Building a Team That Changes Lives

When people think about Grandma's House of Hope, they often picture the men and women whose lives are transformed through safe housing, compassionate care, and a second chance.

What they may not think about are the people quietly working behind the scenes to make those transformations possible.

Ashley Baker is one of them.

As Human Resources Manager, she doesn't carry a caseload or provide counseling.  She isn't the person helping participants move into their first apartment.

Instead, she's helping build the team that makes those moments possible.

"My job is really about people," Ashley says. "From recruiting and training to supporting employees and building a healthy workplace culture, everything I do is focused on making sure our staff have what they need to serve our participants well."

That may sound like an office job. But at Grandma's House of Hope, it quickly becomes something much more meaningful.

Every time Ashley interviews a potential employee, she's thinking about the people who will one day be sitting across from them—someone recovering from trauma, escaping domestic violence, rebuilding after homelessness, or learning to believe in themselves again.

"When I'm hiring, experience is important," she says. "But I'm really looking for people who are empathetic, patient, and reliable.  Those qualities matter because our participants deserve people who genuinely care."

Those aren't qualities she believes can simply be taught.

"They either have that heart or they don't."

Finding those people—and helping them stay—is one of the most important ways she serves Grandma's House of Hope's mission.

"If we create a workplace where our staff feel supported and valued, they're able to provide better care to our participants."

That investment in people extends throughout the organization.

Over the past year, Ashley has helped lead an effort to strengthen Grandma's House of Hope's workplace culture, creating an environment where employees can thrive, grow, and continue serving with compassion.

Because when staff are supported, participants feel it.

Even though Ashley spends much of her time behind a computer or in meetings, she treasures the opportunities she has to visit the homes.

Sometimes it's helping prepare for an Alumni Association gathering. Sometimes it's reviewing a participant's résumé before a job interview. Sometimes it's simply stopping by and sharing a conversation. But one memory always stays with her.

"The residents are always so generous," she says. "They'll be cooking dinner and insist that you try what they've made."

It's a simple gesture, but one that speaks volumes.

"These are individuals who may have very little," Ashley says. "Yet they're still eager to share with others."

For Ashley, those moments are a reminder that generosity isn't measured by how much someone has. It's measured by the willingness to give.

When asked about her favorite part of working at Grandma's House of Hope, Ashley doesn't mention policies, compliance, or recruiting.

She smiles as she describes one of her favorite moments—every time a participant receives the keys to their own apartment.  It's a milestone the entire organization celebrates together.

"I love seeing those pictures," she says. "That's what all of this is about."

Each set of keys represents more than housing.

It represents safety.  Healing.  Confidence.  A future that once felt impossible.

Ashley also hopes the community will see homelessness through a different lens.

"There are so many misconceptions," she says. "People become homeless for many different reasons, and it can happen to anyone."

"I think people need to be less judgmental," she says. "These are people who deserve the same opportunity that any of us would hope for if we were ever facing a difficult season."

As Ashley reflects on her own journey, she admits she never imagined this is where her career would lead.

"I don't know how I ended up here," she says with a smile.

But today, she knows she's exactly where she's meant to be.

Because behind every graduate who finds permanent housing...

Behind every participant who rediscovers hope...

Behind every success story...

Is a team of people who chose to care. And sometimes, changing lives begins with hiring the next person who will.