Meet Sinaed, a BLOCK Project Volunteer:
“I love volunteering with the Block Project as it allows me to do something that directly impacts the life of another person. I know that through donating my time and money I am helping someone take a step forward in making a new life for themselves.”
Can you imagine yourself as the solution to homelessness? Trick question. You already are the solution.
When you share our posts, you humanize those living on the streets and advocate for compassion. Volunteer with us? You’re creating connections…or even building a home.If you donate supplies, you might even be saving a life.
Donate money, and you're doing all of the above. givebutter.com/FacingHomelessness2023
Your donation today means:
Someone gets the hot meal, tent, or case management they need at the Window of Kindness.
A new BLOCK Home is completed, giving someone a place to rest, grow, and heal.
Our community transforms as we connect deeply to the plight of our neighbors and are inspired to take action.
Today, we are 51% of the way to our 2023 Year-End Campaign goal. Your gift today can be matched 100% by another community member.
Donate TODAY and help us build a world without homelessness. One smile, one hot meal, and one home at a time. Let's keep making a difference. givebutter.com/FacingHomelessness2023
autumnalFOUNDATIONS
autumnalFOUNDATIONS:
Wow, it seems like there is nothing our BLOCK Team can’t do. Shortly on the heels of finishing BLOCK Home 15, we’re hard at work with our volunteers to get our next home built and create a warm place this winter for someone who currently doesn’t have anywhere safe or secure to live.
Check out these pictures of our tilt up, and see if you can spot a few familiar staff faces
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!
fullHEARTS
fullHEARTS:
Wow, it’s been a labor of true community love and power to bring together SUCH a beautiful BLOCK Home. We celebrated our 15th finish BLOCK Home last week and can’t wait to welcome home a new Resident.
In line with our new Open House tradition, we planted a bulb, and with each handful of dirt, offered a hope or dream for what this new house could provide for future residents.
Comment below if you’d like to offer a wish for this home as well
Special thanks to all our volunteers, our new hosts JD and Anne, our construction staff for creating such a beautiful home in such a magical spot, and our partners Justin Polley of Masters Electric and the Dim Sum Crew for their pro bono electrical work, and Lane Lunasco, David Masi, Anthony Rogers and Craig Atkinson of Hermanson for their pro bono plumbing work. This collective work has made this home a reality!
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!
The BLOCK Project in South Dakota with the NDN Collective!
Over the past year we have been working closely with the NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led non-profit in South Dakota, to provide two BLOCK Homes for their unhoused relatives. They will incorporate these homes into the “Mni Luzahan Village” being built this fall to further part of their mission to “develop Indigenous communities in a regenerative and sustainable manner based on our values and connection to land, culture, and identity”.
We will be shipping two BLOCK Home kits to Rapid City, SD this month and our staff will join NDN in October to assemble the homes so the housing will be ready before the winter weather comes. This is the first time BLOCK Homes will be assembled and placed outside of Seattle. The kits include a few alterations to the building design so that future residents are comfortable in the South Dakota climate. This is a beautiful new phase for all of us, and we couldn’t be more excited!
Leading up to this moment we have been fortunate to build alongside NDN. In August, several members came from all corners of the US to visit our BLOCK Shop and work closely with our team to learn about the beginning stages of BLOCK home production. While here, they attended our Open House celebration for the newest BLOCK Home in the beautiful Magnolia neighborhood to see the home and celebrate with our community.
Our Construction Project Manager Berns shared: “We were very pleased with NDN's visit. We loved building juniper rainscreens and decking with them at the BLOCK shop, and were honored they came to our open house at BH013”. This moment in the evolution of the BLOCK project enables Facing Homelessness to contribute to another aspect of NDN’s mission, “...to decolonize our minds, communities, and sovereign nations. The decolonization of our communities and people is directly related to our ability to prosper. Through the revitalization of our Indigenous ceremonies, culture, languages, and life ways we will continue to strengthen our identity, and break free from the oppressive systems that disconnect us from achieving the healing growth and connection to the spirit that is integral for us as Indigenous people.”
During a shared meal with the whole Facing Homelessness team on the last day of their visit, some very powerful thoughts were expressed and shared amongst all of us; What I believe will stay ingrained in my mind was the idea expressed by our NDN partners of acting as a “Stewards of light”; a spark and a resource. This was a beautiful articulation of their stated mission to “Build the collective power of Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations to exercise our inherent right to self-determination, while fostering a world that is built on a foundation of justice and equity for all people and the planet.”
What I heard from those conversations felt aligned with what Facing Homelessness aspires to do as well. To provide opportunities for community to use their talents, skills, and compassion to build connection and walk alongside our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Importantly, take that work beyond Facing Homelessness into the broader community . With engaged community we can solve a community crisis like homelessness. As NDN shared, it is not about creating more organizations, it is empowering one another to carry the mission forward and pass it on from community to community.
