Facing Homelessness

conversations and connections; loving how beautiful we all are. https://www.facebook.com/HomelessInSeattle http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ https://instagram.com/facinghomelessness/

[facing-homelessness]

UPDATE:

Rick needed to get out of his tent and inside so that his leg infection could heal, he decided to ask this community for help, per doctor's orders!

After reading about Rick on the June 6th FH post, all of you raised enough money for Rick & Greg to stay inside for (8) days at the Everspring Inn on Aurora Avenue, wowWOW!

Rick came to the window a few days ago to give a heartfeltLOVE to everyone for getting him inside when it was touch&go for him, he's so veryVERY grateful.

A communitySIZE LOVE to you Rick, glad to see you smiling!

University neighborhood | Rex

[facing-homelessness]

backHOME:

Back in January all of you helped purchase a bus ticket for Mo to go visit family in Columbus, Ohio; he was having a really tough time of it here, so many of you also sent comments of support, it meant a great deal, thank you.

There's lots going on in Mo's life, he feels like he's constantly fighting an upHILLbattle, he can't understand why it's so difficult.

Mo is now back in Seattle, his trip home was not what he had hoped for; a church there called us and said they would pay for half of Mo's ticket home if we paid the other half, which we did.

It was really great seeing Mo again, getting a bigHUG from a good friend, but sad too, he's still struggling, still suffering as he says.

A bigBIG community LOVE to you Mo.

University neighborhood | Rex

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potsPANS:

Dinkus is in need of some pots, pans and general kitchen stuff, like a spatula or cheese grater. If you have anEXTRA in your kitchen please consider donating to Dinkus.

Items can be droppedOFF at our office 1415 NE 43rd Street, Seattle 98105 or we can help put you in touch with Dinkus to dropOFF at his place. Dinkus is living in a Plymouth Housing Group building downtown Seattle. Our phone is 206-632-7299.

LOVE to you DINK from everyone in this beautiful community!

Downtown neighborhood | Rex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dpanM1yPbk

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feelingBETTER:

Marcel is 23 years old, homeless, struggling with feeling alone, not fitting in. Last week he begged us to help him get a bus-ticket to San Francisco, he had to get out of here.

After a few long talks we agreed to help raise the needed money, the next day he came and said, "I've decided to stay, running from my problems won't solve anything."

Here is a poem Marcel wrote a few weeks ago about reaching rock bottom, it's called, 'I Know I'm Through'.

"I know I am through when everything I do never goes right. When all my hard work never pays off. Why am I through, you all might ask? You might all ask, because I get tired."

Marcel would like to write poetry in exchange for $20 gift cards at Fred Meyer, Subway or Starbucks. If you are interested, please send gift-card to Facing Homelessness c/o Marcel to 1415 NE 43rd Street, Seattle WA 98105. Include some meaningful or emotional thought and Marcel will write a poem back to you about it.

Please know that if there is an outpouring from all of you asking for poems, it may take Marcel awhile to get back to you. Also, don't forget to include a return address. THANKS!

A bigBIG community LOVE to you Marcel for sharing so much of yourself, you are beautiful my friend and we loveLOVE you.

University neighborhood | Rex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dpanM1yPbk

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ownTHING:

Todd Kline works as a REAL CHANGE vendor, also as an artist, andAND, perhaps most wonderfully, he is a veryVERY beautiful human being. He's smart and sensitive and funny as can be; what I'm trying to say is that I just LOVE him and the goodness he is all about.

Todd lives in 'The Morrison', which is a DESC Supportive Housing building; it affords him the opportunity to make it all work, and thankfully, because of it, many people like you and me get to have their lives enriched by his beautiful way in life.

Todd has told us, many times, that when he gets in a fix, or is not sure what to do, that he says out loud, "Do your own THING!" Now, I won't be able to convey the image correctly, but the perfect part is that while Todd recites out loud, "Do your own THING", he also puts his arms out to his side wiggling up and down and sways his hips side to side, wowWOW!

We gave this "Do your own THING" button to Todd on Friday and he instantly started to tear up, it was one of those beautiful life moments, touching and so veryVERY tender, wish you had all been there.

