“Helping people motivate themselves to change is the language we speak,” shares Janice Green. She is a SAMHSA-funded Services in Supportive Housing Case Manager at Pine Street Inn. Pine Street Inn is one of 57 organizations nationwide funded by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) to provide intensive case management services to people experiencing chronic homelessness. Janice shares how intensive case management and Motivational Interviewing help consumers to transform their lives.

“Helping people motivate themselves to change is the language we speak. We live by this.” says Janice Green. She is a SAMHSA-funded Services in Supportive Housing Case Manager at Pine Street Inn in Boston, Massachusetts.

Janice Green is in recovery, and is often paired with people who are struggling with substance use issues. “I want to give hope to the hopeless. I went into human services when I began to recover from substance use and homelessness because I want to let other people know that they don’t have to stay where they are.”

Janice shares that she strives to meet people where they are and to listen with empathy. In her work with clients, she integrates what she has learned in recovery, as well as what she has learned through training in evidence-based practices.  

Pine Street Inn is one of 57 Services in Supportive Housing (SSH) grantees nationwide funded by SAMHSA to provide intensive services to people experiencing chronic homelessness.

Janice explains that the team of five SSH-funded case managers works hard to share their learning with Housing First case managers. “As Housing First case managers see how our techniques help consumers to make changes in their life, they want to learn from us.” All SSH-funded case managers are trained in Motivational Interviewing, Comprehensive Case Management, and cultural competency.

Janice uses a strengths-based approach to her work with both colleagues and clients. She shares the story of working with a woman named Emily.* “When I met Emily, she was actively using alcohol, mental illness medications, and smoking crack when she could. When she drank she became another person.”

Emily lived in scattered site housing and had received multiple warnings. She was about to lose her housing. “I was assigned to provide her with housing stabilization services,” explains Janice. Emily repeatedly refused to meet Janice. Janice responded with an open offer to meet with Emily whenever she was ready.

“One day I went to Emily’s house and she welcomed me and invited me in. I asked her if I could do an assessment.” Emily shared her history and Janice learned that she had endured a long trauma history. “I congratulated her on being alive,” explains Janice.  “I said to Emily: ‘Through all of your trauma, losses, and abuse, you are still standing. I know that you drink and you are using, but you still have an opportunity to change. ’”

Emily resisted Janice’s overtures, yet Janice simply responded by offering to be present and to walk alongside Emily. Janice told Emily, “You are in a relationship with me right now where we both can give.”

Eventually Emily went to treatment, changed housing facilities, participated in a co-occurring disorder treatment program for thirty days, and then a three-month outpatient program. She went into recovery and moved into an apartment not far from Janice’s office. Janice’s colleagues marveled at the changes in Emily and were amazed that she was the same woman they had known before. Janice responded, “Yes, this is Emily. This is just not the Emily that you know.”

“Who knew that I would be a part of people’s lives in this way?  I am amazed at the relationships I develop with people, the hope that I see in their eyes. I meet people where they are and I don’t make judgments. I provide options and choices. I give what has been freely given to me,” shares Janice.

*Her name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Read the Services in Supportive Housing Annual Report to learn more.