S and R’s Story

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S and R spent years moving in and out of hotels, searching for a permanent place to call home. They both had significant health challenges, which made a difficult journey even more complex. Experiencing homelessness is often a full-time job in itself – navigating daily survival, searching for resources and managing uncertainty. When accompanied by serious health conditions, the totality of all the challenges can be overwhelming.

Despite these obstacles, S and R never gave up. They relied on their love for each other, and together continued hunting for support, reaching out to services that could help them achieve their goal of stable housing.

In February, S and R visited a Lake City Partners Housing Assistance Point (HAP) site at North Seattle College, hoping to find any assistance available. Shortly after connecting with the outreach team, a couples room at Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter became available and that same day they moved in. By not having to be separated, S and R were able to hang on to their most valuable resource: each other.

It proved to be a life-changing step toward stability, because within just a few months, Lake City Partners was able to connect them with a beautiful senior apartment in Kirkland. In a moment that felt especially meaningful, S and R signed their lease on R’s birthday, giving a gift more valuable than any other: a place to call home.

Congratulations, S and R! Your strength, persistence and hope have led you to this exciting new chapter. We are honored to have been part of your journey home!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘖𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘖𝘢𝘬𝘴’ 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴: 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦-𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘖𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 12 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘢 33% 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 2024. 𝘞𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘚 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙.

D’s Story

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D has finally moved in! After significant family hardships as a teenager in Louisiana, D spent his early years traveling the country and searching for a new place he could call home. He eventually wound up in Washington, but with limited support from a young age, D found himself navigating resources on his own, and he was homeless for many years.

As soon as he arrived at Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter, Lake City Partners’ client services team got to work building close and trustful rapport with D and getting him that support he needed. Thanks to the dedicated time and space the extended stay at Aurora Oaks provides, we were able to secure a referral that checked every box of D’s dream home.

When he received news of his referral, D began jumping up and down with excitement and disbelief. After so many years on the streets, he would now have a place of his own.

D has now moved into a home with a welcoming environment, thanks to the help of our community partners, Anything Helps and Urban League. Congratulations, D! Welcome home!

AW’s Story

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Homeless for over 20 years, AW has been utilizing Lake City Partners’ services since 2017 and has been a consistent visitor to our GLA Day Center for the past six years. The staff let AW set the pace, and at a certain point he began working with the Day Center’s case management team and then decided it was time to try for housing
Eventually a housing opportunity became available. But after a thoughtful and thorough conversation, AW made the decision to decline that opportunity. It was not the right fit for him.
With clients who have experienced homelessness for the length of time AW has, finding the appropriate housing placement that can support a successful transition is critical, and Lake City Partners honored his request. We promised him we would keep looking.
Some time later, AW was selected for a unit that he preferred! After completing the necessary paperwork, AW and his Lake City Partners team arrived at his lease signing. But at the signing AW was nervous – even positive change can feel overwhelming.
The staff at the Compass Housing Alliance-managed apartment were welcoming and took the time to answer all of AW’s questions. Soon, he began talking about how he wanted to decorate his apartment and what he envisioned for his future. It was clear that AW was truly ready for this next step.
When AW’s case manager, who has known him for several years, asked what motivated him to finally pursue housing, AW shared that he had seen others around him successfully get housed. It had worked for them, and he decided it was time for him too. “I’ve been under the sky too long,” he said.
We are so proud of you for taking this big step, AW! Our very best to you in your new apartment. Welcome home!

SR’s Story

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After family challenges during his childhood years, SR first became homeless as a teenager. With little support available, he relied on his own resilience and resourcefulness to survive. Prior to obtaining stable and secure shelter at our Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter, SR was living in a tent in the woods.

For many individuals, years of homelessness can lead to a deep sense of hopelessness and alienation, especially after repeated attempts with systems and programs which fail to make any real change. Despite this, the nurturing space and extended stay provided by Aurora Oaks finally convinced SR that this opportunity could be different. He engaged in the case management services offered to him, determined that this time he could see it through.

Thanks to the support of the case management team at Lake City Partners and SR’s own strength of character, we are incredibly pleased to share that SR has secured permanent housing. Welcome home, SR! We wish you continued success as you begin this new chapter!

D’s Story

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D had been fighting cancer while living on the streets of Seattle. After connecting with Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank, Lake City Partners found a room for him at our Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter.
 
D found stability at Aurora Oaks and was able to make his various appointments. Despite his immense hardships, he was motivated to improve his life, and both the shelter residents and client services staff found him an engaged and delightful addition to the community. He consistently met with the case management team, working to find housing and get the care he needed.
 
