For Samantha Hayes, housing navigation is not just about finding an available apartment. It is about understanding the person in front of her, recognizing the barriers they are facing, and continuing to search until a realistic path begins to take shape.

As the Housing Navigator for Magnolia Safe Parking, Samantha meets with participants throughout the week to set goals and explore options based on their income, age, household size, credit, vouchers, pets, and individual needs.

“It depends on where the participant is,” she explained. “I look at what they qualify for and what will work best for them.”

Behind every application is a person trying to move forward in a housing market that can feel impossible to navigate. Long waitlists, rising rents, credit challenges, pet restrictions, and limited availability can make the process discouraging.

A large part of Samantha’s work is helping people stay engaged when the answer is not immediate.

“I’m really just keeping them motivated and positive,” she said. “I keep looking for new places, applications, resources, and programs that might help.”

That persistence has helped Samantha become skilled at finding opportunities others may overlook. She has learned how low-income housing differs from affordable housing, how age and household size affect eligibility, and how senior housing, supportive housing, vouchers, and income-based properties can open different doors.

She also knows that housing navigation is built on relationships. Samantha regularly connects with property managers, community partners, and coworkers to learn about new opportunities and advocate for participants.

“Building that rapport is very important,” she said. “They trust me.”

That trust can make all the difference. In one case, a participant received a housing voucher on a Tuesday and moved into an apartment by Friday because Samantha had already developed a relationship with the property manager.

One story remains especially meaningful to her. An older woman living in her vehicle had been delaying a major surgery because she did not have a stable place to recover. Samantha helped her secure an apartment based on 30 percent of her income, without a voucher.

“Once she had housing, she was finally able to get her surgery,” Samantha shared. “That one stayed with me because it was life-changing for her and for me.”

Moments like that are difficult for Samantha to put into words.

“It’s better than good. It’s better than great,” she said. “I get so excited. One senior wrote me a note and told me I had changed her life.”

Not every search ends quickly, and not every opportunity is accepted. Participants may change their minds, decline a placement, or realize they want something different. Samantha has learned to respect those decisions while continuing to offer information, encouragement, and new possibilities.

“I know I gave it my all,” she said. “Sometimes people have to make their own decisions.”

Her approach is rooted in empathy.

“I put myself in their shoes,” Samantha explained. “Whether they are 62, 31, or have a family, I look for a place as if it were for me.”

For Samantha, housing navigation means seeing more than an application or a waiting list. It means seeing someone’s future and helping them believe there may still be another option, another connection, or another door worth trying.

“People have the right to know what they want,” she said. “My role is to give them options, show them what is available, and not give up on them.”