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