STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Hospitality House owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the dozens of dedicated staff who’ve devoted themselves to lifting up the best of our community - day in, day out. The work is challenging. It is meaningful. It is transformative. And, all too often, their work is overlooked and undervalued. These valiant nonprofit warriors - community builders all - are often underpaid and underappreciated. We are proud to present “Stories From The Field” as an ongoing series about the people on the front lines, about the contributions of just a few of the thousands of nonprofit workers. We’ll share some of their challenges and successes - and some of their dreams. 

A landmark Controller’s report in April 2023 - an analysis of more than 16,000 FTEs - acknowledged the prevalence of low wages in the nonprofit workforce, and the racial inequity in the field. According to the report, an estimated 75%of the general (non-executive) nonprofit workforce is Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). 

The report found further that 50% of the nonprofit workforce earns less than $25.25 per hour, struggling to support their own families while making life better for others. The report also identified the case management position as a key staff position in the nonprofit workforce - helping people with housing, employment, mental health needs - accounting for barely 8% of the workforce yet nearly 30% of the staff vacancies. Low wages compromise the City's ability to meet its goals, and increase the burden on nonprofit workers.
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We hope that the stories of those helping to make life better for all of us in the City of St. Francis - will inspire City leaders to make our nonprofit workers’ lives better.

MEET LYSS DURAN
Housing Liaison Case Manager

Sleeping in a car with my daughter inspired me to help others. I know firsthand what it feels like to lack support.

Lyss' journey is a story of resilience and inspiration. Originally from Peru, she moved to San Francisco as a child but spent years shuttling between the East Coast and the Bay Area. As a teenager, she chose to stay in San Francisco when she became pregnant. However, without family support, Lyss experienced the harsh reality of sleeping in her car with her newborn daughter. Determined to create a better future for her family, she became her best advocate, navigating immense challenges with strength and perseverance.

Lyss first discovered Hospitality House through a co-worker who shared their transformative experience with the organization. Curious and inspired, she sought out Hospitality House and immediately felt a deep connection. “It’s familiar, like home,” she says, reflecting on the empathy and acceptance she encountered. Lyss was particularly moved by how Hospitality House created a safe space where community members could genuinely be themselves while making changes in their lives.

Today, Lyss draws from her lived experiences in her role as an Employment Housing Liaison with Hospitality House's Employment Program. Drawing on her personal struggles, she supports community members in rebuilding their lives. Her work includes helping community members obtain identification, craft effective resumes, select interview attire, and participate in mock interviews. Additionally, she connects individuals with permanent housing —no small feat in the face of San Francisco’s ongoing housing crisis.

Lyss’ personal experiences deeply inform her work. “Sleeping in a car with my daughter inspired me to help others,” she shares. “I know firsthand what it feels like to lack support.”

She finds inspiration in her children, her mother, and the Hospitality House family. “The leadership here has real stories to share—stories rooted in life experiences that reflect those of the community we serve. That connection motivates me every day.”

Lyss started as an on-call staff, and credits Tiffany Jackson, Program Manager, for motivating her and helping her grow within the agency.

As a single mother, Lyss manages personal challenges, including working two jobs while juggling her career with her children’s school and after-school activities. Finding balance is no easy task, but her determination keeps her moving forward.

Lyss’s story is a testament to resilience, community, and the transformative power of lived experience.  “My goal is to help people find stability and regain hope for a brighter future,” Lyss says proudly.
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We think the future is bright for Lyss and her family. And for Hospitality House.

MEET ALISHA COLEMAN
Shelter Program Manager

​I believe all people have equal value and are worthy of honor and respect.

Alisha Coleman with her Shelter Team

Alisha joined Hospitality House inspired by a lifelong desire to help others. “Once I applied and realized the incredible work being done here, I knew this was an organization I wanted to be a part of,” she shares.

