beautifulTOGETHER

PLEASE MEET LACEY & BILLY:

Lacey is 27 and Billy 29 years old. They are both homeless, Lacey for the last 3 years, Billy for 15 years. They are there for each other, it's easy to feel their connection.

As they stood telling me about the details of their lives, the twists and turns, the ups and downs, I saw them come closer to each other. When Billy shared how he ran away from Foster Care at the age of 14, Lacey took his hand. As Lacey shared about CPS taking her son and daughter, Billy held her tight.

I told them they were beautiful together and Lacey instantly smiled big and then teared up. Billy held her tighter.

I can't imagine the life they are living. I just can't imagine.

We would like to get Lacey and Billy a hotel room for two nights, just a break from the craziness. If (10) people donate $20, we can make it happen. Let's do this. Please.

UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that the goal of raising $200 has been reached with $491.88 raised, wowWOW!! No funds go to Lacey&Billy, and is always the case, no funds go to FH. If funds are left over, they will go to someone with a like need. A heartfelt THANKS!!!

A big and beautiful LOVE to you Lacey and Billy!!

Downtown Seattle Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/
and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness Crosscut KING 5

soTIRED

PLEASE MEET DANNY:

A man was sitting on a log on the hillside between Yesler & James along the freeway, his head down. About ten people from the FH Community CleanUP were working their way up the hill. I quietly walked up to him, asked if it was okay if we picked up the surrounding garbage.

He lifted his head, looked around as if seeing it for the first time, and said, "Yeah, that'd be great, but I don't live here. I'm just sitting down for a moment, I am so tired."

I sat down next to him and we started talking. His name is Danny, 49 years old, born in Oregon, grew up in Everett, lived in rural Alaska with his wife for 14 years till she died of kidney failure from constant drinking.

For awhile the conversation grew quiet, I thought maybe he was going to fall asleep. Then he looked at me and said, "I am so tired I can barely talk, I have no place to sleep, I walk around at night, last night was freezing cold."

I wanted to take him to the FH office to get a tent and sleeping bag but I knew we were all out. Instead we went to Goodwill and purchased some warm things, a heavy coat and sleeping bag, they were out of tents.

When we said goodbye I told Danny how good of a man I thought he was. He started to tear up and said, "I try to be."

BIG ASK: Facing Homelessness is in dire need of supplies for folks we meet out on the street. We are hoping to have 50 sleeping bags and 25 tents donated this week. PLEASE help us meet this goal as it is still cold and wet outside. You can dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105. We have a WISHlist here at http://amzn.to/2kskWky. If you purchase through Amazon, please use this account http://smile.amazon.com/ch/46-2376967.

A heartfelt THANKS for all the love and support from this beautiful compassionate community!!!

Downtown Seattle Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #FacingHomelessness #JustSayHello Crosscut KING 5

comingCLOSER

PLEASE MEET OUR COMMUNITY:

Facing Homelessness offers an array of programs that are beautifully designed to bring us all together!

We believe that when each of us are close enough to genuinely see another person's humanity, we naturally and beautifully step forward to act on our empathy.

This is how we want to end homelessness!

This last Sunday we had our 21st Community CleanUP, wowWOW!! In the two hours we bagged lots&lots of garbage, picked up hundreds of needles, and best of all, spent time getting to know a number of kind folks living in the encampment, including Reese, Danny and Mallory.

Check us out! www.facinghomelessness.org

Downtown Seattle Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness #Kindness Crosscut KING 5

communityCLEANUPs

PLEASE MEET OUR COMMUNITY:

Please join us every other Sunday in providing a positive act of KINDNESS and SERVICE to those in need.

Community CleanUP #16 is Sunday, December 1st, 10:30-12:30 at 701 James Street, which is the corner of James Street & I-5.

We are profoundly grateful for all the BEAUTIFUL people that have leaned into this program with courage and LOVE.

Downtown Seattle neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness

importantQUESTION

PLEASE MEET JOSHUA:

A few days ago Joshua received a bundle of new socks, new waterproof boots, a big dry warm winter coat, and a sturdy new backpack, all from folks in this community.

With winter weather here, these things are a big deal for Josh. You should have seen him smile, so much gratitude for all the kindness.

Watching him try everything on, amid his comments of both surprise and appreciation, I found myself feeling emotional.

I was for sure happy for him. Happy for the immediate difference it made and even more happy for the feelings of community support.

But mostly, I was feeling sad.

Over 8,000 people living homeless in Seattle. Standing next to Josh I had to tell myself to not start crying.

A few days ago I met with Delbert Richardson, who just won a Crosscut Courage in Culture Award for his "Unspoken" Truths American History Traveling Museum. We were talking about needed change in society. Delbert said, "If you want change, what are you willing to give up for it?"

What are we willing to give up to end homelessness?

Thank you Josh for your courage and the immediate friendship you have extended to this community. You are all beautiful my friend.

