newBEGINNING

PLEASE MEET DZY:

It started with Lydia. At the end of last September she read a post on this page about Dzy, about him not being sure if he could survive another winter in a tent.

Lydia and family responded by donating their van to Dzy, wowWOW!!

They put a new battery in it, outfitted it with curtains for privacy, and purchased a small heater along with some fuel and a carbon monoxide sensor to make it warm and safe!

It's hard to measure the importance of this kindness. To know what would have happened if they had not reached out. What we do know is that Dzy is in a better place making positive change in his life. Among other improvements, he now has 10 days off of heroin.

Dzy is a talented musician. He busks around town to cover food and phone bills, and now fuel for the van. Off heroin, he's able to save money earned, ready to rent a room for $500 a month. It's a big step. Right now he's $150 short, hoping we can help him get inside.

UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that the goal of raising $150 has been reached with $352.67 donated, wowWOW!!! I know this will mean a great deal to Dzy in his journey forward. A heartfelt THANK YOU!!! All funds will be paid directly to Dzy's landlord with no funds going to Dzy directly and, as is always the case, no funds to go to Facing Homelessness.

Thank you Lydia for putting all of this goodness in motion with your beautiful KINDNESS!!!

Fremont 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 Lydia Sigo

ifONLY

PLEASE MEET KIRK & RUSS:

Kirk and Russ spent the night in a friend's tent along the freeway. They have nothing to their name, all was lost when their camp was swept.

No tent. No sleeping bag. No way to stay warm. Nothing.

Kirk graduated from Bothell High School in 2003, played football there, it was a big deal. His Junior & Senior year they were KingCo Champs. In 2003 they went 11-1 making it to the state quarterfinals.

Kirk brightens up sharing about those times. He breaks into a big smile and says, "Yeah, I always slept with my football through those years." I asked if he wanted a football now and if he would still sleep with it? "Heck yeah!" He replies, "I would love that!"

Russ moved to Seattle from Los Angeles a year and a half ago. He worked as an EMT because he loves helping people. He pauses, then shares, "Unfortunately, that is all gone now."

Standing with Kirk and Russ I'm struck with how comfortable they are, how real and aware they are, how smart they are, and because of all that, how beautiful they are.

As they both tell how drugs have robbed them, how powerless they feel to get out of it, a big heavy blanket of sadness falls over the conversation.

I'm hoping this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between them and all of you. I'm hoping&hoping&hoping for that, believing it will lead to a path out of addiction. A path created by the extensive knowledge and endless compassion of this community and the inner strength and beauty of both Kirk and Russ.

They could both use sleeping bags and a good 4-6 person tent. Russ needs a warm coat - size L, shirts - size L, and boots - size 11. Kirk needs a warm coat - size XL.

I asked what would bring a smile to their face. Russ said a guitar and Kirk said a football. Now I was smiling.

If you can help, please dropOFF or sentTO: Facing Homelessness c/o Kirk or Russ 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105. A heartfelt THANK YOU!!

International 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 #FacingHomelessness #JustSayHello Crosscut

ourYOUTH

PLEASE MEET CHRIS

It is difficult to discuss youth homelessness, to hear the numbers of those living on the streets away from family, those that are suffering from anxiety or other mental health issues, those that aged out of the Foster Care system never finding home, or those that did not graduate from high school and are wondering where they fit in, or on and on. It is enough to make your beautiful brain hurt.

But sit with somebody that is in their teens or early 20's that is is homeless and your brain will not only hurt, but your heart will want to burst. You will go home, sit down, and cry.

It is important to know that nobody chooses to be homeless. It is important to know that rather than a choice being involved, something happened to this person that set them on a path towards homelessness. You may not know the reason, you may never know the reason, but you can be sure that this person knows it, lives with it, constantly.

Nobody chooses homelessness because homelessness is suffering, and nobody chooses suffering. Nobody ever chooses suffering.

Chris and his girlfriend Bana are living homeless along I-5, they were in need of a new tent, and if possible, a guitar. Both were provided by kind people in this community. So much kindness.

Kindness cannot be overstated or overemphasized in the conversation on homelessness. Kindness is what provides HOPE to those in need, and HOPE is everything for those that have nothing.

Chris and Bana you are BEAUTIFUL together!!! A heartfelt thank you for sharing your beauty with us. LOVE to you,

Downtown Seattle 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