As the Shelter Program Manager, Alisha finds fulfillment in her role, especially in moments when her decisions can positively transform lives. She loves witnessing residents receive keys to their new homes, marking a fresh start as they exit the shelter system. “It’s exciting to see someone begin a new chapter,” she says with a smile.

Reflecting on her journey, Alisha recalls one of her most memorable experiences: stepping into her leadership role during the pandemic. “We faced the unknown together as a team, building trust and relationships within the community,” she says. During that challenging time, her team helped 22 residents  secure permanent housing in a single building, preserving the community the residents had built together“The reward was in the smiles and the shared sense of accomplishment - we were all transformed by that experience.”

Alisha’s values align deeply with Hospitality House’s mission. “I believe all people have equal value and are worthy of honor and respect,” she explains. “We are all just one paycheck away from needing the same services we provide. That’s why it’s so important to be kind—no matter what.”

Looking ahead, Alisha is eager to see Hospitality House continue to grow and elevate itself, both as an organization and through its impact on individuals’ lives.

​Thank you, Alisha, for your unwavering dedication and compassion - and above all, your heart!

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MEET KEVIN SPARKS
​Community Organizaing Peer Advocate - Community Building Program

How can I keep myself safe and learn some things?​

"If I had a magic wand, I would..." - Kevin shares the responses from community members of the Healing, Organizing, and Leadership Development group.

Kevin organizing the community during Walk with Windy and Vote event.

Kevin Sparks’ life story is one of radical transformation, shaped not just by his determination but by the power of community. After nearly 20 years in prison and decades of hard knocks and wrong turns, Kevin stumbled upon Hospitality House. It was a chance encounter, but it became the foundation for rewriting his narrative.

“I was trying to get an ID voucher,” Kevin recalls, “It was hard for me to sustain myself…without any ID, Social Security card. How can I keep myself safe and learn some things?” 

Hospitality House was a profound new experience for Kevin. “It was so welcoming here when I first came in,” he says. “I’d never really seen that before, coming out of where I’d been.”

That small gesture would go on to redefine his sense of self.

Kevin started as a volunteer for the organization’s Community Building Program (CBP), an opportunity that became his first step toward stability. He gradually let go of the “tough shell” he’d built during years of incarceration and relearned how to connect with people. He met unhoused individuals “where they were”-not with judgment, but with kindness.

 “I’d say, ‘Good morning,’ to people on the sidewalk, and at first, they wouldn’t respond,” he recalls. “But I kept at it. Over time, they’d start smiling, saying yes to a cup of coffee, and eventually, I’d see them move into housing or find jobs.”

It was through these small, consistent acts that Kevin not only learned how to connect with others but also discovered himself. When he transitioned from volunteer to employee, the achievement was deeply personal. “I remember calling my mom when I got my (employee) badge,” Kevin says. “I told her, ‘Mom, I’ve got a job.’ She was so happy. I’d never held a job for more than two months before.”

Today, Kevin works as a peer advocate /community organizer at Hospitality House, where he helps facilitate the Healing, Organizing, and Leadership Development (HOLD) group and creates initiatives that empower residents. “It’s about what they want for themselves, “ Kevin says” I get to meet them where they’re at and assist them in getting there.”

But challenges remain. Living in San Francisco, Kevin and many of his colleagues struggle with the high cost of living. “Most of us work two jobs just to pay rent,” he says. “Or live out of the City. It’s a real struggle to find time for family… .”

Despite these barriers, Kevin is filled with hope and determination. Encouraged by mentors like Associate Executive Director Windy Click, who once told him to envision himself as an executive director, Kevin dreams big.  “It’s [Hospitality House]changed my life, and I want others to have that opportunity too.”

Kevin Sparks’ journey reminds us that redemption is not just an individual act but a collective one—made possible by the presence of compassion, opportunity, and the relentless belief that no one is beyond hope.

“When I walked through those doors, I was given a chance,” he says. “And I can’t forget that.”

