"I was homeless from 2007 to 2014… I've been doing outreach work ever since. In fact, I started while I was homeless. I started this work in 2012. I do this because I’ve been there, I’ve seen it.....That is why now that I work at Scofflaw Mitigation Team and at the Safe Parking lot of the U Heights center, I know that in order for us as a society to assist, we must first truly try to understand what brought each individual to the situation they are in.” - Jen Adams
In May of this year, the City of Seattle started re-implementing a policy that prohibits vehicles to be parked on the same block for more than 72 hours. If one violates that policy, their vehicle can be impounded. These parking sanctions were put to a halt at the height of the pandemic giving everyone a space to shelter in place and avoid contact with others as well as moment to breathe and recuperate from the financial and human loss we collectively experienced. But that “moment to breathe” has not been enough for many members of our communities and the pandemic put many people in significantly worse situations than before.
For folks living in their vehicles, having their home impounded means living unsheltered. It means losing their safe space, their most important belongings, and an inability to reclaim their home due to unaffordable fees. For many of us, having a vehicle towed might be an inconvenience, but for people living in their vehicles it is devastating.
The University Heights Community Center and Scofflaw Mitigation Team, among other advocates and organizations, work very hard to assist folks whose cars are impounded by mitigating tickets and offering case management services - steering individuals towards finding stability and a healthy living and working environment.
At Facing Homelessness’ Window of Kindness we regularly see the impacts of the 72-hour rule, as well as the sweeps that have also been reinstated. Our visitors arrive having lost most or all of their possessions and are seeking support. We wanted to put a spot light on this issue and offer ideas for how our community can get involved so we met with Jen Adams of the Scofflaw Mitigation team. Jen graciously gave us her time and talked with us about her experiences with this issue and collaborating with the U Heights Safe Parking Lot program which is providing much needed support for folks living in their vehicles.
"I've tried to recover people's vehicles when they get sent to a tow yard so at least folks can recover their belongings and work tools. Clients report some of their items are missing and it does not feel like a secure place. That is what it means to experience this new parking regulation.”
When Jen was living unhoused she met our founder Rex and got to know Facing Homelessness. She is sharing her story and the story of her work in vehicle resident outreach, in hopes that those that have never experienced such a situation may understand the effects of the City’s 72-hour policy and take action to help.
"It took me a long time to claw my way out of being unhoused; I realized that very few people listened to me, to us. They othered me. We need to dig deep with people, to find out what their issues are so that we can help them steer their ship. I always say to the people I am working with, I'm not taking your ship. I don't want to drive it. I want to teach you how to steer it. Because everybody has a purpose and I want you to be able to find it.”
"In other places of the world, you can build a hut and live in it in peace. But not here: You're not allowed to exist. Not at all. We don't want to see you. We want you gone. We want you moved out of our sights and waterfront views. You can't be here, but we won’t also tell you where to go. That is why we need more safe parking lot spaces and social services like the ones we offer, like the ones Facing Homelessness offers. And if you're drowning in substance use disorder, let’s understand that it is a disease. It is because something bad happened. And now you're out in the middle of nowhere without a door to lock, without a way to keep your stuff and now you're spinning in circles because you don't know what to do. You just keep doing drugs to numb the pain so you can go on. That is why we must approach each one of us with kindness.”
Jen is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to navigating the system. She has the important numbers for tow yards, court dates and times for people who are low-income. “We tell everybody if they get a yellow sticker that they need to move the vehicle immediately. Because this administration is towing. Heavily. Right now there are a lot of people losing their vehicles. If it's not in their name, if the tabs aren’t current, it can be taken quickly.”
Jen’s knowledge and resources are critical for folks who rely on their vehicles for shelter. Some vehicles may not have been moved for a very long time over the past two years, and now may have mechanical issues.
"These are poor people who cannot afford anything. Whether or not they're on substances is beside the point. Because people housed are also on substances. This is affordable housing. This is the fact that five people can't share a house in the U district anymore. Apartments and structured housing have changed completely.”
We know that many of these folks are working towards being housed in a stable environment, surrounded by a supportive community, and being able to be employed with all their basic human needs being met. Loosing a vehicle serving as a home is a major setback on that journey. Jen notes the incredible resilience she sees in the face of these challenges.
What can we do? By raising awareness in our communities, we can educate and push our elected officials to implement kinder and more empathic regulations and invest in more affordable housing and safe parking lots. We encourage you to share this story with your family and friends and to think critically about ways we can create a safer space for all of us. If you know anyone who is living in a vehicle in threat of being towed, they can call 206-659-5512 with their name, plate, license and registration information.
The safer and more successful marginalized communities are, the more prosperous our city becomes for all of us. Check out the U Heights Center as well as Scofflaw Mitigation Team to see ways you can volunteer or donate!
Thank you Jen Adams, the Scofflaw Mitigation Team and University Heights for all of your advocacy and support for folks living in their vehicles!
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
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
happyFEET
When visitors show up at our Window of Kindness program, feet sore and tired after several miles of walking, one of the first things they tend to ask for is a pair of socks. For folks living outside, clean socks are an absolute necessity AND a very difficult thing to come by. Dirty, wet socks often cause painful and debilitating infections that make walking – and by extension, surviving outside – harder and harder.
