Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Nathalie Interiano Of Care for the Homeless Is Helping To Change Our World
“The greatest legacy we can leave for future generations is a world where everyone can thrive.”
As part of our series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Nathalie Interiano. Nathalie Interiano is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Care For the Homeless, where she works to advance system-level change across health care and housing. Since joining the organization in 2016, she has guided strategic initiatives aimed at improving policies that affect both the organization and the communities it serves. Her work centers equity, human dignity, and the inclusion of community voices in shaping more effective and compassionate systems of care.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I’ve always been deeply aware of how systems shape people’s lives, often in ways that are invisible unless you’re living inside them. Growing up as a second-generation Salvadoran in an immigrant family, I saw firsthand the sacrifices my parents made and how precarious stability can be for families who are doing everything “right.” In college, studying sociology and history gave language to what I had already felt: that many of our social systems are intentionally designed in ways that keep marginalized communities trapped in cycles of poverty and disenfranchisement. That understanding followed me into graduate school, where I focused on governance and rights at the international stage, with the goal of addressing inequity at the structural level. Care For the Homeless (CFH) was the first place that allowed me to fully live out that passion. CFH prioritizes our direct service work in health care, human services and shelter for individuals and families, in partnership with policy and advocacy aimed at changing the systems that create and sustain homelessness. That focus is what drew me in, and what has kept me here for the past decade.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
One of the most meaningful experiences has been watching clients (those who have lived experience being homeless) that step into leadership roles through our Consumer Advisory Board. I remember one member who initially came in very reserved and distrustful of participating in advocacy. Over time, with support and space, they began speaking confidently in meetings with policymakers, challenging assumptions, naming gaps in care, and offering real solutions grounded in lived reality. Seeing someone move from being disregarded by the system to actively shaping it is incredibly powerful. It’s a reminder that expertise doesn’t only live in degrees or job titles; it lives in experience. Especially when we are talking about homelessness.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I first started, I believed that being taken seriously meant always having the right answer. In an early media interview, I tried to respond confidently to a question I didn’t fully understand rather than acknowledge that I didn’t have the answer. The interview didn’t end up being used, but it became an important learning moment for me. It taught me to understand when to listen, ask questions, and be transparent. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
Care For the Homeless works at both ends of the spectrum. We provide comprehensive health care services via our federally qualified health centers and provide supportive services via our five shelters for single adults in New York City. We also address the systemic drivers of homelessness through our policy and advocacy work. Every day, we help people navigate incredibly complex systems while advocating for reforms that make those systems more humane, accessible, and effective. Our impact lies in meeting immediate needs and pushing for long-term structural change. What sets us apart is that we address the intersection of health care and homelessness and understand the impact that the trauma of homelessness has on the health of the individuals experiencing it.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I think about a client who came to us with unmanaged chronic health conditions after years of instability. Through consistent access to care and support services, they were able to stabilize their health, engage in housing services, and eventually move toward permanent housing. What stands out isn’t just the outcome, but the dignity restored along the way. Having someone listen, advocate, and treat you as deserving of care can be life-changing. It should also be the standard of care across all systems.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Addressing homelessness starts with a clear understanding of what causes it. That’s why so much of our work focuses on public education and helping communities and policymakers move beyond the myths and toward solutions that address the root causes of the crisis. If we want to eradicate homelessness for future generations, three actions are essential:
- Invest in affordable housing at the scale of the need, because housing is health care and stability is foundational to well-being.
- Remove barriers and expand access to comprehensive health care, including mental health and substance use services, and ensure that the system is truly responsive to the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
- Include people with lived experience as partners in policy design and experts in creating long-term solutions, not just as short-term recipients of services.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership creates conditions where others can succeed and lead alongside you. It’s about listening deeply, sharing responsibility, and making space for voices that are often excluded. True leadership is about collective impact. My goal is always to make more space at the table and create pathways to success for those who are often left out of those opportunities.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- You don’t need to know everything to be effective. Over time, I have learned that policy and advocacy are constantly evolving. While the solutions to homelessness remain the same, the data, strategies, and political landscape shift. What’s made me more effective isn’t knowing everything, but staying curious, asking questions, and continuing to learn.
- Burnout is real and urgency can’t be the only driver to action. Even in this field where every need feels constant, I have learned that without balance, burnout is inevitable. Understanding where my strengths lie, and trusting fellow colleagues to lead in theirs, has allowed me to stay engaged and effective for the long term.
- Storytelling is an important component in advocacy. Data opens the door, but stories change hearts. Being able to tailor how we communicate, whether to policymakers, community members, or the public, has dramatically increased our impact.
- Relationship building is integral to any success. Some of the most meaningful policy progress I’ve seen didn’t happen because we had the best information; it happened because we built trust. When people believe in the cause and trust the messenger, they’re far more willing to act.
- Change is slow, but it’s cumulative. Early on in my career, failed legislation felt like failure. Now I understand that even when a bill doesn’t move forward, the education, awareness, and momentum we build matter. Big victories are the goal, but small wins keep the movement going.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“The greatest legacy we can leave for future generations is a world where everyone can thrive.” This quote resonates deeply with me because it reflects both my personal history and my professional purpose. As the child of immigrants, I’ve seen how much sacrifice it takes just to create a foothold in this country and how uneven the playing field can be. Thriving was never guaranteed; it required resilience, community, and systems that sometimes worked, but often didn’t. In my career, especially working alongside people experiencing homelessness, this quote reminds me that success is not just about helping individuals survive day to day. It’s also about transforming systems so that future generations don’t have to struggle against the same barriers. That idea of leaving behind better and more compassionate systems is what keeps me grounded and motivated in this work.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would love to have lunch with Dolores Huerta. Her lifelong commitment to labor rights, immigrant justice, and community organizing reflects the kind of leadership that inspires me. A leadership that is rooted in collective power, persistence, and love for your community.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
How can our readers further follow your work online?
We regularly offer insights into our policy and advocacy work at Care For the Homeless through our social media channels. You can learn more about our work and see all of our socials by visiting our website at https://careforthehomeless.org/.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Nathalie Interiano Of Care for the Homeless Is Helping To Change… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.