Let's all reach out to each other to "JUST SAY HELLO" andAND, for our buddy Todd, please "DO YOUR OWN THING!"

We loveLOVE you Todd!

University 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, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

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soSWEET:

John Day is such a nice man, so veryVERY sweet, he always brings a smile to Sarah and me when he visits the window.

He's 54 years old, 10 years ago he hurt his ankle and was no longer able to work on ships, shortly after he became homeless, living the last 6 years in a van.

John moves his van to avoid ticketing, he says it used to be that the police would give a warning slip after the 72 hour maximum, now you just get the ticket, which he then received, having to do community service to remove.

He get's no government assistance, he lives with almost nothing, heads to the other side of the mountains each year to pick fruit, first cherries, then apples. From money earned he comes back and lives here. As he tells you all of this, there is a calmness to him, and a glow too, that makes you feel comfortable and makes you wonder about all the things we make important. Hmmm.

John could use some gas-money to make his journey east to start his work, he could use about $125 in gas-cards.

UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that we have exceeded the goal of $125 with $517.07 being donated. All of the money will go to buy gas-cards for John; I know he will be brought to tears with all of the love and support. We will keep you all posted on his reaction and his travel east. THANKS a zillion!

I know this is not an emergencyASK, but still, it's an ask for a man who's kind and beautiful and in need of a little help.

A bigBIG community LOVE to you John, we feel so fortunate to have your friendship.

University 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, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

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mom'sKISS:

Jackie is just 24 yrs old, she has two boys, Mason, who's getting a KISS planted on his forehead, is almost 4, his younger brother Tyler is 2 1/2.

The three of them live in an RV parked in the Interbay Safe Parking Site, they are one of (25) vehicles waiting to see what will happen this Friday the 10th when they all need to leave.

The City of Seattle has already given a week extension to the original date of June 3rd, given because the promised (15) sites in SODO were not ready; but even if they were, or are, the vehicle residents have clearly stated that they will not move to SODO, they have articulated that the site is NOTsafe and is to far away from many of the needed medical services.

I just want to cryOUTloud!

HONESTLY, what are we making more important than finding room for all of us to live?

I can tell you that in those RV's parked along our streets and in Safe Parking Sites there are people living with chronic pain and no medication, there are people living with leaking roofs and mold issues, there are people afraid to fall asleep for fear of theft and violence, there are people living with gas tanks empty, there are stomachs hungry, emotions suffering from trauma and there are moms giving sons kisses on their foreheads.

And yes, there are those that are using drugs, drugs to help get where they need to go, a place of less pain, a place of fitting in, just a place. I know it is complicated, I know it would be easy to punch holes in the feelings just shared, but HONESTLY, what are we making more important than finding room for all of us to live?

Thank you Jackie for sharing the beauty of you and your sons with me; a bigBIG community LOVE to you my new friend.

Interbay neighborhood | Rex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dpanM1yPbk

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heartGRIEVING:

Mona's beloved Jorge died last November 16, she's grieving still with a veryVERY hurting heart. Friday she came to our office with a bag full of framed pictures of Jorge, needing to share her pain, she can't let go, she doesn't know what to do, she barely leaves her YWCA apartment, paralyzed by grief and anxiety.

Mona is a giver and a lover of people, as she shared how her life is falling apart, how veryVERY hurt she was that only two people showed for her husband's funeral, she began to cry a stream of tears that turned into a panic attack; as Sarah and I put our hands on her and reassured her, comforted her, we were both consumed by the loneliness Mona is living through.

Mona is behind in her rent due to the financial troubles she got into trying to help cover medical expenses and end of life fees for Jorge; she owes $723.00 rent to the YWCA.

Let's surprise her by covering this and giving her a fresh start!

UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled because our goal of $723 has been met and exceeded with $1,553.41 being donated. I know that this will mean the world to Mona Joyner, to not only have the financial relief but also the kind LOVE from all of you. A heartfelt THANK YOU beautiful community. Rex

A bigBIG community hug&love to you Mona, you are beautiful!

