Before coming to Vision House, Derek Balcom worked in the family business: making dentures. Alongside his father, they worked with wax and acrylic to form the partials and dentures from models. “It’s like hand-crafting pottery,” he said. “It's pretty artisan work, in a way.”

While he appreciated the craftsmanship, and the way patient’s confidence returned with a full smile, Derek knew working in a lab all day wasn’t for him. He was more of a people person, and a caring profession was what he was looking for.

Derek’s career path has often been nontraditional. He grew up as a “missionary kid” and took gap years after high school to do service work overseas. After that, he considered nursing and other healthcare professions, but it was the undergraduate courses in human resources that really opened his eyes.

“I realized HR was the caring profession within the business world,” Derek said. “I wanted to be in a role that served people within an organization.”

In 2018, while finishing his degree, Derek applied for an internship with Vision House on Indeed. At the time, he was simply seeking HR experience, unaware that the organization was a Christian nonprofit serving families experiencing homelessness. “It checked more boxes than I realized I was looking for,” he said.

That internship turned out to be the start of a career. After a year rotating through multiple departments, Derek moved into a split role as Executive Assistant and HR Coordinator, then steadily earned new responsibilities and promotions. Today, as Director of HR, he leads the very department he once interned for — a testament to Vision House’s commitment to internal growth and development.

In fact, Derek notes that more than half of Vision House’s current managers were promoted from within, with several starting as volunteers or frontline staff. “We look for people who want to grow with us,” he explains. “We’re not a stagnant organization. We’re always adding programs, evolving with the needs of families, and creating leadership opportunities.”

A Culture of Care and Purpose at Vision House

At Vision House, the commitment to care isn’t just part of the mission — it’s embedded in the workplace culture. With 95 employees, the organization prioritizes employee well-being as much as client services. “This work can be emotionally heavy,” Derek says. “We’re supporting families who’ve experienced trauma. That can lead to vicarious trauma and burnout for staff if we’re not prioritizing heathy boundaries and self-care.”

To meet those challenges, Vision House has steadily expanded its benefits and wellness offerings in recent years. Employees now receive generous time off — starting at three weeks of vacation — as well as expanded health insurance coverage, retirement plans, and an enhanced Employee Assistance Program offering free counseling sessions.

Faith also plays an active role in the workplace. Monthly all-staff meetings include a devotional, prayer, and worship — a feature that makes Vision House distinctive. “We don’t separate faith and work here,” Derek said. “Our compassion and service are rooted in our faith, and it creates a special kind of community.”

Diverse Career Opportunities

One of the unique aspects of Vision House is the range of people it brings together. From licensed counselors and childcare teachers to facilities technicians and philanthropy staff, the organization values both professional experience and lived experience. Some employees have experienced homelessness themselves, and that perspective enriches the organization’s work.

“We have roles that require a high school diploma and others that prefer degrees, but we’re flexible,” Derek says. “We recognize the value of experience, whether that’s professional, personal, or both.”

The interview process is designed with care, too. Derek begins interviews by asking candidates what questions they have — an invitation for applicants to assess Vision House just as much as the organization is assessing them. In-person interviews include a tour and, uniquely, a suggestion to test out the commute. “We’re honest about the expectations, including schedule demands and drive times,” Derek explains. “We want people to feel like this is a good fit for them, too.”

A Mission That Matters

While Derek didn’t originally set out to work in homelessness services, his time at Vision House has opened his eyes. “I’ve learned so much about the realities families face — how quickly circumstances can change and how important it is to offer stability and hope.”

The organization’s focus on family homelessness is especially meaningful. “There’s something powerful about helping parents break generational cycles of poverty and homelessness for their kids,” Derek said. “We get to be a turning point in someone’s story.”

Working at Vision House

To learn more about working at Vision House, and view current openings, visit our employment page.