Facing Homelessness

homeFIRE:

C**t and Tara, and their dog Dede, are homeless living in a tent, tucked away in a small greenbelt. At their tent entrance they have a 10'x10' canopy tent with mesh sidewalls that serves as an entry, living room, and kitchen.

The evening before last a couple came to them just before dark. They asked if they could sleep the night in the front room canopy tent. They had no place to go.

Despite being strangers, C**t and Tara agreed, moving stuff around to make room for them to lie down. They also placed a few candles on the table so their new friends could get things arranged.

Everyone fell asleep. Nobody put the candles out.

At about 2:30 AM C**t and Tara awoke to their dog barking and the woman guest screaming "FIRE!" An entire side wall of the canopy and the back of the cushion chair were ablaze.

It was total pandemonium in the dark! Everyone running on adrenaline. They pulled as much as they could away from the fire while throwing milk and orange juice to douse it.

They were seconds from everything going up in flames.

The next morning I met C**t and Tara for the first time. A burnt plastic smell was still hanging in the air. Miracuously nobody was hurt and nobody was playing the blame game.

We are asking the Facing Homelessness community to help purchase C**t and Tara a new 10'x10' canopy for their kindness given to two strangers in need. They run around $125.00 plus tax.

https://givebutter.com/canopy-tent-for-colt-tara-ckvnuc

I told C**t and Tara they are beautiful together. They smiled. C**t said, "I can't see my life without this woman." Not to be left out, Tara shared, "We have been together for over a year now and despite being married before, it is the first time in my life I have not felt alone."

Both C**t and Tara have plenty of issues going on in their life, lots of trauma. Together they are getting through it.

At the end of our visit, Tara shared, "One thing that would really be beautiful would be if C**t could get a guitar. It grounds him, it makes everything work for him. He hasn't had one for a bit."

I looked over at C**t, his head was down, but he was smiling, and said, "Yeah, that's very true, a guitar would really help me."

Northgate Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

smallTALK:

How you doing?

"I probably should get to the hospital for my back, probably should get some deodorant too."

You smell fine to me. Did you grow up in Seattle?

"No. I was born in Oregon. In 1974."

Did you grow up there?

"No. We moved to California, then Ohio, then Washington."

With not much more conversation Michael shows me his tattoos. Afterwards he looks at me squarely and asks, "What are you doing out here?"

I told him I was interested in meeting folks who were living outside. That I took photos and told stories for a nonprofit called Facing Homelessness, whose singular goal is to show how beautiful we all are. All in the hopes community will get involved to address the crisis of homelessness.

"That's awesome."

A little more conversation and I ask, Can I take your picture?

"Me? Sure. If you want."

I do. You are beautiful. I mean that. When I am done I show Michael the photos on my camera.

"Damn. That's a nice picture. That's a nice camera you got."

After a bit more back and forth I tell Michael how good it was to meet him, and that I hope his back feels better soon.

As Michael turns to walk away, he says, "It's just really nice to talk with somebody."

S**O Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

findingPEACE:

When Elisha dies, she wants her ashes scattered in one of the places where she found peace. After a childhood marked by a neglectful mother, foster care, abuse, an often-absent father on the road, constant moving, and later homelessness, she remembers Polebridge, Montana. It was small and quiet. She and her siblings were together, surrounded by blue mountains.

Born in Orofino and raised across small towns in Idaho, Oregon, and Montana, she spent much of her childhood moving from place to place with her father, a long-haul truck driver.

But before that, beginning at age six and lasting another six years, Elisha and her three younger brothers were separated into different foster homes after state authorities intervened over neglect and instability at home.

“A lot of the time we were left home alone. We were hungry a lot. As the oldest, I raised my brothers,” she said. “I didn’t really have a childhood.”

When Elisha turned 21, her mother reached out to her and her siblings. It had been 15 years since they had heard from her. Eventually she convinced Elisha and her siblings to come live with her for a while.

“She was trying to make up for lost time. But emotionally it was overwhelming” she said. “We [weren't] children anymore. We had to grow up too fast.”

Now in Seattle, Elisha lives in Tent City 4 while battling a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Last year, she underwent chemotherapy and a live donor stem cell transplant through a medical trial at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The treatments left her exhausted and in chronic pain. Eventually, she chose to stop treatment.