We offer all types of socks including black, white, patterned and sport socks but black and white are most important. We have been fortunate that Bombas has partnered with Facing Homelessness to keep up our supply of black socks. Our white sock supply can be a bit more unpredictable and our current supply is nearly depleted.
Our visitors often request white socks because they more readily show foot infections, which are crucial to catch early on so that they don’t progress. For folks without a home, a new pair of white socks might be the difference between maintaining their health and developing a life-threatening and entirely preventable foot condition.
From our earliest days, we’ve been fortunate enough to honor our visitors’ requests for this basic need all thanks to YOUR generous support. Now, we’re asking you to help our visitors out once again!
We are grateful for any and all support, whether that’s one pair of socks or one hundred! We would love to see you in person if you would like to drop off socks or they can be delivered to Facing Homelessness | 4001 9th Ave Ne | Seattle, WA 98105. We welcome any brand, though here is one high quality and easy option on our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/.../ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws...
A warm and gracious thank you to all of you who are able to contribute to happyFEET and communityCARE!
One thing to please note: we are asking for new socks only! We want to make sure our visitors receive socks that are clean and will last. If you do have gently used, high quality socks that you’d like to donate, we’d recommend the sock closet at University Heights Community Center (it’s right next to the community fridge!).
ThankYOU!
University District Neighborhood | Kristina & Karina
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!
#facinghomelessness #theblockproject #windowofkindness #justsayhello
Volunteers are the heartbeat of Facing Homelessness, and there is nothing that makes us happier than to say THANK YOU during Volunteer Appreciation month!
We wanted to share a few specific messages to show how much we value your support and participation in our programs everyday, every week, every month, and every year.
Each volunteer plays a profound role within our community. We hope these messages allow you to reflect on just how important you as individuals are within our organization, in our lives and in taking action to address homelessness and help to create the world we want to live in.
If you are an aspiring volunteer you can learn more about our programs on the "Get Involved Page" of our website (https://facinghomelessness.org/get-involved). We look forward to working along side you!
WINDOW OF KINDNESS VOLUNTEERS: THANK YOU!
It has filled us with joy to witness how the Window of Kindness has blossomed this past year! The physical space is more accessible and expansive and we’re able to provide a greater range of items for our visitors thanks to this community. Additionally, the relationships that our visitors and volunteers have built with one another have deepened and strengthened so much over the past twelve months. As our cadre of volunteers has grown, so too has the network of community care, learning, and connection that binds this program together.
None of this would have been possible without each of YOU, whether you have been volunteering with us for years, months, or just a couple of shifts. It genuinely makes our days to have conversations with you all and watch you engage so kindly and generously with our Window of Kindness visitors. With all of our hearts and gratitude - thank you for showing up as your whole and authentic selves for our visitors. Thank you for being present for the whole spectrum of human experience that is the Window: the joy, sorrow, connection, hope, pain, frustration, and laughter. We learn so much from and with you.
BLOCK COMPANIONS: THANK YOU!
What is community? In the past year, one answer to that question has been the commitment and relationship building that our Companionship Program has seen. Our Volunteers and Residents who participate in the companionship program took a risk to lean in and get to know someone who, due to differing life experiences and paths, they might never have met otherwise. While we ask that everyone commit for a year, most of our original volunteers have been with us for two years and we have welcomed newer volunteers as the project has grown.
Companions and Residents steadfastly show up weekly or monthly to share walks, stories, pie, laughter and learning together. The authenticity, care, and intention each person brings to the program is invaluable. Community Companion Participants embody what it means to center relationships grounded in mutuality and sustainable community care just by showing up and being present for one another. The BLOCK Project is so much stronger for the community ties that Companions have created and we want to shout THANK YOU from the rooftops to all who are involved. This program has blossomed into what it is because of YOU.
CONSTRUCTION and BLOCK SHOP VOLUNTEERS: THANK YOU!
To our amazing crew of nearly 1,000 volunteers, thank you for fueling the mission and making community building so real!
Over the history of the BLOCK project, we've accumulated well over 10,000 volunteer hours in building and landscaping BLOCK homes. Your efforts have turned a compelling idea to a proven solution, and are a living expression of community taking action and working together.
Your dedication and commitment inspire us every day to charge forward in ending homelessness for one person, one BLOCK home and neighborhood at a time.
Please stay tuned for more landscaping and building opportunities over the next month or so at our 13th BLOCK home. Later this year, we'll be building homes in Greenwood and Bitter Lake.
With Gratitude,
The Facing Homelessness Team
Karina, Kristina, Angie, Phoebe, Berns, Jen, Jennifer, Kevin and Lisa
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!
#facinghomelessness #theblockproject #windowofkindness #justsayhello
volunteerPOWERED
Please meet Chloe and her mom, Terri, who have been part of the Facing Homelessness community since 2016. Chloe was introduced to Facing Homelessness through a field trip with her middle school leadership class in which they brought supplies collected by her whole school and did outreach with our unhoused neighbors alongside our staff.
Today, Chloe is getting ready to graduate from high school and she reflected on that experience: “I felt like it was the first time I had some understanding of what people go through and I realized that I was just kind of in this bubble, not having to even think about what people are dealing with. After hearing from the staff and seeing the photos and stories which were so powerful, it would have felt weird to not continue.”
