When Liah Taylor joined Stepping Stone Emergency Housing in August 2024, she stepped into a brand-new role—one of the first to serve in our newly launched Housing Stabilization Services program. But while the program was new, Liah’s passion for this work had been growing for years.

A Calling Rooted in Lived Experience

Liah’s journey toward housing and mental health advocacy began early, “I had a pretty early awareness and passion for mental health,” she shares. That passion deepened through painful personal experiences, including the loss of friends to suicide during her middle and high school years. “What I came to understand,” she says, “was that they didn’t have the support they needed. A lot of kids don’t. Their parents don’t know how to help—or don’t have access to the resources themselves.”

That insight shaped Liah’s path. She earned her associate’s degree in psychology from Anoka-Ramsey and is currently completing her bachelor’s degree at Metro State. Her educational foundation, combined with real-world experience, prepared her to see mental health not just as a clinical issue—but as one deeply connected to basic human needs like food, shelter, and stability.

From Student Advocate to Community Anchor

While studying, Liah interned at Paladin Career and Technical High School, a charter school in Coon Rapids where 70% of students have IEPs or 504 plans. Her job was to help students stay on track to graduate—but she quickly realized it was about much more. “Some of these kids worked full-time to support their families. So instead of asking, ‘Why aren’t you in school?’ we’d ask, ‘How are you?’ You can always get a GED—but you can’t get this time in your life back. They needed someone to see them.”

That people-first approach made joining Stepping Stone feel like a natural next step. “I grew up in Anoka and had always known Stepping Stone as an anchor in the community,” Liah says. As a young adult, Liah herself experienced time periods of instability and being unhoused. She says. “I know how much support would’ve helped me. It shouldn’t have been that hard. That’s why I am here—to help others get the support I didn’t always have.”

Building Bridges to Housing—and Hope

As a Housing Stabilization Services Case Manager, Liah’s role is to help guests transition from shelter into stable housing and stay there. The program supports people with documented or undocumented disabilities by filling gaps that case managers don’t always have time to address. “I get the privilege to dive deeper into people’s lives, if they allow me to. And the best part is guests get to keep working with us even after they leave.”

That continuity is key. It gives guests a better shot at maintaining housing and gives Stepping Stone a clearer view of long-term outcomes. “It doesn’t end when someone walks out of our doors,” Liah says, “The work continues.”

The Challenges—and the Hope

One of the hardest parts of Liah’s job? Finding landlords who are willing to work with people who have complex backgrounds—whether that’s a criminal record, lack of rental history, or simply poor credit. “Even if someone has guaranteed rent and support services, it can still be hard to find landlords who will look past that,” she says. “It’s discouraging.”

She also notes the difficulty of navigating support systems like CADI waivers and housing subsidies, which are essential for many people with disabilities—but often take months to secure.

Still, Liah remains optimistic. “When you study to understand systematic barriers, it can be easy to feel discouraged in this work. However, I am inspired to navigate them by the stories of our guests. Seeking to understand is where change begins,”

From Lived Experience to Lifelong Mission

At the heart of Liah’s work is a commitment to person-centered care. “There are complex and intersectional barriers to housing—mental health, trauma, disabilities, substance use, racism, poverty,” she says. “We have to meet people where they’re at. That’s the only way real progress happens.”

Liah’s story is a powerful reminder that transformation is possible—and that sometimes the best advocates are those who’ve walked the road themselves. At Stepping Stone, she’s doing more than helping people find housing. She’s helping them find their way home.