REST IN PEACE, JAMES:
James lived homeless for over 40 years. The last twenty of those he was full-time at the 520 off-ramp in the Montlake neighborhood. He slept under the concrete ramp at night and begged at the stop-light during the day for his only income. He was hated and loved.
James died July 15, 2021 from complications following a major stroke suffered in November. He was 55 years old.
He was hated for all the reasons people can hate the homeless. He was always dirty with tattered clothes. He smelled. His language was often difficult to understand. At times he was angry and frustrated. His behavior when begging moved from being motionless with his hands cupped out in front of him to other times his arms flailing and head shaking. Some people were afraid of him. All of it fitting neatly the negative stereotype of homelessness.
If that is the James you saw, you missed seeing what a beautiful beautiful man he was.
James was gentle and kind. He laughed easily. He loved people and honored friendships. It’s hard to know how many people lowered their car window to offer something kind to him, and how many of those then turned into friendships. I do know this - if you were able to push through the negative stereotype to see him, you found a man profoundly worth knowing. Despite all his suffering, he stayed positive. He smiled with his whole face and laughed with his whole body. There was a charm to him that left you feeling good and glad you spent time sharing the moment.
James never flew-a-sign when begging. He didn’t because he was illiterate. He dropped out of school around the age of twelve and became homeless at 15. He lived a very different and difficult life with a great deal of suffering. There were times when he was so sick I didn’t think he would recover or winters I didn’t think he would make through. He was a true survivor.
James was helped greatly by the Facing Homelessness community. A wide range of items were donated and brought to him over the years. This included pants, shirts, shoes, coats, hats, sleeping bags, tarps, tents and food gift cards. Lots of food gift cards!
For each of the last six years we would post on the Facing Homelessness FB page when James had a birthday coming up on January 7th. People were asked to send birthday cards, telling him how much he’s loved. It still makes me smile bigBIG for how important this was for him. Cakes were baked and cards poured in from all over the country and around the world. On one of his birthdays James received more than a hundred cards! We would sit with him and read every single one out loud. The words were always beautiful. Sometimes we had to read them again because he was so busy checking to see if any money had been included. When he would find a $5 or $10 he would put it on his forehead, yell out loud, “THANK YOU THANK YOU!!” and then kiss it! For weeks and weeks, sometimes months, after his birthday he would ask, “Did any more cards come in for me?”
Over the years people tried to help James. There were those that wanted to teach him to read, or help find him work. Others waded into the complexity of looking for housing. Kind beautiful people made a big difference for him. In the end though everyone found the barriers he was experiencing to be too overwhelming.
That is until James met Blair Jordan. Blair was a student at the University of Washington in the business school when she lowered her car window and said hello to James. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. She would end up making it her personal mission to get him inside. And she did!
In April of 2020 James moved into the Kerner-Scott House run by DESC. There are no words to describe how beautiful that moment was. James was now sleeping in a bed. James was cooking his own food in his own kitchen. James was showering, shaving, and wearing clean clothes.
When Blair first said hello to James she could not have known she would be changing his life. She also could not have known she would be changing her own life. Blair’s career veered away from business into social work. She got a job doing outreach at DESC and currently works at REACH as a Screening & Outreach Coordinator. She will tell you, “Every day I am motivated to do this work because of James, he changed my life.”
James is survived by his two sisters Becky and Thurnice who live in Texas and a large chosen family of friends here in Seattle. He will be dearly missed by all those that knew him, loved him, and were changed by him. Love you James.
PLEASE JOIN US for a Community Celebration for James on August 17th 6:00 PM at East Montlake Park. Everyone is welcome!!!
This gathering will be held at the last place James lived outside, where he was told he would be moving inside. We are inviting everyone to come and take part in honoring James’ life. Parking will be tight. If you can bus, bike, or walk, please do. Even though it is outside, we are asking everyone to wear a mask. If you can make it, please let us know in the comments of this post. If you would like to share a story or feelings about James at the celebration, or have any questions whatsoever, please email me at rex@block-architects.com.
Montlake 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 gift that is meaningful to you--even a “monthly recurring” donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#facinghomelessness #justsayhello #windowofkindness #kindness #TheBLOCKProject
findingHOME
PLEASE MEET JAMES:
Many of you who follow this page have known and walked with us alongside James over the past nine years. He is an important and beloved member of this community.