“I thought dying would be harder to come to terms with,” she said. “But I’ve lived a good life. I really have.”

This July, she’ll learn whether the treatment she underwent has slowed the cancer. If it hasn’t, Elisha has made plans to die on her own terms through Washington’s Death with Dignity Act.

“It’ll be peaceful. No suffering,” she said. “I’m grateful I get to choose how I die.”

When the time comes, she wants her ashes scattered in the water near Polebridge, surrounded by the mountains and the memories that brought her peace.

Before becoming homeless, Elisha worked in retail management, hospitality, and customer service. She earned a business degree from Point Loma Nazarene University and later completed an associate degree in wine studies at South Seattle College.

She became homeless after losing stable employment while facing rapidly rising rent costs in Seattle. A studio apartment that initially rented for around $900 a month eventually climbed to more than $2,000.

“The company stopped paying me properly and cut my hours. I quit and found another job, but it paid much less. I couldn’t afford the apartment anymore.”

She eventually found her way to Tent City 3, then located on Aurora Avenue. From there, she moved into an indoor shelter at Gift of Grace and later secured a spot in a Nickelsville tiny house village, where she stayed for five years. The more permanent shelter and extended stay offered a level of stability she had not experienced in a long time. She found work and was able to save money, eventually qualifying for and affording her own apartment at Pride Place senior housing on Broadway in Capitol Hill.

But just a year and a half into her tenancy, she received her cancer diagnosis. To undergo treatment, she had to stop working. She lost her income and was forced back into homelessness.

Through it all, she has found Seattle’s lack of understanding about homelessness particularly painful. She, too, once held a job and had a place of her own. But because of circumstances outside her control and a lack of resources to fall back on, she found herself pushed out.

“People stop seeing homeless people as human beings,” she said. “We still have intelligence, education, experiences, dreams. What homeless people need isn’t judgment. They need resources, patience, and people willing to keep trying. Don’t shut the door on us.”

For now, sleeping in a tent has been especially hard on Elisha’s body as she manages chronic pain.

“Sleeping on the ground hurts. Getting up and down hurts.”

We’re hoping to raise $300 to purchase Elisha a larger tent that will give her enough space to stand comfortably, along with a cot so she can sleep off the ground.

https://givebutter.com/tent-for-elisha-zeuzxg

Tent City 4 Neighborhood | Brendan

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

kindnessOPPORTUNITY:

Brent stands in front of his Soccer Jersey Stand in Pike Place Market greeting folks with a smile, happily sharing his soccer knowledge, hoping to sell you a soccer jersey!

What you don't know about Brent is that this moment, of running his own business selling shirts, is a bigBIG SUCCESS STORY!

After high school, Brent fell into trouble. Lots of it. Over the next 20 years he was in and out of jobs, jail, and homelessness. He spent a good deal of time in various programs, some required, some chosen.

"Before I got sober I thought I had it figured out. I was wrong."

Brent will tell you that he had loving parents, growing up with lots of opportunities. In high school he was a 4-year Varsity soccer goalie and had good grades.

Things fell apart his senior year, failing a number of classes. He wasn't ready to listen. He needed to learn firsthand for himself, the hard way.

"I smoked a lot of ma*****na. I became a pothead. I thought I could be successful without education. Turns out education is important."

On March 16, 2024, while in jail, Brent wrote down thirty things he loves, twenty things he wants, and twenty things he could see himself doing in ten years.

From that moment everything changed. With over two years of sobriety, he hasn't looked back. He works tirelessly building his business while studying for an associates business degree. In his down time he plays lots of online chess!

He wants to capitalize on the World Cup games here in Seattle selling soccer jerseys. Not owning a car, he could use help transporting two bins, the canopy bag, full-length mirror, folding chair, and the sandwich board on the following dates:

June 17, 24, 25
July 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16

So far we have drivers for June 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 30!

All of his stuff fits in a hatchback. We are hoping a number of folks can let us know in the comments which day or days they can help. A driver would pick up material in the University District at 8:00 am and drop off at Pike Place Market. Then pick up at 3:30 pm to return to University District.

I know this is a big ask. What I can tell you for sure is that you'll be glad to have helped Brent out. He is a tremendously delightful person. He is that 'success-story' we all want to see happen for those struggling.