Chloe stayed in touch, had conversations with her family, and began stepping out of her comfort zone to engage with her broader community in Skagit County. “I used to be very nervous talking to strangers and public speaking and all of that. Over time - telling people about what we were doing and Just Say Hello - I got more and more comfortable.”
Ultimately, Chloe decided she wanted to take on one distinct project that could make a difference in the lives of people who were living unhoused. And “Just Say Socks”, a clever play on our Just Say Hello campaign, was born. Her goal was to ensure our Window of Kindness visitors would have a sustainable source of socks while encouraging her community to build connections with their unhoused neighbors.
“When I started the sock drive in our community it was very small in the beginning, just my leadership class. But then a few years into it we connected with other schools in our valley, 5 or six schools from Skagit to Bellingham. They all took on the sock project and we got a challenge going with the different schools. Kids were coming up to me asking 'how can I help, what can I do, could I start a drive for something?' - just that ripple effect is huge.”
The “Just Say Socks” initiative was an ambitious endeavor and is still in place today. However, the scale of the project has grown significantly, from sock drives through local schools and organizations, to establishing a corporate partnership for Facing Homelessness. After hearing about Bombas, a sock company that gave away a pair of socks for every pair they sold, Chloe decided to write them a letter with Terri’s support. It worked! Chloe shares “That’s been the real game changer, building the relationship with Bombas.” It started with 1,000 pairs of socks per year and has grown to 3,500 - 5,000 pairs, and now Chloe and Terri are working on adding t-shirts and underwear to the mix.
This incredible partnership has supplied the Window of Kindness with a total of 15,000 pairs of socks with 3,500 more on the way for 2022. Socks meet one of the most critical needs for our visitors without stable housing. Having a sustainable source of socks has meant that our clients can rely on a new, clean pair to help keep their feet healthy. It also means we can focus on procuring donations for other critical needs such as tents, tarps, and sleeping bags.
Terri shared about Chloe’s journey that “It’s been a great family thing, a great connection for Chloe and I, and she has taught my husband and I so much about just having respect for people and understanding the concept of Just Saying Hello…now I always carry $5 in my pocket when we go to downtown Seattle.”
Chloe is off to college next year and we are so grateful that she and Terri will continue the Just Say Socks collaboration. Chloe also shared that she has seen major shifts over the years she has been engaging around the issue of homelessness. “It has changed my entire perspective about myself and I no longer see homelessness as one big thing - 'the homeless' - they are individual people who are really struggling. That has been the biggest thing to me. Adding that human piece to it.”
At the end of the day for Chloe and Terri it all comes down to building connection, showing love, and breaking down barriers, “You don’t have to give or have money but you can look someone in the eye and you can let them know I see you, I value you, you are a human.”
We are so grateful to Chloe and Terri for bringing their energy and creativity to this work and for joining us on the journey to end homelessness. We are able to make a difference for our unhoused neighbors together because of the countless individuals that find a place where we can help - thank you to Chloe, Terri and the Facing Homelessness Community!
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!
#facinghomelessness #theblockproject #windowofkindness #justsayhello
We're Hiring!
WE'RE HIRING!
And we need your help to spread the word!
https://facinghomelessness.org/meet-our-team
2022 has gotten off to a strong start for Facing Homelessness with your engagement and support! On heels of our most successful End of Year campaign, we have shared out our renewed Mission, Vision, and Values, our Window of Kindness is providing more support and supplies than ever before, and our BLOCK build season has launched with BLOCK Home 13 well underway and more homes to follow!
We are excited to share today that we are hiring for two new positions, Communications Manager and BLOCK Construction Assistant, to support our current work and take us to the next level in meeting the growing needs of our community.
Both positions will be open until filled but priority will be given to applications submitted in early April. If you or someone you know might be interested in applying, you can check out the detailed descriptions on our website which include priority application dates for each position. (https://facinghomelessness.org/meet-our-team) We would also love your support in sharing this announcement far and wide with your networks!
Thank you for everything you do to walk alongside us in this work!
With love and gratitude,
The Facing Homelessness Team
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!
#facinghomelessness #theblockproject #windowofkindness #justsayhello
heavyHEARTS
Our hearts are heavy.
While we are witnessing the beginning of a war that will likely kill, displace and make so many Ukrainian citizens homeless, we also woke up to new devastating news for some of our most vulnerable youth and Americans this week.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas issued a directive that criminalized gender-affirming medicine and support for trans and nonbinary youth. Health care workers, teachers, social workers and other Texans have been tasked with the cruel job of reporting trans and non binary youth to Child Protective Services so that their parents can be investigated for child abuse.
When we talk about systemic causes of homelessness, this is what we mean. Laws that make people unsafe in their homes and communities, and that will require loving parents to deny their children the opportunity to become their full selves and access their full potential, are not laws that protect people. They will undoubtedly lead to more trans and nonbinary youth, already disproportionately impacted by homelessness and violence, fleeing home and likely ending up with reduced support networks and resources.
As an organization that aims to end homelessness and celebrates the beauty of each individual no matter their gender, race, sexuality, country of origin, or housing status, we cannot stand silently by when we witness state level actions that will cause more people to deteriorate in their mental health, their family and community ties and ultimately in their housing stability.
If you are outraged as well or want to learn more, please consider looking into and making donations to the following causes:
https://txtranshealth.org/
https://www.transtexas.org/
https://allgo.org/
https://thriveyouthcenter.org/
University District Neighborhood| Phoebe
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!