Downtown Seattle neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness Crosscut Delbert Richardson

somethingMORE

PLEASE MEET JOSHUA:

Joshua is 45 years old. He's a good looking man with a really good smile and very kind eyes. You might have seen him, he holds a sign that reads "FOOD Please".

He also looks able bodied. On your way to work you might have thought he should get a job or maybe you've wondered if he's running some sort of scam, gettin by free.

The problem with those thoughts, is that there is something more going on for every person living outside than the two-second snap judgment we make. A lot more going on.

Joshua never had a stable home, he went to 30 schools. His step-father physically and sexually abused him his entire childhood till he was kicked to the streets at 17 years old.

He'll tell you that nobody taught him how to act, how to be a man. Out on the streets he fell into drugs. His life spiraled out of control till somebody told him to hitchhike to the Grateful Dead concert, which he did, and it saved his life. For years he followed them around the country, the song lyrics becoming his education and the Deadheads his family.

After Jerry Garcia's death he followed other bands for awhile, eventually ending up in NY City, eventually being with a woman that helped him find his sobriety. His last drink was on September 7, 2013.

He says, "Since that day I've been making better and better choices, one of which was moving to Seattle." Joshua is now enrolled in computer classes at Goodwill with a hope to go to college. With Richard's help at the Seattle's Union Gospel Mission he found a place to live at Compass Housing Alliance!

If you would like to help Joshua further he could really use the following: Hiking boots that are water-resistant, size 11; winter coat with a hood that is water-resistant, size 2XL; large size backpack that he can go back and forth to school with. Please dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness c/o Joshua 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105.

Joshua will tell you that his homelessness and then spiral into drugs was a direct result of the abusive childhood he suffered through. Taking drugs was a way for him to cope and quiet the memories that play over and over in his head. Being sober has brought challenges, "It's really hard with my PTSD memories, sometimes I want to give up. Talking and sharing about it helps me, it is a form of therapy." Then he sincerely thanked me and all of you for listening.

Downtown neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness

cleanedUP

PLEASE MEET OUR COMMUNITY:

Every other Sunday a bunch of wonderful people come together to pick up garbage to make a difference for our city and for those struggling without basic needs being met.

The experience just makes your heartSING!! Come out and join Facing Homelessness in their Community CleanUPs!

Volunteer on our web page: www.facinghomelessness.org.

These photos are from last Sunday, our 12th cleanUP, another beautiful success! Folks show up at 10:30 and leave on the dot at 12:30 with big smiles!

Heartfelt THANKS and LOVE to everyone that has been joining in, you all are creating healthy community!

Downtown Seattle neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness #Kindness

communityCLEANUP

PLEASE MEET OUR COMMUNITY:

It's Sunday morning. You wake up slowly around 8:30ish, you wiggle in bed for a short bit, enjoy a cup of coffee, a lazy breakfast. At 9:45 you sneak in 20 minutes of yoga and during "picking up litter" pose, you say to yourself, "Hey, wait, I don't need to pretend to pick up litter, I can join the wonderful folks taking part in the Community CleanUP today!"

This Sunday will be our 12th cleanUP, having already picked up over 600 hefty-size bags of garbage, around 13,000 needles, and artfully performed an uncountable number of stretching yoga poses!

And, and, get this - IT IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you can join us this Sunday, 10:30-12:30 at 701 James Street, which is at the east side of I-5. We'll be gathering at the corner under the trees.

A heartfelt THANKS to everyone that came to cleanUP #11, here are some of the photos!

Sign up here: https://timecounts.org/facing-homelessness/events/21908

Downtown neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #CommunityCleanUP #FacingHomelessness

ourYOUTH

PLEASE MEET CHRIS

It is difficult to discuss youth homelessness, to hear the numbers of those living on the streets away from family, those that are suffering from anxiety or other mental health issues, those that aged out of the Foster Care system never finding home, or those that did not graduate from high school and are wondering where they fit in, or on and on. It is enough to make your beautiful brain hurt.

But sit with somebody that is in their teens or early 20's that is is homeless and your brain will not only hurt, but your heart will want to burst. You will go home, sit down, and cry.

It is important to know that nobody chooses to be homeless. It is important to know that rather than a choice being involved, something happened to this person that set them on a path towards homelessness. You may not know the reason, you may never know the reason, but you can be sure that this person knows it, lives with it, constantly.

Nobody chooses homelessness because homelessness is suffering, and nobody chooses suffering. Nobody ever chooses suffering.

Chris and his girlfriend Bana are living homeless along I-5, they were in need of a new tent, and if possible, a guitar. Both were provided by kind people in this community. So much kindness.

Kindness cannot be overstated or overemphasized in the conversation on homelessness. Kindness is what provides HOPE to those in need, and HOPE is everything for those that have nothing.

Chris and Bana you are BEAUTIFUL together!!! A heartfelt thank you for sharing your beauty with us. LOVE to you,

Downtown Seattle neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness