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.

“I love helping people progress,” said Carl Richards, Director of Security at Saratoga Family Residence. “I let my staff know—if I can do it, you can do it, too.”

Carl began his career in residential security in the Lower East Side, where he worked for 23 years before a coworker referred him to HFH. He joined Saratoga Family Residence in 2019.

Carl quickly found his footing, and his trajectory has reflected his strong work ethic and steady leadership. He started as a Safety Supervisor, was promoted to Safety Operations Manager, and became Director of Security this year.

As Director of Security, Carl oversees all security operations including supervising staff, ensuring the building remains secure, managing daily check-ins, and coordinating chaperones for visitors and vendors. He is known for his steady demeanor, even in difficult moments, and for setting the tone for his team.

“As a leader, you have to be that calm person,” he said. “If your staff sees you not being flustered, they will follow you, because they know that during a tough situation, you can handle yourself.”

David Morris, Administrator at Saratoga, promoted Carl to Director of Security and has seen firsthand how well he fits the role.

“Carl has taken on the role well,” said David. “He is dedicated. Anything you need him to do; he is willing to do. You couldn’t ask for a better director.”

David added that Carl is receptive to new ideas, adapts easily when processes change, and consistently goes above and beyond.

“He is always open to ideas that can make his department better,” said David.

Carl has become a go-to presence not only at Saratoga but across HFH Family Residences.

“If something has to be handled at Saratoga, the name that comes up is Carl Richards,” David said. “There are people at other sites who know who he is and have known him for years—even though they don’t work here. Carl is doing the work.”

His coworkers describe him as dedicated and attentive to both his staff and the families.

“He goes out of his way to make the department run smoothly, and he often comes up with new ideas,” said Gilda Coronado, Deputy Administrator at Saratoga. “He pays attention—he knows the clients and what’s going on with them. He is very reliable.”

Andrea Prasad, Administrative Assistant, who has worked with Carl for over two years, shared a similar sentiment.

“He is attentive and concerned about his staff and the residents,” she said. “If something happens, he rushes to make sure everyone is okay. He always focuses on being productive and delivers his best at his job.”

Milagros “Millie” Gonzalez-Dixon, Office Manager at Saratoga who has worked with Carl for three years, has watched him grow steadily in his role.

“He is very warm and very friendly,” she said. “He is a leader. He is still learning, but he makes sure his staff knows what they are supposed to do. He teaches as he grows.”

Carl says the people at Saratoga are a major reason he enjoys coming to work.

“We have such a mix of people here—different backgrounds, different experiences—but we work together as a team to get the job done,” he said. “I like working with the staff here. We have a lot of experienced people.”

For Carl, supporting families is at the heart of the job. He makes a point to talk with residents, encourage them through difficult moments, and remind them of their own strength.

“Sometimes it’s hard—you can’t give up,” he said. “You just have to move forward.”

Every day, he focuses on making sure both residents and staff feel safe and supported. Even on the busiest days, that commitment guides him.

“My mindset is, no matter how hectic the job gets, it has to be done,” he said. “The safety of the staff and the clients is the number one priority. What keeps me going is making sure everyone is happy and that the facility is safe and secure.”

Carl is proud of how far he has come, and he is hopeful about what lies ahead.

“I am looking to advance,” he said. “Not to sell myself short—anything is possible.”

Outside of work, Carl enjoys going out and exploring New York City. He loves movies, exercising, trying new restaurants—especially seafood and Italian—and taking walks in the park.

“I want to make [the residents] feel welcome by making them comfortable—being on top of things and making sure their unit is good,” said Hulberto “Bert” Martinez, Building Operations Manager at Island Family Residence. “I feel like that gives them a little push so they can keep moving forward in their journey. They can worry about other things, and they don’t have to worry that they won’t have any heat, or other small things that make a huge difference.”

Bert joined HFH six years ago, starting in maintenance at Saratoga Family Residence before transferring to Island Family Residence in 2019. He found the position at Saratoga online while looking to make a career shift from working in the restaurant industry—where he frequently took on handyman tasks—to a more dedicated maintenance role. Growing up, Bert learned building repairs from his father, who worked in construction, and he often tackled projects around the house. Drawn to HFH’s mission, Bert saw this opportunity as a way to not only use his skills but also contribute to a cause that resonated with him.