#facinghomelessness #windowofkindness #TheBLOCKProject #kindness
overflowingLOVE
We are constantly filled with gratitude for the incredibly generous community members who regularly bring food for our Window of Kindness! Our hearts swell every time one of you knocks on our Windows with food in arms, because we know how important it has been for our unhoused neighbors who visit us each day.
Our community has stepped up even more now after we’ve recently opened on Saturdays, bringing food weekly or even several times each week so that we will always have something to offer our visitors.
With this amazing and vital growth in food donations, we need to make sure our food is safely stored. We rely on three mini fridges and a mini freezer, collected over the past two years, to ensure donations are safely stored. It is becoming more challenging fitting this delicious food into our four small fridges and we need to maximize the space in our office!
For that reason, we are making a big ask to our community: for a clean, full sized fridge that will allow us to continue to properly store the food that you all so graciously donate and accommodate more donations to meet the growing needs of our clients!
If you or someone you know happens to have a fridge they no longer want and/or are looking to donate we would love to hear from you! We would so appreciate it if it could be delivered to our office (we currently lack the equipment to pick it up and transport it here). Please contact karina@facinghomelessness.org and we can see what might be possible.
If we receive a larger fridge, we would love to donate our mini fridges to any community members or organizations who need one, so please also let us know if you or someone you know is interested.
thankYOU! Because you have shown up so graciously, we will continue to meet the growing need of our visitors!
University District Neighborhood| Kristina & Karina
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!
#facinghomelessness #windowofkindness #TheBLOCKProject #kindness
freshSTART
PLEASE MEET MICHELLE:
Michelle has had a long rough road to travel in life. She's tough as nails and at the very same time is as sweet as can be. She cares about you, even when she’s yelling at you. My heart goes out to her for all she goes through on a daily basis. She knows the struggle of survival.
Michelle is in and out of the emergency room. She has heart problems and more. She’s what the nurses call a ‘frequent flyer’. Sometimes it’s because her feet and legs have swelled to the point of bursting, other times she’s gasping for air, unable to catch her breath.
Michelle lives in an RV with her dog Syd. They are best friends. I can tell you that Syd is the out-of-control friendly type! There have been an uncountable number of times I’ve opened the RV door to have Syd nearly knock me back off the step with his paws in my chest. It makes me smile to think of it as I hear Michelle yelling for Syd to stop and get back, get back!
There is so much I can share about Michelle and our 8 year friendship. So many stories. What I want to tell you right now though is that Michelle needs help. The RV she lives in leaks something horrible. There is black mold everywhere. Rats have eaten through much of the interior, including through some of the electrical. She says, “I can deal with all that is going wrong but I am at my end with the rats. There are too many of them. I wake up at night and they are crawling on me. I can’t stay here anymore.”
The problem is, she has nowhere else to go. Nowhere.
We are making two ASKS of our community:
Does anyone have an RV they want to donate, or sell cheapCHEAP, to Michelle? If you do, please contact rex@block-architects.com.
Can you donate to help purchase a used RV for Michelle? We are hoping to raise $2K.
UPDATE: Givebutter link has been removed in that our goal of raising $2,000 has been reached with $2,707 donated!!! WowWOW! We know this will be incredibly helpful to Michelle and her well-being, and make her heart warm with love. A HEARTFELT thanks to everyone for your kindness and support!! Please note that no funds will go directly to Michelle, no funds go to Facing Homelessness, as is always the case, and if there are funds remaining, they will go to someone with a like need. Thanks SO very much!
If you'd like to continue to support Facing Homelessness's work, please visit: https://givebutter.com/facing-homelessness
A heartfelt THANKS in advance for any and all donations. This will be a fresh start for Michelle. She needs it. In my opinion, she deserves it.
Wallingford Neighborhood | 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!
#facinghomelessness #windowofkindness #TheBLOCKProject #kindness
communityOPPORTUNITY
PLEASE MEET KEITH:
In the winter of 2019 Keith Hughes began a makeshift Warming Shelter in West Seattle for those living outside. He didn’t have the experience or knowledge to be doing this, he just did it. He couldn’t stand to see folks wet and cold with no place to go and warm up.
One of the many responsibilities Keith has taken on in life is being President of the West Seattle Veterans Center. In doing so it presented him with an opportunity. He will tell you, “It has always bothered me to see buildings with empty space while people struggle outside in the wet and cold. Now that I manage the Veterans Center building, I can do something about it.”
When Keith first opened the doors to those in need it was the only Warming Shelter in West Seattle. It still is. When the community heard what he was doing they responded immediately with cots, blankets, clothing, and food. It was overwhelming and beautiful.
Now in his 4th winter of giving care to those struggling in the cold, Keith needs our help. He’s in his 70’s and is exhausted. In addition to the folks he is serving, he’s been remodeling the building to meet code requirements for the kitchen and bathrooms, often dipping into his own 401K. To meet the growing need he needs us now. He needs volunteers and funds.
If you can help with either or both, please do. Keith is a doer, but he can only do so much.
If you want to get involved please email pecharalala@gmail.com. There is lots to do so please let us know time availability and what you would like to offer in terms of labor and services. Tomasz will get back to each person to pre-screen them for Keith.
