Block Home 16 Open House

We're thrilled to share that we opened the doors of our 16th BLOCK Home, a labor of real community love. It is our tradition each time we open a BLOCK Home to plant flower bulbs for the future resident who will find a home here. With each handful of soil, we shared dreams of stability, comfort, and new beginnings for those who will call this house their own.

Now it’s your turn - comment below to offer your own wishes of what this BLOCK Home will provide.

Huge appreciation to the neighbors who attended and brought a beautiful welcome home basket for this home’s resident. We're also excited that many new volunteers expressed how meaningful seeing the completed home is, and that they look forward to more engagement opportunities with us!

The combined efforts of our staff, volunteers, host, Eliza, and partners have made this 16th BLOCK home a reality. Our community blooms when we take care of our own.

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!

Facing Homelessness: Re-Introduction

Hey, we see some new faces around here! We thought it was time to formally re-introduce ourselves.

We're Facing Homelessness, an organization working to end homelessness through community engagement and relationship building. Our purpose is to increase connection, belonging, and stability for those experiencing homelessness.

We operate programs like: The Window of Kindness, where volunteers provide essential supplies and a listening ear to our unhoused neighbors. The BLOCK Project builds fully equipped tiny homes in backyards for those experiencing homelessness to have a place to call home. Our Companionship Program connects community volunteers and members of the BLOCK Home community for mutual relationship building and support.

Our mission is to inspire deliberate community mobilization towards ending homelessness by engaging people to be part of the solution. We envision a world where homelessness no longer exists, guided by values of compassion, equity, collective responsibility, accountability, and action.

Now that you know us, we want to get to know you! Introduce yourself below and why you're joining us on the mission to end homelessness.

With So Much Gratitude,

The Facing Homelessness Team

Volunteer Orientation

Our recent January 4th orientation brought 12 new folks excited to volunteer with the Window of Kindness. We're thrilled to onboard more dedicated team members to help at The Window during this ongoing harsh winter weather.

We'll hold our next Window of Kindness orientation on February 1st for anyone eager to learn more about this volunteering. Whether you can commit weekly or occasionally, we have openings to fit different availabilities. Sign up at https://facinghomelessness.volunteerhub.com/vv2/

It takes a crew of caring volunteers to keep the Window of Kindness running as a reliable source of support this time of year. That's why we feel enthusiastic about continuing to expand the team with passionate Seattleites.

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!

Melinda Gates and Facing Homelessness!

On June 12th, we were honored to host 40 volunteers from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation between our BLOCK Shop and Window of Kindness.

The day was filled with assembling panels for our upcoming BLOCK Home 16 and serving visitors out of our Window of Kindness, in addition to helping assemble life-saving naloxone kits and helping us organize our sock wall.

One volunteer shared, “Volunteering with you today felt like home, it is the most welcoming volunteering experience I have ever had, and I’ve volunteered with… other organizations, this was definitely my favorite.”

Between these forty volunteers, we received over 100 hours of volunteer support! Thank you Gates Foundation for helping us address our housing crisis and serving our street-based neighbors with the love and compassion we are all due.

Is your organization interested in volunteering? Contact us at info@facinghomelessness.org and let us know what kind of volunteering you and your teammates would like to do with us! Or check out this page on our website for other ideas on how your workplace could get involved: https://facinghomelessness.org/involve-your-business.

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!

volunteerVOICES

volunteerVOICES

Volunteers make everything we do at Facing Homelessness possible! From handing out warm meals at the Window of Kindness, to insulating wall panels and raising roofs at the BLOCK Project, Facing Homelessness is truly a grassroots movement of caring, passionate, and action-oriented people who know that we all have a role to play in creating the standard of housing as a human right!

Sinéad, a BLOCK Project volunteer had this to share about her experience volunteering with Facing Homelessness: "I love volunteering with the Block Project as it allows me to do something that directly impacts the life of another person. I know that through donating my time and money I am helping someone take a step forward in making a new life for themselves.

