FrontLiner Profiles: Anthony McWilliams

“Homelessness is a system problem, not a personal issue.”

-- Anthony McWilliams is the Program Manager for Rapid Rehousing and Young Adult Services and has worked at FrontLine Service since 2018.

What are your basic job responsibilities?  

Helping formerly homeless young adults and families maintain their housing, supervising case managers, and collaborating with community partners to make sure we are providing the most appropriate services for those trying to overcome homelessness.  

If you could make the community understand one thing about the work you do, what would it be?   

Homelessness is a system problem, not a personal issue. Individuals look at homelessness as “they don’t want to get a job,” or “they don’t want to work.” If those were the only reasons why, you could argue it’s a personal issue. But when we talk about systemic issues, there are not a lot of places you can live if you make a certain wage and want to live in a good community. People say certain groups don’t care about their children, but sometimes our clients spend so long looking for housing because they are trying to find a solid school system. 

What’s the hardest part of your Job? 

The hardest part of the job is definitely the lack of quality, long-term, subsidized housing—and affordable housing. 

What is your favorite part of your job?   

Watching the joy on clients’ faces when they accomplish some of their goals. When we got a grant from the Thatcher Family Fund, there was a mom plus five children at home. She was working. We helped her buy towels, blankets, so many things. But it was the rug and the vacuum that were life-changing. She was so excited to have a rug by her door that said “home.” 

What do people often misunderstand about your work?   

People believe that those we serve are unmotivated, and that’s not always the case. Mental illness can look like anything, like being hyper-vigilant, not being able to focus on one task at a time, or not being able to gather up enough energy to complete activities of daily living. A mental health diagnosis is not written across someone’s forehead so often times we don’t recognize what a person has experienced or endured.  

What do you do to practice resiliency?   

It’s easier now that it’s football season! I watch a couple of college football games and then on Sunday everybody knows not to talk to me, I’m glued to the TV. I hang with two really good friends who I graduated high school with who are like brothers. And hanging out with my children.  

What would you say to someone who is interested in working at FrontLine?  

There is an opportunity to grow. Everyone who has been a supervisor of mine has been invested in my professional development. [That support] encouraged me to finish [graduate] school a lot faster than I thought and get my licensure.  We also have a sense of community amongst peers. It doesn't always feel like work. Since we spend as much time here as we do at home, coming here and having family to some degree is really helpful. 

FrontLiner Profiles reflect the views of the person interviewed.  
They do not necessarily reflect the view of FrontLine Service.