Client Support Fund Update!

Client Support Fund Update!

We want to give everyone who’s donated to our Client Support Fund a HUGE thank you! With your donations, we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to support our Window of Kindness clients in several ways!

Not only were a number of art supplies provided for Dean, but our client David had an opportunity to obtain a cell phone and tablet from Assurance Wireless for only $25 dollars! Because of the Client Support Fund, we were able to make the purchase for him, and he received his devices within two weeks.

Additionally, with your donations, we were able to support our long-time client and friend of Facing Homelessness, Steve, by paying for his phone bill so he could stay connected to his community. We were also able to purchase a long sleeved shirt for our friend, Joshua, who struggles with a sun allergy and requires extra protection. Joshua did not have the financial capacity to purchase one for himself, so we immediately said “this is something we can help with.”

Since we’ve been able to provide one of our clients, David, with some much needed technology, he told us “Since you’ve gotten me a phone and tablet, I’ve been able to stream applications when I’m at the Shelter in my room, I’ve been able to make appointments and also be connected to my friends. When I didn’t have a way to stay connected, I started feeling out of touch with everyone, which can be depressing sometimes.”

Any time we can financially support our community with small necessities such as this, it’s a huge win for us, and we wish for nothing more than to be able to continue to share these resources.

And you can help! You can donate to our client support fund here: https://givebutter.com/FHClientSupportFund

Donations go towards creating sustainable avenues of stability for our clients and provide them with some financial relief. If you have capacity, please consider donating to this much needed cause.

Lastly, we'd like to share with whomever may be in need: if you are eligible for SNAP/EBT and have never received a phone through Assurance Wireless before, you are also eligible to apply for a cellphone! Please see the comments of this post for the Assurance Wireless Link.

Thanks to everyone in advance!

University District Neighborhood|

Window of Kindness efforts in the midst of a flooding

Dear Community; As the imminent effects of climate change impact all of us across the globe in multiple ways, we know that the extreme floodings that we are experiencing here on the West Coast of this country are not an exception. That is why we would like you to hear the own reflections of our wonderful team members Karina Wallace (Community Programs Manager), Maja Evans (Community Programs Coordinator), and Elena Lecoq (our MSW Practicum Student | Resource Navigator here at Facing Homelessness) as they narrate how they turned the issue having our Window of Kindness closed due to the weather, into an outreaching opportunity in the encampments based on the surroundings of our building, where they were able to connect with new neighbors, share resources and spread the word about our services here at Facing Homelessness. Thank you very much, Karina, Maja, and Elena!!!

Elena Lecoq;

“Closing the window during the first week of the new year due to sewage issues was disappointing, but when Karina thought of doing an outreach event where many of our visitors are located, I was fully on board. It was special to meet folks right where they were instead of normally having folks coming to us. Many folks seemed surprised and excited when we arrived with pizza, sandwiches, water, soda, chips, and coats. Folks were smiling as they hurriedly called over their friends to come to grab some food from us. We were also able to connect with folks who have never heard of Facing Homelessness before and provide them with information about our Window of Kindness Program. I hope to see them visit our window in the future and get to do more outreach events.”

Maja Evans;

I was so grateful we were able to bring the Window of Kindness to our clients when we were unable to use our office last week due to plumbing issues. One of our regular clients was kind enough to escort us to their encampment and spread the word amongst their neighbors and friends that we had food and supplies to give away. I'm always so blown away by how kind and understanding our clients are; this past week was no exception. Doing this outreach event made me think about how much effort our clients put into coming to our Window of Kindness, and I hope we're able to do more events like this so our clients can have more opportunities to rest in their encampments while also still receiving the food and supplies they need!

Karina Wallace;

I am so grateful for my colleagues Maja and Elena who jumped on their feet when they heard that I was hoping to do an outreach day around the University District, where a lot of our clients live. We have all been so devastated by the flood in our building that has prevented us from seeing our clients all week, so the fact that we were able to achieve this and share with our clients the much-needed supplies we had was unforgettable and is something that we wish and hope to do more of in the near future!

University District | Karina, Maja, Elena and Clàudia

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit https://facinghomelessness.org/donate/

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 #theblockproject

Mural Magic - It takes a Village!

