JoAnn has been a steady, compassionate force at HOPE for over two decades, helping shape the agency from its early days. A founding member of the Housing Response Team and former Transitional Housing Manager, she has filled countless gaps to keep clients safe and housed—answering crisis calls on weekends, securing hotel rooms during family gatherings, and doing whatever it takes. JoAnn treats every person with dignity, compassion, and zero judgment, believing to her core that all people deserve love, support, and services. Her relationships with clients, landlords, and partners reflect mutual respect. As one client said, “I wish I had someone like her in my life.”
Wendy Simonson
A former HOPE employee, she embodied a grassroots spirit and a gentle presence that left a lasting impression. Patient and