Many of you know James was homeless for over 40 years, that he lived in the Montlake neighborhood under the overpass and was a part of that neighborhood and community. Many of you met him during the years he flew a cardboard sign at the 520 off-ramp. There, he met people in their cars, and so many from this community connected with him through a simple smile and through other support.
Many of you have participated in sending James birthday cards over the years to remind him that no distance or separation will stand between our love for him, and his deep belonging to this community.
2020 was a hard year for so many of us. This has been especially true for James.
In February 2020, James was admitted to the hospital and at the time was still living outside. You may remember this post in which Rex acknowledged the grief and the praise surrounding James’ life living homeless in Seattle. https://www.facebook.com/HomelessInSeattle/posts/2992756594102897. At the time of the post, YOU raised emergency funds to help James when he exited the hospital so he could purchase essential items. THANK YOU! Through it all, James remains resilient, kind, and hopeful, modeling an unparalleled bravery in his character.
In May 2020, James received housing with support from a network of caring individuals, most importantly his friend and advocate Blair Jordan!
https://www.facebook.com/HomelessInSeattle/posts/3223229951055559.
You were there when we CELEBRATED with James and supported this major transition by sending him cards, items for his new home, and expressing your love for him (He never stops talking about the cards). Moving is a huge deal, even more so if you have been living outside in survival mode for 40 years. For everything YOU did to welcome James home, THANK YOU!
In December 2020, James was urgently admitted to the hospital again after suffering a stroke. During his time in the hospital, he contracted COVID-19, and James SURVIVED, again, unwilling to bow to the misfortunate life throws at him.
Day by day, James perseveres in a struggle for life, for housing, and for love. You are part of that wrestling, and as a community we have James’ back. It is time once again to show up for James in all of the beautiful ways this community has over the years. If you don’t know James, we hope you will take a minute to see him and recognize his profound resilience. He has weathered odds that would have brought many to their knees.
James’ birthday was January 7th, just last week, and we once again ask you to celebrate James and remind him of our care by sending him a birthday card. Cards can be sent to Facing Homelessness | 4001 9th Ave NE | Seattle 98105. We will make sure the cards are received by James’ friend Blair who will help him read your beautiful messages. As always, if you want to include $5 or a gift card, please do!
James wants to return to his permanent housing, the home he has created, and not to return to the streets of Seattle. Given the situation with his health, he needs extra support for this to be possible. His case management team and friend Blair are working on connecting James to various resources to support him longer term. In the meantime, we would like to raise $1,000 to help modify his apartment to accommodate a wheelchair, and to provide him with clothing and food.
Funds are used by Facing Homelessness to procure this ask. No funds will go directly to James and no funds go to Facing Homelessness. If there are funds remaining, they will go to another person who is in need.
THANK YOU! With love and deep appreciation,
South Seattle | Barron and Jennifer
UPDATE! Donation link has been taken down because YOU have raised just over $1,050 for James, in such a small time, WOW! This will be a HUGE help and support to James in helping him get the necessities he needs. THANK YOU for all of your generosity and your beautiful comments of love, support, and connection. This is a great example of how big of an impact communities can make when we work together, alongside our unhoused neighbors. SO much love to all of you!
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!
#facinghomelessness #justsayhello #kindness #yesinmybackyard #theblockproject
newDAY
PLEASE MEET JAMES:
Dee forwarded the following message -
"Hi. There is a sweep happening right now, u district corner of 7th and 45th. Been a tent camp for a while. Cop cars. Dump truck. Clean up crew throwing things in the dump truck and kicking people out of tents. Just needed to make sure some group knew even it it's too late to help."
At the very same time this sWEEP was taking place, James, who had been homeless for 40 years, was sleeping in his new bed, receiving attention and support through DESC services.
Getting people inside where they can receive needed care is not rocket-science. It is being done all-the-time by beautiful nonprofits such as DESC, Compass Housing Alliance, LIHI, Plymouth Housing, and so many more!
Food, shelter, and health-care are basic needs that everyone deserves. Let's have a conversation about that. Share what you think. Tell us how we can get everyone inside.