Downtown 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, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

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communityCOMPASSION:

Many of you know James, he's been at the Montlake off-ramp for years, sleeping under the bridge at night, asking for money during the day with his hands cupped tight together.

On January 7th James turned 50 years old, he received (86) Birthday Cards from all of you, it was a beyond beautiful moment.

Last Friday James came to our office in the University District for the very first time, we gave him (13) more Birthday Cards that had come in late, bringing the total cards to (99), wowWOW!

He then asked to see his picture on the internet, when we showed the posts and read a few of the comments to him, he said, "Those look good, okay, that's all for now, thanks, I gotta go, bye."

It was a quiet and emotional moment as James left, I think all the lovely comments we read to him were a bit much, more than he was used to hearing. This is a man that has been homeless since his teens, is illiterate, spends his days in rain or shine, taking in all that comes past him standing in traffic.

If you see James, pleasePLEASE lower your window to say something kind, something like, "We love you James."

Montlake 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, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

[facing-homelessness]

youthHOMELESSNESS:

Please meet Emily. She's smart, funny, artistic, and always friendly; we've become good friends.

Here's the problem, Emily sleeps outside of our office door on the concrete, under a bundle of blankets, she's just 20 years old. Of all the things we make important in this world, can we agree that ending youth homelessness has to be one of them.

A big community LOVE to you Emily, thanks for all the beautiful smiles you give us each day.

University 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, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

[facing-homelessness]

gettingGIVING:

In every exchange between two people, no matter what the act, both are getting and both are giving; this is the experience when we JustSayHello, this is the experience everyday at our window of KINDNESS.

Please JustSayHello to John, he comes to our window about once a week in need of a pair of socks, his smile is so big, his laugh so geniune, that it fills our office full with happiness.

A community size LOVE to you John, thanks for the visit!

University 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, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

[facing-homelessness]

realCHANGE:

Please meet Shelly, he's 61 yrs young, I liked him so instantly that I had to ask, "Does everyone just immediately like you?" To which he replied, "Pretty much!" Then he smiled a smile that touched both of his ears!

Shelly grew up in Seattle, graduated from Roosevelt High School, works as a crossing guard at Bryant Elementary, and has sold the award winning newspaper REAL CHANGE for the last 2 1/2 yrs at the Northgate QFC. He lives at Lake City House, one of Seattle Housing Authorities buildings.

A sad thing happened for Shelly a few weeks ago, out of worry he told a QFC customer that was backing her car out of the parking lot to STOP, to which she replied, "Don't ever tell me to stop." We don't know all the details, therefore no judgement, but she brought this to the attention of QFC corporate and, long story short, Shelly was banned from selling his RC papers out front of the store.

Real Change has come to his aid and is negotiating with Kroger, the owners of QFC, please keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime, we would like to do something special for Shelly. When we talked he told me how much he loves to bowl but can't afford it. I asked where would he bowl if he could and he said he prefers Kenmore Lanes.

Please consider donating to the "Shelly goes bowling" fund; he will be so wonderfully grateful for the surprise gift certificates!

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…

A community size LOVE to you Shelly, your smile absolutely brightened my entire week!!!

Lake City neighborhood | Rex

If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please consider donating to our ten-day $50K fundraiser. Every dollar up to the $50K amount will be matched by an anonymous donor!

https://www.gofundme.com/3gct86f6

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streetHEART:

When each of us decides to do something to end homelessness our goodGOOD actions continue out in ripples of LOVE that touch more lives than we will ever know.

Sara Snedeker started an ART project called STREET HEART two years ago to bring artist together that would in-turn bring community together in a compassionate outreach to those living homeless on our streets; it has been a totally beautiful wowWOW!

Dan Cautrell was one of the artists that involved himself in Sara's project, he carved a beautiful image of Patrick who currently lives homeless in the Fremont neighborhood.

Yesterday Patrick came to our office window and asked if he could get a print of the artwork that Dan did, he said, "I sure would love to get a photograph of that carving, it means so much to me that an artist took the time to do a portrait of me."

