Featuring Bernadette “Ms. B” Fitzpatrick, Housing Specialist.
If you’ve ever crossed paths with Bernadette Fitzpatrick — better known across CPA as Ms. B — you know she’s part mentor, part magician, and part miracle worker. As CPA’s Housing Specialist, she’s the one people turn to when they need stability, reassurance, or just a bit of calm in the chaos. And like any great professional, she carries her superpowers in a bag.
When asked what’s inside, Ms. B laughs. “It’s basically my office on the go — and sometimes a snack bar, a pharmacy, and a prayer room,” she says.
Here’s a peek inside her famous tote:
- Notebook: packed with to-do lists, participant updates, and inspirational quotes (“because hope belongs on every page”).
- Multiple key rings: one for every door and opportunity she helps open.
- Small flashlight: for those inevitable after-hours check-ins.
- Phone & charger: “My lifeline to staff, participants, and reality.”
- Hand sanitizer & tissues: “Housing emergencies don’t come with warning labels.”
- Granola bar & water bottle: lunch for champions of second chances.
- Sticky notes & pens: for quick messages or encouragements to brighten someone’s day.
- Lip balm & lotion: small comforts for long days.
- Spare reading glasses: her “backup brain.”
- Faith journal: a quiet reminder of why she does the work she loves.
“Every item tells a story,” Ms. B says. “The keys mean someone’s starting over. The notebook is filled with names of people who just need someone to believe in them. And the snacks — well, they’re for survival,” she laughs.
Through all the juggling and late-day calls, Ms. B carries more than supplies — she carries compassion, humor, and hope. “Housing is about more than finding a place to live,” she says. “It’s helping people rediscover a sense of home — within themselves and their community.”
At CPA, we couldn’t agree more. And if you ever need a spare key, a word of wisdom, or a granola bar, Ms. B’s got you covered.