FrontLiner Profiles: Nicki Blade

Nicki Blade, SSVF Program Manager

“I don’t think people understand how hard it can be for someone, especially a vet, to ask for help so the fact that they do means they have already completed half the battle to getting themselves back on track.”

Nicki Blade is a Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Manager and has worked at FrontLine for 13 years.

How did you first learn about FrontLine Service?    

A friend of mine worked for FrontLine and encouraged me to come to a job fair they were holding.  

What is your current role? What are your basic job responsibilities?  

I serve as one of the program managers for the SSVF program. I supervise a team of case managers who assist veterans who are homeless or imminently losing their housing to regain permanent housing stability. 

What is a typical day like for you?  

On the phone or the internet all day, lol. Either talking to case managers and helping them work through cases or on the phone with vets trying to find and get them connected to available resources both at the VA and in the community. I keep a small caseload, not only to keep my mind fresh, but because I enjoy the hands-on part of working with vets to help them get stable in their own housing again.   

Why do you work here? Why do you care about this work?  

I’ve been at FrontLine for 13 years and I’ve been with this program for all 13. Also, my father is a veteran, so this program is extra special to me. We live in a chaotic world, and I truly believe someone’s home should be their place of peace. I get an extreme amount of satisfaction with helping people find their peace. Especially if they’ve never had their own place before or lost a previous unit and didn’t think they would be able to live independently again. We all deserve our own place of peace.   

What is your favorite part of your job? 

I believe people are my passion so aside from my actual job, I love that I also teach Nonviolent Crisis Intervention classes at FrontLine. I love training and I love that NVCI specifically focuses on the people aspect of crisis and not the behavior aspect of crisis. Plus, it’s cool to meet folks from other programs and understand the work they do. 

What is the hardest part of your job?  

Understanding, truly, that you can’t help everyone. Seeing how close someone can be to what you feel is the right “destination” but not being able to navigate them there.  

What do you do to practice resiliency? 

So many things, but there are three things I do daily: workout, journal, and meditate. Those three together help keep me grounded.  

What is a hobby, interest, or routine you have that is not related to work?  

I enjoy being outside in general, but I really love hiking. Northeast Ohio has so many great trails.   

What is one thing you would want the community to understand about the work you do?    

People are dynamic and ever-changing. We can’t do what we’ve always done and expect it to work.  

What would you say to someone who is interested in working at FrontLine?

If you truly enjoy people and helping them to achieve their goals, this is the place to work.   

FrontLiner Profiles reflect the views of the person interviewed.  
They do not necessarily reflect the view of FrontLine Service.