People of Housing Security:
Ciara Thompson

Ciara Thompson has always had an interest in mental health, envisioning herself as a future therapist. Now, as one of Heading Home’s newest Street Outreach Case Managers, she is grateful to support her community while continuing her education. 

Ciara’s academic path was shaped by her deep interest in mental health. In 2021, she graduated from Indiana University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in counseling. “I had an extreme awareness of it [mental health] because of personal experiences,” she shared. “It does truly impact someone’s everyday functioning.”

While completing her undergraduate degree, Ciara worked as a mental health technician at Meadows Hospital. That experience helped her recognize how critical a person’s early 20s can be for mental health intervention, particularly to set them up for long-term success. “There are lots of people who are ready for change and seeking guidance but aren’t being helped,” she said. She explained how part of this issue stems from the limited availability of resources for individuals seeking support. That same idea guides Ciara in her new role, where she works to make housing resources accessible for unsheltered clients who are seeking change. 

Following graduation, Ciara took some time to explore her next steps and decided to focus on gaining more hands-on experience. She accepted a position with Beacon’s Permanent Supportive Housing program, Crawford Homes, as a case manager. That role introduced her to the homeless services sector and ultimately paved the way toward pursuing her Master of Social Work. 

Ciara is currently in her first year of graduate school at Indiana Wesleyan University, completing her coursework online while also fulfilling her practicum at Heading Home. Her program focuses on promoting social justice, aligning closely with the work she is doing in the field. 

“It’s overall just been a great comprehensive learning experience,” she shared. “Being able to put into action what I’m learning everyday is invaluable.” 

Through Heading Home, Ciara is embedded at Beacon’s Shalom Day Center as a Street Outreach Case Manager. Her position is primarily focused on working with clients experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including those sleeping outdoors, in a vehicle, or in a place not meant for habitation. 

Ciara’s work aims to help these individuals overcome barriers to permanent housing by providing housing-focused case management connecting them with community resources. Ciara’s role is part of a larger community initiative working to address unsheltered homelessness in Monroe County. Learn more about that initiative here.

Although her ultimate goal remains becoming a therapist, Ciara’s work in street outreach and supportive housing have solidified her desire to continue working with people experiencing homelessness. In particular, Ciara has found interest in supporting young adults. 

“There is a huge gap in resources for young adults,” she explained. “There’s not a lot of options for people 25 and younger for housing assistance.” Ciara also reflected on a friend of hers who experienced housing insecurity during college. This experience had caused her to question what resources existed for young people in similar situations. 

Now working directly with this population, Ciara sees firsthand many of the barriers young adults face when navigating adulthood. Those coming from traumatic households, she explained, often struggle to develop life skills that others may learn earlier on. “Accountability, responsibility, work ethic, and resilience are hard to build in oneself without some type of guidance,” she said. 

“There is a huge gap in resources for young adults. There’s not a lot of options for people 25 and younger for housing assistance”

Ciara noted that many agencies don’t have the time to engage with individuals lacking these critical skills, leaving them unsupported. Looking ahead, she hopes to one day focus on therapy targeted towards young adults, especially women. She also dreams of starting a nonprofit that would provide all-encompassing therapy for young adults where they can receive all types of services. 

Beyond her passion for the work she does, Ciara also enjoys a variety of hobbies outside of work. She shared her love for vintage shopping, spending time with friends, and exploring different restaurants. She is also very passionate about yoga and pilates, describing them as her own form of therapy for maintaining her mental health. Coming from a big sports family, Ciara also follows sports closely and remains actively involved in Indiana University athletics.