On Saturday, October 8th, one of our long held dreams for The Window of Kindness came true! Thanks to the collaborative team at Color Speaks, funding from Gensler Architects and our wonderful volunteers, The Window of Kindness now has a mural! A special element of this project is that the Color Speaks team, Ryan and Sara, have created a model that gives communities the opportunity to design and create a mural together. This collaboration was incredibly important so our visitors continue to have a space that welcomes them, where they feel safe and have a sense of ownership and connection. This whole project exemplified exactly that. We hear often that our clients have very limited opportunities to be a part of decision making processes, so we were excited to partner with a company that took the time to involve our full community.

Ryan Shared, “I think what was really cool about this process, is that while it was designed, it was designed in collaboration with your clients, and so there was crowdsourcing in terms of what kind of subjects we could think about, what kind of art we could think about that would be well received and would be calming and create a space where people would want to be. I think that was the best part of it. And so the design was in community with your clients. And so I think that's really what drove a lot of our thinking.”

Sara added, “Yeah, I mean, that made it really special because before we had made a few concepts that we had thought like maybe this will resonate, and just concepts based on our initial conversations with Karina and Jennifer, but then they actually printed them and posted them and just started having conversations with your clients about what they like and what they wanted to see. One of the clients moved me, made me cry. They said something along the lines of, ‘We're surrounded by concrete and dirt all the time and we live in this beautiful city and we don't actually get to experience the nature of it.’ So from that point, we've pivoted to something that felt more like landscape…more literal nature…an urban oasis.”

There were so many beautiful moments of connection during the day. The sun was shining, there were fresh doughnuts and tons of donated pizza, for visitors and volunteers, and music which set a relaxing and also energizing tone. When our first shift of volunteers left, the speaker and the music went with them. As our visitors started to arrive in the afternoon for the Window of Kindness one of our regular visitors noted the lack of music. He then generously offered his speaker and became the DJ for the rest of the afternoon. This led to great conversations over everyone’s universal love of music and mutually loved songs and artists.

Throughout the event, we were reflecting on everyone who came to participate and how special it felt to be a part of something that’s dedicated to love, compassion, and belonging. Each individual, parents and their kiddos, clients and pets, staff and volunteers, came together to make this mural-magic happen. How beautiful our connection and relationships can be when we come together with open hearts! Whether housed or unhoused, we all have the opportunity to make a difference in our communities when working alongside each other, and that is the whole mission of Facing Homelessness.

We are so grateful to everyone who made the mural and the event possible; Our clients, volunteers, the Color Speaks Team, Gensler Architects and staff at Facing Homelessness. All of our programs are volunteer powered, and we are constantly reminded how deeply we are rooted in the community walking alongside us.

University District | Karina, Jennifer, Clàudia

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 #theblockproject

feelGOOD

When was the last time you got a haircut?

For some of our Window of Kindness visitors, it’s been years, and for others, even decades.

On Saturday, May 28th, Facing Homelessness hosted a free haircut event as part of our Window of Kindness Program in partnership with Arianna, who volunteered her talent and skills as a hairdresser. Arianna shared the following about her connection to homelessness and why she was moved to support our clients “As a child, I had a foster sister who was around when I was born. She was at least 18 years older than me; she had experienced numerous trauma growing up; so by the time my parents were able to foster her, she had already been out on the streets…for a long time, she babysat me. She was a very important part of my life. Thanks to my experience with my sister, I started to know the homeless folks on my walk from the ferry to Capitol Hill, and they eventually became my friends…I brought them books and care packages. They were always human to me, they were always important.”

Arianna also experienced housing insecurity so being able to navigate out of homelessness, and wanting to share her passion, Arianna was inspired to find a way to contribute her skills in cosmetology to support folks who’re living unhoused, and who are unable to access this resource.

When we talk about “coming closer” and “getting Involved” with something you’re skilled with, and/or passionate about, it is because we see individuals, families, school, sports, and church communities and more sharing in this way . Each one of us has something special we can share with one another, whether it’s a listening ear, a contagious smile, our time, being an amazing hairstylist, or whatever else it may be! If anything is certain in our world, it’s that we all have kindness that we can share with one another, and we all have ways we can get involved with something we are passionate about.

