Sweeps continue, but shelters are full.
As Seattle persists in conducting sweeps of homeless encampments throughout the city, unhoused residents are stripped of vital shelter. In the past month, temperatures have plummeted to well below freezing, making living outside incredibly dangerous.
This cold impacts everyone, but some cannot escape it.
Facing Homelessness is requesting donations of winter clothing, tents, sleeping bags, or funds to help. Even small donations can make a big difference to our unhoused neighbors. Not sure what to give? Check out our website for needed items. Compassion and community support can save lives at this time of year, thank you for helping if you can.
https://facinghomelessness.org/donate-supplies
nextSTEPS
PLEASE MEET JASON:
An area in Woodland Park stretching from the bocce ball courts south has a great many tents with folks living homeless. Safely speaking there are 100 people living there, some say as many as 200. Word is spreading fast that a city sWEEP is imminent.
If you have ever been present when a sweep is taking place you know the horror of it. It’s nothing like the intellectual policy discussions that take place in government offices, coffee shops and dinner tables by the most of us. Rather, it is a gut wrenching experience of tears felt by the few. Trauma is layered upon trauma as folks have minutes to pack everything up and leave. Those away, out doing errands or working a job, come back to their homes finding everything gone. It is horrible.
It is also easy to see why sweeps happen. People want their parks back for a long list of valid reasons. I remember as a young boy going many times to Woodland Park with my dad around 4:00 AM with flashlights to catch earthworms on our way to go fishing in Puget Sound. I love those memories.
The problem is that we have a polarized environment of SWEEPS vs. NO SWEEPS. Sadly, all of this back&forth energy is addressing the symptom not the cause. It gets us nowhere. Both sides feel they are right because they are right, nobody is wrong here.
What is wrong is the failed system that allows so many to suffer without basic needs being met. The conversation shouldn’t be about sweeps, it should be about why do we have homelessness in the first place and what are we going to do about it?
When asking, “What are we going to do about it?”, it is a question for our highest and best self. A place of acknowledging that every single person is deserving of our love and attention. All solutions must begin by holding true to this belief.
Please meet Jason. He’s 23 years old. He grew up in Snohomish. For the last year he’s been living in a tent at Woodland Park. He says he’s trying to figure his life out, “I’ve not given a f*** for so long and now that I want to, I have to learn how.”
Jason, a soft-spoken man, has already at his young age seen more pain than I have in all the extra 40 years I’ve lived. When he was 18 his older brother died in his arms. It was heart-breaking life shattering. “My brother was my dude. He picked me up from school, taught me how to work on cars and talk to girls.”
Jason then rapped a song to me about his brother dying, his struggle with it all, the complex difficulties of his family, his parents and others not seeing him, life at Green Lake being homeless, and on and on. I could feel myself beginning to tear up with how instantly vulnerable and beautiful he was in that moment. When he finished and I thanked him for sharing he said, “I don’t have anybody I can talk to about stuff, when I mention my brother dying people go quiet, they don’t know what to say, it gets uncomfortable.”
I asked what he wants to do when he figures it all out. He said, “I want to help people. I want to be a drug-rehab therapist. But yeah, I gotta figure myself out first. You can lose yourself out here.”
Like many, Jason is worried about the impending sweep. It's one more thing. When asked what he needed, he replied, “I could really use some socks and good sturdy size 14 boots.”
If you can be of help to Jason please let us know in the comments below and then ship to: Facing Homelessness ℅ Jason - 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105. A heartfelt THANKS in advance!!!
Woodland Park | Rex
*For additional stories please visit https://www.facebook.com/goodoldlistening
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!
#justsayhello #facinghomelessness #TheBLOCKProject #kindness #windowofkindness
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
spiritualJOURNEY
PLEASE MEET TEX
It had rained hard and Tex's tennis-shoes were sopping wet. He was kicking garbage and personal belongings into a big pile, stuff left behind after another Seattle sweep.
I introduced myself and asked how he was doing. He looked at me, smiled, and said, "Hello Rex, I'm Tex." And then immediately recited a paragraph from the bible explaining the lesson he was learning.
Tex kicked a plastic bottle twenty or so feet right into the middle of the pile and I asked if he had played soccer. He said, "No, why?" Then shared more about the word of God.
We walked side by side kicking garbage towards the pile, quietly exchanging thoughts about life. He had spent time in prison and the rest roaming the country. He was on a journey.
When we had the entire area cleaned Tex looked at me and said, "Well, really nice meeting you. Tomorrow or the next day the city will come with a truck, pick the pile up, and get credit for cleaning the entire place. That's just the way it is."
We both paused. He took off the necklace he was wearing, which had several wood beads and a carved monkey claw, and gave it to me, saying, "Here, this is for you."
