PLEASE MEET RANDY:
We would like to make an important ASK of our community right now. Please take a moment to give your PRAYERS and LOVE to Randy Peters. He is in the hospital battling COVID. The doctors have placed him in an emergency medically induced coma.
Randy's wife Linda Soriano sent this message - "I'm so distraught and having a hard time focusing on prayer. Please pass the word requesting prayers for Randy."
As Linda shared about Randy she then relayed she too had tested positive and was not feeling well. With some encouragement she agreed to call 911 and is now on her way to the hospital. Our hearts are so very heavy knowing these two fine humans are suffering.
Randy and Linda are beautiful pillars of our community. Their service for those struggling on our streets has been constant and always given with LOVE. Facing Homelessness has been fortunate to have their involvement in a number of our programs such as our Community CleanUPs and the Window of Kindness. We are forever grateful for their shining example of compassion.
Randy and Linda need us now. Please send all your healing thoughts, energy, and prayers.
We loveLOVE you Randy and Linda.
Seattle neighborhoods | Rex
disruptingISOLATION
DISRUPTING ISOLATION, FOR ALL OF US:
Disrupting Isolation: For All of Us - https://mailchi.mp/.../community-built-realizing-a-dream...
Have you experienced isolation this year? Us too. COVID-19 has disrupted the social fabric + physical proximity we took for granted, and forced us to confront isolation in many areas of our lives.
It’s important for us to center these reflections in relationship to the people we serve. These difficult experiences of separation, loneliness, and distance from love and connection are the things our houseless neighbors navigate every single day.
stillHERE
STILL HERE:
STILL HERE. One 24-hour period in our country will, for some, change everything. At the Window of Kindness, and in our BLOCK Home workshop, however, little will change. We're still here. Our community is still here. You're still here!! And those who need the warmth of compassion, heartfelt listening, and care are still here.
In this year of COVID-19, a crucial race and equity reckoning, and a national election, our conversations and dedicated intention to serving those who arrive at our doorsteps is UNchanged. Our commitment to holding our story-filled companions GENTLY and with care is unchanged. Tomorrow will be as yesterday was, and our mission and role will remain the same: To invite community into the work of ending homelessness. THANK YOU for holding this vision and work in your hearts and for each time you've decided to walk together with us along this path.
creativeCOMPASSION
PLEASE MEET MATHEW SHEA:
The Facing Homelessness mission is to bring everyone into the process of ending homelessness. The TRUTH is that we need YOU if we are truly going to make this happen!
We start by asking, "With your talents and resources, what creative compassionate solution can you bring?"
During this time of Covid-19 we desperately need your smartHEART to be in service to those living outside without their basic needs being met. The time is now.
Matthew Shea spent some very rough years living homeless in Seattle. Throughout that experience he reached out to others struggling, to prepare food for them, to give LOVE.
Matthew is now living inside, still giving back. Beginning next week he will be preparing hot meals to hand out at the Facing Homelessness 'Window Of Kindness', wowWOW!!
Weeks ago we set up a 'Food-Fund' Paypal account. You all responded beautifully, helping us purchase food & food gift cards for those in need. Over $800 worth of $20 Safeway Gift Cards alone have already been handed out! With resources quickly disappearing for those living outside, these food-cards have been met with joyous smiles and deep gratitude.
Let's keep it going! Let's help fund Matthew's weekly hot-meals. He says for $75 he can easily feed 50 people!!
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=LWXZ2A5XLXF5G&source=url
We loveLOVE you Matthew!! Thank you for bringing your creativeCOMPASSIONATEsolution forward for those in need!
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!
panicHAPPENING
PLEASE MEET JOSHUA:
In this new day of Covid-19 there is so much uncertainty. Uncertainty which leads to fear, fear for all of us. Time to be there for each other.
IMAGINE what that means for those living on our streets with nothing, watching the world shut down around them, watching everyone go inside to be safe. Time to be there for each other.
FH Facebook Message from Joshua who is homeless:
"Hello Rex"
"I could really use some help yo"
"I have no way to eat"
"Like everything is shutting down"
"There are no people to spange" (spange = spare change)
"No food banks"
"I'm like f_cked"
"Idk what's happening"
"I could really use some help"
"I don't have food"
"I can't find work"
"Please message me"
"We are not doing very well"
"It's really scary"
Visiting Joshua this morning, standing six feet away, he told me the clutch went out in his van, that he's freaked out about it getting towed, that he will lose everything, he was in a bigBIG panic. He's having a hard time thinking straight.
Hoping to raise $300 so he and his girlfriend could stay in a hotel for three days to get needed rest and time to get his head around on what next. Panic has a serious way of hiding good decision making.
UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that the goal of raising $300 has been reached with $1,227,36 donated, wowWOW!! This will mean the world to them in a time of craziness. A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone that stepped up to help. No funds will go to Joshua directly and no funds will go to Facing Homelessness. All funds will be used for hotel stay for Joshua and his girlfriend. If there are any left over funds, for whatever reason, they will be used for hotel stay for others in need. LOVE,
Hang in there Joshua, you are a good man going through some very tough times. This community LOVES you.
Georgetown 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
heartfeltMESSAGE
STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY, STAY ENGAGED:
As the local and national landscape shifts around the Covid-19 virus we are continually updating our program and volunteer protocols to track and implement public health recommendations. Here is what we are doing to continue the work of Facing Homelessness and how you can engage!
Our staff continue to support our neighbors living outside, while adhering to public health requirements. While volunteering at the Window of Kindness is on hold for now, our Facing Homelessness staff members continue to provide essential items through the Window of Kindness. As more resources in the community shut down, the need is ever greater. We are committed to protecting the health of those coming to the Window, who are more vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID virus. We are maintaining the 6 feet rule, using hand sanitizer and disinfectant, and engaging in a lot of hand-washing.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Here is how you can contribute and engage now:
1.) Donate much needed items! This list includes items frequently requested by our neighbors living on the streets, and all items will be distributed at our Window of Kindness. The Facebook page is also active and will continue to feature requests from the individuals we meet. Please note that we are currently accepting new items only, and are sanitizing all packaging.
2.) Be a messenger of kindness! At a time when people are fearful and there is so much unknown, it is easy for stigma and blame to surface. Please help to share a message of compassion toward our vulnerable neighbors living outside. You can also email us your messages and we'll post them at our office!
3.) Set up a monthly donation! If you don’t yet donate $5 per month and can spare it, this is a critical time. Your support will allow us to continue to serve our community during these perilous times when fewer resources are available.
4.) Reach out to us with your ideas. Many community members are finding themselves at home with more time on their hands. If you have skills, expertise, or passion you'd like to contribute -- either to our neighbors living outside or toward our organizational needs -- please let us know! We'd love to brainstorm with you. Now is the time for creative compassion.
Thank you so much for being a part of this community! We miss seeing all of you, and are so grateful for your continued love and support.
Love from all of us at Facing Homelessness,
Karina, Jennifer, Aditi, Lisa, Rex, + Sara
