Audra Groenendal grew up in San Diego, CA then went to college in Grand Rapids, MI. While in college she did a semester internship in Washington, DC and fell in love with the city. After graduation, Audra moved to DC and started working with children and families in the foster care system. Then she took a job working with low-income people who were facing eviction keep their apartments.  In her desire to work for a comprehensive approach to the issues that people who are homeless and low-income face, Audra began working at Friendship Place in the Neighbors First Program in November 2008. Audra is also enrolled in a Masters of Social Work program at Virginia Commonwealth University part-time.