If you would like to donate funds you can do so here - https://gofund.me/1daf9797. We are hoping to raise $6,000.00 to help cover utility bills. Contributions are tax deductible as the West Seattle Veterans Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Keith believes in the strength and compassion of the community stepping forward to be there for each other. When the BLOCK Project was first putting homes in backyards for the homeless Keith donated an uncountable number of hours through his company West Seattle Electric & Solar to install the electrical and solar systems. That’s just the kind of person he is.
So much LOVE for you Keith. A heartfelt THANK YOU for all that you do for our community!
West Seattle Neighborhood | 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!
#facinghomelessness #TheBLOCKProject #windowofkindness
firstSTEP
PLEASE MEET KAITLYN:
CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics estimated 93,331 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2020, an increase of 29.4% from the 72,151 deaths in 2019. 93,331 overdose deaths in one year.
Kaitlyn’s father was inANDout of jail her entire childhood. He’s back in right now for cooking Meth and getting caught with an astounding amount of it. When Kaitlyn was 12 she was sent to live with her Aunt in Alabama. The nearest neighbor, down at the end of the road, was a cute 17 year old boy addicted to drugs. That was when Kaitlyn first tried heroin. She was 12.
Kaitlyn began fighting with her Aunt and was sent back home. She had a few years of being drug free and really excelling in school. She dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. I asked if she was smart, she looked at me with a big smile and said, “Oh yeah, I’m really smart. In school I was getting top grades. I hope I can go back to school.”
I asked, “What happened? How did you get here?” She looked around at the mess of her tent, of her life, and shook her head. “In High School I started doing some ecstasy at raves, which led to meth, which led back to heroin. Look what I’ve done. I’m 28 years old, no teeth, living in a tent.”
When I first met Kaitlyn she could hardly walk. She had an abscess in her lower buttocks, one that had already been operated on, but was again badly infected. She was/is at the end of her rope. She wants to get off drugs and restart her life. I asked, if you could have anything right now, what would it be? She said, “Have one day sober and not feel like shit. I am so ready. It’s all so redundant. Over and over the same thing. I don’t want to be here anymore.”
That was Kaitlyn a few months ago. What kept her from going into detox/treatment was that a person living inside, who meant to make a positive difference for her by watching her dog Prince, decided to not return him. Kaitlyn was distraught. It set her back. She couldn’t go into treatment until she knew Prince would still be hers when she got out. He is her best friend.
Kaitlyn talked about how life just keeps knocking you down. In a quiet voice she said, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Then she spiraled into sharing that she gets the shit-end even though she tries to always do good. “For everything I do that is good I get shit on. Maybe it’s life’s way of balancing things out.”
The North Seattle Neighbors Mutual Aid Group reached out to the individual keeping Prince and spoke on Kaitlyn’s behalf. Prince was returned. Kaitlyn is ready.
We are looking for someone to foster Prince for (6) months to a year, depending on the treatment program Kaitlyn goes into. He’s 8 months old and house trained. He’s good with other dogs, but does like to chase squirrels! He’s a pretty energetic dog so my thought is that whomever takes Prince needs to either be able to walk him lots, take him to the dog park, or have a big fenced back yard. I can tell you that he is beyond beautiful! If you are interested, please call Rex 206-330-1142 to discuss.
We are hoping to have several folks step forward in the interest of fostering Prince. Kaitlyn would like to be involved in the selection process. She needs to feel good about the person watching her best friend while she heals from her addiction.
A heartfelt THANKS in advance to everyone interested in stepping forward!!!
Green Lake 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 gift that is meaningful to you--even a “monthly recurring” donation of just $5 in support of the work. Thank you. #facinghomelessness #kindness #TheBLOCKProject #windowofkindness
Please Meet Alexiel
Meet Alexiel (they/them), a new resident of one of our BLOCK homes. They’ve given us permission to share their story with our community so you can see the power of your support.
Alexiel first heard about Facing Homelessness while in therapy at Sound Health.
“At the time I was living in a dilapidated, rat infested camper with my partner. We had been there for over 3 years, not for lack of trying. We did everything we could to find a place to live after being forced to leave our previous home. Even trying to rent from extended stay motels, but that became far too expensive.
We were lucky enough to have a backyard to keep the camper in, something most in our situation could only dream of. So in some aspects, we felt lucky. As you can imagine, however, it was wearing thin on our mental health. At one point I even attempted suicide, but luckily survived.”
We wish that Alexiel’s story was rare, but it’s not. It’s incredibly common for people living unhoused to go through extraordinary mental health challenges. How could it not be, when many people living housed pretend not to even notice they exist? Or react with judgment and avoidance?
Your support of Facing Homelessness creates a chance for people living unhoused to have safe human connection. For them to receive love instead of judgment. And even a chance for them to have a home of their own. Alexiel said:
“When I was given the opportunity to be a part of the BLOCK Program, I jumped. It has been life changing for both myself and my partner. In getting my own place, he was able to find a place very soon after!
While I am still wrapping my mind around everything that has happened, one thing I know is how thankful I am to each and every member of the team. They came together to give myself and the other program residents the chance to live and feel human again. Because of this, I have had the opportunity to re-evaluate my life and to become the “real” version of myself. Something I can never say “Thank you!” enough for.
I would like anyone who is considering donating, or helping to build one of the tiny homes, to really know how transformative it is for a person. It truly means life or death to have a home, in one way or another.”
