This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

After growing up in the Southside of Chicago, Patricia Youngquist shifted her career path from running the books for companies to non-profits and church organizations. This shift in focus led her to Savannah and Union Mission, Inc. where she brought her expertise to the many programs the organization offers. After the executive director left in 2017, Youngquist took over the job on an interim basis before getting the position full-time a few months later. On this episode of Difference Makers, she talks about how her childhood influenced the work she does today, the many programs offered at Union Mission and what people misconceive about homelessness, and how we can begin to fix the problem in Savannah.

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(7:28): How her childhood influenced her work today

(10:52): Shifting career paths from for-profit accounting to non-profit

(17:00): Move to Union Mission in Savannah, becoming interim executive director

(23:00): Programs provided at Union Mission

(26:17): How to get people help who may be reticent of it

• On the Frontline: Savannah takes first tiny step in Housing First model to combat homelessness (Beacon, June 2019)

(28:38): Recent gala and the impact of speaker Richard Berry

• Homeless advocate Richard Berry to give keynote at Raising Hope to benefit Savannah's Union Mission (SMN, Feb. 10, 2019)
• Richard J. Berry: A practical way to help the homeless find work and safety (TED, Feb. 2017)
• Homeless No More: 5 Solutions that are working in cities across America (Beacon, June 2019)

(39:42): What is homelessness and how close are people to it in Savannah?

• Let's Get to Work: A Plan of Action for Savannah (Beacon, June 2019)

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