Last week it struck me, as I was up a ladder, electric drill in hand that I was literally helping to put a roof over someone’s head. It’s not often you get to say that. "

Inspired to volunteer with Facing Homelessness? We are always looking to grow our team of dedicated volunteers like Sinéad. In fact, we have an orientation coming up on July 6th. Learn more and sign up at https://facinghomelessness.volunteerhub.com/vv2/.

#volunteering #volunteervoices #FacingHomelessness #TheBLOCKProject #Communitypowered

A Heartfelt Thank You!

A Heartfelt Thank You!

To our incredible supporters and volunteers,

We are filled with deep gratitude for the overwhelming success of our recent BLOCK Party fundraiser. With this being the first time we could gather in person since 2019, we weren’t sure what to expect, but on May 17th, our community of donors and volunteers turned up to once again say YES to the BLOCK Project and to our mission of creating a compassionate and inclusive world.

Our BLOCK Captains, hailing from FSi, Heartland Construction, GGLO, Miller Hull, Starbucks, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Revolve Development and Evolution Projects and SHKS collectively raised over 160K for the BLOCK Project, 10K over our stated goal. To all our supporters of the BLOCK Party, your belief in Facing Homelessness creates permanent housing for our currently unsheltered neighbors.

We also cannot thank our volunteers enough. They showed up to help us set up, take pictures, record bids and make sure everyone had enough to eat and drink throughout the night. Your support made this event a success and reminded us of the power of what we can achieve when we come together.

Thanks to your collective efforts, we have raised vital funds to provide immediate support, essential resources, and life-changing opportunities to those experiencing homelessness through the BLOCK Project. Together, we are building a stronger foundation of support and compassion.

We are excited to keep you updated on what we accomplish this next year with your support. Let's continue this journey together, striving for a world where every person is seen, valued and loved, and everyone has a place to call home.

From the depths of our hearts, thank 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! #theblockproject #facinghomelessness #housing #CommunityPowered

stillHERE

STILL HERE:

STILL HERE. One 24-hour period in our country will, for some, change everything. At the Window of Kindness, and in our BLOCK Home workshop, however, little will change. We're still here. Our community is still here. You're still here!! And those who need the warmth of compassion, heartfelt listening, and care are still here.

In this year of COVID-19, a crucial race and equity reckoning, and a national election, our conversations and dedicated intention to serving those who arrive at our doorsteps is UNchanged. Our commitment to holding our story-filled companions GENTLY and with care is unchanged. Tomorrow will be as yesterday was, and our mission and role will remain the same: To invite community into the work of ending homelessness. THANK YOU for holding this vision and work in your hearts and for each time you've decided to walk together with us along this path.

allNEIGHBORS

WE ARE ALL NEIGHBORS:

Today we share a third coreBELIEF that informs our work and inspires the culture of KINDNESS and JOY that is the Facing Homelessness community.

"We are all neighbors."

If we are to end homelessness we must bring those in need closer to us rather than push them away. We must see the person rather than be overwhelmed by the issue.

When we build relationships the barriers of fear come down, trust is built, and hope found. And hope is everything for those that have nothing.

This is what we can do for each other.

We know this because this is what our BLOCK Project is doing for neighborhoods across our city. This sustainable solution is bringing people closer and providing opportunities for everyone to be a good neighbor!

Bobby is 76 years old, First Nation Cree. He lived for ten years on the streets of Seattle but now lives in his own BLOCK Home with a kitchen, bath, bed, covered porch and a garden, all in Kim & Dan's backyard on Beacon Hill. He's lived there for over two years now. Their lives and so many others involved in the BLOCK Project have profoundly changed because of these new beautiful friendships!

We now have (9) BLOCK Homes built and placed in Seattle backyards and we are just getting started! By taking part in this fundraiser you are confirming our coreBELIEF that we are all neighbors and that together we can do anything!

https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387

Kim shared, "We gave up a little piece of our backyard and received a whole new world in return." Not a bad trade!