MEET ANTHONY HERNANDEZ
​Bilingual Case Manager - Shelter Program

A Case Manager with Passion and Purpose

​In the heart of our Shelter Program, Anthony Hernandez stands out not just for his professional achievements but for the profound personal journey that has shaped his role as a Shelter Case Manager. Driven by a deep-seated passion for helping others, Anthony's story is a testament to dedication, creativity, and the power of community support.
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Anthony's journey began in a single-parent household where he took on the responsibility of caring for his two younger siblings. This early experience of responsibility and care laid the foundation for his career in social services. After graduating high school in 2016, Anthony explored various avenues, first attending community college and then venturing into barber school. His interests in fitness and fashion, particularly in making clothes, reflect his creative spirit and commitment to personal growth.

During the pandemic, Anthony worked with a security company, making significant connections with the staff at the Hospitality House Shelter in Place (SIP) site. His dedication and natural ability to connect with people did not go unnoticed. When a position for a peer advocate opened up, Anthony seized the opportunity, transitioning from security guard to a role where he could directly and positively impact individuals' lives.
 
Anthony's journey continued as he became a bilingual case manager, managing a caseload of 22 men at the HH shelter. His daily work involves making solid connections with community members, celebrating their successes, and providing support as they work towards their goals. For Anthony, seeing clients smile when they achieve their milestones is the ultimate reward.
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Anthony's most rewarding accomplishment is deeply intertwined with the support he has received from the Hospitality House community. Reflecting on his role, he shares, "The most rewarding accomplishment would be HH pushing me and believing in me to [succeed in]  this new position as a case manager. This was my first time working in this particular field of work, and it was quite nerve-wracking at first. But with the support and belief of HH, I ended up loving this position!"

One of Anthony's most memorable experiences at HH was assisting a community member in saving his Section 8 voucher. Faced with imminent eviction, the client needed urgent help, and Anthony's problem-solving skills ensured that the client could keep his permanent housing. This experience highlights Anthony's dedication to meeting immediate needs and securing long-term stability for those he serves.

Anthony Hernandez's story is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can make through passion, hard work, and the support of a nurturing community. His journey from a family caregiver to a dedicated case manager exemplifies the values of empathy and commitment that drive our mission forward.
We are grateful for Anthony's unwavering dedication and the positive difference he makes in the lives of our community members. His story inspires us all to continue supporting and uplifting each other, reaffirming the core values of compassion and service that define our work.

MEET THEODIS BEASLEY
​Case Manager - Tenderloin Self-Help Center

​ I had to get over my old life because it made me feel like I was somebody that I wasn't

Theodis tries an acai bowl for the very first time.

Second chances hold profound meaning for personal redemption and transformation. Theodis Beasley, a case manager at Hospitality House, exemplifies the transformative power of second chances.

​Theodis Beasley came to Hospitality House after he was released from prison. Theodis was seeking a path that would allow him to give back to the community he felt he had previously taken from. His search for meaningful work led him to the social service field, where he began working at shelters and engaging in nonprofit work. This experience ignited a passion within him to continue helping others. 


Theodis shared, “I was fresh out of prison…[and] I made a promise to myself…on this side of the fence as a free person, in a positive light. I need to do something constructive. I need to make a change.”

Theodis started at Hospitality House as an on-call janitor,  with a strong desire to become a case manager to help others in ways he wished he had been helped. Theodis’s aspiration was about more than career advancement; it was about making a tangible difference in the lives of those in similar situations to what he had once faced.

The journey from janitor to case manager was not without its challenges. The support Theodis received from his colleagues at Hospitality House (in particular Executive Director Joe Wilson and Program Manager at the time, Dewayne Cobb) played a crucial role in his transformation.  One of the pivotal moments for Theodis was being encouraged by Joe and Dewayne to apply for a case manager position. Their belief in his abilities and their insistence that he step out of his comfort zone were key factors in his decision to apply. 

