Facing Homelessness

FACING HOMELESSNESS INCREASES THE SENSE OF BELONGING AND STABILITY OF THOSE LIVING UNHOUSED AS A PATHWAY TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS BY INSPIRING DELIBERATE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION TOWARD ENDING HOMELESSNESS.

WE BUILD FULLY EQUIPPED, HEALTHY HOMES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. BLOCK HOMES ARE PERMITTED AND PLACED IN HOMEOWNERS' BACKYARDS THROUGHOUT SEATTLE. THIS MODEL GIVES RESIDENTS A PLACE TO CALL HOME AND COMMUNITIES AROUND THE CITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN SUPPORTING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS TOGETHER. BLOCK HOME RESIDENTS ARE SUPPORTED IN THIS TRANSITION INTO HOUSING BY OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES FACING HOMELESSNESS SOCIAL WORKERS AND COMMUNITY COMPANIONS, WHO PROVIDE BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL SUPPORT NETWORKS, IN ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, ADVOCACY AND MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES.BLOCK HOME HOSTS SIGN GROUND LEASES, ALLOWING THE BLOCK HOMES TO RESIDE ON THE HOST'S PROPERTY. THESE LEASES ARE FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF FIVE YEARS, WITH THE INTENTION TO RENEW. HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL HOSTS WHO HAVE HAD A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCE, OR A SITUATION ARISE IN WHICH IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THE HOST TO CONTINUE IN OUR PROGRAM. FACING HOMELESSNESS HAS TWO OPTIONS WITH BLOCK HOMES WHERE THE HOSTS AND THE ORGANIZATION CANNOT MEET THE TERMS OF THE GROUND LEASE FOR THE ENTIRE FIVE-YEAR DURATION: EITHER REMOVE THE BLOCK HOMES OR LEAVE THEM IN PLACE. THE FIRST NINE BLOCK HOMES WERE CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT IS INCREDIBLY COST PROHIBITIVE FOR SALVAGING AND REMOVAL, ESPECIALLY AS FUNDS COULD BE USED TOWARDS BUILDING NEW BLOCK HOMES. AS SUCH, TWO BLOCK HOMES WERE LEFT ONSITE AND SOLD TO THE HOSTS TO MINIMIZE THE COST AND RESOURCE IMPACTS ON FACING HOMELESSNESS. FROM THE TENTH BLOCK HOME FORWARD, A NEW DE-CONSTRUCTABLE DESIGN HAS BEEN INCORPORATED, WHICH GREATLY REDUCES THE BURDEN OF COST OF REMOVING AND SALVAGING THE MATERIALS OF A BLOCK HOME. AT EVERY LEASE NEGOTIATION ALL OPTIONS ARE CONSIDERED TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND PROPERTY OWNER. IN EARLY 2024, FACING HOMELESSNESS HAD SEVERAL EXPECTED SOURCES OF FUNDING EITHER CANCEL OR DELAY PAYMENT INDEFINITELY, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF NEARLY 40% OF PLANNED REVENUE FOR 2024. WITH VERY LITTLE CASH ON HAND AND UNABLE TO SECURE EMERGENCY FUNDING, THE BOARD VOTED TO CEASE OPERATIONS IN MARCH 2024 AND TO SEARCH FOR NEW HOMES FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS. UNABLE TO FIND A HOME FOR THE BLOCK PROJECT, THE BOARD PROCEEDED WITH DISSOLVING THE BLOCK PROJECT LLC IN AUGUST 2024; FACING HOMELESSNESS WILL CONTINUE OPERATIONS AS AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION, FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

CRISIS DIVERSION AND MITIGATION AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION: WE ETHICALLY TELL STORIES AND SHARE PHOTOS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH THE SIMPLE PURPOSE OF SHOWING THE BEAUTY IN EACH PERSON. FOR THOSE LIVING INSIDE, THIS SERVES AS A SOFT ENTRY TO THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS. IT IS A SMALL STEP TOWARDS OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS OF NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES AND FEAR. FOR THOSE LIVING OUTSIDE, IT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS OVERCOMING FEELINGS OF BEING INVISIBLE. IT CREATES A CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES.

DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES - WINDOW OF KINDNESS: THE WINDOW OF KINDNESS IS A PHYSICAL PLACE OF CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR OFFICE AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AT THE WINDOW, WE HAND OUT THOUSANDS OF SOCKS, SLEEPING BAGS, AND OTHER SUPPLIES ESSENTIAL TO STAYING DRY AND WARM. PEOPLE OFTEN STOP BY FOR CONVERSATION, A HOT MEAL, AND A LISTENING EAR. EVERYTHING WE GIVE IS A VEHICLE FOR LOVE AND CONNECTION. THE WINDOW OF KINDNESS IS A METAPHOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES WE EACH HAVE TO EXCHANGE KINDNESS WITH THOSE IN NEED.