Caring for others has always been a part of Takiah McCullough’s character —
whether it's supporting family members with household tasks, driving them to appointments, or getting groceries.
“It's part of your nature as a caregiver," McCullough said. "It's important to give back, especially to those who had taken care of me: those like my grandmother and foster family as a young child. I later had taken on the responsibility to care for my mother and grandmother, because of the values instilled in me growing up.”
“That's why it has become second nature when it comes to supporting the clients I work with in the community. And it’s what I have instilled in my children: giving back, respect for others, and supporting those in your community however you can.”
Today McCullough serves as a supportive housing specialist in the Department of County Human Services' Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Division — a position made possible with funds from the Supportive Housing Services Measure.
Just like she does in her own life, McCullough quite literally takes care of people who need her most.
She meets her clients right where they are; sometimes that’s in a shelter, or even out in the community during inclement weather. She has helped clients who didn’t have homes — some on the streets and in wheelchairs — gain access to a home and case management.
This March, as part of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Multnomah County is celebrating McCullough and more than 200 other I/DD employees who help do the same kind of work.
These employees do outreach to connect to people with disabilities; determine whether potential clients are eligible for services; provide case management; and even investigate allegations of abuse. The division also links clients and families to rent assistance and Medicaid-funded services so they can stay in their homes, find work, access social services, and obtain transportation.
“The best part is just seeing someone getting into a placement and not worrying about being unstable. That feeling of safety and security,” said McCullough.
Across the United States, more than 5.2 million adults and children live with developmental disabilities, including approximately 67,000 Oregonians.
For McCullough, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month hits home. Having a child with a learning disability, McCullough was a strong advocate for her son throughout his school years, working to ensure there were no limits forced on his future.
“I didn’t want him to be limited in things that he always wanted to do,” she said.
Staying true to that commitment was not an easy feat, as McCullough was the primary provider for her family. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, she started over in Central Oregon in her mid 30s, moving north after separating from her children’s father.
“There was so much going on in my life over the years that it was tough. Ten years ago my life was completely different. I was starting from scratch: no car, staying with relatives, taking care of two kids.”
Through hard work and perseverance, she not only completed her bachelor’s degree, but also obtained a master’s degree in public administration and bought a home.
“I never thought I’d be a homeowner. With me and my kids, there was no way I could give up,” she said. “It takes a lot of encouragement, but there’s going to be a positive outcome at the end.”
McCullough applies the same principles to her work and clients. She previously served as a case manager, helping people ages 18 and older who need intensive case management and service coordination. Now she helps adults as well as families and oftentimes single mothers with small children.
“When you see someone start in one spot and get on their feet and start thriving again, it gives them hope and a sense of accomplishment. I want them to feel like there’s hope and that I’ll be there to help them get to the side by working together,” she said.
“The stress is gone — the worry.”
For some clients, she needs to be in touch every day. For others, depending on the level of care needed, she can check in less frequently.
In her current role as a supportive housing specialist, most of her clients receive support from Medicaid or Social Security disability insurance. Many clients also experience chronic homelessness, making McCullough’s work literally lifesaving.
“I had one woman who was on the ground in a tent and it was getting ready to snow badly in January 2024, and we were able to get her connected,” she said.
McCullough can help provide motel vouchers or help clients move into housing — connecting them to furniture resources, food, and eventually a case manager. The work starts with contacting people and helping them with eligibility assessments and referrals.
“They’re assessed,” she said. “The list is composed of people who have been interviewed at a shelter or were evicted and lost in the shuffle.”
Recently, she visited a former client, Jennifer, who moved into a home of her own in 2023.
“I had lunch with her and she’s awesome. She has brand new clothes and a beautiful home,” McCullough said.
It was a stark contrast from when they first met. Jennifer was living alone in a non-operational RV after her partner went to the hospital with an illness that turned out to be fatal.
“She didn’t have any family and was not working. She was by herself,” McCullough said. “That was the very first client I met. I took her to the Social Security office, got her a motel, and within about three months, she was housed.”
Today, Jennifer lives in an adult care home where she’s thriving, McCullough said. “They take her to medical appointments, church, and shopping. When I first saw her she had like five layers of clothes on and it was freezing outside.”
Every client has a different situation, and faces a variety of challenges and barriers, but McCullough is vital in helping them work through them.
“The most rewarding feeling is seeing them stick it out,” she said. “Having people put trust in me to support them during these difficult times is really important to me, connecting with people who have been lost in the system. We're nurturers, here to help put things back together.”
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