Staff Spotlight:
Jewel Greene,
Resident Support Associate

Jewel Greene joined the Joseph & Mary’s Home community in September 2022 as a resident support associate. She continues serving in that capacity today, working the overnight shifts on Monday and Tuesday nights. Her primary role? “To be there and to listen,” said Jewel.

Q: Why did you choose to work at Joseph & Mary’s Home? What led you here?
A: For many years I worked as a service representative at an insurance company. But life happens. I had to leave in 2013 due to my disability. After a few years of not working, I felt like I was losing my sense of purpose. I am a wife, mother and grandmother, but I wanted to do more, and to help people. A friend told me Joseph & Mary’s Home was hiring, and so I decided to give it a try.

Q: How do you support the residents?
A: I am able to relate — many of the residents have a disability and so do I. My goal is to make their time here a little better. You have to be sympathetic,
empathetic, a good listener. Understanding things happen and they didn’t ask for it… that’s huge.

Q: What lessons have you learned from residents?
A: You can be in the worst place or scenario, but still be a happy person. The majority of the residents I have met, despite their situation, are grateful and thankful. They still find the joy.

Q: What words do you live by?
A: Treat people the way you want to be treated. I always keep that in mind. I can only do so much here, but whatever the much is, is the much I am going to do.

Q: Why do you think it is important for the community to support Joseph & Mary’s Home?
A: Everyone is one paycheck away from experiencing homelessness. This could be anyone. You are told to save, save, save. Then something comes up and you have to take that savings and do something with it. You are back to square one. Before you can save again, something else bad happens and you no longer have that safety net. No one knows what is going to happen tomorrow.

This Staff Spotlight was featured in the Spring 2025 edition of The Journey, Joseph & Mary’s Home’s Newsletter. To read the entire newsletter, visit jmhome.org/spring-2025-newsletter.