That has been Kerri Snowden.

This Sunday, April 26 she will mark 35 years supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Currently the manager of the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub, she has certainly seen some changes over the years, but there remain two constants - "people will always need accommodation and the need for better and more funding".

Kerri started as a support worker with Illawarra Youth Housing in 1985, working three days a week.

"We (Carol Mills who worked for Community Housing) shared a little house in Collins Way," she said.

"I was performing an outreach service down here. We had two properties."

With moves to make the service autonomous, Shoalhaven Youth Accommodation was formed in 1987.

For almost 30 years the service, as the name suggests, offered accommodation for young homeless people in the Shoalhaven.

In 2014, when the organisation missed out on funding under the state government's Going Home Staying Home tender reform, it led to the formation of what is now the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub.

The organisation still works under the parent body of Shoalhaven Youth Accommodation.

"The Hub has been an outstanding success, helping the most vulnerable in our society in their time of need," she said.

She estimates she has helped more than 1000 clients over the past six years, and would hate to think how many people she has actually helped in the 35 years.

"It would be a lot," she said.

"But it is pleasing when some come back years later to see us and in many cases just say thanks.

"Many have gone on to bigger and better things, which was what we were trying to achieve. But unfortunately, some haven't.

"You'd like to be able to help everyone but sometimes you just can't."

Over the years she's heard "countless heatbreaking stories".

"It's often not as hard as people think - you get to know people," she said.

"Everyone's got a story and deserves to be listened to. It's amazing what you learn about people.

"And it doesn't matter what sort of family people come from. Things and circumstances can happen, if they get involved in drugs or alcohol or have mental health issues.

"Mental health can often play a big role and is an issue around homelessness."

But she praised the Shoalhaven community for its ongoing support of the service.

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"If we need help or put a call out for things like food,clothes etc the Shoalhaven answers," she said.

"I've met some wonderful community members, organisations and school children who have all done their bit to help.

"We can't thank them enough. And hope they will all be here again when and if we need them."

While coronavirus is an issue and lots of people are losing jobs and their livelihoods, she can see a big demand on services on the horizon.

"I honestly don't know how services are going to cope," she said.

"I can guarantee with people losing their jobs they will lose their tenancies.

"We have to be realistic about this, we are going to get homeless people from this. We are all just trying to do the best we can.

"It's amazing in this crisis where all this money is coming from. We wouldn't mind some of it, that's for sure."

She said the Shoalhaven homeless population are doing a brilliant job during the COVID-19 outbreak.

"They are doing what they need to do - they are following the rules, we're definitely not having any hassles at the Hub, although our numbers have been noticeably down," she said

"It's really been quiet since the virus broke out, which has surprised me.

"I don't know where they have all gone. Our usual Tuesday is hectic with 30 plus homeless clients - now we are getting six to seven a day.

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"I don't know where they have all gone. I know there is nice accommodation being offered in Sydney. I don't know if they have gone up there.

"But we are only seeing the odd new client which is good."

She said the majority of Shoalhaven's homeless population are at this stage living in cars.

"It's pretty tough and will only get tougher as winter approaches," she said.

"Nothing changes just because of the coronavirus. It doesn't mean we still don't have homeless people.

"Thankfully none of our homeless clients have at this stage got sick.

"They are a tough bunch, they have to be and they are."

Over the years she said there had been lots of "success stories".

"Kids, young-to-middle-aged people now, but they were kids when I first came across them," she said.

"This young guy came in about 12 months ago and asked if I remembered him.

"I said yes, you're So-and-So, you were here when you were about 17-18.

"I remember saying he was a s..t of a kid back then - was into drugs, used to dodge school.

"He's now gone on to be a successful businessman in Sydney. He has a holiday home down here and thought he'd call in for a visit and wondered if I was still here.

"There are others who have turned up after 20 years and apologised for things they did and said as kids.

"I sometimes can't remember the incident but it's important enough to them they come and apologise.

"I remember another time we had four kids, all 17-18-19 living in a house.

"I used to hold regular house meetings - at one meeting one said he had had it with Tim (not his real name) as he wouldn't clean the toilet.

"The kid looked at me and said 'I'm not cleaning the toilet'.

"I said 'fine - just don't use it.

"Years later, he was in his 30s, and was walking past the front of the Hub and stopped and said he remembered the day I gave him some advice about life - that 'life is not handed to you in an envelope on a silver platter, which would give you a perfect life, family, home, career - you have to get off your butt and do it yourself'.

"He said those words were still coming back to him.

"So I suppose we do make a difference."

She said her biggest regret was how "underfunded the service is".

"I'd like the department (now the Families, Communities and Disability Services) to recognise our worth," she said.

"I'd like to be able to help more.

"People either like me or hate me. I like to know I've made a difference over all those years, that's all you can ask of yourself

"What I've seen would make a great book - I should have written that."

Don't worry Kerri, there is still time.