah Fuentes (SF): I explain that every community across the country has a homeless response system. My job is to assist in the coordination of our local system ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors have access to homeless services through the entire range of available assistance.
MH: What do you enjoy about the work that you do?
SF: The problem-solving that comes with a complex issue like ending homelessness. While this work is guided by standards and procedures, it is always evolving. There is so much creative thinking that goes into improving access to services, enhancing the flow and understanding of the homeless system, and collecting and using data to identify gaps and successes.
MH: What is the best thing about working at Miriam’s House?
SF: Whether it’s from the variety of tasks in my role or from the incredibly smart team I get to work alongside, there is always something to learn.
MH: What can you be found doing when you’re not ending homelessness in the Lynchburg area?
SF: Most likely hanging out with my husband and our beloved hound dog. Or, treasure hunting that “one last thing” to complete the design/decor of my apartment for the umpteenth time. Or, making homemade pasta with friends around the kitchen table.