Snyder left his job in the corporate world last year to become president and chief executive officer of the Chesapeake branch of Volunteers of America, which provides services to the homeless, disabled and senior citizens, among other groups.
How do you tackle the homeless problem in winter?
Some of the challenges are at the shelters, staffing up and making sure you’ve got all the operations in place and the capacity. If you are at-capacity, the challenge is to make an existing facility that is meant for 50 men and women capable of holding 90 men and women.
How do you find the homeless?
We have outreach workers who go out under bridges and visit shantytowns. They talk to them, build their trust and tell them to come on in, and we will work on finding you housing.
How many people are living outside right now?
Out of the 12,000 homeless people in the Washington, D.C., area, 10 percent of them are unsheltered and living outdoors. They live under bridges, they’ll build shantytowns, they will find vacant buildings or will live in cars. It’s sad.
Why do some resist coming to a shelter?
Some don’t know they can get something because there is not enough shelter space available. And some shelters affiliated with a substance abuse program won’t have anyone who has a substance abuse issue going on. They will have to go to a shelter where those rules are more relaxed.
What prompted your career change?
I was running an association management company. I was also involved in my church; I ran its mission committee. I thought this was something where I could apply my business skills and provide a human service. I love it. It was a great move for me. What I like about it the most is the ability to see results. That is very gratifying for me and gets me all charged up.
— Susan Ferrrechio
