If something I helped develop is useful enough that someone else wants to build on it, I try to see that as a positive. I'd rather put my energy into improving my own work.
Natalie Ortiz · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Natalie
Natalie Ortiz is the Homeless Coordinator at Osceola County Housing and Community Services. With eight years of experience in the field, she began as a case manager handling rental assistance programs for those facing homelessness before advancing to her supervisory role four years ago. In her current position, she oversees efforts to help individuals obtain and retain housing, navigate complex systems, connect them with income support, mental health services, and substance use treatment through a holistic approach. As part of the team, she contributed to the growth and implementation of programs as they expanded from serving approximately 20 to 25 households annually to serving hundreds. She is especially proud of her team and credits much of the program’s growth and success to their dedication and teamwork. Natalie holds an associate's degree in early childhood education and a bachelor's degree in public administration from Florida International University. She is also SOAR certified and a 2026 graduate of Leadership Osceola. Prior to her current role, she worked at Community Coordinated Care for Children, supporting early learning for low-income families. She attributes her success to consistency, a willingness to learn, and dependability, and values faith, family, integrity, and compassion in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Natalie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think a lot of it comes down to consistency, being willing to learn and not being afraid to grow into things before I felt completely ready. I try to keep showing up, learn from each experience, be open to doing things differently when I need to, and being dependable. If I say I'm going to do something, I want people to know they can count on me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You are the expert of your own life. We spend a lot of time looking for the definition of success and what success looks like. At some point, you have to decide those things for yourself. You have to define what success looks like for you, what kind of leader you want to be, and honestly, what kind of life you want to have. Someone else’s definition of success may not fit your life at all. That advice helped me become much more intentional about the choices I make instead of feeling like I have to follow a certain path.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never lose sight of the person behind the paperwork. In this field, it can be really easy to get caught up in eligibility, documentation, and deadlines. At the end of the day, it's important for us to remember that every case is a real person going through a very real situation. I've learned that you can't solve everything. This work is heavy, and there are going to be times when the resources just aren't enough. You do what you can, advocate where you can, work with the people around you, and remember that even when you can't fix the situation, how you treat someone still matters.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith and family are probably at the center of everything for me. Beyond that, I really value integrity, compassion, and being someone you can depend on. One thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that I don’t want success in one area of my life at the expense of everything else. I care about my career and I want to keep growing, but I also want to be present for my family, have peace in my life, and stay connected to the things that matter to me. For me, success isn’t just professional achievement. It’s being able to look at the life I’m building as a whole and feel good about it.
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