Teena Conrad, the SSVF program manager at Cornerstone Rescue Mission is the recipient of the Lisa Bondy award for outstanding Service. This award is received by an individual who has made a sustained and significant impact on addressing homelessness in South Dakota. Dedication, achievements and vision are determinations for the recipient of this award.
The SSVF program – Supportive Services for Veterans Families provides housing assistance and supportive services to low income veteran families at risk of experiencing homelessness. The primary responsibilities of the program manager include but are not limited to: program management, case management , reporting and compliance, community engagement, performing evaluations and budget oversight.
Lysa Allison, Executive Director of Cornerstone spoke of Teena stating , “Teena Conrad has been an exemplary employee and dedicated to serving homeless veterans across South Dakota. She has housed or kept housed over 1,000 homeless veterans in the last decade and is known as every “veteran’s best friend”. She has also been a part of the CoC veterans committee and HMIS committee. Allison also noted that Conrad has spoken at national conferences regarding best practices for housing the homeless.
As a matter of transparency, this journalist must divulge that she was personally helped by Teena Conrad and the SSVF program. An uninformed employment decision which included housing failed and left me displaced. The 988 Veterans help line started the process of putting me in contact with Teena. She helped me avert the streets and kept me housed until a permanent solution was achieved. She’s nothing short of tenacious, yet as humble as they come.
Congratulations Teena!