Theodis recounts,. “Dewayne told me to stop being okay with being comfortable. Learn something new. Get uncomfortable. You do well in uncomfortable. Why are you okay with just what is easy to do?”
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He recalls the anxiety he felt during the interview process, but with the encouragement and advice from Dewayne, he was able to successfully overcome his fears.

“That interview was one of the scariest days for me and Dewayne [said], ‘You know everybody here(on the interview panel). Calm down, chill, make somebody laugh or something, and then roll into it.’ So I took his advice and I rolled into it. The outcome is me being a case manager!” 

Throughout his time at Hospitality House, Theodis has faced and overcome significant challenges in letting go of his old life and the mentalities associated with it. He learned to be “empathetic rather than sympathetic”, and to be open to the positive and negative possibilities that come with change.

“Hospitality House allowed me to be me and still showed me that there was something  I was running from, which is my true self, right? That was a challenge for me in the early stages. In order to become something that you want, [sometimes] you have to let go of what you were. I had to get over my old life because it made me feel like I was somebody that I wasn't,” Theodis reflected.
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Theodis’ influential presence at Hospitality House has helped deepen our commitment to peer-based training and development for all our staff, as a necessary investment in community empowerment. Theodis’ commitment to his own family, his quiet but steady leadership, and his renewed sense of purpose inspire those around him. The future holds promise for Theodis, and he continues to help others realize it as well. Theodis adds, "Letting people know that whatever you went through last night, how can we build today?"

Theodis Beasley. A voice of experience. The power of second chances.

MEET MAY CHAPPELL
Peer Advocate - Sixth Street Self-Help Center

May Chappell first discovered Hospitality House after having been homeless, and recovering from a debilitating back injury. While walking through the Tenderloin, searching for places that could help, May bumped into John Ellison, a HH staff member who used to work at another shelter. John encouraged May to try Hospitality House. “Ever since then, I’ve been hooked on Hospitality House,” May says.
 
May started volunteering almost immediately, and secured help getting more permanent housing and other support along the way. May drew from her experience overcoming drug addiction to support and encourage others – even as a volunteer. “Sometimes we have good days, sometimes we have bad days,“ May says reflectively. After a pause, May adds, “I get it.”

May volunteered for nearly three years, before deciding to apply for a job at Hospitality House. She interviewed, but didn’t get the job. May confesses that she has always struggled with self-confidence and esteem, but other HH staff boosted her confidence and urged her not to give up. May stayed positive. She continued volunteering. Some months later, May applied again. This time, she was hired as a Peer Advocate.

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 May credits her strong faith in helping her overcome trauma and tragedy in her life - homelessness, drug addiction, even deaths of close family members. May feels that her experiences with grief and loss has strengthened her ability to empathize with others. “Sometimes I’ve laughed, and sometimes I’ve sat [in someone’s office] and cried,” May admits. “I try to take the negative part and give them something positive,“ May adds. “I don’t mind loving on someone.”  

May can also empathize with the euphoria that comes from obtaining housing, and the sense of personal accomplishment. “I know that when they put keys in your hand and you can unlock your own door [and come and go when you want] that’s a really good feeling,“ May shares. “I know that feeling.”
 
May also knows first-hand that lives are affected every day by the fentanyl crisis - and what it means to save a life. A couple of years ago, a former staff member responded to a potential overdose, and talked May through the steps of administering Narcan (Naloxone) to reverse the potentially fatal effects of opioid overdose. “He showed me what to do, and talked me through it,” May recalls.
 
Since that first experience learning in the midst of a crisis, May has become the acknowledged leader of her Sixth Street team in handling overdose incidents. She’s responded to more than a half dozen overdose episodes. Every single one survived. “I use my hands and my knowledge and my [faith],” May says matter-of-factly. “We’re here for the community.”
 
May shares a deep connection with her Hospitality House coworkers, and over the years, has been encouraged and supported by several members of the agency’s leadership team. In the midst of challenges and crises, of successes and struggles, May knows she is part of building something special.