With gratitude,
The Facing Homelessness team
The BLOCK Project
More good press about the BLOCK Project! https://www.geekwire.com/.../how-climate-concerns-and.../
Did you know that BLOCK Homes are energy net positive? This means the homes' solar panels feed power back to the grid - usually to the homes of the hosts that share their property with The BLOCK Project.
Our BLOCK homes are built to be Living Building Challenge Certified, which includes net positive energy among other regenerative building aspects. In addition to being environmentally conscious and climate change resilient, we find it imperative for our homes to be healing spaces for people living outside and offset the negative impacts that buildings (generating 40% of global CO2 emissions) are responsible for - especially as environmental harm impacts marginalized and unhoused communities the most. Through the Living Building Challenge, BLOCK homes are built to heal people and the planet. We wish to model with our community what it means to build truly green and protect our future.
cherubMUD
PLEASE MEET MELISSA:
I had not seen Melissa in a long time. And in the rare event that our paths crossed, I always missed the opportunity to speak with her. She passes silently, avoiding attention. Each time I saw Melissa, she vanished. Sometimes into the crowd. Sometimes into the darkness.
Melissa has no home. Not even a tarp. She lives on the streets, travelling light, wandering alone in a deliberate attempt to mask her location. Sometime she stays with people she knows. Sometimes Melissa gets beat up.
I parked by the tracks. Between the overflowing dumpster and the concrete “eco blocks” that clutter the streets of Georgetown. The concrete, chain link and razor wire provide a somber ambience. Like a prison courtyard. And there’s mud. Always mud.
I stepped from the car, not anticipating the puddle contaminated with antifreeze and a floating cottage cheese-like substance. I leapt and skid on wet garbage. Barely recovering, I startled a cluster of rats that scattered in a radial pattern. A huddled bearded fellow pushing a shopping cart laughed at the scene with a gentle toothless grin. His cart was empty, except for a large teddy bear. Composing myself, I looked up. And there, out of nowhere, was Melissa.
We spoke for a while, then agreed to meet again to talk more. I asked her what I could bring her to eat. She said, “Something cooked. That would be so nice.”
Melissa’s journey is uniquely common. Family struggles. Trauma. Addiction. The dangers of street living. The pain of separation from her 3 children. She’s sought help for her addiction, but stopped short. I asked her why. “I’m not ready to start feeling again. The thought of feeling again scares me.”
Melissa knows she needs help, but feels unsafe with the mental health services available to homeless women. But she does believe that, with the right help, she will eventually end her struggles with drugs and homelessness. And see her children again.
I moved on, following the board-walk past flooded tents and disheveled RV’s. I passed a damaged ceramic statue of an angel lying in the mud. I visited with Tiffany and Megan. They greeted me at their RV doors with welcoming smiles. Like jovial neighbor ladies from an old TV sitcom. You can see this stuff a million times and still not get it.
I gazed around at the scene. The people. The surroundings. The raw sewage. The contradiction. The juxtaposition of that which is filthy, with that which is beautiful and fragile.
Seattle Neighborhoods | Damian
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.
#facinghomelessness #justsayhello #TheBLOCKProject #kindness #windowofkindness
Bellevue Art Museum Exhibit
Facing Homelessness is honored to partner with Johnston Architects on The View From Here, an art installation, at the Bellevue Art Museum, part of the BAM Biennial exhibit. The piece which explores homelessness locally and asks us all to come closer and see ourselves in the experiences of others.
The BAM Biennial is a juried exhibition which focuses on the work of established and emerging Northwest artists, craftspeople, and designers, with an emphasis on new work. Learn more here and visit beginning November 5th. BAM is open Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm.
The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce published the following article on the exhibit.
Every two years, the Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) holds its biennial. This year's theme is Architecture and Urban Design. The exhibit features a unique mix of works from artists and architectural firms in a plethora of media that includes wood, fiber, photography and audio and visual installations. There is also the more traditional models and sculptures that you might expect to see at an architectural showcase.
The exhibit challenges us to think about the impact that architecture has on our everyday life, on our communities and on our bodies, and to see the built environment as sculpture. Several exhibits also pose architecture and the built environment as a lens through which to witness culture and society and to ask important questions about this.
There are 25 exhibits in total chosen from 130 submissions all from the Pacific Northwest (including Alaska). Submitters were encouraged to look at the theme of architecture and urban design broadly. In consequence, the pieces address an array of topical questions including homelessness, gentrification, accessibility, and climate change.
“A lot of these works look at traditional architecture and then put a twist on it,” Lane Eagles, associate curator at Bellevue Arts Museum, explained during a recent press tour of the exhibit.
Architectural firms whose exhibits were chosen for the biennial include Johnston Architects (JA), LMN Architects and Paul Michael Davis Architects. Johnston Architects' submission, “The View from Here,” is made in collaboration with Facing Homelessness. The piece is designed to “shine a light on our neighbors who now live unsheltered in Bellevue and Seattle.”
The installation consists of a "tent tower" of four tents stacked atop one another, an audio-visual component and an info-graphic.
“When we were brainstorming about the piece we wanted to make sure that we created an installation that was relevant and specific to the region, and unfortunately the reality of homelessness in the built environment can't be ignored,” Jack Chaffin, principal at Johnston Architects, explained.
