Zulhumor (Zulya) Halmamatova serves as a Senior Grants & Contracts Specialist in the Homelessness division of the Human Service Department. She writes about how teamwork and the mission of keeping people housed and supported motivate her every day.
What is your role at Seattle Human Services?
In my role in HSD’s Homelessness division, I work with our prevention agencies to make sure funding flows smoothly and providers have what they need to support people before they lose their housing. I joined HSD in September 2024, and although it hasn’t been long, I feel like I found the right place. Our team has been growing and changing, and one of the best parts has been watching how quickly we’ve built trust and learned how to support each other.
How has your job changed?
When I started, our team was still small and over time, we’ve added new people, strengthened our processes, and figured out how to communicate better across the division. It’s been meaningful to be part of that growth to feel like you’re helping build something, not just inheriting it.
What do you love about your job?
I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues across the department, and I feel genuinely grateful for how willing everyone is to help, explain, and share knowledge. It’s a reminder that human services are both heart work and teamwork.
I enjoy knowing that what I do really matters. Each invoice I review or contract I support represents someone staying in their home and avoiding a crisis. That connection, even if it’s behind the scenes, is what keeps me grounded. I also really enjoy working with our partner agencies. You can feel their dedication, and it makes me want to show up fully and do my part well.
How do you contribute to HSD’s overarching goals related to racial equity?
My own immigrant experience keeps racial equity at the center of how I think and work. I understand the way language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliar systems can make people feel invisible or powerless. So in my work, I try to make processes clearer, advocate for providers who serve marginalized communities, and ensure our decisions don’t unintentionally create additional barriers. I truly believe that equity shows up in the small things like clear communication, fairness, transparency, and listening.
What motivates you and keeps you going?
What motivates me is the impact we make and the people I work with. This job can be complex, but knowing how much support I get from my team and knowing that we work toward one goal— keeping people housed and supported—keeps me centered. Knowing that I’m part of that goal and doing it alongside thoughtful, hardworking colleagues motivates me every day.
On that note, I want to say to all HSD employees: Give yourself grace. This work is meaningful, but also layered and sometimes overwhelming. Ask questions, lean on your team, and stay connected to why you came here in the first place.