helpingHEARTS:
Imagine today you were out and about and you realized your phone died, or you lost your ID, or you didn’t have money for the bus home. You would probably feel vulnerable, stressed, or even anxious, right? But most of us who are housed would be able to sort out replacing any of those items in a matter of days. For our unhoused neighbors, access to necessities like these present a much bigger challenge.
Earlier this week we asked for your help to support our work at Window of Kindness. We want every person who visits the Window to have access to warm food, dry clothing, and a non-judgemental listening ear. This is our baseline. But over the years we have found that because of the close relationships we build with our visitors, they trust us enough to ask for additional help.
With our new Resource Navigator Program, in partnership with the UW School of Social work, dedicated Master of Social Work candidates work one on one with our clients at The Window: assisting them in accessing government-sponsored phones, case management, new IDs, bus tickets, and various other essential services. This program exists to break down barriers because when folks don’t have access to a permanent mailing address, cell phone minutes, the internet, transportation, and other tools we might take for granted, they simply cannot get help even when it is available to them.
In just 5 days, our community has shown up for us and collectively we have raised $1,185 for the Window of Kindness so far. Thank YOU! The unwavering generosity displayed by this community through your financial contributions, your volunteer time, and your heartfelt words of encouragement ground us and inspire us to do more. YOU make that possible.
If you are inspired to support, you still can! We’re $1,815 away from our $3,000 goal, and your gift, no matter the size, is so needed.
What is Home?
“Home.”
It’s a word that can carry layered meanings for each of us. We’d like to share a beautiful reflection on the idea of HOME from our incredible Resource Navigator, Elena, who has recently completed her MSW practicum with us and who has offered SO MUCH support to our Window of Kindness community over the course of her time with us.
“In the last eight months, the meaning of home to me has truly grown. I have had the pleasure of joining our Window of Kindness and working alongside our clients every day. Our staff, volunteers, and clients work tirelessly to ensure that the Window of Kindness is a welcoming community and space where everyone can be their best and most AUTHENTIC selves. It has taught me that home is not necessarily a physical space, but rather the COMMUNITY you surround yourself with. To know that the Window of Kindness may play a small role in allowing our most vulnerable clients to feel a sense of community and belonging, despite the daily challenges they may be facing, has been the most rewarding part of my time at Facing Homelessness. I will truly miss the beautiful community that the Window of Kindness has created.”