“The tent tower is a play on the luxury towers and condominiums that we have seen rise up at the same time as homelessness in Seattle and Bellevue,” Chaffin continued.
JA wanted to juxtapose these two realities that are hard to reconcile. Each tent features a silhouette of a domestic scene that you might more typically see in a holiday window storefront display, such as someone reading a book or getting their hair done.
“The idea behind the silhouettes was to try and put the viewer in the museum ‘inside of the tent,' to show that the un-housed are people just like them. The thin fabric of the tents also represents just how fine the line between being housed and un-housed can be,” Chaffin added.
In addition to the tents, there is an audio-visual component that consists of looped recordings of homeless individuals and those who are helping to solve the problem of homelessness. These audio clips are taken from a series of videos produced by Facing Homelessness. The info-graphic frames the tent tower and features an image of the Seattle and Bellevue skylines with facts about the crisis provided by Facing Homelessness.
“Ultimately we want the piece to stir action and to create an empathy bridge between those viewing the exhibit and the homeless community that it represents,” Chaffin concluded.
In addition to the main biennial exhibit, LMN Architects and Sound Transit have teamed to up to create a smaller exhibit that showcases art and architecture that will feature in upcoming East Link and downtown Redmond light rail stations.
Both exhibits are open now and run until April 24, 2022. Cost of entry to see the main exhibit is $15 per adult and free for BAM members. The smaller Sound Transit and LMN Architects exhibit is free and can be viewed on the ground floor of the museum.
For more information visit https://www.bellevuearts.org/.../current/bam-biennial-2021
Joshua Madrid
PLEASE MEET JOSHUA:
“Why are people judging others based on their worth and title, not on who they are as a person?”
Joshua is 28 years old and lives in a yellow school bus. He’s a really good man. He’s also really trying to figure out his life. How and where he fits in. So much in society, the way things work, the way things are, doesn't seem right to him.
He’ll ask, “Why do people say you need to live your own life, but then everyone runs around trying to control each other? How can I live my own life if I’m living it how you want me to live?” or, “Why do the wealthy just keep on wanting to make more and more money while others suffer with nothing or while the environment gets destroyed? Don’t they see what they are doing?”
I asked Joshua what his first real memory was? He paused for a good while and then said, “I remember coming to a courtroom with my sister when I was about 5 years old. My mom sitting there with handcuffs on. Then my dad walked in, also in handcuffs.”
Joshua spent his childhood inANDout of Foster Care. At 12 he ran away for good from the system. Over the next five years he was in Juvenile Detention more times than not. At 17, when he was facing the prospect of being sent to, as he says, “Big Boys Jail”, his mother showed up out of nowhere to claim him, the first time he had seen her since he was a little kid. She was drunk but the court released him to her on probation nonetheless.
A few months later, at 17 ½ years old, he left his mom without saying goodbye. Walked out the door and made his way from San Diego to Seattle. He needed to start over. To try and figure things out. Joshua deals with layers and layers of trauma. Miraculously, he does this without illegal drugs. His dog Cheese, who is his best friend, calms him when he ramps up with frustration, or drops down into depression.
I’ve known Joshua for over six years. I believe in him. I know he's going to find the life answers to how and where he fits in.
Right now though he's in danger of losing his bus/home. The City of Seattle has recently announced it will once again remove illegally parked vehicles. This is sending a wave of worry through those currently living in their cars, Rvs, and buses. Joshua’s bus is having some sort of transmission problem, now unable to go over 20 mph.
We are asking our community to help raise $3,000.00 to have the issue diagnosed and repaired. We know this is a bigASK. We also know it will mean the world to Joshua.
UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that the goal of $3,000.00 has been reached with approximately $3,500.00 donated! (We are still waiting for Paypal's final report.) So much LOVE for this community. We will keep you updated about Joshua's bus!!!!
IF there are any unused funds raised for Joshua’s bus they will go to help provide services for others living homeless. In no circumstance do funds go to Facing Homelessness.
Last time we visited, Joshua said, “It’s not that I don’t want to be a part of society, I just don’t know how yet. It seems all I do is struggle and I still can’t make enough for the bare necessities.”
Let’s give Joshua some more time to figure it out. He’s worth it.
SODO Neighborhood | 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!
Just Say Hello
“justsayHELLO” But, how?
This is the third post in a series offering thoughts on engaging with our neighbors in need. This post includes some ideas for putting together Care Kits which can be another way to help out and share a little love and compassion!
When my time and finances allow, I build small care kits to distribute to folks in need.
I like to include:
-Several protein bars and other healthy snacks. (It’s a good idea to find things that are easy to chew because dental issues are common for people who’ve been without healthcare for a long time.)
-At least a few individually wrapped candies (chocolate when the weather is cool enough)!
-Individual packets of Kleenex and/or bandanas
-Hand sanitizer and small packet of baby wipes
-Toothbrush/small toothpaste/floss
-Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and lotion - travel size)
-Washcloth
-Small packets or containers of ibuprofen/acetaminophen/pepto
-Small first aid items: bandaids, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, q-tips
-These days, a few face masks
-Socks
-Stocking caps, hand/toe warmers and gloves when the weather is cold
-Sunscreen when it’s hot
-Maybe a small can or two of meat (such as tuna) or individual peanut butter containers
-A couple of lunch-sized fruit containers
-Sometimes a small notebook, or sketchbook and pens/pencils, or a paperback book
-I keep a separate bag of feminine hygiene products to add when appropriate
-Sometimes I will put a few cups of dry dog food into plastic bags to give out to the pooches I come across
-Any other small items I come across that I think I might appreciate if I was in their shoes
-I like to include a little cash (or gift card)
It also never hurts to ask people what would be helpful to include if you get the opportunity, and let their responses guide you. I keep my eyes open all year for these types of items on sale, and stock up when I can. Buying in bulk can help offset the costs, and Dollar stores can be a good source, too, but be careful to check for quality.
