VA Homeless Programs
Social Worker Spotlight: St. Cloud Homeless Program Staff
St. Cloud Homeless Program Staff
Homeless Program Social Workers
Workplace & VISN
St. Cloud VAHCS, VISN 23
How long have you been employed by the VA?
Team members have been working at the VA between 1 and 23 years.
Branch of Service:
U.S. Army: Michael Mynczywor
Why did you become a social worker? What do you like about working in VHA homeless programs?
Sharing the words of a few of these passionate and dedicated social workers, they choose to work in the homeless program because:
“We get the pleasure of reaching some of the most disadvantaged and marginalized folks. I learn so much from my work with this population.”
“I see housing as a basic right, so getting to work with those experiencing homelessness aligns with my ethical principles. Also, the ability to build long-standing relationships and be alongside someone as they work to address not only housing, but mental health, is very rewarding. Plus, providing care in home or in the Veterans space allows for a very personal relationship.”
“As the VJO Social Worker, I like helping to assist Veterans in managing the different legal barriers they face. These barriers often get in the way of them reaching their goals and can keep them stuck if not dealt with properly. ”
“Serving those that may be valued as untouchables in our society is very humbling. Working with community partners to tackle a community concern really speaks to me. The mission of social work values, and my personal values, are formed from all the wonderful influences in my life, including my parents. I get to be creative in problem-solving. Finally, service to others is my vocation. I have worked with so many wonderful people on this team – what a blessing for me.”
“I feel our homeless population is underserved and can be very vulnerable. As such they need someone on their side that is going to advocate for them. I find it rewarding to see very real successes moving from homelessness to housed. Also, having lived the experience, I feel that it makes it easier to relate to what they are going through.”
“We get to work with some of the most vulnerable Veterans that really need care – and without us, they might not get care at all. I love getting to work with them in their homes, as I feel we truly get to know them and their whole environment. I like that we get to use harm reduction and don’t push expectations on them in order to work with them. Instead, we implement boundaries and safety while still supporting them. I truly feel we get to implement Maslow’s hierarchy every day.”
What else would you like to share about your team?
This team has continuously impressed us with their capacity to provide excellent care to the Veterans we serve. They meet Veterans where they are, strive to meet the needs of each Veteran, and are constantly innovating not only to enhance services, but also to ensure Veterans’ needs are getting met as effectively and efficiently as possible.
They implemented food shelf runs at the start of the pandemic to ensure Veterans continued to have access to food, and to limit Veterans’ risk of exposure by relying on public transportation. They started encouraging use of VVC with Veterans immediately and continued to use technology to enhance Veterans’ access to services. They work tirelessly to coordinate care within the VA and with our community partners. Their resiliency, engagement, and willingness to do the difficult work with such joy is truly commendable.
We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside these social workers each and every day. We’ve learned so much from this group and are extremely grateful to be a part of this fantastic team!
