“I always wanted to help people—that’s what I knew my career would be,” said Tiffany Diaz, Case Manager at Allie’s Place Family Residence.
Tiffany joined HFH two years ago after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iona College. She was referred by a family friend who thought the organization would be a great fit for Tiffany’s passion for helping others and starting her career in case management.
“My initial reason for coming here was to gain experience, and I definitely have gained a lot along the way,” said Tiffany. “I want to be here to gain even more.”
As a Case Manager, Tiffany meets with residents on a regular basis, working with them on a plan to move from where they are when they first arrive at the shelter to where they want to be when they ultimately leave shelter.
“Everyone has a story, and it’s always so interesting to hear how people end up [in shelter]. The end goal is to move them out of shelter. I love to see [clients] so happy once they move on. That’s my satisfaction in this job,” she said.
For Tiffany, one of the most crucial aspects of her role is listening.
“People come from different backgrounds and often carry a lot of weight on their shoulders,” said Tiffany. “I like being their ear—the person that gets to listen to them. I always tell them, ‘You can come to me for anything,’ because sometimes they don’t have other people. I like being the person that can be there for someone else.”
Tiffany’s commitment to her clients and her growth within HFH has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. Sabrina Singh, Family Services Supervisor, has worked closely with Tiffany since she started—first as fellow case managers and now in Sabrina’s supervisory role—and has seen her evolve in her position.
“I have seen her grow tremendously. She became more outspoken and came out of her shell—both [in] her personality and [through] her work,” Sabrina said. “She is very professional. She maintains that professionalism, even in tough situations, and she brings light to [these situations].”
Charima Thompson, Director of Family Services, has also witnessed Tiffany’s development over the past two years.
“She is very attentive to her clients and their needs—she goes above and beyond,” said Charima. “It’s a pleasure to have her here. I think that everybody in the office brings a little bit of something which creates a balance. She is the quiet one, but she is hilarious.”
In addition to supporting her clients’ progress, Tiffany loves the strong sense of teamwork at Allie’s Place.
“I love the people I work with. Everyone is always willing to help each other out,” she said. “We are a good team, and we are always in it for the clients at the end of the day. Whenever I need [assistance], I go to someone, and we work together to try to get help for our clients.”
In her free time, Tiffany enjoys expressing her creativity through art—especially drawing cartoon style characters. When she’s not at work or drawing, Tiffany loves spending time at amusement parks, where she can indulge her love for roller coasters.
