wilcox@everyonehomedc.org

Shelah has shared her skills and knowledge with Everyone Home DC for more than a decade and is currently the Manager of Everyone Home DC’s drop-in day center, Shirley’s Place. Shelah’s team offers individuals experiencing homelessness a safe, healthy, and dignified place to spend their day, with access to restrooms and showers, laundy, mail, phone, computer service, lunch, and social service referrals. Shelah also spearheads many of Everyone Home DC’s in-kind donation initiatives and supports internal and external special events. Shelah launched her career working with individuals experiencing homelessness as an outreach manager at Central Union Mission. Learn a little more about Shelah, in her own words:

What is your favorite thing about working at Everyone Home DC?
SW: I feel that all people from client to staff to volunteer to major donor (and everyone in between) is treated with respect.

What three traits define you professionally?
SW: Well-organized, team-player, reliable.

What’s one lesson you learned in your time at Everyone Home DC?
SW: Self care is important!

What keeps you motivated to come to work every day?
SW: Knowing that someone will be waiting for me to arrive and provide them with support.

Describe Everyone Home DC in three words:
SW: Rewarding AND Priceless.

What do you wish other people knew about people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness?
SW: Homelessness is their status, it’s not who they are…they are still people with feelings, hopes and dreams.

On a Sunday morning you will find me…
SW: In church. I am very active with the mission and music ministry.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
SW: Enjoy being young!

Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the DC area?
SW: I am from Hartford CT. I moved to the DMV when my daughter was 7 months old! So I have been living in this area for 27 years.

Who is one of your favorite musicians?
SW: I love smooth jazz; Boney James is one of my favorite musicians.