At ReloShare, we understand the complex realities that social service providers face every day. That’s why we've assembled a team of industry experts—former shelter directors, nonprofit leaders, policy advocates, cybersecurity specialists, gender-based violence experts, and direct-service professionals—who have been exactly where Reloshare’s users are today.
In each installment of this series, you'll meet one of our team members, hear about their experiences, and learn actionable insights to enhance your community's emergency and transitional housing strategies. Best of all, Reloshare’s expertise is available to you free of charge as a Safe Stays or Grove customer.
Ready to rethink how your community approaches emergency housing?
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Megan Rabbitt— The Grove Partnerships, Senior
Previous roles: See Megan's full background and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Tell us briefly about your background and experience in social services. How did your career evolve before joining ReloShare?
From a young age, I was convinced I was going to become an attorney. I felt deeply called to advocate for people and, at the time, believed the courtroom was where I could make the most impact. But in law school, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. I started to realize I wanted to be there before they ever ended up in a courtroom. That realization led me to take a job at a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing program supporting 30 residents who were chronically homeless and living with addiction. That role changed everything for me. It ignited my passion for understanding the complexity of each individual’s story, the systemic root causes of homelessness, and the real, human-centered ways we can offer support. From there, I went on to work in a medically fragile group home at Community, Work & Independence, where I collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to provide person-centered care, including end-of-life support for residents. During my five years there, I supervised a 14-person team that remained stable—a rarity in a field known for high turnover, and a reflection not just of strong leadership, but of the deep dedication and passion each team member brought to supporting the people we served; something I’m incredibly proud of.
At Wellspring, a dual DV/SA agency, I stepped into program development. There, I led the creation of our "Why Do I Stay?" community education series, which addressed common misconceptions about gender-based violence, including financial abuse and coercive control. We built the series around bringing in Maid author Stephanie Land to share her story, using it as a foundation to foster open, honest community dialogue. I also launched a follow-up series focused on sexual assault, which culminated in an event featuring Megan Twohey, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who co-broke the Harvey Weinstein story. Alongside these efforts, I worked to strengthen our Coordinated Community Response, helping build deeper collaboration between service providers, law enforcement, courts, and other key partners. I’ve seen firsthand how critical strong community partnerships are—and how they must be rooted in agency-wide commitment, not just the presence of a few dedicated individuals, to create lasting, systemic change.
In June 2023, I joined the ReloShare team, initially working with Crime Victim Compensation programs to help agencies more easily process hotel lodging reimbursements for claimants placed in emergency accommodations. Over the last year, I’ve led efforts to expand The Grove, ReloShare’s newest platform that helps agencies view and share bed availability across emergency and transitional housing programs in real time.
What specific areas (e.g., cybersecurity, gender-based violence, shelter management) did your previous work focus on, and why is this work critical to improving emergency housing programs?
My work has focused on gender-based violence, emergency and permanent housing management, and person-centered residential care. Across every setting—whether it was leading housing programs for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness or overseeing an emergency domestic violence hotline—the common thread was helping people not just find a bed, but build a path toward safety, stability, and dignity.
This work is critical because we, as advocates and service providers, often sit at the intersection of crisis and opportunity. When emergency housing programs are trauma-informed, low-barrier, and coordinated, we can help open doors that survivors and vulnerable populations might otherwise find closed. I often think about a survivor I supported who, after fleeing an abusive relationship, was able to quickly enter our shelter, obtain an emergency order of protection, secure temporary full custody of her children, and later move into transitional housing. With time and support, she pursued a new career path, and built a safe, stable future for herself and her family. That kind of outcome is only possible when services are responsive, accessible, and truly survivor-driven.
At the same time, we know that stories like this are far too rare—not because survivors lack strength or advocates lack dedication, but because too often services are underfunded, beds are unavailable, waitlists stretch for months and eligibility restrictions force survivors into rigid definitions of “success” that don’t always reflect their needs or realities. As advocates, we don’t just want to move someone through a program; we want to walk alongside them as they define their own path forward. To truly improve emergency housing, we have to build systems that prioritize choice, flexibility, and humanity at every step—not just say we are survivor-centered, but show it in how we design and deliver services.
How does your experience directly inform the support and guidance you provide to ReloShare customers?
