And the Community Pillar Award goes to…

by Mary Aongo, Will Bergstrom and Maggy Delaney

Community Pillar Awards started as a way to acknowledge and thank landlords for their partnership in housing families we serve. Over the last few months however, we have opened up to acknowledging other partners in the community who have impacted the community in different forms.  Each one receiving this award is a partner with AM and they are  “an outstanding community partner, a pillar for change, by signing on to help end homelessness!”

This month Associated Ministries honored two individuals:  Elsa Jaramillo of Pierce County Human Services and Taffi Wheeldon of Share and Care Housing.

Elsa Jaramillo is an outstanding role model that every social service agency yearns for. As an Office Assistant for Pierce County Human Services, Elsa is easily approachable and highly efficient when coordinating and scheduling HQS (housing and quality standards) inspections for our families. She goes above and beyond in her role by being flexible, adaptable, and she collaborates with us in helping our families navigate around their housing barriers. Her dedication and passion in ensuring our families receive safe and stable housing makes our team and community stronger.  We thank her (and her team) for their service to our community and her work does not go unnoticed.

(Picture on right:  (L to R):  Mary Aongo (AM), Mike Yoder (AM), Elsa Jaramills (PCHS), Will Bergstrom (AM), Ivette Perez-Morales (AM)

Taffi Wheeldon is the housing director at Share and Care housing. Her agency is one of the main providers who offer PSH (permanent supportive housing) and RRH (rapid re-housing)to our clients in the Coordinated Entry System (CES).  As the housing director for Share and Care, Taffi has been a super star partner to help streamline the referral process, by providing feedback, problem solving and working to serve our hardest of house clients. She has been an amazing advocate for the CES amongst her peers to help providers see why working with CES make sense. She stands up for what is right, serves our clients with kindness and treats them with respect. She is always able to keep a positive and strengths-based attitude even in the midst of difficulties that arise. It is such a pleasure partnering with a provider who wants to see our chronically homeless clients finally receive housing.

(Picture on left:  (L to R): Maggy Delaney (AM), Taffy Wheeldon (S&C)

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