More Than a Job: Taylor's Experience as a Client Advocate
MORE THAN A JOB
"The job really didn't feel like a chore that I had to go to. It felt like I was on my way somewhere to see my friends."
- Taylor, former Client Advocate
At The Landing MN, Client Advocates are often the first faces guests see when they walk through our doors. They greet people with kindness, listen without judgment, celebrate victories, and help guests navigate some of life's most difficult challenges.
Earlier this year, Client Advocate Taylor made the difficult decision to step away from her role at The Landing MN to focus on her family and other professional responsibilities. During her exit interview, she shared reflections about her time here that perfectly capture both the challenges and rewards of this work.
Although Taylor is no longer on staff, she continues to volunteer, advocate for our mission, and support the people she met during her time at The Landing MN.
Wanting to Make a Difference
Taylor joined The Landing MN in January 2025. Before returning to Rochester, she spent several years living in Eugene, Oregon, where she witnessed homelessness on a much larger scale.
"When I moved back here and saw that the homeless problem here was growing, I wanted to help and I also wanted to face some of the things and stigmas that made me uncomfortable about homelessness."
At its core, however, her motivation was simple.
"At the end of the day, I really wanted to just pour some extra time into helping other people feel better. I have been through mental health struggles and especially addiction problems and I know how deep a hole that can put someone into. I wanted to be the face in the doorway when someone comes in after sleeping on the sidewalk all night and be there to chat, give a hug, or listen to someone cry."
Building Relationships
When asked about her favorite part of the role, Taylor immediately talked about the relationships she formed with guests.
"My favorite part of the role was when clients would come in and no matter what they had been through the few days before when I hadn't been in to work, they were ecstatic to see me, and we would catch up like two friends would on any regular day."
Over time, the work stopped feeling like a job and started feeling much more personal.
"The job really didn't feel like a chore that I had to go to. It felt like I was on my way somewhere to see my friends."
She especially loved celebrating milestones with guests.
"I loved it when clients would hit their goals. Something big, like a client getting housed, or something simple for us like getting to visit their child they may not see much."
For Taylor, trust was one of the most meaningful parts of the job.
"Getting someone to unpeel their layers with you, like truly getting to know their background and where they came from, whether it's good or bad, is an honor and a privilege."
Moments That Stay With You
One memory in particular has stayed with Taylor.
"There was a client who was probably 50-ish years old that always gave me song recommendations that I would play on the speaker in the back bathroom area during my shift."
One day, Taylor brought in donated T-shirts and gave him a band shirt.
"He was so excited to receive it."
Later that same day, he shared some good news.
"He told me he was getting housing at the end of the week and it would probably be my last time seeing him. He was excited to have a place to hang up the T-shirt in his own closet."
It's a memory she still carries with her.
"He is a client I think of often and I hope he is doing well and is happy in his new home."
Lessons in Empathy
When asked what she learned during her time at The Landing MN, Taylor pointed to empathy.
"I was raised with not a ton of money but luckily had a family that would do anything for me and made a lot happen for me as a kid. Not everyone has that and it was very humbling to learn that so many people came from backgrounds with zero support. That crushed me."
She also came away with a deeper understanding of how important housing is to recovery and stability.
"I didn't realize how important it is for housing to be the first step in someone's 'getting well' journey. For example, if someone has a substance abuse problem, just going off to treatment will not solve most of their problems. People need a stable living environment to even start to begin getting sober and getting their life together."
The experience also changed how she viewed everyday necessities.
"I also realized how much I took for granted. Air conditioning, clean socks, shoes that were comfortable, a meal that had nutrients and a microwave to warm it up in... so much more."
It Can Happen to Anyone
Taylor hopes people take the time to learn more about homelessness and the many factors that contribute to it.
"Homelessness is important to be educated about because it can really happen to just about anyone."
She points out how quickly circumstances can change.
"For me personally, I have a decent paying job but am one car accident, hospital stay, environmental disaster, etc. away from having no money in my savings account."
She believes discomfort often prevents people from engaging with the issue.
"I think a lot of people turn their head the other way because it makes them uncomfortable, but we need to look and advocate for homeless people because it is a human right to have shelter. No one deserves to be cold at night and alone outside in the elements."
Carrying the Mission Forward
Today, Taylor continues to work at a local dental office and hopes to one day help provide free dental care to those in need.
"My dream is to one day work alongside a doctor in doing free dental clinics for people in need. I feel like dental work is such a luxury in today's society and I feel as though it's a basic human right."
Although she stepped away from her position at The Landing MN, her connection to the organization remains strong.
"The only reason I took a step back from employment at The Landing is because I had begun to put too much on my plate and needed to take care of myself and my family. Life is short."
Reflecting on her experience, she shared one final thought:
"It's hard to put into words truly how amazing an experience I had at this organization. Some days were frustrating. But it's a gift to care about the humans down there so much that I found myself feeling emotional because I wanted them to be okay."
"The staff who run that place have different kinds of hearts. They have one of the hardest jobs. You see people fall and get back up again and you root for them. You also lose people, and that's even harder."
And even now, she still thinks about the people she met here.
"Not a single day goes by that I don't think about my friends down there and pray for them. When I drive down the street, I catch myself looking for them and when I see a familiar face I smile because I know they're still out there and working on being their best selves."