More Than $341: How Urban Triage Helped Shanna Find Stability, Purpose and a Way to Give Back

For Shanna Sharp, a $341 rent shortfall could have meant losing her home. Instead, it became part of a journey that would eventually bring her back to Urban Triage, not as someone seeking help, but as someone providing it.

Today, Shanna is a Program Case Manager and Auditor at Urban Triage, helping individuals and families navigate many of the same challenges she once faced. Through Urban Triage’s Housing Navigation programs, she contributes to efforts that have helped 48 homeless families or individuals secure permanent housing in Quarter 3 of this year alone. Behind every number is a person facing difficult circumstances, something Shanna understands firsthand. Her lived experience informs how she approaches her work, connecting people with resources, understanding their circumstances and treating them with the dignity they deserve.

Shanna's journey has included poverty, domestic violence, mental health challenges and the struggle to maintain stability while navigating systems that often make it difficult for people to get the help they need.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2011, Shanna worked hard to maintain her health and rebuild her life. By the time she connected with Urban Triage, she had made significant progress, but financial insecurity continued to threaten the stability she had worked to achieve.

Living on $1,028 a month in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits, Shanna found herself $341 short on rent. It was a relatively small amount of money, but it could have life-changing consequences.

She turned to Urban Triage. "I needed help keeping my home and someone who would listen without judging me," Shanna shared.

She found more than financial assistance. She found people who recognized her strengths, understood the barriers she faced and were committed to helping her move forward.

Urban Triage helped Shanna address her immediate housing needs, but the support didn't stop with rent. The organization also provided assistance with food, gas, transportation and internet access. Just as important, Shanna received encouragement, mentorship and practical support as she continued her education, pursued professional opportunities and worked toward greater independence. That support included assistance with clothing for job interviews and guidance as she explored entrepreneurship.

These services reflect an important part of Urban Triage's approach: housing stability is essential, but lasting stability often requires addressing the interconnected challenges that affect a person's life. For someone working to rebuild, transportation can mean getting to an interview. Internet service can mean continuing an education. Help with groceries can mean having enough money to keep paying rent.

With greater stability, Shanna continued building on her accomplishments. She earned an associate degree from Madison College and a bachelor's degree from UW–Oshkosh, and is now pursuing her MBA online. With mentorship from Urban Triage, she also explored entrepreneurship, including participation in a hemp cultivation and distribution program. Most recently, this past September, she passed her Certified Peer Specialist exam with a perfect score of 100%. These milestones reflect not only Shanna's determination but also what becomes possible when people have the stability, resources and encouragement to pursue their goals.

Her journey has come full circle, but Shanna doesn't see her experience as simply a personal success story. She sees it as a responsibility to help others find their own path forward. "I am becoming the dependable person I needed during difficult times," she said.

Her lived experience brings an important perspective to her work. She understands that people seeking assistance are more than their circumstances, and that the barriers they face do not define their potential. "I lead from lived experience," Shanna shared. "I keep doing this work because I refuse to let anyone feel as invisible as I once did."

Shanna has also continued strengthening her professional credentials, including successfully completing her Certified Peer Specialist examination, another step in her commitment to supporting others through informed, compassionate care.

Shanna's story illustrates why Urban Triage's work extends beyond meeting an immediate need. The organization's approach recognizes that people experiencing housing instability often face overlapping challenges involving income, employment, health, transportation and access to essential resources.

Addressing those barriers requires more than a one-time intervention. It requires relationships built on trust, an understanding of lived experience and services that recognize each person's humanity and potential.

For Shanna, the difference was having people who saw what she could become rather than defining her by what she had experienced. Today, she brings that same perspective to the people she serves.

"The people Urban Triage serves are some of the strongest, most resourceful, most resilient individuals you will ever meet," she said.

Her story is a reminder that the people seeking support today may become tomorrow's community leaders, advocates, mentors and service providers.

As Dane County continues to grapple with housing insecurity and the need for accessible, culturally responsive services, Shanna's experience offers a powerful example of what can happen when people receive support at a critical moment.

Her message to community leaders and decision-makers about the future of these services is simple: "Please do not let the door that opened for me close on the next person asking for help."

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Urban Triage transforms culture, institutions, and communities to ensure a humane future. Through housing navigation, peer support, advocacy and community-centered services, the organization works to remove barriers and create opportunities for individuals and families throughout Dane County.

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