Human Resources & Culture
Housing work is emotionally demanding— staff often wear many hats with limited resources. To provide compassionate care to residents, organizations must first create environments where staff can thrive.
Our approach to HR and organizational culture recognizes that staff wellbeing directly impacts resident experience. When housing organizations invest in meaningful staff supports, they create a foundation for trauma-informed care that benefits everyone in the community.
Trauma Informed Guidelines
All resources in this section follow these key guidelines:
START WITH SELF-AWARENESS
Encourage staff and leaders to recognize their own triggers, stress responses, and coping mechanisms as the foundation for trauma-informed work.
PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE
Model healthy boundaries and work/life balance, recognizing that caring for ourselves enables us to care for others.
INVEST IN ORGANIZATIONAL CARE
Dedicate time, money, and energy to meaningful wellness resources. Staff support is essential, not optional.
OFFER CHOICE
Provide flexible options rather than one-size-fits-all programs, allowing staff to customize their wellness approach.
VALUE STAFF EXPERTISE
Regularly solicit and implement staff feedback, recognizing that trust is a fundamental form of care.
REDUCE WORKLOAD WHERE POSSIBLE
Continually evaluate responsibilities and look for ways to increase capacity and efficiency
CELEBRATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Provide generous positive feedback and recognize efforts both large and small.
Tools & Resources
peer care team framework
Create a structured system for staff to support each other through work-related stress and secondary trauma. This guide includes a program overview, application, training materials, and additional resources to form a peer support program.
comprehensive benefits review
Reimagine staff benefits through a trauma-informed lens. This guide helps organizations assess current offerings and implement creative wellness benefits that address the unique stresses of housing work while remaining financially sustainable.
all are welcome: a guide for integrating empowerment, inclusion, and trauma-informed housing
This guide makes the case for applying trauma-informed practice to empowerment and inclusion initiatives to benefit staff and residents of all backgrounds.
CULTURE OF CARE FOR LEADERS
Developed by the Center for Trauma Informed Innovation and designed for organizational leaders, this guidebook is part resource, part journal, providing comprehensive strategies for fostering a supportive and caring workplace environment.