Building Hope T r a n s f o r m i n g L i v e s

SPRING EDITION 2015 | www.plymouthhousing.org

Plymouth NEWS

Plymouth Housing Group works to eliminate homelessness and address its causes

by preserving, developing and operating safe, quality, supportive housing and by

providing homeless adults with opportunities to stabilize and improve their lives.

oUr missionHousing is just the beginning ... the first step to building

hope and transforming lives. We envision a day when

every person has a home and a better quality of life.

oUr vision

I’ve been at Plymouth Housing Group for 22 years now. I’m frequently asked what drew me to this work originally and what has kept me so engaged ever since.

The answer is a simple one, but it’s not always an easy one to talk about. The challenges faced by Plymouth residents were challenges I understood, because they were woven into my own family’s story.

Over the years, I’ve met many people in similar circumstances—you may even be one yourself. We try to understand the choices made by a family member, we grieve the loss of an intimate relationship, we wonder

what went wrong, and we ask ourselves if we could have prevented it.Because we love them, we want to fix them. Convince them to come back. Get

them to seek treatment. But we can’t. We can’t make anyone change. As family members, we learn that all we can do is offer our love.

I was drawn to Plymouth 22 years ago because I realized that here, it goes one step further. Plymouth cares for people. We help them.

We help by providing permanent housing and services to people who have been without both for many years. But it’s more than that. Plymouth staff go above and beyond every day, in profound but quiet ways. They build trusting relationships with each resident and nurture a caring and compassionate community in every Plymouth building.

One of our residents, Steven, passed away recently. He had lived at Plymouth for seven years, and I happened to know his family. There’s nothing different or unusual about them—they’re just like most of the families you know and spend time with.

They’ve told me how long and how hard Steven struggled. They’ve also told me how much they struggled, too. The lovely poem (at right), written by Steven’s mother Wilma, speaks for them all.

Sadly, Wilma passed away in 1994, long before Steven moved to Plymouth. While his struggles didn’t end when he moved in, we wish Wilma could have seen that her son finally had a safe place to live. We wish she could have had the peace of knowing that he didn’t pass away alone and on the streets, but rather in his own home, among dedicated staff and people who cared about him.

The Plymouth community held a memorial service for Steven recently, some-thing we do for all residents who pass away. Each of these men and women were part of our community. So we come together to exchange stories, pay tribute to their lives, and take comfort from the fact that they left with dignity.

This is only one of the ways Plymouth recognizes people who had been without safety, support, and a healthy community during many years of homelessness. We realize we don’t do this alone. Thank you for making our work possible.

A little bit of loneliness, Is in my world today, It’s creeping over everything, Since you have gone away.I can not fill this emptiness, That you have left behind, With every duty I fulfill, You’re always on my mind.I do think back to long ago, When you were a little boy, How rocking you to sleep at night, Would fill my heart with joy.But somehow o’er the years gone past, The problems grew and grew, I could no longer reach inside, And find the words for you.Perhaps I never understood, The things you tried to say, But, I tried so hard, I really did, To guide you on your way.I love you dearly, I hope you know, No matter what you’ve done, Between us, dear, with lots of prayer, We’ll get the battle won.A little bit of loneliness, Is in my world today, But it shall vanish bye and bye, When you come home to stay.

A Little Loneliness

Letter from the Executive Director

Paul lambros Executive Director

Step Further

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alSo INSIDE:

Homelessness: We have Found the Solution

Going one

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2113 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98121 | 206.374.9409 | 206.374.0602 fax | info@plymouthhousing.org | www.plymouthhousing.org

BoaRD oF tRuStEESStewart Landefeld, president

John McHale, Vice president

Robert D. Cook, treasurer

Jessica Gibson, secretarY

Carol Bailey MedwellDavid BeitelJoan CaineDiane CastanesGregg DeRitis

Mercedes FernandezKeith MatthewsJames MaysBarbara NystromJon Okada

Craig ParsonsEleanor Moseley PollnowDavid PostonChris SchmaltzSearetha Simons

Edward ThomasJ. Anthony Whatley

EXECutIVE DIRECtoRPaul Lambros

SPRING 2015 | 02

You may have friends or family facing impossible rent hikes or fierce competition for a limited number of homes (or both). As you move through the neighborhoods where you work or live, you probably see people who are without a home entirely.

The number of our neighbors living without homes would be higher if not for our dedicated public funders, philanthropists, nonprofits, and advocates—who work so hard to ensure that the homeless housing system is sustained.

But homeless programs are the last stop for many poor people who would rather find their own way back to self-sufficiency. We need much more than this.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has committed to building and preserving 20,000 affordable housing units in the next decade. Plymouth executive director Paul Lambros is a member of the Mayor’s Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee, and applauds this ambitious goal for our community.

Paul notes: “Seattle should remain a place for all to live. Affordable low-income housing should keep pace with—actually, it should do better than—market rate development.”

We also hope to see at least $100 million invested in the State Housing Trust Fund this year.

We all must commit to telling our stories, paying attention to other stories, and taking whatever action we can to build more affordable homes.

Learn how at www.plymouthhousing.org/news

We Have Found the Solution for Homelessness

and it’s simple: housing.By Kelli larsen, Director of Strategic Initiatives

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1. Virginia Mason executive chef Brian Brooks and residents of Plymouth’s St. Charles Apartments had fun together making (and eating!) a simple, healthy, tasty meal. Photo: J.J. Stein

2. Building coordinator Kimberly Harrell raised awareness about homelessness and Plymouth’s model when City Club’s Civic Boot Camp made a stop at our Pat Williams Apartments. Photo: Jorge Lausell

3. Youth in Focus turned the wall of our Sylvia’s Place jobsite into a vibrant art installation at 3rd & Virginia. Photo: Shari Kooistra

4. – 11. Creativity, inspiration, and community define Open Mic Nights at Plymouth Place; the Black History Month Dinner; and the Women’s Luncheon. Photos: Jorge Lausell (4 – 5), Elisabeth Vasquez Hein (6), Tina Kiel (7 – 11).

