Facing Homelessness Information Session

Karina Wallace, Community Programs Manager at Facing Homelessness will come to UUC to share ways we can become more involved with them, both as individuals and as a community. In addition to talking about the different programs at Facing Homelessness, she will share her experience as a person who was once unhoused and how she came to her position at Facing Homelessness. Everyone is welcome to attend on June 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Knatvold.

Weekly Food

As part of our Tent City 3 (TC3) hosting effort, UUC partnered with Congregation Beth Shalom to provide dinner to TC3 residents every Wednesday night during their stay. Dozens of congregants from UUC contributed, thanks to the able leadership of Allie Harris and Sue Williams.

On Thursdays, Mary Mason, a UUC TC3 Team member, and active volunteer with Facing Homelessness, has taken all the Wednesday leftovers to Facing Homelessness where, through their “Window of Kindness” the food was distributed. In addition to food, the Window of Kindness provides many things that people who are living unhoused need: used clothing, hand warmers, hygiene supplies, tents, social connection and much more, depending primarily on donations from the community. Being able to provide and receive a hearty meal on Thursdays has been greatly appreciated by so many. There is now real concern about a gap when there are no longer “leftovers” after TC3 leaves UUC.

We want to explore whether there is interest in creating a UUC volunteer “meal team” to assemble a weekly meal to share at the Window of Kindness. We are also looking for someone who might be interested in leading this effort and coordinating interested volunteers. If you are interested in being involved, contact UUC's TC3 Team at uuchomelessness@gmail.com or come to the meeting and raise your hand.

Volunteer at the Window of Kindness

If food isn’t your thing, maybe you’d be interested in having a closer connection with our neighbors by volunteering at the Window of Kindness. The Window of Kindness is open four days a week, Tuesday through Friday, from 3–5 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday and noon–5 p.m. on Fridays. People sign up for the days that they want to work. For some it is once a week, for others less frequently. Mary would be happy to share more about her experience volunteering each week at the Window of Kindness in the U-District. Visit Facing Homelessness's Get Involved webpage, or contact Mary, to learn more.

Support the Block Project

Facing Homelessness also sponsors the Block Project, which was recently featured in the NYTimes. The Block Project aims to site an architect-designed, environmentally efficient 100+ square foot home in one back yard of every block in Seattle. UUC members Rachael & Marcel Levy have joined with their neighbors to support the landscaping effort that is accompanying the building of a Block Project home in their neighborhood. If a Block Project home is proposed in your neighborhood, you can speak up in favor of it and volunteer with your neighbors, as needed. 

More ambitiously, if you own a home that has a suitable space in your backyard, you can volunteer to be a host by leasing part of your yard to the Block Project. You can read their FAQ’s for hosts, then learn whether your property is eligible and express your interest here.

From UUC's TC3 Team (UUCHomelessness@gmail.com)