Meet Tracy Obert

This WyoGives, Council of Community Services is sharing the stories of the people behind the work and the neighbors impacted by it. For Tracy Obert, Housing Program Manager, that story is deeply personal.

Before she ever worked at the Council, Tracy came here for help. Twenty years later, she now helps others find safety, stability, and support.

This year marks Tracy’s 20th year with the Council. When asked if she ever imagined she would still be here two decades later, her answer was simple.

“Honestly no, I never imagined I would still be here at the Council, but when you have a great team like we have here it makes it easier to be here.”

But Tracy’s connection to the Council began long before she joined the team.

“I actually used the Council’s services before I had ever started working here. I moved into the permanent supportive apartment units because I lost my job, had a son with behavioral issues, and was homeless at the time. After I moved in, I got a job at KFC but the schedule was difficult for my son, so when the Council was hiring for a receptionist, I applied so I could have more flexibility and proximity to my son. I worked as the receptionist for a little over a year until I got into the housing role when the previous manager passed away. And I’ve been here ever since.”

Today, Tracy uses both her professional experience and her personal understanding of housing insecurity to help others through some of the hardest moments of their lives.

How the Council Has Changed

Over the past 20 years, Tracy has seen the Council grow, adapt, and respond to the changing needs of the community.

“I feel like the Council has changed positively over the years because of the education and marketing the public receives from us now. We’ve been able to show what we are doing here better and why it’s important to the community. Unfortunately, there is also a higher need for our services than when I started here twenty years ago. When I first started, there would be like 8 people in the shelter during a given night and now we will have three times that much, or even fill up completely on occasion.”

One of the biggest changes has been keeping the shelter open 24/7.

“We’ve made some huge changes over the years, one of the most helpful in my opinion is having the shelter open 24/7. Being open all day is beneficial because it allows for more hours for staff to do case management, it is more accommodating to shift schedules so overnight workers can sleep during the day, and we are able to immediately help people when they need it any hour of the day.”

The Council has also added family units, helping families stay together during crisis.

“We also added the family units upstairs in the shelter which was amazing to keep families together in the new units instead of having to separate them in the men and women areas. We’ve worked really hard to try to make it easier for people and families when they are going through a crisis and come to us for help.”

Why Stable Housing Matters

For Tracy, helping people find stable housing is about more than having a roof overhead. It is about safety, dignity, and the ability to begin moving forward.

“I know what people are going through when they come to us. I know the physical, mental, and emotional toll it has on a person when they do not have anywhere to live. Being in stable housing helps take care of this massive need that we all have, and you have that taken care of, you are able to start working on the smaller things to improve your life. Even being in the shelter is a safe place to get basic needs, assistance, and decompress.”

That is why WyoGives matters. Every gift helps Council of Community Services continue to offer local support to people facing homelessness, housing insecurity, hunger, medical needs, dental needs, and crisis. When someone needs help, the Council is often one of the first places they can turn.

Tracy also wishes more people understood the reality of homelessness and how quickly life can change.

“Some of the common misconceptions I hear are that people who are homeless are lazy, addicts, or mentally ill. Mental health and addiction can absolutely play a part, but most of the time it’s something else that comes up that puts people in this position. If you are having to decide between getting a necessary medication or pay your rent, it puts you in an impossible position. When unknown expenses come up, it can easily put you behind on your bills. We shouldn’t have to choose between having a place to live or taking care of your health.”

A Story That Stayed With Her

Over the years, Tracy has worked with many individuals and families. One story that has stayed with her is the story of John.

“We had a gentleman named John who stayed in our shelter several years ago. John had been homeless for 15 years. He was a Vietnam vet who had lost touch with his family and ended up on the streets for years. After he stayed in our shelter, he ended up moving into our permanent supportive housing for individuals. In the two years he lived there, he never unpacked his things. He had a sleeping bag on the floor instead of his bed. John was so afraid that he would have to move on again from the years that he spent homeless. When John got sick, we were able to connect him with his family again. We collaborated with so many different agencies to get him a Guardian flight to Montana to receive medical care and bring his family to finally see him again. When John passed away, the Legion helped with expenses for his funeral and headstone. These are just a couple of examples of people we worked with, but it truly was an amazing collaboration to get him the help he needed after so many years on the street. I’ll always remember John.”

Stories like John’s show how important collaboration is, and how the Council often serves as a starting point for people to connect with the support they need.

Meet Henry, the Council Greeter

Not every part of the work is heavy. Tracy’s Sheltie, Henry, has become a familiar face around the Council office.

“Henry comes to work with me almost every day. I got him when he was just a puppy and couldn’t leave him at home, so I asked if I could bring him to the office for a few weeks. Well, a few weeks has now turned into almost three years. He’s basically the Council greeter, welcoming anyone that comes into the office. I have seen him help clients a lot on tough days, even though he’s not exactly a cuddly dog, he can tell when someone needs a little extra love and will ask for pets or bring his ball up to them to play fetch. He knows when people need a little more attention to help them get through a hard time.”

At the Council, support can take many forms. Sometimes it is shelter, food, case management, or emergency assistance. Sometimes it is a dog with a ball who knows someone needs a moment of comfort.

Why Community Support Matters

When asked why the community should support the Council, Tracy brought it back to the people who live and work here.

“The community should support the Council because the people that come to us are community members. These are your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, that you are connected to everyday. You might not know who is struggling that is close to you, but we are a place that can help them. And we can help them quickly because when you come here for shelter, we can direct you right to the shelter. If you come here for medical/dental assistance, we can say, “Come with me friend, I’m going to introduce you to Sherrie who can help you.” Or we can get them connected to other resources in the community because we work closely with other agencies to know what can help people the best. There is a saying that Wyoming looks out for its own, and supporting the Council is a way for Gillette to look out for our own.”

On WyoGives, your donation helps keep this work moving. It supports the staff, programs, and local services that help people find safety, stability, and the next step forward.

Your gift helps keep local support available for neighbors facing hunger, homelessness, housing insecurity, medical and dental needs, and crisis. Every donation helps the Council continue to meet people where they are and help them take the next step forward.

Support Council of Community Services during WyoGives and help Gillette look out for its own.