“I came to SNAP because I like to help people. So, that was my goal, to see how I could make a difference in people’s lives.”
Chelsey Dunham
CHELSEY DUNHAM – BUILDING CONNECTIONS, ONE NEIGHBOR AT A TIME
When Chelsey Dunham joined SNAP in May 2021, she wasn’t expecting her life to change as much as the lives of the people she hoped to serve. Four years and seven months later, she now leads some of the agency’s most essential community programs as SNAP’s Essential Connections Director, a role shaped by her compassion, lived experience, and dedication to helping her neighbors find stability.
Chelsey’s journey with SNAP began as a Rental Assistance Intake Specialist, working directly with people in crisis who were at risk of losing their homes.
“Starting out as a Rental Assistance Intake Specialist, we were able to pay people’s rent in crisis at that moment. We would help them that one time.” Chelsey recalls.
Her ability to understand clients’ needs and build trust quickly set her apart. She was soon promoted to Rental Assistance Manager, where she guided the team through an intense and challenging period of community need. But Chelsey felt called to connect more deeply with clients—beyond one-time assistance. That opportunity came when she transitioned into the role of Resource Rides Coordinator.
“Moving into Resource Rides, it was more instant gratification. You could see more how our help impacted the clients overall more directly because we saw them more than once. It wasn’t crisis intervention. I liked going from that one-time assistance with rental assistance to being able to see people more than once and just seeing how that assistance was helping them get to their doctors’ appointments on an ongoing basis.”
Her work with Resource Rides and Neighbors on the Go showed her how something as simple as transportation can be life-changing. Helping clients manage health needs, stay connected, and experience regular social interaction, sometimes with their volunteer driver being the only visitor they see all week.
This fall, Chelsey stepped into her newest and most expansive role yet: Essential Connections Director.
“That will be overseeing all the Homeless Service programs. There’s Rapid Rehousing, Diversion, Coordinated Entry, and Homeless Prevention. I’ll also continue overseeing Resource Rides, Neighbors on the Go, and Tenant Services,” said Chelsey. Taking on leadership of Homeless Services is deeply meaningful for her. Not only does she respect the team—she relates to the clients at a personal level.
“I wanted to take on that job because the Homeless Services team does a great job, and I fit in well with them. I could see what was already happening, so it was easy to ask them questions and see what’s going on. I’ve been homeless before, so I can see it from the clients’ perspective too.”
“When I was in that mindset of this is all that I have, what I’m carrying, and if someone was to offer help… if someone was coming up to me, how would I be receptive to them? Cause you’re always in kind of a defensive state when you’re homeless.”
Chelsey’s experience with homelessness began in 2010. “In 2010, I was out there like two years. Couch surfing. I never went to a shelter, but I couch surfed a lot and stayed at random people’s houses.”
When asked if she was ever on the streets, she explained: “Not in downtown Spokane. More in the neighborhoods.” Those years shaped how she approaches clients today.
“Just seeing, like when I was in that mindset of this is all that I have, what I’m carrying, and if someone was to offer help… if someone was coming up to me, how would I be receptive to them? Cause you’re always in kind of a defensive state when you’re homeless. So, it kind of gives me that perspective of they’ve always got their guard up. You have to gain their trust.”
Her empathy, patience, and authenticity make her a trusted leader, someone who can see both the systemic challenges and the human stories behind them.
“I came to SNAP because I like to help people. So, that was my goal, to see how I could make a difference in people’s lives that were low income or homeless. Going from the idea of ‘hey let me try this job out that I’ve never done before’ to where I’m at is kind of just a little bit surreal to me. It was very scary for me to try to do that, but I was like what have I got to lose. I always want to go just out there and help people.”
A MESSAGE TO DONORS FROM CHELSEY
Chelsey is grateful to the community members who make these programs possible, especially those who support Resource Rides and Neighbors on the Go.
“At SNAP it really is neighbors helping neighbors. The staff here, with Resource Rides especially. They live in the community, they’re for community and for those people that just can’t get to their appointments there’s a huge need for that. And so, any donation to get these folks that are elderly and live at home to their appointments is desperately needed and appreciated. Sometimes the only interaction that they get is with their volunteer driver, so it helps them on a social level as well as their physical well-being.”