For Antione Newton, helping people is more than part of the job—it’s what drew him to the work in the first place. As a Driver at Williamsbridge Family Residence, Antione supports families and staff every day by ensuring residents can reach their destinations safely and on time. Drivers at HFH play a critical role in helping families access opportunities that move them closer to stable housing, and Antione embraces that responsibility with care. His steady presence and positive attitude have made him a valued part of the team since he joined in August 2024.
“I’m a people person. I like helping people out, so when I saw the job at a homeless shelter I thought, ‘Why not try?’” said Antione.
Antione’s role includes driving housing specialists and residents to apartment viewings, lease signings, and to pick up the keys for residents’ new homes—critical steps on a family’s path out of shelter. When he is not accompanying staff and families to these appointments, Antione works closely with Partnerships Manager Tierra Gunther to deliver essential items and donations to the shelters. He plays an important role in making sure that the items received from partners and donors are distributed to the families efficiently. He also assists with moving supplies and equipment. Around the building, he is known as someone who is always willing to lend a hand.
Many apartment showings and appointments are far from the shelter, sometimes in cold or difficult weather. Having a dependable driver helps ensure families can attend these important meetings to help them meet their goals.
One of Antione’s favorite parts of the job is accompanying housing specialists and residents to apartments. He enjoys seeing the different neighborhoods and buildings across the city, but what stands out most is seeing the excitement of the families when they are one step closer to having a place of their own. Being part of those moments reinforces the importance of his role in the broader mission of helping families move forward.
Housing Specialist Milagros Gonzalez frequently travels with Antione and describes him as both professional and compassionate.
“He is courteous and very polite to the residents we escort to different destinations. He is an asset to the housing team,” she said. “He travels near and far to get the job done.”
She also emphasized that Antione is intentional about creating a safe and supportive environment whenever he is transporting staff and residents. “He has always been very kind and approachable. If you ask him for help, he lends a hand. He makes people feel good when he interacts with them. He’s there for us, and I appreciate him for that. He is very valuable; we need him.”
Williamsbridge Administrator Alfonsina Gomez noted that Antione connects easily with staff across all departments and is frequently praised by coworkers.
“He gets along with everybody,” she said. “He’s always open to help, learn, listen, and understand. He is very respectful. He is always eager to do the job—and always with a positive attitude.”
Tierra Gunther highlighted his reliability, flexibility, and genuine enthusiasm for the mission behind the work. She also mentioned that donors and partners have commented on how friendly and helpful he is.
“He is always asking questions about programs, donations, residents—he’s not just there to work; he wants to know more about the people that we serve,” she said. “When I think of someone I can really rely on, he’s at the top.”
Each day, Antione aims to show up with a positive mindset. He focuses on “trying to bring in that good energy at work.”
Outside of work, Antione is family-oriented and enjoys spending time with his 14-year-old daughter and his family, which includes eight brothers and two sisters. In his free time, he makes hip-hop music and plays basketball.
