Our latest Queens Person of the Week is embracing the homeless, helping them find jobs and a permanent place to live. NY1's Leisha Majtan introduces us.

After 25 years of living in the same apartment, Richard Williams fell on hard times and had to move into a homeless shelter with his three sons.

"Getting put in the shelter was like someone slapping me hard," says Williams.

While it's been a stressful transition for Williams, he says one person has made it a little better -- Lester Lin, the founder of the non-profit organization "City Mission."

"They're all going through a lot of things right now, so when you do get to know them on a regular daily basis, you're just seeing that these are just regular people, struggling much more than I am," says Lin

Lin started City Mission soon after the former PanAm hotel was turned into a homeless shelter.

Rather than protest the site like many of his neighbors, the Elmhurst resident became an advocate for its residents.

"I can't waste my life doing nothing. I want to do something that is positive, more focused on how to invest in other people's lives. Rather than just focus on my own pleasures and my own things, "says Lin.

Lin and the other City Mission volunteers visit the shelter nearly every day.

They host after-school activities for the children and help their parents find jobs.

"They're teaching them so many different things, like maybe they need help on their homework or their spelling. Maybe they need encouragement or just someone to life them up and tell them, you know what, you can do this," says shelter resident Ishmel Hargrove.

"My kids will have examples of people who took the time out to love. To run out and love when maybe other people don't know what to do,"says shelter resident CheChe Joseph.

Lin says he just wants to be a shoulder to lean on for those who need it most.

"If I'm going through a tough time, it's always nice to know that somebody is there to walk alongside me. And we're hoping to do that, at least here."

And so for helping to make the shelter feel a little more like a home, Lester Lin is our Queens Person of the Week.