Let's keep him moving forward! Our hope is to get at least 2/3 of the dates covered. Please let us know in the comments which days you can help.

Pike Place Market Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

newFRIEND:

When driving under the Spokane Street bridge you will see a number of tents. I drove past several until I saw a large shelter made out of pallet boards. Maybe it was the architect in me, as it was an impressive structure, that had me pull up onto the curb out of traffic.

In my car I had donations from Claire, a fifth grade student at the Meridian School, who put together a clothing drive for those living homeless. Sidenote - Claire is an amazing young person who has it in her to make a beautiful difference in the world!!!

Pulling up alongside the structure I saw a man that was about 6'-5", maybe taller, standing inside the enclosure. We said hello and I asked if he needed some clothing. He replied, "I'm pretty tall."

To his surprise, about 5 of the pants were his size! It was a meant to be happen-chance-moment!

Stewart invited me into his home to chat. I agreed. He cleared off a bunch of stuff piled on a crate, threw a pillow on top, and pointed to it as he plopped into a chair and lit up a joint.

Stewart is 70 years old. His childhood was spent in foster care. It was a horrible experience, second only to the disgust he has for his parents.

"My parents are a piece of s**t. My dad is a real serious piece of s**t. Wealthier than you can imagine but no money to help feed his son."

His father has passed, but his son's anger has not.

Stewart is worried he will be swept soon. An 8-10 person tent would make a world of difference. We are asking the Facing Homelessness community to raise $250 to make this happen.

https://givebutter.com/tent-for-stewart-ziiz2i

For the constant struggle Stewart has lived through, he has remained profoundly beautiful. Without hesitation he openly invited me, a total stranger, into his home of pallet boards. It's good to be reminded how easily new friendships can be made.

S**O Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

stillSMILING:

When the Facing Homelessness community first met Justin and Shelly it was October of last year. They were living in their car. Their back passenger window had been smashed out and most of their belongings stolen. Winter was approaching. They were at a real low point.

This community stepped forward with funds to fix the window and provided warm clothing for the both of them. They were beyond grateful.

Meeting in an abandoned lot on Aurora, Justin shared they have continued to struggle. Their vehicle was impounded and the fees quickly exceeded their ability to get it back. Several days ago the two bins that contained all their belongings, which they had hidden outside, were stolen. They stood their with nothing to their name.

Justin finishes by showing the blood clot in his leg, exasperated by all the walking they are now doing without a car. He looks up and smiles, saying, "Right now we are sleeping in doorways without even blankets."

We are hoping the Facing Homelessness community can raise the needed funds for 3-4 person tent. It will mean the world to them if we do.

https://givebutter.com/a-tent-for-justin-and-shelly-ha21no

Asked if they still love each other, both smiled and said they do, through thick and thin!

Aurora Avenue Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

sharedVISION:

Mikaela and Gerardo have spent nearly two years living in Seattle’s tent cities, far from the agricultural communities in Yakima where they built much of their lives. They came to Seattle for medical care and stayed because doctors told them they needed to remain nearby.

Back in Yakima, they had carved out lives through decades of hard work. Gerardo first came to the United States in his twenties, drawn to Sunnyside, Washington, where his sister lived. Work in the orchards brought him to Yakima in 1998: apples, pears, pruning trees.

Mikaela’s path to the U.S. began earlier. She arrived in Houston from Mexico in 1980 at age 14 and celebrated her quinceañera there, turning 15 far from home. In Houston, she cleaned offices and hospitals and later worked on sh*****ng boats in the Gulf.

Eventually she moved to Yakima and joined the agricultural workforce. “Rain or snow,” she said, “I was pruning trees.”

The two have known each other for ten years. Over time, they became each other’s support system — something that became essential when both began losing their vision.

Mikaela’s eye problems started about two years ago. One day, after becoming angry, she suddenly lost much of her sight. “Blood fell into my eyes,” she recalled. She searched for medical help, but doctors didn’t take her concerns seriously. She tried herbal remedies instead.

Eventually, doctors discovered cataracts and referred her to Seattle for surgery. Afterwards, she began seeing blinding lights that doctors initially assured her would disappear. Two weeks later, after a third appointment, she learned her retina had detached. More surgeries followed but her vision never recovered. More procedures may still be ahead.

