Samantha Ruesch

Compliance Support Specialist (December 2021-December 2023):

• I processed applications for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which provides temporary rental assistance to individuals experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
• From February 2022 to January 2023, I coordinated all of the recertification applications received. I have processed applications for and provided assistance to 1113 households.
• I coordinated all of the food and housewares orders for Veterans that were recently placed into permanent housing.
• From January 2023-December 2023: I reviewed all files for all HUD programs before final submission. I also uploaded all relevant documentation for final financial approval.

Property Manager (January 2024-Present)

• I obtained my South Carolina Property Management License.
• I screen referrals for eligibility and process files for our Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program.

• Served as an Emergency Management Specialist in the Public Assistance Disaster Operations Branch in FEMA Region X.
• I had the opportunity to serve as a Program Delivery Manager (PDMG) on the Straight-line Wind Storm Disaster DR4589-ID.
• As a PDMG, I assisted State, Local, and Tribal applicants as they worked through the Public Assistance process and provided them with support and programmatic knowledge.

• Provide trauma-informed, person-centered housing case management services to persons experiencing homelessness.
• Identifying and engaging persons at-risk of homelessness and currently experiencing homelessness through outreach in the community, emergency shelters, etc, while connecting them with mainstream community resources and long-term benefits.
• Supported team operations as a Peer Reviewer of all files prior to submission for final review.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, I coordinated all program eligibility for the Emergency Shelter (ES) program. The ES program rapidly placed vulnerable families and individuals experiencing homelessness into hotels to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID, while housing case managers attempted to connect them with long-term, affordable housing.
• Worked in conjunction with SCDHEC and coordinated temporary hotel stays for individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, giving them a safe place to quarantine.
• Provided administrative support to my direct supervisor and team.