In the meantime, please send James a WELCOME HOME card, we know he would loveLOVE it. He's going through a major life transition right now, eager to have community come around him. If you want, you can include a gift card for food or even a $5 bill, which will make him smile and smile!!
Send cards to: Facing Homelessness c/o James 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105. THANKS so very much!
South Lake Union 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
welcomeHOME
PLEASE MEET JAMES:
After 40 years living homeless, James has a home.
One with a front door and walls providing security, a warm floor rather than the cold ground, a roof rather than the underside of a concrete off-ramp, a kitchen to cook warm meals, quiet peace rather than endless street noise, and a bed, one with morning eastern light streaming in!
Yesterday, Blair read 22 Welcome Home cards to James sent in by this Facing Homelessness community, wowWOW!!! He took so much delight in hearing they came from around the country! It was a moment. Honestly my heart was bursting for him. He was beyond giddy happy! Later I remarked to Blair how happy James was and she said, "He's been that way for the last 9 days, ever since moving in!"
A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone that helped James with support over the years. As he stood panhandling in the Montlake neighborhood, each of your kind faces reaching out to him made this moment possible!
Now that James is inside, he has some home furnishing needs. If you can help, please comment below by calling out which item, or items you can provide. Please check the comments before so we don't double up. All items should be sentTO or droppedOFF at: Facing Homelessness c/o James 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James' Welcome Home Wish List
Dish drying rack, box fan, pots & pans, cooking utensils, cups, dishes, silverware, TV, coffee pot, twin sheet set, food gift cards, clothing - shirts & jackets size M, pants size 30/32, shoes size 11, cleaning supplies, hygiene supplies.
A special THANKS to Blair and Savannah for their endless friendship towards James and tireless hard work in making this happen! And finally, a heartfelt mountain of gratitude for DESC, who makes this moment happen for so many in need!
We loveLOVE you James and are tremendously happy for you!
South Lake Union 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 Blair Jordan DESC
ourVULNERABILITY
PLEASE MEET JAMES:
James is illiterate, he's been homeless for the last 40 years, half of that time panhandling in the Montlake neighborhood. Three days ago he was released from the hospital after spending weeks due to blacking-out while begging.
He was discharged with his hospital gown and wheelchair. Facing Homelessness provided him with a tent, sleeping bag and a $100 Safeway gift-card for food.
Yesterday late afternoon I found him down by Foster Island, his collapsed tent in the middle of a field. It was windy and just starting to rain. I spoke to the tent, "Hey James, you there?"
Instantly he yelled back, "Yeah, yeah, help me up!" I lifted the folded over tent, pulled the flap aside, and was hit with a wall of urine odor. His pants were completely wet with it. As I wedged my foot against his and took hold of his arm to pull, I thought to myself, this is so messed up.
Standing upright James said he was doing okay but that he needed to get to Safeway for some food, could I give him bus money? I handed him $20. In the same sentence of thanking me he asked if I could drive him there. I paused.
I've known James for over ten years, he's a dear friend.
I looked at him and said "No, I am sorry, I can't drive you." The honest truth is, I didn't want the car seat smeared with urine. I hated hearing myself say no to him for what now seems trivial. James nodded, and shuffled off, yelling back, "Bye Rex, see you later."
I've not been able to stop thinking about it. I know we can't say yes to every ask from those in need, but we also can't say no to every ask either.
This is one of the hard parts of coming closer to those in need. Yet, to live fully, we must come closer to know how we feel, to know what is right for each moment. And it can be uncomfortable, or even messy. And that is okay. Okay because this is what being human is all about, about reaching out to each other with love and trust, figuring it out as we go.
I love you James.
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 Blair Jordan
dearFRIEND
PLEASE MEET JAMES:
I'm sorry you've been homeless for over 40 years.
I'm sorry you've never had the opportunity to learn to read.
I'm sorry you've never received government benefits even though you've lived without basic needs met nearly all of your life.
I'm sorry that there are those that have treated you unkindly through misunderstandings and fear.
I'm sorry you blacked out while panhandling on the street corner in the Montlake neighborhood.
I'm sorry you've been in the hospital now for over two weeks hoping multiple organs will heal.
I'm grateful for the care given at the UW Medical Center.
