Kathy Sibert
Class of 2010
Homelessness has many causes. A-SPAN (formerly the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network) tackles it from many angles, one person at a time. With Sibert at the helm since 2008, what started out as a bare-bones outreach program is now a robust continuum of services devoted to getting people back on their feet and safely under roof. In the last fiscal year alone, the Arlington nonprofit provided 888 free medical visits, 533 prescriptions, more than 16,000 shelter stays and nearly 38,000 meals to Arlington’s homeless. But the end goal is permanent housing. Since 2007, A-SPAN has placed 124 people in permanent homes. Sibert, whose background is in international finance, spearheaded Arlington’s “100 Homes Campaign,” which helped 100 veterans and medically vulnerable individuals get housing. She received a 2012 Arlington Women of Vision Award for those efforts.
“My favorite day is the day we move someone into an apartment. They have nothing. Through community support, we collect donated furniture, towels, shower curtains, bedding, kitchen utensils…so when they walk in, it’s a home. When someone is homeless, almost 99 percent of the time they have lost ties with their family. Once they are stabilized and they have their dignity back, they have a place where their families can visit them. Reconnecting is one of our goals.” —Kathy Sibert
