My Nonprofit Reviews

I joined Interfaith Shelter Network (IFSN) as a bookkeeper in July of 2020. I was new to working with homeless and this was right at the bad time of the pandemic - everyone working from home and having very little contact. I was the only employee going into the office while all others worked from home and in the field helping our clients. What a crazy time! I wondered if I had made the right choice in taking this job. Then one day while I was at the office, by myself, the Office Manager Shay showed up to get something. While she was there a homeless man came to the front door (the office was closed to all) and knocked. Shay answered the door and from a safe distance spoke to the man and told him how to find shelter for the night. She brought him new socks and a bag of toiletries. As I watched her interact with this man she demonstrated nothing but respect, kindness and help. Seeing this very human treatment of a person who so often is probably not even acknowledged reassured me that "yes" I had made the right choice to take the job at IFSN. I had landed at the job that would serve my heart and be so much more than simply a paycheck. In all my years of working I have never worked with a more caring, dedicated group of people from the bottom to the top of the organization. They are all angels and it was an honor to work with these people. Nobody is there for the money (because everyone was underpaid) but they all are truly there to help a population that is so in need of all of our help. The clients always were put first and were treated with grace and care. The work IFSN does is stressful and taxing but everyone working their puts their heart into their job every single day. IFSN helps some of the hardest homeless folks to help. As the only organization in Sonoma County that provides housing to mentally ill offenders they are essential. IFSN runs multiple houses that serve different types of homeless folks. For every person provided shelter, food, services and a bed IFSN makes a difference in our world that benefits all of us. We have to take care of each other because as the old saying goes, "There but for the grace of God (or whatever higher power) go I." My life was forever enriched by the two years I worked for IFSN and I will forever be a supporter.