Shannon Shimer

Shannon Shimer has worked in the public service sector for the past 20 years. She currently serves as Director of Social Services at Homeworthy, where she works with and advocates for individuals experiencing homelessness in Maine. In her role, Shannon develops programs, builds community partnerships, and works to advance systemic change in support of vulnerable populations.

Shannon’s husband Jesse served in the U.S. Army for eight years, with deployments to Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Djibouti. He was medically retired in 2018 after sustaining a serious neck injury during a training incident. He now lives with chronic pain, multiple traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, tinnitus, anxiety, and depression—conditions that have significantly impacted his mobility and mental health.

As a caregiver, Shannon has helped Jesse manage his health challenges enough that he can work part-time. However, there have been periods when Shannon was on 24-hour watch for downturns in his mood. In the toughest times, she has urgently arranged for mental health support that could meet his acute needs and coached him through crises stemming from his PTSD.  

Even with the added responsibilities of caregiving, Shannon remains deeply engaged in advocacy and civic life. She has built relationships with local legislators, provided written testimony for legislative committees, and works to expand caregiver support across Maine. Her efforts focus on building more connected and better funded systems that educate, support, and recognize caregivers, who she believes are often unseen but essential. 

As a Dole Caregiver Fellow, Shannon wants to encourage caregiving families to open themselves up to assistance, especially in a region where people are quick to offer help but hesitant to ask for it.  Shannon says, “Because my husband and I are both so open about the importance of mental health, I find that we are the couple who are always checking in on our Army friends and connecting them to the resources they need.”