If you believe in the work Facing Homelessness is doing with the 'BLOCK Project', our 'Window of Kindness', the 'Just Say Hello' campaign, and the 'Community CleanUPs', then please support us in this daily journey of KINDNESS and JOY!

https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387

THANK YOU from the Facing Homelessness staff and board!

buildingCOMMUNITY

PLEASE MEET BLOCK HOME #9

Today the BLOCK Project made front page of the Seattle Times. We are thrilled to say, READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/more-seattleites-are-housing-homeless-people-in-their-backyards-but-its-happening-slowly/?fbclid=IwAR03SIk6nmNgr5bjeLyr0kydwjtGPchDwcKP69AwS0jhmolVLRrQMj_XE70

We believe that the homelessness crisis is actually a community crisis. This is an important distinction for all of us.

When we talk about the homelessness crisis, we often talk about those people over there. However, when we talk about a community crisis, we include ourselves. In this moment we join the solution for ending homelessness.

We measure success for the BLOCK Project by the thousands of activated minds and hearts for our brothers and sisters living on our streets. Talk to anyone that has contributed to this community building project and you will be moved by their excitement and compassion.

A big beautiful THANK YOU Audrey & Keith Baedke for saying "Yes in my backyard to BLOCK Home #9!" Your family is all goodness and kindness! Thank you for showing us how to better live together!

A heartfelt thank you Jeff & Meredith Browand family & friends for your never-ending belief in this project and for raising $35K to make this home possible!

A heartfelt thank you Kenner, Jeff, Cheryl and staff at Architectural Nexus in Salt Lake City for not only building this home & shipping it to Seattle but also pushing for Living Building Challenge certification!

While there are so many in this community that have contributed above and beyond, see more names in the comments, I want to give a heartfelt THANKS to each person on the Facing Homelessness staff and board and to the BLOCK Architects staff. Each and every person on this extended team shares a joyous steadfast belief in this community building project!!!

I'll end by sharing a quote from today's article. Sara Rankin, professor of law at Seattle University and founder of the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project, shares that she sees the BLOCK Project as “one of the few bright lights in the way we talk about homelessness and housing and communities.”

Smiling for all the beautiful people in this community who are reaching out to make a difference for those in need. LOVE.

Seattle neighborhoods | Rex

www.the-block-project.org

communityJOY

PLEASE MEET ANCHOR QEA:

Check out the communityJOY being had by all of these super wonderfully beautiful amazing KINDpeople!

Last Saturday, in the rain mind you, a morning shift and an afternoon shift of friends came out to help landscape Doh Driver's backyard for BLOCK Home #6, wowWOW!! www.the-block-project.org

Facing Homelessness emphasizes to all its volunteers that having fun and getting to know each other comes first over everything else. Well, not safety, but everything else!! It's all about relationships! I had the biggest smile when coming around the corner and seeing two volunteers leaning on their shovels and passionately discussing worm-bins!

We end homelessness by getting to know each other and then together building healthy connected community!

Most of the folks who came out Saturday work at Anchor QEA, an engineering firm that prides itself in solving challenging problems to improve the environment and our communities!

https://www.anchorqea.com/

Lynn Turner of Anchor QEA said, "This work-party was organized as part of Anchor QEA's annual fall campaign that encourages staff to volunteer time for charitable organizations with missions that are important to them, with community service central to our core values as a company. The Anchor QEA staff members and friends really enjoyed a fun and fulfilling day. We were happy to be able to support our neighbors, build community, and help bring someone a little closer to a stable and sustainable life. Thank you so much for having us!"

Facing Homelessness is so very grateful to everyone at Anchor QEA for their beautiful energy and belief in making the world a better place for everyone!

A giantLOVE to Doh Driver for her steadfast compassion for those living outside without basic needs being met.

Lake City 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 Doh Driver Anchor QEA, LLC

givingKINDNESS

PLEASE MEET GAIL AND JAY

When I walked into Kathryn & Jeff's backyard in the Crown Hill neighborhood, where another BLOCK Home is nearly finished, Gail was on her knees scrubbing the decking and her husband Jay on a ladder cleaning the window.

