People of Housing Security:
Tatiana Wheeler

Because of her work with Heading Home of South Central Indiana, many people know Tatiana Wheeler for her organizing skills, calm demeanor, deep positivity…and Dad jokes.

But the life she leads now is one that Tatiana could not have easily envisioned as a child growing up in The Region, an area in northwest Indiana near Chicago. She describes her younger self as a “firecracker” – outspoken and feisty as she carved out space in a blended family, the second youngest of seven siblings.

Knowing her now, it’s not surprising to learn that she excelled at school. Tatiana took honors classes, was a “book nerd,” and played violin for years in her school orchestra. She also enjoyed crafting – an interest that continues today as she learns to knit and crochet.

And even at a young age, community service was very important to her.

“My desire was just to help people,” she said, “but I didn’t know what avenue to take.”

Later, on scholarship at Indiana University, Tatiana initially thought that the legal profession might be her path. She majored in law and public policy, but ultimately decided that law school wasn’t right for her. Rather, she was drawn to work that helped alleviate poverty in families. “I wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people in a way that I wish people could have made a difference in the life of my family,” she said.

Tatiana’s family has experienced housing insecurity at different times over the years. That experience has given her a deeper understanding of the complexities of poverty, and how housing stability can be tied to a web of other issues.

“It keeps me hungry to learn about innovative solutions that other communities are implementing,” Tatiana said. “Honestly, I think my own family’s struggles keep me grounded in the work.”

Tatiana has served as assistant director of Heading Home since the spring of 2022. She has been key in Heading Home’s partnership with Built for Zero, a national effort to end homelessness. Among other things, she leads an initiative to end veteran homelessness in this region by the end of 2024.

“I feel like changing the world happens one person at a time. If you change one person’s life, that ripples into other people’s lives.”

She also launched the People of Housing Security series, which highlights individuals who are working to ensure that everyone finds stable housing.

“I feel like changing the world happens one person at a time,” Tatiana said. “If you change one person’s life, that ripples into other people’s lives.”

Tatiana’s faith is a central part of her life. “What you see now is because of what the Lord has done in my life,” she said. She met her husband, videographer Gabe Wheeler, at the Family Life Church in Bloomington while attending IU. Tatiana often works with Gabe on his shoots, and has become a photographer herself.

She also believes strongly in lifting up youth and making sure they have a voice. That same philosophy applies to everyone she meets.

“It’s important to make people feel seen and heard – affirming people’s worth and that they’re loved. You never really know what someone’s going through.”

About the People of Housing Security: This series highlights the work of those committed to improving the lives of residents in South Central Indiana. Find all the articles in this series here.