We are honored to have been invited by NDN to participate in the development of this safe and sacred space by providing BLOCK Homes are more than just four walls and a roof. They represent healing and support not just for Residents but for our communities.
In closing, please see the NDN Collective’s mission statement to give broader context for their work and values. Thank you so much for reading, and stay tuned as we continue revealing the new developments in this project!
OUR MISSION
Build the collective power of Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations to exercise our inherent right to self-determination, while fostering a world that is built on a foundation of justice and equity for all people and the planet.
DEFEND
We must continue to defend our people, communities, and nations against negative resource extraction that poisons our people pollutes our water, destroys our land, contributes to climate change, and violates our human rights. Doing this through organizing our communities, making our voices heard, and utilizing a wide variety of tactics is imperative in shifting the political and financial systems that are impacting our communities.
DEVELOP
We must continue to develop Indigenous communities in a regenerative and sustainable manner based on our values and connection to land, culture, and identity. We need to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We are doing this through regenerative community development, renewable energy investments, and social enterprise development.
DECOLONIZE
We must continue to decolonize our minds, communities, and sovereign nations. The decolonization of our communities and people is directly related to our ability to prosper. Through the revitalization of our Indigenous ceremonies, culture, languages, and life ways we will continue to strengthen our identity, and break free from the oppressive systems that disconnect us from achieving the healing growth and connection to the spirit that is integral for us as Indigenous people.
Clàudia, Berns & Jennifer, University District
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 #theblockproject
Please Meet Alexiel
Meet Alexiel (they/them), a new resident of one of our BLOCK homes. They’ve given us permission to share their story with our community so you can see the power of your support.
Alexiel first heard about Facing Homelessness while in therapy at Sound Health.
“At the time I was living in a dilapidated, rat infested camper with my partner. We had been there for over 3 years, not for lack of trying. We did everything we could to find a place to live after being forced to leave our previous home. Even trying to rent from extended stay motels, but that became far too expensive.
We were lucky enough to have a backyard to keep the camper in, something most in our situation could only dream of. So in some aspects, we felt lucky. As you can imagine, however, it was wearing thin on our mental health. At one point I even attempted suicide, but luckily survived.”
We wish that Alexiel’s story was rare, but it’s not. It’s incredibly common for people living unhoused to go through extraordinary mental health challenges. How could it not be, when many people living housed pretend not to even notice they exist? Or react with judgment and avoidance?
Your support of Facing Homelessness creates a chance for people living unhoused to have safe human connection. For them to receive love instead of judgment. And even a chance for them to have a home of their own. Alexiel said:
“When I was given the opportunity to be a part of the BLOCK Program, I jumped. It has been life changing for both myself and my partner. In getting my own place, he was able to find a place very soon after!
While I am still wrapping my mind around everything that has happened, one thing I know is how thankful I am to each and every member of the team. They came together to give myself and the other program residents the chance to live and feel human again. Because of this, I have had the opportunity to re-evaluate my life and to become the “real” version of myself. Something I can never say “Thank you!” enough for.
I would like anyone who is considering donating, or helping to build one of the tiny homes, to really know how transformative it is for a person. It truly means life or death to have a home, in one way or another.”
With gratitude,
The Facing Homelessness team
createCONNECTION
createCONNECTION:
“In a world where we’re increasingly polarized, reactive, and can feel unsafe, the BLOCK Project provides physical, mental, and emotional space and support to nurture and navigate relationships and build community.” Roselle, BLOCK Project Companion
As participants of the Companionship program for over a year, Roselle and Peter (a BLOCK resident) have worked closely with Facing Homelessness’ staff and, most importantly, have built a strong companion relationship with each other.
“From the beginning, I’ve felt that my companionship with Peter was part of and supported by a larger community. Getting to know Peter and other members of the BLOCK Project community helps me remember how complicated, vulnerable, valuable, and important each of us are,” says Roselle.
In Peter’s own words, “Through my conversations with Roselle, I’ve come to learn and appreciate different aspects of another generation, how their experiences and unique challenges helped shape them, and found that any perceived gaps between us are much smaller than they appear.”
A companion relationship can look like many things. Grounded in mutuality and founded in the belief that companions walk alongside one another, meeting each other where each is at in their own journey, Companionship is a way for people to connect without judgement or agenda. For some, it is a weekly brunch outing, or a walk near Greenlake, friendly and light, fun. For others, especially during the time of COVID, it has been consistent and lively Zoom calls, spiced up by deep conversations and a willingness to learn.