SODO 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
negativeSPACE
PLEASE MEET AUNTIE:
What happens when all the in-between left over undeveloped wiggle room spaces are gone in this city? Before we finish making Seattle all beautiful new, seems like we should build affordable housing for everyone first.
After the City of Seattle sweep took place on Occidental South, where three blocks of vehicles and tents were cleared, this is where Auntie and her dog Baxter ended up. Up against an abandoned building.
She's a woman in her 60's sleeping on the pavement without protection from the elements. Everybody okay with sweeps?
She's been there for two days with no sleeping bag or tent, just a blanket and a couple of coats. I asked what if it rains? She smiled at me for a moment and said, "I'll be alright."
After she finished the breakfast sandwich and coffee I brought, and after I agreed to come back with a pack of Camel 100s, which was a new experience having never bought cigarettes before, I thought to myself, I know she said she's alright, but the honest truth is, I'm not.
It comes in waves. Right now I'm not okay with this situation. Sorry for the rant. I'm not pointing fingers, none of us are individually to blame, but somehow, here we are.
I've come to be good friends with Auntie. Here is the problem with friendship. You begin to care. When you live in a city, no, in a country with a broken relationship to those in need, it places a heavy burden on the individual reaching out. It kills connections that are vital to a healthy community. It begins with guilt and turns to frustration. And ultimately, it has all of us turning away, walking past, making up excuses like, 'The homeless choose to be homeless', or 'They deserve it.'
We need to get more creative and compassionate than sweeping people. We need to work to fix the system that separates us and we need to keep reaching out to 'Just Say Hello' no matter how difficult it can be. We need to do this for those living outside and we need to do it for ourselves.
I love you Auntie, you are all BEAUTIFUL my friend.
Atlantic 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 #FacingHomelessness #Kindness
beautifulLOVE
PLEASE MEET BECCA:
Up until two years ago Becca was living in a tent. She lived on the streets from 2007-2018. The police swept her little tent community two years ago and uprooted everything that she knew.
The worst part was that she was very ill, finding out later she had pneumonia. Debbie and Damian came to the scene and got her the hospital care she needed. Eventually the LOVE van scooped her up and got her into this tiny house in Georgetown Nickelsville so she could stay warm and rest in a bed. She has been here for two years and is very grateful for that.
Becca has seven kids and 14 grandkids!
She has lived in Tennessee, Detroit back in the 60's, Apache Junction AZ, and Seattle. Although she is 56 years old, she has the spirit of a young girl. She loves art and would love more art supplies. She dreams of getting a rottweiler puppy one day. She has seen several UFO's in her life and talks to ghosts regularly. She is interesting, spiritual, smart, and very sweet. She has spoken at city hall as a voice for the homeless community, and wants to do more of that.
Becca you are beautiful and loved!
Georgetown Nickelsville Village | Dawndra
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
commonGROUND
MEET THE SWEEPS:
THANKSGIVING is a day dedicated to giving thanks. We spend time with family and friends, grateful to be among those we love and those that love us. Life is GOOD!
How about we follow with a day of REACHING-OUT. A day of calling that friend you had a falling out with or a family member you haven't talk to in two years. How about we all make the call that is most difficult for us, putting judgment and hurt aside and give openness and LOVE.
IMAGINE a community spending time listening, loving and ultimately healing. This begins with each of us reaching-out. Facing Homelessness believes we heal community and end homelessness one relationship at a time. We can do this!
So let's talk about City of Seattle SWEEPS.
Let's begin by reaching-out to find common ground. Let's hold these two thoughts: 1.) Sweeps are traumatic for those being swept, and, 2.) Homelessness is traumatic for those with a business or a residence when it comes to bear at their doorstep. These are both truths.
Even though we can agree with both individually we spend much of our time polarized into one of the two camps they represent. We have turned the sweep conversation into 'Should they stay or should they go?'
This means we have not evolved the conversation. The discussion has been reduced to one devoid of creativity and compassion for the homeless, producing cruel and wasteful solutions such as sweeps, fencing, hostile architecture, lack of garbage service, lack of bathroom facilities, and more.
We have also abandoned our business community and certain neighborhoods to take the brunt of a societal breakdown. This is simply not fair. Homelessness should be addressed by all of us, not just the few where it shows up. For those that have received this burden, solutions offered have also been devoid of creativity and compassion, producing hardships across the board for so many.
We must reach-out to each other. We must begin by having all voices at the table. Specifically the voices that have been and are being traumatized on both sides. All as equal voices. We lean into the harder work of an equitable solution by knowing we will need to give to get, finding deeper solutions that answer to both. Anything less just continues the trauma.
Our turn to be homeless could be around the corner, or someone homeless could come to our doorstep. The time to reach-out and have the difficult conversation is now. We must acknowledge that we are all connected, we are all one. Let's get busy finding our common ground.
Seattle neighborhoods | 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