Commitment to Public Service
With more than 30 years of experience in social work and social justice, Kat Hammer has dedicated her career to serving individuals, strengthening communities, and advancing meaningful change. She brings 26 years of management experience, overseeing multi-million dollar budgets, hiring, and the clinical and administrative operations of multiple programs.
Throughout her career, Kat has successfully developed innovative programs and professional trainings while fostering collaboration among community organizations, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. Her leadership has consistently focused on building strong partnerships and creating effective solutions to meet community needs.
In addition to her extensive professional experience, Kat spent eight years teaching future social workers as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work and as an Adjunct Lecturer at New York University. She also completed all doctoral coursework and internships in the Doctoral Program at Smith College School for Social Work, further strengthening her expertise in leadership, education, and social justice.
Kat's lifelong commitment to advocacy, public service, and community engagement continues to guide her work and her dedication to improving the lives of those she serves.
Palm Beach County Florida
The center focuses on getting homeless individuals and families to become self-sufficient.
"Everyone who comes in is assigned a case manager. We determine what barriers there are. Things like a license, social security [and] we work on that. We connect people to employment," Hammer said.
Hammer says more than half of the people served at the Lewis Center break the cycle of homelessness.
After the tour last week, Hammer says most people left with a better sense of what the county is hoping to accomplish. She says her staff will act as consultants for the county to help them make the jail more friendly for the homeless people who will live there.