Reflecting on 15 Years of Growth, Change, and Community at Miriam’s House
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Fifteen years ago, when I first came to Miriam’s House, I could never have imagined the depth of transformation our organization and our community would experience. What was once a small but determined effort to address homelessness has grown into a comprehensive, collaborative, and deeply rooted mission that touches hundreds of lives every year. This year as I reflect on this milestone, I’m filled with gratitude, humility, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Fifteen years ago, we were a staff of a few, fueled more by passion than resources. We managed programs on tight budgets, built partnerships one meeting at a time, and relied heavily on volunteers who believed, as we did, that every family and individual deserves a safe, stable place to call home.
Our early goals were simple: respond to crisis, offer support, and create opportunities for stability. Over the years, those goals became the foundation for something much bigger.
We expanded our services, adding new housing programs that didn’t exist when we began. We learned how to align our work more closely with data, evidence-based practices, and the needs expressed directly by those we serve. We expanded into rapid rehousing services, added supportive housing options, and improved the coordination of our community’s entire homelessness response system. What was once a loose network of providers is now a unified front—strategic, communicative, and intentional.
Our team grew, too. From a handful of staff to a robust, multidisciplinary group of professionals, each person brings their own expertise, dedication, and compassion. Watching our staff grow in confidence and impact has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. They are the reason our organization is as strong, responsive, and innovative as it is today.
We also expanded our physical footprint, developing and renovating spaces to reflect dignity and belonging—a shelter that feels safe and welcoming and offices that serve as hubs for collaboration and hope. These spaces aren’t just facilities; they represent progress, partnership, and the belief that our community can and will do better for its most vulnerable neighbors.
Of course, none of this growth happened in isolation. Our community has been at the center of every success. Donors, volunteers, partner agencies, board members, and advocates have consistently stepped up—offering time, funding, expertise, and in many cases, sheer determination—to push this work forward. When federal, state, and local landscapes shifted, when challenges seemed insurmountable, our community stood with us.
The work has never been easy. We’ve lived through economic downturns, policy changes, housing shortages, and a pandemic that reshaped everything about how services are delivered. We’ve met families in crisis, individuals facing unimaginable trauma, and youth who lost stability long before they ever walked through our doors. Yet we’ve also witnessed resilience, healing, and triumph. We’ve celebrated every key the moment it turns in a new front door, every family reunited, every milestone reached against the odds.
Fifteen years later, the mission still feels urgent. The need is still real. But so is the progress—and the promise. I’ve learned that change doesn’t happen all at once. It happens piece by piece, person by person, year by year. And when you look back, you realize how far you’ve come together.
As I reflect on these past 15 years, I’m grateful for every partnership, every challenge that pushed us to grow, and every moment that reaffirmed why this work matters. I’m proud of what we’ve built, but even more excited for what lies ahead. There is still work to do and I’m honored to continue doing it alongside this incredible community.
Here’s to the next chapter, and to the belief that ending homelessness isn’t just an aspiration, it’s a shared responsibility, and an achievable goal.
I wish all of you a New Year filled with hope and kindness.
Warm Regards,
Sarah Quarantotto, Executive Director