It's easy to spot people who are self-motivated with a strong work ethic, they just go about getting things done. When you mix that with KINDNESS, you get positive change!

Jay & Gail Winberg make positive change happen! They both grew up in Seattle caring deeply about this city and specifically for those struggling without basic needs being met. Gail recalls back in 1980 Mayor Norm Rice's call-to-action around housing. In response, she and a small group started the University Congregational Housing Association, of which she was on the Board of Directors for 29 years!

For 10 years Gail was the coordinator of the University Church's Emergency Fund, an effort to address the needs of those walking into church's asking for help.

Then there is Gail and Jay's time given at the Thrift Store in the University Temple United Methodist Church. For the last 7 years Gail has helped co-manage the operation with Jay faithfully there every Friday making peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches!

Jay & Gail are not interested in receiving attention for their efforts, they are simply interested in real community driven solutions, looking for positive change. For this reason they have been supporting the BLOCK Project wholeheartedly!!

Their donated $35,000 built the BLOCK Home in Kathryn and Jeff's backyard, a home that Mark will be moving into this week, wowWOW!!

Facing Homelessness is beyond grateful for the funds that make this project possible. What is so beautiful about Gail & Jay is that they have not only contributed needed financial resources, they are community members that roll their sleeves up and jump in to make positive change happen!

So much LOVE and ADMIRATION for Gail & Jay from everyone in the Facing Homelessness community!!!

Crown Hill 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 #BlockArchitects Lockhart Suver, LLC

loveWINS

PLEASE MEET MARK

The BLOCK Project is profound in its depth of LOVE. Scores of ordinary people stepping forward with extra-ordinary acts of beautiful KINDNESS!!! Nowhere is this more evident than in those opening their backyard for a BLOCK Home, saying, "I want you to succeed" to someone in need!

BLOCK Home #5 Hosts, Kathryn Jacoby & Jeffrey Whitehill, married just two weeks ago, wowWOW, living in the Crown Hill neighborhood, invited Mark to live in their backyard BLOCK Home!

Kathryn said, "We are two people with an available backyard, how could we not when 12K people in King County live without a home." Jeff added, "I said yes because I love Kathryn, she is genuine, she lives her values."

Mark, who is moving into the newly built BLOCK Home next week, was a journalist in Bremerton when he learned he had congestive heart failure. The newspaper told him they would like to carry him, but they couldn't. After getting out of the hospital Mark became homeless for six months, it was seriously rough on him, he said, "Every day you have to fight to keep your spirits up, you have to believe in yourself to be able to push forward."

Mark's BLOCK Home, like all BLOCK Home's, was community funded, community built, and community supported!!! So very beautiful!

The highly sought after construction company Lockhart | Suver built the home for under $35K, providing ALL labor for free. Mark Urquhart, the Project Manager, put in countless hours of his own time building and managing the work. Keep in mind that a unit of supportive housing typically costs between $300-$350K, ten times a BLOCK Home!

Shawn Sandoval, with "Plumbers Without Borders" & Superintendent at Holmberg Mechanical provided his time for free; American Standard donated the plumbing fixtures; Dovetail General Contractors provided cabinets for free; Active Engineering donated the electrical labor; Solterra donated (8) solar panels; Weisman Design Group donated the landscape design; Mutual Materials provided discounted pavers; Cal Portland donated 6 yrds of gravel; Issaquah Cedar & Lumber Co. donated all cedar for decking & hemlock for trim; Cardinal Heating & Air donated the HRV & labor; Mighty Energy Solutions provided the free radiant ceiling panel; NW Partners LLC donated Vaproshield WRB; Pin Foundations Inc. provided free diamond piers; Milesi and Barron Specialty Coatings provided clear coat 50% off; just to name a few!!!

It is easy to see how wonderful you are Mark, wishing you the very best as you begin a new chapter of opportunity and hope, living in a loving community that believes in you!

Crown Hill 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 Lockhart Suver, LLC