“I like what they do [at HFH]—helping people in need and helping the community,” said Bert. “I feel like I am making a difference in someone’s life. I feel like I have the same mindset as the organization with what they are doing.”

Shortly after joining Island Family Residence, Bert was promoted to Building Operations Manager, a role in which he oversees critical building operations to ensure everything runs smoothly and safely—from plumbing to electrical.

“The residents’ safety is a priority to him. He puts the residents first and makes sure they are safe and comfortable,” said Melissa Halloran, Assistant Administrator at Island Family Residence.

Bert’s prior experience working in maintenance at both Saratoga and Island enables him to be an effective supervisor for his staff.

“It’s all hands-on deck—whatever [my staff] need I am always there with them,” said Bert. “If they have questions, I am always there to help them out.”

“He is always looking to learn new things, and he is not afraid to get his hands dirty—he won’t tell his staff to do something without him doing it, too,” said Lori Bowen, Administrator at Island Family Residence.

Not only is Bert dependable for the residents and a mentor to his staff, but he is also a valued colleague for his contagious positivity and reliability.

“He just builds you up,” said Melissa. “No matter what it is, he is always right there and supports [the staff] no matter what. When things are crazy, he brings calmness to everything.”

“He is always smiling and has a good attitude. He is very level-headed, loyal, and takes pride in his job,” Lori added.

Bert spends most of his free time with his family, with whom he is very close. He loves walking on the boardwalk at the beach with his youngest daughter and playing and watching sports, especially football—he is a big Jets fan.

“I always wanted to help people—that’s what I knew my career would be,” said Tiffany Diaz, Case Manager at Allie’s Place Family Residence.

Tiffany joined HFH two years ago after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iona College. She was referred by a family friend who thought the organization would be a great fit for Tiffany’s passion for helping others and starting her career in case management.

“My initial reason for coming here was to gain experience, and I definitely have gained a lot along the way,” said Tiffany. “I want to be here to gain even more.”

As a Case Manager, Tiffany meets with residents on a regular basis, working with them on a plan to move from where they are when they first arrive at the shelter to where they want to be when they ultimately leave shelter.

“Everyone has a story, and it’s always so interesting to hear how people end up [in shelter]. The end goal is to move them out of shelter. I love to see [clients] so happy once they move on. That’s my satisfaction in this job,” she said.

For Tiffany, one of the most crucial aspects of her role is listening.

“People come from different backgrounds and often carry a lot of weight on their shoulders,” said Tiffany. “I like being their ear—the person that gets to listen to them. I always tell them, ‘You can come to me for anything,’ because sometimes they don’t have other people. I like being the person that can be there for someone else.”

Tiffany’s commitment to her clients and her growth within HFH has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. Sabrina Singh, Family Services Supervisor, has worked closely with Tiffany since she started—first as fellow case managers and now in Sabrina’s supervisory role—and has seen her evolve in her position.

“I have seen her grow tremendously. She became more outspoken and came out of her shell—both [in] her personality and [through] her work,” Sabrina said. “She is very professional. She maintains that professionalism, even in tough situations, and she brings light to [these situations].”

Charima Thompson, Director of Family Services, has also witnessed Tiffany’s development over the past two years.

“She is very attentive to her clients and their needs—she goes above and beyond,” said Charima. “It’s a pleasure to have her here. I think that everybody in the office brings a little bit of something which creates a balance. She is the quiet one, but she is hilarious.”

In addition to supporting her clients’ progress, Tiffany loves the strong sense of teamwork at Allie’s Place.

“I love the people I work with. Everyone is always willing to help each other out,” she said. “We are a good team, and we are always in it for the clients at the end of the day. Whenever I need [assistance], I go to someone, and we work together to try to get help for our clients.”

In her free time, Tiffany enjoys expressing her creativity through art—especially drawing cartoon style characters. When she’s not at work or drawing, Tiffany loves spending time at amusement parks, where she can indulge her love for roller coasters.