People of Housing Security:
Rebecca Brahaum

Rebecca Brahaum has always felt drawn to advocating for social issues and helping others. It was important to her that her future career involve meaningful work, and she is grateful to have found exactly that.

Rebecca recently joined Heading Home as part of their new Diversion and Prevention Case Management team. Her role is specifically centered around supporting families who are at risk of losing their housing.

She is a Heading Home staff member who is embedded at New Hope for Families, where she works closely with their team. New Hope is the only family shelter in Monroe County, allowing unhoused families to stay together while seeking housing. In addition to housing, New Hope provides resources to their families such as case management and a child care program. 

“They are more than a shelter,” Rebecca said. “They are housing rock stars. The way they can get people housed after facing barriers is amazing. They empower families when they leave.”

In Rebecca’s role, she receives referrals from New Hope and other community partners. Among the clients she has worked with so far, eviction has been a common thread. She explained how her approach begins with addressing the client’s immediate crisis, then working toward long-term stability. 

“Many of the people I’m working with don’t know the resources that are available,” Rebecca said. She assists clients with applying to resources such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (known as food stamps), which helps families to save money. She also supports clients in finding affordable housing when their current situation is not sustainable.

In addition to her case management work, Rebecca participates in New Hope’s case conferencing meetings along with Heading Home’s case conferencing. Rebecca’s position through Heading Home is part of a larger community initiative working to address unsheltered homelessness in Monroe County. Learn more about that initiative here.

Before joining Heading Home, Rebecca built a professional career in media. She graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media, and worked in a variety of roles including news writer and production coordinator. She especially enjoyed doing voice-over work, eventually transitioning into that role full time so that she could stay home to raise her kids. 

During this period, Rebecca was inspired to volunteer at Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). One of her friends was navigating the adoption process for two children in the system, and through her journey, Rebecca became aware of the immense need for advocacy. “There’s such a need to not let these kids slip through the cracks,” she said. “And I had the time to do it.”

As a CASA volunteer, Rebecca advocated for children involved with the Department of Child Services. She supported one child at a time, attending court hearings, writing court reports, meeting with providers and families, and advocating for the child’s best interest. “It’s a huge responsibility…lots of volunteer and training time,” Rebecca shared. Rebecca volunteered for three years up until the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After the pandemic, Rebecca was thinking about her future career and knew she wanted to do something meaningful. She ended up working at Indiana University with the 21st Century Scholars program and later managed the Community & School Partnerships program, working to connect underrepresented and marginalized communities to IU’s campus. 

“I value other human beings that see the big picture of social issues and want to help others – even if it hasn’t happened to them – for the greater good”

Now at Heading Home, Rebecca is grateful to still be making a difference in the lives of others. Integrity is a core value to her, and she wants people to know they can count on her. “I value other human beings that see the big picture of social issues and want to help others – even if it hasn’t happened to them – for the greater good,” she said.

Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family. She has two teenage sons who keep her busy with sports. She is thankful for the Bloomington community and the opportunity for her children to grow up here.