Having walked in their shoes, I understand what housing providers are up against—limited beds, long waitlists, burned-out teams, and confusing systems that often leave staff scrambling to make things work. At ReloShare, I help customers implement The Grove in ways that are truly helpful, not burdensome, because I know the power of a tool that makes someone’s day easier, not harder.
My background also allows me to serve as a strong bridge between our customers and the internal teams at ReloShare. The social service sector is incredibly unique—providers are constantly having to get creative with limited resources, often piecing together solutions just to meet urgent needs. Understanding that dynamic firsthand helps me advocate internally for customer-centered design and processes that are relatable and reflective of the realities of frontline work.
From your perspective, what are some common gaps or overlooked challenges in emergency and transitional housing strategies? How can agencies address these proactively?
One of the biggest ongoing gaps is siloed information—providers often don’t have a clear, real-time view of where beds or services are available, making it difficult to refer clients quickly and efficiently. While I understand why some of those silos exist, better cross-sector coordination can still happen thoughtfully and intentionally. Without it, even well-meaning agencies risk duplicating efforts, missing available resources, or putting unnecessary strain on both staff and people navigating the system.
Another challenge that can’t be overlooked is sustainability. Staff are often balancing overwhelming caseloads, emotional exhaustion, and systemic barriers. Without better coordination and streamlined workflows, burnout becomes the norm—and turnover only worsens the gaps.
Agencies can proactively address these challenges by taking a few practical steps:
- Cross-agency huddles: Regular (even brief) check-ins between local service providers can create a shared pulse on available resources without breaching confidentiality.
- Identifying broader key stakeholders: Building relationships not just with other housing providers, but with case managers at hospitals, advocates within District Attorney's offices, school liaisons, and public health departments can open new pathways to support.
- Keeping policymakers informed: Staying connected with local, county, and state representatives—keeping them updated on the work your organization is doing and the impact you’re having—can strengthen support and advocacy for more flexible, sustainable funding.
Identifying duplicative services and resource gaps: By mapping existing programs and pinpointing overlap, communities can better coordinate efforts, reduce redundancy, and broaden the range of options available to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Ultimately, collaboration doesn't mean abandoning what makes each agency unique—it means building stronger networks that give survivors and vulnerable populations better, faster access to the support they need, without forcing staff to reinvent the wheel.
What has been your most impactful experience at ReloShare in applying your experience to help social service agencies?
Helping launch The Grove in pilot communities has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing agencies collaborate in new ways—sharing vacancy information, reducing duplication of effort, and getting survivors to safety faster—has proven that tech can be a true ally when it’s built by people who understand the work on the ground.
It’s especially meaningful to me because I remember so clearly what it was like during my early days in the field. During my 40-hour training, one of the first tangible ways I could support advocates working directly with clients was by calling around to area shelters to get real-time updates on bed availability and writing it all down on a whiteboard. I remember having a conversation with my supervisor even then, wondering why, with all the advancements in technology, we were still spending hours every day manually calling, updating, and inevitably re-confirming availability when needs changed. It felt like a system stuck in time—and the delays it caused could sometimes mean the difference between a survivor finding immediate safety or not. To now be part of a team that's built a platform specifically to solve that very challenge is incredibly full circle for me.
What unique perspective or strength do you bring to the team at ReloShare and to the customers who seek your guidance?
I bring empathy, realism, and experience. I know what it’s like to be on the other end of a hotline call with nowhere to send someone. I carry that urgency into my work every day to ensure our solutions are practical and grounded in the realities of social service work.
I’m also deeply solution-driven; which I know comes from my direct service days. I’m not just here to introduce a platform—I’m here to be a partner. Whether it’s reviewing a subrecipient manual to gain a deeper understanding, brainstorming communication strategies for engaging key stakeholders, discussing how The Grove can complement and enhance existing workflows, or assisting with proposals and providing letters of support, I’m always ready to roll up my sleeves. My goal is to meet agencies where they are, work within the structures they navigate every day, and help them find ways to maximize impact without adding burden. At the end of the day, my role is to make sure the technology serves the people—not the other way around.
If an agency is hesitant or unsure about adopting new strategies or tools, what advice would you offer based on your past professional experiences?
I’d remind them that change doesn’t have to mean disruption—it can mean relief. The best tools don’t add steps; they remove barriers. If something can save you time, help your clients faster, and bring your community closer together, it’s worth trying. You deserve support too.
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