Gerardo’s vision deteriorated around the same time, though his problems had begun years earlier. In a work accident, a shard of rock struck his left eye while he was using a pickaxe. That eye eventually lost all sight. Then, about three years ago, his remaining vision began fading. One night he noticed a black line moving across his eye. By morning, he could barely see.

Like Mikaela, he first tried natural medicine but the situation worsened. At the time, the couple was staying at a Yakima tent encampment that did not allow couples to remain together. Because Gerardo could no longer care for himself independently, he was told to leave. That was when they decided to come to Seattle together.

Now Gerardo has no vision in his left eye and only partial sight in his right. Doctors are trying to preserve what remains. Every two months, the couple boards a Greyhound bus back to Yakima for diabetes treatment, spending roughly $200 round trip. They usually stay only one or two days because if they fail to check in at Tent City 3 for more than three days, they risk losing their tent.

They do not want to move into a traditional shelter. Many require residents to leave each morning and some separate couples. “We take care of each other,” Mikaela said.

“El que no riesga no sale de este miedo. Tenemos que valernos de nosotros mismos.” “He who does not take risks will never escape this fear. We must rely on ourselves.”

Life in the tent city is difficult, but they describe it as stable. “It’s not perfect, but it’s safe,” Mikaela said. Despite language barriers, she enjoys talking with people there. She prefers being outside, among others, rather than isolated indoors. “It’s never been my life to be enclosed,” she said.

Both hope to eventually return to Yakima, where their roots and community remain. But for now, their doctors insist they stay close to Seattle hospitals.

Through all of it — surgeries, failing eyesight, homelessness, long bus rides, uncertainty — they continue to rely on each other.

“We’re thankful to still be alive and keep going,” Mikaela said. “Despite everything, there’s a lot of great people that have crossed my path. Whoever is sick, keep fighting to get better. Don’t let yourself fall.”

Tent City 3 Neighborhood | Brendan

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

beingRELIABLE:

Fifteen years ago, when Pablo was 30 years old, he and his girlfriend found out they were pregnant with a baby boy. Motherly instincts kicked in and she felt a strong need to be with her family in the United States. They left Mexico City and moved to the Tri-Cities, in eastern Washington.

In Mexico, Pablo had been working in a call-center. He was initially hired on because he spoke English, French, and Spanish. Over time, his responsibilities included helping with the computers. It was a job he enjoyed, one that he would have continued if not for the move.

In Tri-Cities he worked construction for 5 years. When his relationship with his girlfriend fell apart, and she married, his heart broke. He moved to Seattle.

It was easy to find construction work and a small apartment in Seattle. Life was moving forward. Then, two years ago, he lost everything when a car hit him, messing up his legs. Two months on crutches cost him his job, several months later, his apartment. He fell into homelessness.

“Time is different when you are homeless. You lose track of what day it is, and how much time has passed. The days, months, and years - they blend together.”

Pablo wants to get a job and get back in touch with his family. He is battling substance use at the moment and doesn’t want them to know how much he is struggling.

“At first I didn’t do drugs, but then, to be part of the community, to connect, I did. You are here, they do it, then you do it. I don’t know.”

Pablo is in need of a phone. We would like to ask the Facing Homelessness community for $100 to make this happen. He says, “With a phone I can reach out for construction jobs and be available when there is work. It would make a big difference for me.”

https://givebutter.com/phone-for-pablo-otmh16

"Everyone that knows me knows they can count on me. They can rely on me. I like that, knowing I am someone they can reach out to."

Mt Baker Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

adaptCONSTANTLY:

Hans is still living at TC3. To make money, he has been driving and delivering food. Recently, he reached out for help raising funds to replace his car after it broke down. Buying a reliable vehicle and paying for gas is expensive, and while Hans is not committed to delivery work long term, his disabilities limit what he can do consistently.

Before that, Hans worked as a chef, often putting in 10-, 12- and 16-hour days leading a team to create high-quality dishes. Cooking was more than a job — it was a passion he developed in elementary school, when his grandmother taught him traditional Korean recipes and techniques.

That changed when a side effect of medication for bipolar disorder left him with a muscle movement disorder. He now experiences unpredictable muscle contractions, spasms and rigidity, making it impossible to continue the work he had done his entire life.