The Window of Kindness is one space that allows us to not only show kindness, but use it, and share it with others and we can create our own spaces. “If you are willing, just briefly, to take a moment and sit with someone and listen... to their soul, their heart, where they may have been unseen, unheard or misunderstood, you may give them something small, or you may be giving them something mighty. Give your heart and patience, we all need it. We all deserve it”. - Arianna

University District | Clàudia

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 #theblockproject

windowFACES

PLEASE HEAR KARINA:

Karina answers the phone. “I’m obviously concerned,” she breathes into the phone. “This whole week we’ve heard that it’s supposed to snow. It has me worried.” Karina runs the Window of Kindness and sees firsthand how the needs among our unsheltered friends and neighbors become more acute as the temperatures drop. New faces, longer lines, and hectic service hours are all symptoms of the pandemic, and they are increasing. She knows our supplies are in demand and decreasing. At the window, life-saving supplies are given to neighbors living outside. People also come for conversation, a kind face, deep compassion, and someone who knows their name. Karina is all of these things, and she’s under pressure with winter’s harsh arrival.

“Somebody was recently hospitalized because of frostbite. Their toes were amputated.” There’s a pause again. “It’s going to happen even more in the weeks to come. It’s making me sad. We need more supplies. I feel helpless.” Now, it’s my turn to inhale.

“Seeing people freezing, barely able to move their hands, shivering out in the cold . . . it’s really impacting me. I see people suffering. It’s not that I hear people complaining. It’s just seeing it with my own eyes. No one has to say anything, I can tell from their faces.” Karina holds so many stories. “People are getting sick from the cold. Emotions have been intense this week. We lift spirits, but we haven’t had blankets. People are getting discouraged when we don’t have sleeping bags. It’s harder to say no and see their reactions.”

This, friends, is why we ask you to come closer. COVID limits proximity, but that hasn’t applied to the window, or to Karina. She’s been here, every week, throughout the entirety of the pandemic. Karina knows the look of suffering in someone's eyes when they smile, thank her, and turn to brave another cold night in frost-bitten Seattle. Now, we need you.

Our friends need sleeping bags, tents, tarps, blankets, and hand-warmers. Can you commit to sending something for next week? And maybe the week after? A steady stream of supplies will save lives. Drop off or mail to: 4001 9th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105. Thank you.

University District Neighborhood | Barron

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! #facinghomelessness #justsayhello #kindness #TheBLOCKProject #yesinmybackyard

IMAGINEif Someone Listened And Did Not Judge

IMAGINEif Someone Listened And Did Not Judge:

As we turn the calendar page to a new year, we can feel a palpable, collective sense of relief. But many of the challenges of 2020 will come with us into the new year, and not all of us will look at 2021 and see it as a fresh start. In fact, the number of people living outside in Seattle is growing.

If we all play our part, this community can and will rise to meet those challenges. We’ve done it before, so many times. Ten years ago, we were a Facebook page. Today, we’re a connected community that is actively building the world we want to live in.

This incredible community is stepping up more than ever. Over the holidays, we took the Window of Kindness to the streets and met unhoused people where they were to distribute sleeping bags, tents, and survival kits.

But it’s not just our staff that are stepping up. You, our incredible community, are stepping up too. You’re finding ways to use your resources and your compassion to shape the future of people living outside. We’ve seen a huge increase in donations of food and survival items to the Window of Kindness - items that can literally save lives during a cold, uncaring winter.

One of our volunteers knows how to sew. She used that skill to design sleeping bag liners with built-in pockets for hiding necessary items overnight. She refined the design based on feedback from people who needed to use them. Now, we’re distributing those liners at the Window of Kindness as quickly as she can make them.

Even if you can’t sew, or don’t have spare time to volunteer, there is still something you can do right now to be part of the solution. You can donate. Funding is the fuel for our engine of compassion and kindness. The more we have, the farther we can go.

https://give.classy.org/FH2020

Small acts of kindness matter on a bigger scale than we realize, and huge changes start with small steps forward. One donation, one smile, one hot meal, and one home at a time, we are creating a better world together. We are just about $5,000 shy of our stretch goal - help us meet it by midnight tonight and we’ll be another step closer.