Roselle shares that “Each Zoom call is an adventure with Peter—his enthusiasm and curiosity are infectious. In our weekly conversations, I’m regularly fascinated by how deeply he dives into topics ranging from his stint working for an air taxi company in Alaska to explaining the implications of the “right to repair” to me.”
Companion relationships, though initially fostered by Facing Homelessness through the connection of two individuals, are free to blossom naturally as the companion pair form their own organic and authentic connection. According to Peter, the Companionship Program “seeks to restore balance and build trust” and has even “helped facilitate one of my most rewarding friendships.”
Facing Homelessness recognizes that all relationships work differently, that all develop at their own pace, and that each is a worthy endeavor to explore further. If you are interested in becoming a companion with a BLOCK Resident and joining us in our goal to createCONNECTION, we welcome you with open arms and an untapped relationship waiting to become what you make it. And a huge thank you to everyone participating in the Companionship program for leaning in and honoring each other’s journeys.
Liana, Angie, and Phoebe
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 gift that is meaningful to you--even a “monthly recurring” donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#justsayhello #facinghomelessness #TheBLOCKProject #kindness #windowofkindness
makingHOMES
makingHOMES:
“We did it!” It’s easy to look around after completing a new BLOCK Home and take pride in our accomplishment, particularly now that BLOCK Homes are built entirely by community volunteers. Smiles are exchanged, tools are stowed away, and there is an awareness that, soon, one more person will no longer live unsheltered in Seattle. We feel JOY in having built this home with little more than the simple decision made by regular people to do so.
After construction, the next crucial step is required, and that step is taken collectively through the Facing Homelessness network of love. That’s where we invite you in.
Care is shown in the little things--hand towels, a natural soap, privacy curtains, a mug to drink something warm from. These details and provisions, and the care behind them, demonstrate our love for new friends moving into BLOCK Homes. Throughout the trials of COVID-19, and all that life has brought this last year, hosts are still saying “Yes, in my backyard.” We are on track to build at least five new homes in backyards across Seattle--from West Seattle, to Ballard, to Mount Baker. Within these five homes are countless connections, opportunities to care, to come closer, and to be part of the solution.
In order to prepare a BLOCK Home for a new resident, or possibly a mother and infant, we provide “Welcome Home Kits” upon move in. Guided by our resident’s needs, these kits include custom made curtains, sheets, towels, and privacy dividers. We make sure our residents have the pots, pans, and utensils they need to cook a hot meal, and the plates and bowls to eat it with. Through the provisions of Welcome Home Kits, new residents can focus on settling in, enjoying privacy, and continuing their work of healing from the traumas of homelessness.
Each full Welcome Home Kit costs $1,000. Due to the very specific sizing and needs of the BLOCK homes, we cannot accept in kind donations at this time, so please donate through the Paypal link, or send a check with “Welcome Home Kit” in the memo line, and we’ll take it from there. Every gift helps transform houses into HOMES. Our goal is to raise $5,000 for 5 BLOCK Homes. As always, together we are Facing Homelessness.
Welcome Home Kit: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=K928P352YVBF6
No funds will go to Facing Homelessness. Any funds in excess of $5,000 will remain in the Welcome Home Kit fund for future Welcome Home Kits.
Crown Hill Neighborhood | Phoebe, Barron, and Sue
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 gift that is meaningful to you--even a “monthly recurring” donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#facinghomelessness #justsayhello #kindness #yesinmybackyard #theblockproject
lastingKINDNESS
PLEASE MEET OUR COMMUNITY:
Facing Homelessness is building healthy community through the BLOCK Project, a community funded, community built and community supported project that places sustainable housing in backyards for those in need. It is beyond beautiful!!!
www.the-block-project.org
The reason it is beyond beautiful is because of all of you, because of people like those in The University Congregational Housing Association (UCHA)!!!
Over the years UCHA has had projects to develop affordable housing and helping others do the same. A year ago they voted to retire its nonprofit organization. It had been active for about 30 years, wowWOW!! They owned three residences and two apartment buildings providing help to those in need. After accomplishing the gifting of three of the properties and two transfers, the joyous task was to spend the remaining money in their Treasury.
The money was raised at fundraising events and through generous donations from their supporters. The Block Project was chosen to receive a check for $40,000.00 to help accelerate the process of building Block Homes!!! The UCHA is thrilled that their mission continues!
Facing Homelessness is thrilled and ever so grateful to receive this generous donation and continue the important and beautiful work of UCHA!
The gift is from John Davis, Carol Christoferson, Sue Hall, Marcia McCracken, Mary Elizabeth Maltman, Kate Nelson, Claudia Patton, Ryan Schultz, Martha Tucker and Gail Winberg!!!
A very heartfelt THANK YOU to UCHA for believing in the BLOCK Project and stepping forward with such generous support!
University District 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 Crosscut KING 5 www.the-block-project.org