​“We all work together, including community members, so it’s not just me,“ May says appreciatively. “It’s a family thing.” 

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MEET LINDSAY MOODIE
Case Manager - Community Building Program

Lindsay started working at Hospitality House more than three years ago, after working at St. Anthony Foundation. From day one, even when starting out as a Hospitality House peer advocate/counselor, Lindsay’s goal was to be a case manager. “I always wanted to do something good for somebody else today, and I never got around to doing it,” Lindsay says.

​Lindsay openly acknowledges her prior struggles with drug addiction - but credits those struggles as helping her in her work. “ Everyday…I see people doing the same things I did, and it’s scary sometimes,” Lindsay admits. She also shares there are moments when maintaining healthy boundaries is difficult. Lindsay openly reveals that, “Reminiscing about those times…[can be] one of my personal challenges.” 

Like so many human service workers, Lindsay relishes the euphoria she experiences when someone she’s helped recognizes her efforts. Statements like, “ Thank you, you’ve saved my life!” or “ I’ve been clean for two years!” hold great personal and professional significance for Lindsay. Moments like these are especially meaningful when children are involved, and Lindsay assists a family with housing or furniture. As a single parent herself, with two children, ages 10 and 5, Lindsay reflects with emotions well beyond the words, “ It just cleanses my soul a little bit… ” 

Lindsay credits her children with her stability and her dedication. “ I have to be available for my family,” Lindsay says without hesitation. She also acknowledges the value of camaraderie, “ We are all a team and we support each other to the fullest, “ Lindsay says proudly. Lindsay credits her relationship with her mother as a key source of strength. Lindsay says with obvious pride, “ Whenever I have anything [that’s a struggle for me] work, the kids, or whatever, I call my Mom.”

Ultimately, Lindsay says, she is giving back. “And now I get to do it on a day-to-day basis.”

MEET EBONY WALLACE
Community Organizing Peer Advocate, Community Building Program

Ebony’s relationship with Hospitality House dates back nearly 15 years when she used the Employment Resource Center’s computer lab to apply for an entry-level job at Chevron. “Just being around the neighborhood, I knew about Hospitality House,” Ebony recalls. “I also used to print out concert tickets,” She says gratefully.

​Ebony talks about the good things that can happen when timing meets opportunity. “When one of my friends [got a job here],” Ebony remembers. “ I decided to interview and I got hired - they needed people because of the pandemic - at the Shelter-In-Place (SIP) hotel.”

Ebony distinguished herself as dependable employee, a fast learner, and attuned to support resident’s needs. “ We all have different programs, but at the end of the day,” Ebony shares reflectively, “ It’s helping people in a time of need. It’s doing right by the community.”

Ebony shares a vivid example of what ‘doing right by the community’ can mean - in the extreme. She saved two people’s lives - acting courageously, calmly AND quickly - who might have died from drug overdose. “It was about not being nervous, you know, and just putting everything to the side,” Ebony shares confidently. “I was actually on my lunch break and saw it happen. It was just quick, quick thinking.”

Despite the inaction of other community-based workers nearby, Ebony raced back to Hospitality House, obtained the needed doses of Narcan, and administered them – multiple doses were needed. Then Ebony waited until the emergency medical team arrived. “ Others ruled out Narcan,” Ebony says matter-of-factly. “ I didn’t.”

For Ebony, it’s simple. “ I like coming to work. I love my job.”


Lindsay and Ebony are just two stories among many. Their stories highlight the reality of low wages in the nonprofit workforce - and the consequences in meeting our stated priorities to address homelessness and the crisis of health needs affecting adults, youth and families. 
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Black History Month and Women’s History Month - and the Year of the Dragon as backdrop - provide opportunities to galvanize more investment in the City’s predominately BIPOC nonprofit workforce, so that all communities can share in the City’s economic recovery.