Erin joined Dreams for Change at B Lot in 2023 as an intern. Safe Sleeping was not originally part of her plan.
“I was dead set that I was going to work in an inpatient psych unit,” she shared. “This was definitely not my scene coming into it. I was very nervous.”
Through the intern program, Erin worked under the clinical supervision of Memo. What began as a last option quickly became something different.
“By the time I finished, I had fallen in love with it.”
She completed her internship while nine months pregnant. After welcoming her daughter, she decided she wanted to return. She applied for a case manager role and later stepped into the Program Coordinator position at O Lot.
“It’s kind of how this whole thing has gone,” she said. “I didn’t have a lot of experience, but we’ll figure it out.”
Her time at O Lot brought growth, challenge, and perspective.
“There were definitely moments where I got in my car, and I was like, I quit. I’m done. And then the next day, I’m back.”
For Erin, one moment stood out. After persistent and thoughtful work with a participant with high mental health needs, a housing match came through. While still not housed, they are on their way.
“That was my realization. This was what I wanted to do.”
Now, Erin has graduated with her Master of Social Work and is moving on to Downtown IMPACT at Community Research Foundation (CRF). As an Associate Social Worker, she must complete 3,000 supervised clinical hours in the field before earning her independent license. Her new role will focus on psychotic disorders and continuing care for individuals who are now housed. but at risk of homelessness.
“What you learn here, you don’t learn in a classroom,” she said.
The best advice she shared about our work.
“There is always gray in the black and white. You need to choose your battles. You will not be successful in this work and this population if you do not recognize that there is gray.”
“Congratulations, Erin Sansone-Magee, on earning your MSW, an incredible achievement made even more impressive by the leadership you showed as Program Coordinator and Task Supervisor for the Safe Sleeping Program. Balancing graduate studies while coordinating services and supporting fellow interns speaks volumes about your professionalism, commitment, and heart for this work. I’m deeply proud of you and excited to see the impact you’ll continue to make in the field of social work.”
Guillermo “Memo” Haro Miramontes
