We spoke with Noah Perkins-Cohen, a Community Organizer at Urban Pathways, about his day-to-day responsibilities, what brought him to this work, and what inspires him to keep going.
HSU: Can you share a bit about your background and how you became involved in working at Urban Pathways?
NP-C: I graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in public policy in 2022. After graduating, I worked in a mixed income community in Annapolis, Maryland as a Community Services Coordinator. In that role, I worked with local stakeholders and grassroots organizations to provide services including extracurricular education, entrepreneurship courses, financial coaching, childcare, and much more. It was in this role that I saw how impactful genuine direct service can be. I really enjoyed working alongside our residents as we worked towards identifying and accomplishing their personal and professional goals.
What drew you to work in the supportive housing environment, and how would you describe your experience so far?
Following my work in Annapolis, I was very interested in a job in direct service. I wanted a role where I could support individuals who were working to overcome adversity. At Urban Pathways, I found a role that allowed me to be active in the community and learn from incredible advocates with lived experience.
Have you faced any particular challenges while working here, and how have you overcome them?
I experienced a particular challenge at one of the first supportive housing sites where I organized a Resident Advisory Board. At this site, an incident of violence had recently occurred, and many of the residents were concerned about their safety. I saw this challenge as an opportunity in organizing a Resident Advisory Board (RAB). In the first RAB meeting, we discussed the building’s culture and residents’ safety concerns. The residents decided they wanted to devise and implement a Good Neighbor Policy – a policy that would outline the ways in which they wanted to be treated by one another. The Good Neighbor Policy defined the expectations and responsibilities; every resident is expected to uphold to be a good neighbor. Site staff worked alongside the Resident Advisory Board to ensure that every resident in the building signed the agreement, and The Good Neighbor Policy ended up being largely successful. Giving residents ownership over the policy created significant buy-in and helped create a culture shift in the building. In a survey we administered to residents a few months later, 76.5% of respondents indicated that the policy was effective or very effective in maintaining a peaceful living environment and 88% of respondents indicated that they would recommend the Good Neighbor Policy to other supportive housing communities.
What does a typical day look like for you at Urban Pathways?
As a Community Organizer, I travel to different supportive housing sites, working directly with residents to promote internal and external advocacy. I currently work with 9 different sites and have developed Resident Advisory Boards that meet monthly and are designed to empower residents to create initiatives that strengthen the community, promote wellbeing, and improve the quality of life at their residence. Relationship building is vital to my success. I have developed authentic and genuine connections that allow me to support residents with creating and completing tenant-led activities. Several times a year, each site will engage in group outings or activities, including going to the zoo, movie theater, or a sporting event, or hosting a cookout at the site.
Are there specific tasks or roles within your position that you feel particularly passionate about or find most rewarding?
My favorite task is facilitating the Resident Advisory Board meetings themselves. This is my opportunity to engage residents in solution-oriented thinking and to encourage residents to think proactively about their peers and their community. When this messaging is successful, you start to see residents believe that their voices matter and that they are truly making a difference. The most rewarding aspect is the confidence and personal growth you see accompanying the resident buy-in.
How do you build rapport and trust with residents, especially in those first few interactions?
I build rapport and trust with residents through maintaining authenticity. Our residents know the difference between someone just doing their job and someone that truly cares. Organizations must prioritize residents’ voices and display respect, empathy, and patience to connect on a human level. To establish trust, you must also allow residents to voice their frustrations. The ability to genuinely sit down with a resident and actively listen without judging or becoming defensive goes a long way in building that rapport. In working with Resident Advisory Boards, I ensure that our residents know that their voice matters. I can empathize when they are upset and be patient when they are angry. Most importantly, I act on their feedback, demonstrating that their voices truly matter.
What is the most important thing to consider when working in Supportive Housing?
Homelessness can happen to anyone. Most Americans are one paycheck away from experiencing homelessness themselves. Living in the shelter system or on the street can cause significant trauma. Staff must remember this, and value people’s lived experience.
