If you’ve spent any time around the Exodus Community, you’ve probably heard children excitedly calling out “Mr. Billy!” as they run across the property to greet him.
As the Exodus Client Services Advocate and Property Manager, Billy Hughes helps survivors and their families build safe, stable lives after experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking. He assists residents with everyday challenges, serves as a liaison between clients and case managers, and helps ensure the community remains a safe and welcoming place to call home.
When asked what part of his work is most meaningful, Billy’s answer is simple. “The people part.”
That passion is evident in the relationships he builds every day. Whether celebrating a client’s new job, hearing about a child’s breakthrough, or offering encouragement during a difficult season, he believes every step forward deserves recognition. The affection residents have for Mr. Billy is no accident. He takes time to celebrate milestones, encourage progress, and remind people that even small steps forward matter.
Billy came to the Family Sunshine Center after a 35-year career in human resources. He grew up in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, and spent much of his career moving around the country with just two companies before settling in Montgomery. After retiring, he wanted to give back by doing work that felt meaningful and personal.
He started volunteering with Family Sunshine Center in 2018 and joined the staff in 2020 when a Victim Services Assistant position became available.
This work is very personal for Billy. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, he knows firsthand how deeply trauma can affect someone’s life. Now, he sees his role at the Family Sunshine Center as a way to help others find the support and healing they need.
“While volunteering at FSC, and now as I work, I know that I am helping some children who have come from situations much like I did many years ago,” he said. “It is a full-circle moment of hope and healing at this stage in my life.” This perspective helps him connect with survivors and their families in ways that go beyond his job title.
Early in his time at FSC, Billy had a moment that showed him how important this work is. Just a few weeks after he started, he answered a call from a woman in crisis. Before she even introduced herself, her first words were, “I don’t want to die.” He still remembers that call. “That moment spoke reality into the power and value of what we do at FSC,” he said.
Billy’s passion for helping others goes beyond his work at FSC. Over the years, he has raised thousands of dollars for charity, including more than $9,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and nearly $1,500 this year to become Ranch RoundUp Mardi Gras King in support of Family Sunshine Center.
For Billy, hope and healing often show up in small but meaningful ways. It might be a survivor gaining confidence, a parent finding stability, or a child feeling safe enough to laugh and play again. These moments may seem small to others, but they are the building blocks of a brighter future.
Outside of work, Billy enjoys a simple life. He likes reading, listening to music, people-watching from his downtown Montgomery balcony, and dreaming about retiring to a tiny house in the North Carolina mountains someday.
If he had to describe himself in three words, they would be positive, caring, and giving. For the families who call the Exodus Community home, those qualities aren’t just words. They’re part of what makes Mr. Billy such an important part of their journey forward.