We are incredibly pleased to share that D has found his forever home with Plymouth Housing. We are so happy for you, D, and hope you continue to flourish! Welcome home!

SC’s Story

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SC was born and raised in Seattle, and never imagined she would one day face homelessness in the city she had always known and loved. When we received a referral from our close partners at Aurora Commons, SC arrived at our Aurora Oaks shelter, ready to rebuild.
From the very beginning, SC was an incredible presence in the community. She went out of her way to connect with her neighbors – helping someone put together the perfect outfit or filling the halls with music as she strummed her guitar. Staff would often pass by and find SC offering a listening ear and encouraging her neighbors to not lose hope.
SC’s commitment to community extended beyond Aurora Oaks. She was also actively involved at Chief Seattle Club, staying connected and always making new friends. Recently, Chief Seattle Club opened a new permanent supportive housing community designed specifically for Indigenous community members. SC was thrilled when she received a referral, and she has successfully moved into CSC Sweetgrass Apartments!
Now, SC is home, in the city she has always loved. We are so proud of her journey and grateful to have witnessed her resilience, generosity and bountiful spirit. Welcome home, SC!

R’s Story

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R has officially moved in! Lake City Partners first connected with R through our Housing Assistance Point at Aurora Commons. Like many individuals experiencing homelessness, R faced ongoing challenges that made it difficult to consistently connect with LCP’s outreach team.
After R joined our Aurora Oaks shelter, our Client Services team had the space and proximity to build rapport and gain a deep understanding of his needs, enabling us to complete his paperwork for housing. When R received the news of his housing referral, he was overjoyed! He shared that when he first arrived in Seattle, the staff at this 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵 apartment community showed him kindness while he slept nearby, and it became 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲.
With the support of our partners at Aurora Commons and LEAD, R was able to access additional resources and support. He is now fully moved in, and we are so happy to see him begin this new chapter. Congratulations, R! Welcome home!

D’s Story

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D has been a part of Lake City Partners’ GLA Day Center community since 2019. She had been swept by the city more than 50 times, and although this became a normal part of her life, GLA staff noticed how D consistently remained kind, thoughtful and an engaged community leader. D touched base with GLA regularly to not only check in on her neighbors but also to hopefully find herself housed.

When Chief Seattle Club opened a permanent supportive housing building, Sacred Medicine House, in Lake City, D expressed that this was the only place she wanted to be housed. After several months of working closely with a case manager from the GLA Day Center, D was selected for housing at Sacred Medicine House! 

It is not easy to keep showing up for yourself and others when you are fighting the challenges of chronic homelessness but D’s perseverance meant she was able to spend the New Year in her new home. Congrats D! Welcome home!

S’s Story

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S and his cat, Bingo, moved into Lake City Partner’s Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter earlier this year after being referred to us by one of our close community partners at Aurora Commons. 

S never imagined he would find himself in such a vulnerable place. After the loss of his wife, his life took him on an unexpected journey. In the months that followed her passing, S traveled the country in his home – an RV – with Bingo by his side. He eventually had to return to Seattle because the RV caught on fire, plus S really needed the support from his family during that trying time.

Despite these setbacks, S remained positive. His original plan had been to head east to Florida in the RV, where he and Bingo hoped to settle into retirement. But as their time at Aurora Oaks came to an end, S joked that Bingo had “other plans” and was ready to find a true, fur-ever home – one that didn’t rest on wheels.

Through persistence and regular check-ins with case management, S finally received the long-awaited news: he had been selected for a new unit with our partners at Plymouth Housing. Now he and Bingo have settled into their new home, filled with amenities and the support S needs. This is looking like a new adventure, S! Welcome home.

S’s Story

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Lake City Partners first connected with S at the LCP Housing Assistance Point (HAP) located at Aurora Commons. During their conversation, S shared that she was pregnant and had been living in her vehicle for several years. Staff completed her King County Regional Homelessness Authority Coordinated Entry System assessment and identified what a good service match would look like for her and her future family.

After a few months, LCP staff were able to connect S with transitional housing. However, due to circumstances beyond LCP staff’s control, the placement fell through, and S did not have a home to move into. S’s baby was due soon and she feared for her future child.

Lake City Partners’ staff reassured S that all was not lost and together they continued to work towards housing. Within a few months, S signed her lease and received her keys for permanent housing, just in time to deliver her healthy new baby!

Congratulations to both you and your little one, S! We are so glad you both have a safe and secure place to call home.