With gratitude,
The Facing Homelessness staff, board and volunteers

IMAGINEif: we all turned belief into action

IMAGINEif we all turned belief into action:

Friends, belief is powerful. From the very beginning, everything Facing Homelessness does has been driven by our belief that we all have a part to play in ending the homeless crisis.

Our beliefs drive us to welcome people who’ve been isolated. Our beliefs guide us to look people in the eyes, listen to their stories, treat them with compassion, and provide the immediate resources of food, clothing, and kindness that they need. Our beliefs turn extra space in people's backyards into safe, warm homes for the unsheltered community members who surround our neighborhoods.

Belief can only take us so far. It has to be fueled by shared efforts and commitments that lie within each of us. Ultimately, it takes shared resources. This community and donors like you are the reason this work is possible - and the reason we’ve raised $129,000+ towards our $200,000 year-end fundraising goal.

https://give.classy.org/FH2020

We need to hit that goal! If you haven’t donated yet to IMAGINEif, our 2020 Year-End Campaign, please donate today. Share the campaign with those who trust and support you. We need you to believe in Facing Homelessness, and to turn that belief into action.

If you believe that where you live does not define who you are - donate now. If you believe we all live better when we feel loved - donate now. If you believe in second chances - donate now.

Together, we can end homelessness.

https://give.classy.org/FH2020

What you give now will be doubled by a generous matching donor. You will help shape the future of someone living outside, the future of our city, and the future of Facing Homelessness. Please, give what you can today.

With gratitude,
The Facing Homelessness staff, board and volunteers

IMAGINEif: everyone had what they needed to be OK

IMAGINEif everyone had what they needed to be OK:

Since the pandemic began, the Window of Kindness (WOK) has
remained open every single week. In that time, the number of visitors we support has nearly doubled, averaging thirty visitors per day. With cold weather and rain approaching, we’re anticipating increases. Our visitors have expressed enormous gratitude, sharing that organizations like ours across the city have shrunk or disappeared as non-profts work hard to adapt.

Because of YOUR support, we have adapted protocols, maintained dedicated volunteer support and kept the WOK open. The WOK is a survival service for our unsheltered community, providing tents, tarps, toiletries, food, eye contact, and more.

It is also a welcoming space of compassion without judgement. Here, anyone can sit by the window, tell their story, share their sorrows and celebrations, and receive the warmth of a caring, mindful individual who listens with love about the daily cycles of strengths, hopes, and sorrows. Karina Wallace, our Community Programs Manager, is shown in this photo, masked and always ready to support our clients every day the window is open.
https://give.classy.org/FH2020

This week we've raised $129,135 through our #IMAGINEif end of year campaign, and are well on our way to our $200,000 goal! In order to continue meeting the needs of this community, we're asking for your support. Can you pitch in? Donate whatever feels meaningful, whether it's $5 or $5000, and you are investing in relationship-based solutions. Remember, every dollar you give is matched!

THANK YOU,
Facing Homelessness staff, board, and volunteers

goodNEIGHBOR

PLEASE MEET ANNIE:

Every Tuesday Annie Baur brings a car-load of sandwiches and groceries from St. Joseph's parishioners to the Facing Homelessness 'Window of Kindness', wowWOW!

There are so many ways to be goodGOOD neighbors!!

St. Joe's Deacon Steve Wodzanowski is a friend to the homeless community, encouraging all of us to 'Just Say Hello' and join in the work of Facing Homelessness.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Annie, Steve and all the fine folks being good neighbors at St. Joe's. All LOVE to you.

For those of you looking to give immediate help, we are currently in need of socks!!! Please shipTO: Facing Homelessness 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105.

Also, check out our ABOUT tab on this page for our donation Wish-List for additional items. THANKS so very much!

https://smile.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/10WT5CGWI5BTA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_979Hyb98JKG8H?fbclid=IwAR3EfJuM5_tKqC_3hQtkpJn-IbHjyvN6j64A-SkOFDMs_7OHGcziVNeHvZA

Capitol 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 Crosscut KING 5