I'm grateful to have been included in the phone call to your sister, hearing you say how much you love her and the need for her to pray for you.
I'm grateful for those that have reached across the divide to give you kindness on your street corner home.
I'm grateful for all those that have mailed you birthday cards to our office over the years for you, knowing how happy it made you.
I'm grateful for Blair Jordan who is your dear friend and is helping you navigate towards supportive housing.
I'm grateful to your street friend Michael who has your back.
I'm tremendously grateful to be your friend James, you have deep kindness in your eyes.
On May 20, 2019 we asked this community to raise $500 for food for James. A total of $4,487.57 was raised! Since then we've been giving James $100 Safeway food-gift-cards every Sunday, making a profound difference for him. We still have roughly three months of food-gift-cards to give.
We are now hoping to raise another $500 as an emergency fund for when he gets out of the hospital. This will be used for clothing, a tent, sleeping bag, and other essential needs.
UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that the goal or raising $500 has been met with $1,687.11 donated, wowWOW!! All funds will be used to help purchase essential needs for James. No funds will go directly to James in the form of cash or check and as is always the case, no funds go to Facing Homelessness. A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone that reached out with LOVE and support!
A bigBIG LOVE to you James, we are grateful to have you as an important part of this community!
Montlake 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
happyBIRTHDAY
PLEASE MEET JAMES:
Many of you know James from his over 20 years at the Montlake 520 exit off-ramp, asking for help with outstretched cupped hands and a rocking forward motion.
James has been homeless since his teens. He's illiterate. He survives day to day by donations from kind folks at the traffic light. At night he lives under the concrete exit ramp.
Many people are afraid of James. His appearance and mannerisms can have you looking the other way, reaching to adjust something on the dashboard or arranging stuff in the passenger seat while waiting for the light to change.
James is a beautiful person that is simply trying to survive. While many turn away, there are also many who reach out to James with kindness and solutions. Like Blair Jordan who is trying to get him into housing right now. It is difficult, homelessness is all James knows.
On January 7th James turns 54 years old. For the last five years we have been asking folks to send love and support in the form of Birthday Cards on his birthday, wowWOW!!
Usually James gets around 50 or so cards. One year he received 101, it was a big deal for him. We take the time to read each card out-loud with the process beginning by announcing where it is from. Makes me smile to remember how big he smiles when it comes from far away, like from out of state or even out of country!!!
Please mail James a Birthday Card telling him how beautiful he is, telling him how much you care about him. If you want to include a $5 bill, it will make him smile even more!
Mail cards to: Facing Homelessness c/o James 4001 9th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105. Best to send early so we can visit him with them all on his actual BIRTHDAY!!!!
Heartfelt LOVE to all those that give James kindness day to day throughout the year. We are all one. :)
Montlake 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
toSUFFER
NOBODY CHOOSES TO SUFFER:
Today we share a fourth coreBELIEF. One that challenges the negative stereotype that people choose to be homeless.
"Nobody chooses to suffer."
Nobody chooses to suffer, nobody chooses to be cold, alone, sick, hungry or invisible. This is what homelessness is and clearly nobody chooses that.
In every nano-second of every day we humans make choices one after the other. All of them are what we believe to be the best for us in that moment. Every single person does this, homed or homeless. Blue shirt or red shirt today, coffee or juice, workout or relax, it is non-stop.
When life is good, the options are endless. For those struggling the options simply don't exist. A 16 yr old being sexually abused at home. Homelessness is not a choice, it is survival.
When a friend is struggling we ask, "What's wrong, are you okay, can I do something to help?" Why is it so difficult to extend this same compassion to the homeless? Do we think they don't hurt, or they deserve this suffering?
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
James has been homeless since he was 15, he's now 54 years old trying to survive. Living illiterate and begging on the streets is all he knows.
ASK Blair Jordan, a young woman that befriended James, what she knows. She knows James is kind and funny. She knows too that he is struggling horribly. Blair knows these things because she has become his friend.
This is the work of Facing Homelessness. To bring everyone into friendship with each other so that we can be there for one another, whether laughing or crying. We need each other.
THANK YOU from the Facing Homelessness staff and board!
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
*Right now we have a $75K matching donation, please donate now and double your dollars!!!
