Over the course of a year, on a 15-house block behind New Kensington CDC’s Philadelphia offices, there were 15 shootings and 10 deaths. “It was a space where we’re very interactive,” said Bill McKinney, executive director of the NeighborWorks nonprofit. “It takes a toll on folks.” That means the community, of course. And it means staff members who work in and alongside that community every day.
“We have to recognize the cost of doing work in places with such significant suffering,” McKinney said.
“Even if people have a deep desire to be there and make a change, it takes a toll. We see that. We see that in our staff.”
Across the country, community development and affordable housing nonprofits are dealing with compounded stresses. Along with the challenges their individual communities may be facing, there are funding cuts, which can mean lost programming. There are long hours. There are deaths. There are steps forward and steps back.
Through it all, it’s essential to pay attention to mental health.
During a tour of a Kensington neighborhood, Michael “Mulei” Molina, NeighborWorks’ relationship manager for NKCDC, listened to what McKinney and others told him. “They walked me through the space they work in, the things they see every day,” Molina recalled. He had heard about many of the challenges, but seeing what was really going on day-to-day and hour-to-hour felt different. It felt raw. “In this kind of work we think about the people they serve,” Molina said. “But we also need to be thinking about how to support the people doing the work.”
He talked with his colleagues about the possibility of offering more support to NKCDC and to other organizations in similar straits. That year, NeighborWorks was able to identify funding for a supplemental grant that led to NKCDC being able to access telehealth when staff needed it.
“It’s hard for us to plan and schedule,” McKinney explained. “You could prepare to go to an appointment and find out that someone has just OD’d. We needed to address the immediacy. To be able to pick up a phone and talk to a mental health professional was phenomenal.”
The funding also aided employees in meeting their deductibles. And part of it, McKinney said, went to staff gatherings. “There needs to be joy in this, too,” he said. “We’re here because of hope and we believe in what we’re doing. It’s a beautiful community despite these things.” Being able to celebrate that, and to be together, helped lift staff morale.
Other actions that can improve morale and wellbeing include:
- Connection. In tough times, it’s easy to feel like you’re alone, in a silo, Molina said. That goes for staff members and it goes for whole organizations. “Peer support really helps,” he said. “How do we look out for each other in terms of internal staff so we can continue all that we need to do externally?” Organizations can rely on their peer organizations, too, he said, and on coalitions.
- There’s a class for that. NeighborWorks America’s training includes classes that help staffers understand the trauma of the communities they work in. In June, a free training offering includes “Frontlines of Housing: Solutions for Counselors,” which focuses on self-care, professional strategies and community support. The NeighborWorks Training Institute in August offers courses that include, “Building Native Communities: Trauma-Informed Financial Practices,” “Emotional Intelligence (EI) at Work,” and “Using Trauma-Informed Skills in Financial Coaching.”
- Put the oxygen mask on yourself. In a workshop that centered on self-care and other solutions for housing counselors, a part of May’s NeighborWorks Virtual Training Institute, Ann DiPetta reminded staff that as they care for others, they need to care for themselves as well: “It’s important for counselors to take care of themselves to avoid burnout. You must take care of yourself so you can continue to do the work you’re motivated to do.” DiPetta’s course will be offered again for free on June 25 as part of NeighborWorks’ Learning Express.
- Be aware of the trauma. Just knowing what sort of trauma people are dealing with can make a difference. Sarah Parmenter, director of Community Building and Engagement for NeighborWorks America, said NeighborWorks is in the process of creating a new workshop for October’s Community Leadership Institute, “Promoting Community Health and Mental Wellbeing.” “We know that community leaders are regularly confronted with stress, trauma and isolation and hope this workshop can support strategies that facilitate healing, belonging and trust,” she said.
- Affirm the mission. NeighborWorks President & CEO Marietta Rodriguez has often said that during tough times, leaning into the mission of an organization helps. McKinney agrees. When NKCDC lost funding for an anti-violence program this year, he called a meeting. The first part was not about figuring out what to do, but about affirming the goodness of the program, and what it means to be a part of an organization that deals with trauma. “These are our values,” he said. “We’re not going to abandon them in a chaotic moment. We’re going to double down and believe; that’s what gets us through. I have to make a lot of tough decisions but I can sleep at night if we’re adhering to our mission and values.”