I pack the items into a large zip-lock plastic bag to keep them dry and include a few extra plastic shopping bags (for trash or that washcloth when it’s wet). I also add at least a couple of clean black garbage bags rolled up, which don’t take up much space and can be used in many helpful ways: to put a sleeping bag into to keep it dry; to place under a sleeping bag so moisture from the ground doesn’t seep in; to place on top of a sleeping bag to help keep the rain off; or to use as a rain poncho. (Keeping your belongings dry is always a challenge when you live outside in the PNW!)
The care kits go into my car, or I might hand them out personally at an encampment, or I donate a bunch to the Window of Kindness or a local mutual aid pop-up. I also try to keep bottled water on hand to distribute with the care kits; refillable containers (BPA free!) are even better if you find them on sale. Water is always important, but especially in summer months!
Anyone out there have other ideas?
Shared in the loving spirit of this community,
Shelli, a Facing Homelessness Board Member
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 #kindness #TheBLOCKProject
passedAWAY
passedAWAY:
All of these beautiful people, dear friends of our community, have passed away. The average age of death for the homeless in King County is 47 years old. Begin to end homelessness by giving LOVE and kindness without judgment to someone struggling, to anyone who is feeling alone.
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!
communityIMPACT
THANK YOU!
In March we shared with this community that one of the ways we welcome Residents to their new BLOCK Homes is with Welcome Home Kits, and asked you to take part in helping us fund this endeavor. And youDID!
Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to provide each new BLOCK Resident with many basic necessities that are usually hidden costs of settling into a new home. With these funds the items that come in each kit are customized to the needs of each Resident who moves in, so no unnecessary items are ordered or go unused. The kits contain a full set of curtains, bathroom and cleaning supplies, pots and pans for cooking, a full cutlery and plate set for dinners at home, and a mattress and sheet set for sound nights of sleep and sponges, laundry hampers, and shampoo.
We have all experienced how daunting a big move can be and how important it is to have the support of our community. Welcome Home Kits help ease the transition of those first few weeks settling into a new home, so that when a BLOCK Resident steps inside after a long day, they feel the gentle squeeze of love from this community, welcoming them back to their home again and again and again.
With gratitude,
Liana, Angie, Phoebe (BLOCK Project Wellness Team)
P.S. If you'd like to get involved with the creation of future Welcome Home Kits, please reach out to Phoebe (phoebe@facinghomelessness.org) and/or you can keep up to date with our Volunteer Hub page where opportunities to volunteer at a WHK set up event are offered as new Homes are completed!
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
createCONNECTION
createCONNECTION:
“In a world where we’re increasingly polarized, reactive, and can feel unsafe, the BLOCK Project provides physical, mental, and emotional space and support to nurture and navigate relationships and build community.” Roselle, BLOCK Project Companion
As participants of the Companionship program for over a year, Roselle and Peter (a BLOCK resident) have worked closely with Facing Homelessness’ staff and, most importantly, have built a strong companion relationship with each other.
“From the beginning, I’ve felt that my companionship with Peter was part of and supported by a larger community. Getting to know Peter and other members of the BLOCK Project community helps me remember how complicated, vulnerable, valuable, and important each of us are,” says Roselle.
In Peter’s own words, “Through my conversations with Roselle, I’ve come to learn and appreciate different aspects of another generation, how their experiences and unique challenges helped shape them, and found that any perceived gaps between us are much smaller than they appear.”
A companion relationship can look like many things. Grounded in mutuality and founded in the belief that companions walk alongside one another, meeting each other where each is at in their own journey, Companionship is a way for people to connect without judgement or agenda. For some, it is a weekly brunch outing, or a walk near Greenlake, friendly and light, fun. For others, especially during the time of COVID, it has been consistent and lively Zoom calls, spiced up by deep conversations and a willingness to learn.
Roselle shares that “Each Zoom call is an adventure with Peter—his enthusiasm and curiosity are infectious. In our weekly conversations, I’m regularly fascinated by how deeply he dives into topics ranging from his stint working for an air taxi company in Alaska to explaining the implications of the “right to repair” to me.”
Companion relationships, though initially fostered by Facing Homelessness through the connection of two individuals, are free to blossom naturally as the companion pair form their own organic and authentic connection. According to Peter, the Companionship Program “seeks to restore balance and build trust” and has even “helped facilitate one of my most rewarding friendships.”
Facing Homelessness recognizes that all relationships work differently, that all develop at their own pace, and that each is a worthy endeavor to explore further. If you are interested in becoming a companion with a BLOCK Resident and joining us in our goal to createCONNECTION, we welcome you with open arms and an untapped relationship waiting to become what you make it. And a huge thank you to everyone participating in the Companionship program for leaning in and honoring each other’s journeys.
Liana, Angie, and Phoebe
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