Episode 26: Natasha Ponczek Shoemake

While I was visiting Austin, recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Natasha Ponczek Shoemake. Natasha works for Austin Public Health, where she helps oversee the various human service contracts that the City uses to partner with various non-governmental agencies in addressing homelessness in their community. With this unique perspective, Natasha is able to see—at the 10,000 foot level—the whole ecology of human services in Austin. Taking a break from her work, Natasha was kind enough to provide a primer on social service provision, what the challenges are, and the number one need that Austin has to keep the homelessness crisis in check.