“It was really shocking when it first started happening,” Hans said. “I can’t safely use a knife. I might be holding something — like a glass jar — and not even realize my grip is failing until I drop it.”

Hans said he has worked with his doctors to try to alleviate the symptoms. They have tried two different medication regimens with no improvement. At this point, his doctors believe the condition may be permanent and are focused on managing symptoms.

For now, delivering food is the closest he can get to the work he once loved, but it is not the same.

“I miss people being wowed — watching my knife skills, stopping their conversations just to see what I was doing,” he said. “Seeing their reactions, hearing the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs,’ and then that first bite where you know you nailed it. That moment — that’s what I miss most.”

Homelessness has shifted his focus from long-term goals to immediate needs. Hans is now looking for work he can do consistently — something that does not require lifting or carrying.

He has always worked closely with others, both leading and supporting teams and likes the idea of returning to working with people.

“In kitchens, you have to adapt constantly and wear a lot of different hats. This is just a different kind of hat now,” he said. “The discipline and training are still there — the tools have just changed. It’s not a knife anymore; it might be a pen or a computer.”

Hans recently started a door-to-door sales job that pays on commission. We’re hopeful it works out well for him, but in case the income isn’t consistent, we’re reaching out to the Facing Homelessness community to help us track down any job leads or opportunities for Hans.

For more about Han's story, see the FH April 7, 2026 post.

Tent City 3 Neighborhood | Brendan

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!

superSTAR:

"I was going to be a professional basketball player, that was my dream. My teammates called me Shaq cuz I was tall and, well, cuz I was really into Shaquille O'Neal."

Britney is 34 years old. When she was 5, she and her mom moved from Greenville, South Carolina to Seattle. Her mom was returning to family after a failed marriage took her away.

In elementary and high school Britney and her best friend dominated the basketball court, a dynamic duo of friendship and athleticism! Britney was dreaming about a future in basketball. Unlike Shaquille O'Neal, she could drain three-pointers and make her free-throws!

Those dreams collided with a struggle going on at home. She was at odds with her mom, so much so that she moved out at the age of 17 and quit high school, never graduating. She was also walking away from basketball.

"I guess I wanted to be an adult sooner than needed. I think about it all the time. It was a decision I deeply regret."

Britney moved in with her 25 year old boyfriend, a relationship that lasted 7 years. It ended when she found out he had a kid with someone else. It was devastating for her. She moved into her Grandma's house and found a job bartending at a sports bar in Seattle.

Party Girl Britney was born. Working, socializing and drinking, life was good. She held her job for 5 years, right up until the pandemic hit. Finding herself out of work, and needing a change, she moved in with a guy friend, a friendship that turned into a relationship.

Then, a year and a half ago, her entire world stopped.

Britney was diagnosed with Stage 3 Cervical Cancer. Everything fell away, including her relationship. She moved into Swedish Hospital for 2 months of intensive chemotherapy. It was the beginning of a whirlwind.

Following chemo, she spent eight months in respite care at Harborview, two weeks at the Women’s Union Gospel Mission, three months at a tiny home village, and now in low income housing.

Britney is a beautiful person. She answers the question of what has changed within her since learning about the cancer - “My attitude and outlook on life. I was taking everything for granted, and judging this, and judging that. Now I appreciate each day, ready to enjoy the moment.”

Britney receives $1,800 disability per month. Her rent is $850, leaving $950 for everything else. Everything else includes food, phone, clothing, and her medications. She takes 15 pills every 8 hours at an expense of about $350 per month.

“I’m behind in rent due to the expense of my medications. Truth is though, I would sacrifice housing rather than not taking my meds.”

We are hoping the Facing Homelessness community can help catch Britney up on her back rent, which is currently one month of $850.00.

https://givebutter.com/britney-rent-help-vufvce

“I need to believe I will get through this. I want to be a nurse, like a lot of my family members are, so I can help take care of people. I also want to be a mom. I’ve missed my chance at having a baby due to all the treatment I’ve gone through, but there are so many children that would love to be adopted.”

Mt Baker Neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account. Your donation helps cover operational expenses. https://givebutter.com/jfdABb A heartfelt THANK YOU!