STIRRING THE POT
Caption: This week was a crazy busy week with lots of new groups building with us. You all know how much we appreciate the groups that build with us. We also want you to know that our “regulars” are the heart and soul of our organization. That’s why we wanted to feature them front and center. Thanks to all the regulars, pictured here or not, for what you do.
WE MADE THE FUNNY PAPERS
Hi everyone, it’s Barb. Last week, Danny Westneat with the Seattle Times and I had an in-depth conversation about the value of tiny home villages (he is a big proponent) and how to overcome some of the choke points in making our Four Year Plan a reality. Here is the article that ensued:
While not all the conversation obviously made the papers, there is enough there and in this follow up article,
2022 DEADLIEST YEAR FOR HOMELESS
to show that 1.) several homeless folks would prefer a tiny home more than any other form of temporary shelter and, 2.) we have more homeless folks (over 13,000) than current tiny homes (around 700 in King County) and 3.) way too many people are dying on the streets. As long as there is a need, we will continue to build.
Do we wish we could fill those homes faster? Of course we do. You need to understand that it takes some time for permitting and inspections and the like to happen, along with the multitude of other things that our friends at LIHI need to do to make the infrastructure of the villages happen.
What wasn’t relayed in the article is this: there are two tiny home villages that will start very soon. The first village, located in Ballard, will have around 25 homes. We will provide the homes, LIHI will build the infrastructure of the village, and Chief Seattle Club will provide the case management of the village. This will be a village exclusively for First Nation people.
The next village will be in Spanaway. This will be a larger village: around 65 homes. LIHI is also projecting in 2023 at least one more village in King County as well as their first RV village which will also have around 15 tiny homes.
It’s good to “stir the pot” every once and awhile to re-awaken, re-educate, and re-invigorate our community, city and county agencies, and others. Here are some snippets of what we got in our email box this week:
“Hi there,
I just read an article that your organization currently has many vacant homes that’s not being used unfortunately. Before becoming homeless, I use to work with a shelter in Everett and before that I use to volunteer at the women’s shelter. I’m a single mom with two boys that are with me full time. If I help build more and find land for what you have now could we live in one temporarily?” (We get a few emails like this every week.)
.
From Hope Village in Louisville, KY https://www.thehopebuss.org/
“We will take them! We know the opening line in the Seattle Times article was a joke, and it probably makes more sense to help Louisville develop their own Hope Factory, but… how far can you ship?” (They are getting the zip file to start their own Hope Factory.)
From Dave McCann, who drove AWS donations and volunteerism:
“I am now drafting a letter for people to send to Dow Constantine as a follow up to the Danny Westneat article. I am circulating the letter in the next 48 hours, and asking 1000 people to write to Mayor Harrell and Executive Constantine to pursue specific actions. I believe timely pressure on those two execs may motivate them into further action. They are our elected representatives, and we need to pressure them to do more . Now is the time .”
BLUE DENIM DAY IS THIS SATURDAY! TEAM LEADERS NEEDED.
This Saturday we welcome to The Hope Factory the spouses of the Rotary Leadership Team from several districts on the West Coast. We will be asking for a few more Team Leaders. If you can, please come and help us out. THANKS!
ATTENTION BOEING EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES
Great news from our new friends at Boeing!
Boeing will match employees’ eligible monetary contributions at 100% with a minimum donation of $25.
Boeing will match eligible employee volunteer hours at $100 for every 10 hours volunteered.
Boeing employees are eligible for a maximum of $10,000 per year in matching funds with any combination of monetary contributions or volunteer hours.
Team Gift Match: a team of five or more employees that participate in a single volunteer activity (i.e.,our Group Builds) will be eligible for a team gift match. Boeing will match $20/hour per employee. The volunteer activity must be registered in YourCause (SFNW is now signed up for that) and must be approved by the Boeing Global Engagement focal at the site.
Retiree Match: Boing will match retirees’ monetary contributions at 50% up to $3000 in each calendar year with a minimum donation of $25. Match requests submitted before retirement will be matched at 100%. Retirees are not eligible for volunteer matching. Retirees needing access to YourCause should email volunteer@exchange.boeing.com to request access.
NPO Connect
Non-Profit Name: Sound Foundations NW
Registration ID: 853697725
Pretty cool, right? We are working on similar plans with other businesses.
THANKS BRUCE AND PERRY
We have had an ongoing nagging problem with our structural triangles not fitting exactly right. Bruce and Perry took most of their Sunday afternoon last weekend to tweak the jigs. Now everything fits like a glove. Thanks Bruce and Perry! Job well done.
TODAY’S LUNCH AND LEARN
featured Pat, one of our volunteers on how to recycle our five gallon paint buckets and sawdust into an emergency toilet. Very interesting! Thanks Pat.
AND FINALLY…
Some good news: https://komonews.com/news/
About one third of the residents of Miracle Village that moved in just months ago are now in permanent housing. WOOHOO!!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED THIS WEEK
- Our “regulars” who are the heart and soul of our organization.
- “New Crew” members: Lisa and Mike.
- Our wonderful groups: Epiphany Church, UW Medical Center Residents, Weyerhaeuser, Great Expectations, and Slalom
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
.
.
TO VOLUNTEER:
Come build with us this week! Here’s the link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/
Please remember to wear paint clothes even if you do not anticipate painting. Minimum age is 16 years. Please, no exceptions.
Clarification: If the SignUpGenius says (The name of a Group Build) AND Open Build, this means that you can volunteer even if you are not a part of the group.
TEAM LEADERS IN TRAINING: If you wish to become a Team Leader in Training, DO NOT SIGN UP for the day you wish to do this. Email SoundFoundationsNW@gmail.com and we will put you on the list.
We hope to be building with you soon!
Your Leadership Team,
Beatrice, Tom, Bruce, David, Timothy and Barb
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO FUND A VILLAGE
YOU are a big part of why stacks and stacks of lumber fill The Hope Factory. There are several ways to give throughout this year.
- We still have our GoFundMe campaign. Here’s the link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/everyone-off-the-streets-with- the-four-year-plan
- To give by check, including giving through an investment or retirement account, please click on this link: https://www.
soundfoundationsnw.org/how- can-i-help/helping-finance- the-homes
- Very soon you will also be able to give via debit or credit card. We will also have a way you can make a monthly donation which will be automatically deducted. More on that very soon in the newsletter.
Remember, if you sponsor a home (currently $4200), you get to name the home!
All gifts of $200 or more are tax deductible.