Meet the Staff! Q&A With Michael
Welcome to CAAS Staff Spotlight #5! This time, we’re talking with Michael, Specialist Case Manager here at CAAS. Michael works directly with clients to help navigate challenging benefits systems, and is committed to making this process more accessible.
What’s your role? How long have you been at CAAS?
I work under the Housing Advocacy Program as the Specialist Case Manager at CAAS, and I’ve been here since June 2022. They had a Benefits Specialist who focused on benefits. When folks are going through a housing crisis they have other needs that aren't being met, so I come in and help with utilities, food insecurity, and anything under the DTA (Department of Transitional Assistance) umbrella. My role has evolved into a Case Management position. I’m working with people for long term housing stability, but for folks who have more benefits-intensive cases. HAP has grown a lot, and I know this more holistic wraparound service does feel very impactful. For me to come in with more long term stability and things like that feels really impactful.
How did you get started in this field?
This is my first job out of undergrad. What drew me to the human services world was my experience in college. At Tufts, I was heavily involved with the Tufts University Prison Initiative through Tisch College (TUPIT) as a teaching assistant and tutor. I was also a leader for Tufts’ chapter of the Petey Greene Program, a national college in prison program. A lot of my work with this organization was working with individuals in the reentry space. When people are released from prison, these people who have been impacted by the justice system, this racist, carceral system, they are up against so many barriers now that they have a criminal record. Time spent in a prison facility means it’s exponentially harder to procure housing, employment, and other things that affect one’s stability. I saw the Benefits Specialist position open, and I was drawn to that holistic, comprehensive, big picture support aspect of human services. Being able to sit down with someone and piece together what they need and what steps to take to achieve stability is so different from individual to individual.
What keeps you energized around this work?
A lot of my colleagues in the HAP office. My peers are incredibly hardworking. Seeing the lengths they go to serve their clients, getting them the services they need, and coming together with our experiences and perspectives to best serve our clients has been really amazing to see. Somerville’s community itself is also really involved. CAAS’ Organizing Team holding Renters Meetings and going out and engaging with the community never fails to excite me about the prospect of change.
Basically, my coworkers are great at what they do and it makes me want to do more!
What is something you’ve found challenging about this work?
The nature of the job. Working with folks at risk of being displaced from their homes is hard. Even though we can do a lot for individuals as an agency, there are big picture factors that make achieving positive outcomes extremely difficult. Somerville is the most densely populated area in New England, and housing costs have gone from extremely high to ultra extremely high, especially as we’re still very much impacted by the COVID pandemic. On top of housing, the methods of applying to other public benefits are designed to be confusing. Even though things like SNAP, utilities discounts, childcare programs, health insurance, and disability have the same income eligibility, you have to apply to them separately. Certain forgiveness plans for managing arrears payments are not available unless you know to specifically ask for one. Going through these applications one by one, one after the other, often in the midst of other personal crises, is exhausting and demoralizing.When clients get frustrated with these systems, I like to remind them that navigating these with them is essentially my full time job.
This job has made me hyper aware that we’re all caught up in this cruel, dehumanizing capitalist machine and large scale shifts that prioritize equity, stability and care are the move. However, this job has also made me realize that getting people the services they need here and now is also so important. Yes, let’s talk about how housing and food access should ultimately be human rights. But let’s also talk about how we can help someone avoid eviction, or pay off a high utility bill, or start receiving money for food from SNAP.
What was an exciting project or big win that you’ve experienced at CAAS?
I think it’s mostly a lot of little wins. For example, when someone’s struggling to get on to SNAP, we’re able to assess the issues, connect with a government agency, and get someone the benefit they need. Things like helping someone apply to rental assistance to pay off their arrears as well. Getting that weight off of someone’s chest feels good. With case management, getting to to help them avoid displacement always feels good. As a case manager, I love talking with people about their long term goals. Things like, “Do you want to go back to school, or switch careers? What does that look like?” I’m helping someone seal his criminal record, which makes applying to benefits much much easier. Maybe I'm doing myself a disservice by calling them small wins. To be blunt, seeing so many community members struggling day in and day out is hard, and with the forces you're up against, it can feel like a losing battle. But for these clients, these community members, I try to remember a lot of the work I do, that CAAS does, can be absolutely huge.
What do you like to do for fun outside of work?
You sent me the questions in advance, and for some reason this was the one I was nervous about! I guess in college I really got into Boston and Somerville's local music scene. I love going to small shows and seeing local artists (acts like Sidney Gish, Mint Green, Rat Tally, and Oompa are some favorites of mine). I love going to the library recently. I've been writing more creatively. It’s fun to flex that muscle. I was a legit concert violinist in high school, and I'm picking that up again. That’s been a nice way to get back into making music. I love going on walks and hanging out (which I feel should be counted as a hobby!), and playing video games too.