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Kelli Larsen (center front) and the 23rd district delegation in Olympia on Housing & Homelessness Advocacy Day. Photo: Kelli Larsen

LIFE atPlymouth

WE CaRENewsletter printed on an FSC certified 30% recovered fiber.

Plymouth believes …• Every person has the right to a home• Every person is valuable, with a unique story and journey• Affordable housing requires responsible stewardship

• Cultural diversity and embracing difference are sources of strength• Respect, trust and compassion are integral to all interactions

ouR CoRE ValuES

©2015 Plymouth Housing Group All Rights Reserved03 | SPRING 2015

Our 2015 celebrity DANcerS were:• Rita Brogan of PRR• Mark Busto of Sebris Busto James• Mark Dyce-Ryan of 206inc.• Mick Fleming of Ryan Swanson

and Cleveland• Sheila Kohls of Seattle Public Schools• Paul Purcell of Beacon DevelopmentGroup• Elizabeth Roberts of Elizabeth Roberts• Chris Siegfried of HomeStreet Bank

the trOPhieS DANceD OFF with:• Judges’ Choice: Mark Dyce-Ryan and

partner Casey Schneider• People’s Choice: Mark Busto and

partner Lorraine O’Neal

• Cyber Choice: Paul Purcell and partner Deron Hayes-Hirschy

SPeciAl thANkS tO:Event co-chairs Barb Nystrom of Columbia West Properties, Inc. and Chris Schmaltz of United-Healthcare; Mistress of Ceremonies Patti Payne; Auctioneer Kevin Joyce; longtime partners Hallie Kuperman & Century Ballroom; and celebrity judges Peter Boal, Pacific Northwest Ballet; Gordon Prouty, Puget Sound Business Journal; Mimi Jung, KING5; John Teutsch, Teutsch Partners.

A StANDiNG OVAtiON FOr Our SPONSOrS!Gold: Amazon; JPMorgan Chase; HomeStreet Bank; Marpac Construction. Silver: Bank of America Merrill Lynch; BECU; BNBuilders; National Equity Fund; SMR Architects. Bronze: Carol Bailey and Steve Medwell; Vulcan Inc. Ride Home Sponsor: Enterprise Community Investment. In-Kind Sponsors: Fremont Studios; Kaspars Special Events and Catering; McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants; Capitol Vodka. Costumes: Jamie Von Stratton. Style: Tanya Joseph and Rick Toth. Photography & Video: Team Photogenic.

460 exuberant and generous guests filled Fremont Studios to root for their favorite celebrity dancers and to give more than $450,000 to support Plymouth!

Eight of Seattle’s fiercest competitors (and most

community-minded citizens) were the “celebrity dancers” at Plymouth’s much-anticipated annual gala, Seattle Dances! With their professional dance partners from the Century Ballroom, the dancers raised money for Plymouth by rallying their fans to vote for them with monetary pledges before and during the gala.

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450,000 WayS

All photos: Team Photogenic

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8stars shine1 Paul Purcell and Deron Hayes-Hirschy 2 Mark Busto and Lorraine O’Neal 3 Mark Dyce-Ryan and Casey Schneider 4 Rita Brogan and Mark Kihara 5 Mick Fleming and Erica Atnip 6 Executive director Paul Lambros recognizes the evening’s honorees, Nancy & Kaspar Donier 7 Event co-chairs Barb Nystrom and Chris Schmaltz 8 Celebrity judges (L – R): Peter Boal, Gordon Prouty, Mimi Jung, and John Teutsch. 9 Sheila Kohls and Michael Cahn 10 Chris Siegfried and Alison Cockrill 11 Elizabeth Roberts and Jonathan Wingard-Phillips

03 | SPRING 2015

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGEPaiDSEATTLE, WAPERMIT #222113 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington 98121www.plymouthhousing.org

PLymoUTh news sPring eDiTion 2015 aDDiTionaL ConTribUTors: Kimberly Harrell • Marlys Erickson • Meghan Rowley • Michael Quinn • Shari Kooistra (Editor) • Shoko Toyama • Theresa Hohman Design: Causality

Read our blog at PlymouthhouSING.oRG and find us on Facebook!

siLver sPonsors

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

BECU

BNBuilders

National Equity Fund

SMR Architects

bronze sPonsors

Carol Bailey and Steve Medwell

Vulcan Inc.

SaVE thE

DatEuPcOmiNG eVeNtS

For More InFo, contact:Shoko Toyama,

206.374.9409 ext. 144 or stoyama@plymouthhousing.org

PlyMouth’s 12th annual Key to hoPe luncheonFriday, september 25, 2015

noon – 1:30 pm Westin hotel, Downtown seattle

goLD sPonsors

Place: the rainier clubtime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

tickets available at www.plymouthhousing.org/PoP

oNE Day oNly! on tuesday, may 5, every donation made to Plymouth Housing Group online at www.seattlefoundation.org

will be increased through a “stretch pool” provided by the Seattle Foundation and generous GiveBIG sponsors.

This one-day-only event makes it easy for you to be a high-impact champion of Plymouth’s remarkable

community outcomes.

Please go to www.seattlefoundation.org any time on tuesday, may 5 and make a donation to Plymouth Housing Group.