A heartfelt THANKS to you Dan for sharing your compassion and your artistic expertise with those often overlooked in our community.

One photo comingUP for you Patrick, easyPEAZY my friend!

Fremont neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

[facing-homelessness]

needsTARP:

You may remember Michelle&Eric, they live homeless out of a RV, one that I have a hard time visiting, black mold creeping along the ceiling, floor too, due to roof leaks. The community raised a few dollars in the past for them, for a new alternator, oil and filter, and a couple of gas cards so that they could move every 72 hours without getting ticketed and impounded.

Michelle&Eric are really good people living in a really bad situation, I know that if 100 of us walked through their life for just ten minutes all 100 of our hearts would break open wide with sadness.

With the weather turning, they reallyREALLY need a large tarp, a 30'-0" long by at least 15'-0" wide heavy duty type.

They could also use some propane bottles. I asked Michelle what type and she said, "I don't know, Eric is off his meds and things are tough right now, I think the BBQ bottle type."

If you can be of help to Michelle&Eric please dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness 1415 NE 43rd Street, Seattle WA 98105. You can call us with questions to at 206-632-7299.

THANKS so very much! Sending a bigBIG community LOVE to you Michelle and Eric, you are both beautiful.

University 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, then select the 'recurring monthly' box and donate just $5 a month in support. THANK YOU.

[facing-homelessness]

streetARTIST:

Please meet Darryl Ary, he's 60 yrs old, originally from San Francisco, moved to Seattle in 1993, has been selling his art on the streets of Seattle all of that time, lots and lots of it, all the while dealing with homelessness.

If you see him downtown, or up on Capitol Hill, please stop to say hello, he's a goodGOOD man with a bigBIG smile! To learn a bit more about Darryl, here's an article and a video that are worth taking a look at:

thestranger.com/seattle/the-devil-eats-at-dicks/content… https://vimeo.com/18441258

So lovely meeting you Darryl; thanks for your quick laugh and very beautiful smile!

Capitol Hill neighborhood | Rex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dpanM1yPbk

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smallTHING:

Please meet Madeline, she's 43 yrs old, born in Spokane, lives homeless in various parking lots here in Seattle.

We sat for an hour, maybe more, she talked non-stop, from one life feeling to the next, it took fifteen minutes to leave from when I said I had to go, she was still talking to me when I was 50' away, her loneliness breaks my heart.

Often we think of the bigTHINGS when wanting to do something about homelessness, but really, what each of us can do is the smallTHING, to give a smile, or have a JustSayHello moment, all opportunities for some genuine kindness.

I gave Madeline a sleeping bag from a donation to HinS and then asked if there was anything else she needed, she paused, and then said, "I would love some high-heels." She was quick to tell me her left foot is size 6 and her right a 6 1/2.

Please let us know in the comments below if you can do this for Madeline; please dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness 1415 NE 43rd Street, Seattle WA 98105.

I know this smallTHING of high-heels will touch her in a very beautiful way. THANK YOU.

University neighborhood | Rex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dpanM1yPbk

[facing-homelessness]

sweetMAN: Please meet Scott Lee Schultz, he's 55 years old, has been on&off homeless for years, this time since May. When we met, Scott was sitting on the curb, I asked if I could sit with him for a moment, I had too, he has the sweetest dearest face ever. He told me a bit of his life, but mostly I was listening to the charm he has about him, his eyes have a twinkle, so much kindness too, ten or so minutes into our talk he pulled out a little harmonica, playing and singing so very beautifully. I told him how lovely his voice is, he started to cry, then told me not to worry, that he cries really easily, something about tears of sunshine, I asked about the harmonica and he told me he loves to play but that his favorite instrument is the Jaw Harp, that he sadly hasn't had one for years. Does anyone have a Jaw Harp they want to give to Scott? If so, please message below and contact us at 206-632-7299. We would love to arrange for you to give it personally to Scott, I know he would be beyond grateful, there will be tears of joy! LOVE to you Scott; a heartfelt THANKS for the new friendship. University neighborhood | Rex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dpanM1yPbk