3.29.23: COLORFUL

 Caption: Do you ever wonder why The Hope Factory is such a colorful place?  😊
(Photo by Aimee)

DID YOU KNOW…

In the last three months, 51 groups plus our regulars, a total of 1156 people, volunteered at The Hope Factory contributing nearly 7,000 hours!  Wow! It truly takes a village to make a village.  Thank you, everyone, for what you are doing to end homelessness.

 

 

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT ALDERSGATE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
 
Our 2nd annual Walk for Belonging is coming up next month on Saturday, April 22nd at Greenlake. We hope that you’ll be able to join in person and that you can also share this event with your networks. This is an opportunity to bring together those who have been impacted by homelessness and incarceration, and community partners who support reentry efforts. We want as many people present as possible to show the community HOW MANY PEOPLE have been impacted by systemic challenges!
 
Here is the link to the Walk for Belonging for additional information:

https://givebutter.com/Walk4Belonging

 

AND FROM ANOTHER TINY HOME ADVOCATE
 
Recently Erika Bigelow and Ashley Cappel, two parents of children who go to school close to a very large tent encampment, toured The Hope Factory.  They have been strong advocates for ending homelessness and now of the tiny home village program.  Look what Erika wrote in the comment section of Post Alley’s article, “The Cost of Solving Homelessness: Dones Calls the Bluff

“Please review your facts about Tiny Homes and correct them in the above article. The median stay in a Tiny Home is 114 days and they have the highest success rate of any type of transitional housing, for transitioning people into more permanent accommodations. Additionally, they have a surplus of Tiny Homes in a warehouse in SODO just waiting for funds in order to house people.

They are WAY more cost effective than putting people temporarily into hotels. Each Tiny House costs $4300 to build. They can house three different residents per year, and they last 20 years. So, each home can house up to 60 individuals over the course of its lifetime.

Obviously, that doesn’t include the costs of running the village – that’s simply the structure – but you won’t find anything cheaper that gives a homeless individual private space, a community, and access to a caseworker and services.

You should review this plan and then ask KCHRA why Marc Dones’ feud with Sharon Lee is preventing them from a solution that works.
https://www.soundfoundationsnw.org/the-four-year-plan/

Thanks Erika.  We couldn’t have said it any better.

 

IN THE NEWS

There is a lot of information that came through the news this week.  Here you go.

Interesting article in the Times today about what has happened in the past year regarding homelessness.  Note that in the tiny home section, the “zero tiny homes built” were a part of CM Andrew Lewis’ “It Takes a Village” initiative, not what we are doing at SFNW.  Last year we built 176 homes.  This year we are on track to build between 200-225 homes.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/one-year-later-where-do-seattle-king-county-homelessness-promises-stand/

 

The new Seattle Point in Time Count reveals that 2288 more homeless this year than last year.  That is the NET gain, not the gross.  If you take into account the 2100 homeless persons we got off the streets with the tiny home village program plus the 4500 that KCRHA proports to have gotten off the street, the GROSS amount of new homeless is 8888 more.  From a 13,000+ homeless population last year, this is a significant increase.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/was-homeless-population-is-increasing-new-hud-report-shows/

 

Danny Westneat continues to prove that sunlight is the best disinfectant.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-lowered-its-standards-all-the-way-under-a-bridge/

NATIONAL NEWS:  Taking care of our veterans.

https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-announces-goal-to-house-38000-veterans-experiencing-homelessness-in-2023/

 

AROUND THE HOPE FACTORY

What an image of beauty.  This represents A LOT of volunteer work!  Thanks for what you do every day.

 

Look at our Sponsor Board grow!  You are so generous.  We can’t do this without you.  THANK YOU!

 

COMING SOON

  • SATURDAY, April 1st, we will open up the Group Build schedule for July.  First emailed, first scheduled.
  • SUNDAY, April 2nd, an independent film crew making a documentary on homelessness in Seattle will be joining us to film and interview folks.  If you want to be a part of this, please sign up to volunteer on Sunday.
  • TUESDAY, April 4th, we will have group of 41 – 8th grade students from Lakeside School touring The Hope Factory. 
  • EASTER SUNDAY, April 9th, we will be closed.

 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED THIS WEEK

  • Our “regulars” who are the heart and soul of our organization.
  • “New Crew” members: Madeleine, Jess, Kyle, Megan, Arturo, Paul, and Woody.
  • Our wonderful groups:  Rotary District 5030 and Lake WA Sai Ctr.

 
THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

TO VOLUNTEER

Come build with us this week!  Here’s the link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4eacaf2aa0f4c52-week13#/

Please remember to wear painting 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.  EmaiSoundFoundationsNW@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

June 12, 2019

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You Get the Weekend Off!

 

There is no scheduled public build day for this coming Saturday.

 

Looking forward:

There are 2 homes currently under construction that are about 75% complete. After this, we will build 4 more. Two of those will be used as part of the overall camp housing stock and two will be placed upfront to replace the overnight tent.
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Sign Up Here for June 29

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June 7, 2019

This Saturday is the 2019 White Center Refresh! 

The White Center Community Development Association will be hosting a neighborhood wide project that will include a large scale painting event at Camp Second chance plus they will be taking over our construction tent for the day to continue building tiny homes.

Details from WCCDA:
The White Center Refresh is back again! There are opportunities for you to build, paint, and clean up parts of the wonderful White Center community in this event where White Center residents and friends are invited to come together to contribute time and effort to continuously build a healthy, inclusive, and lively place to live and play.

All participants are invited to the bbq lunch celebration at the end of the day and will also receive a new I ♥ White Center t-shirt!

Register Here

 

June 8th, 2019 8:30AM – 2:15PM
Location: Camp Second Chance

(NOTE: SFNW won’t have a signup link for that day, please use the WCCDA link provided above)

In other news, the last tent at C2C has been removed and replaced with tiny home #024. A big accomplishment for everyone who helped to make that happen! Thank you all for the ongoing support.

Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

Would you like to provide a lunch for the build team?

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

 

Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities.
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May 13, 2019

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We are building a community one tiny home at a time.

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Greetings tiny home builders and friends,

The next build day is set for Saturday, May 18th. We hope you can join us for another fun and meaningful day of community service. We have started construction on house #22 and #23. Come have fun, work a little and make a meaningful impact in someone’s life. Sign up today.

We will have a Spanish Speaking Refugee joining us. If anyone who speaks good spanish could sign up to help with translation that would be greatly appreciated.

This Saturday tasks will include:
-Interior paneling
-Insulation
-Wall jig assembly and Wall tilt ups
-Exterior caulking and trim
-possible flooring and roofing if we get that far.
NOTE: Please wear work appropriate clothing and covered footwear

Photos from Last week’s event.

Also a very special thank you to Chris Chrisman for providing a wonderful lunch. We really appreciate the support!

Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

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Would you like to provide a lunch for the build team?

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

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Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities.
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May 9, 2019

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Tiny house # 20 and 21 are almost done. Sign up today!

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Greetings tiny home builders and friends,

The next build day is set for Saturday, May 11th. I have a feeling the volunteer slots will fill up fast so register earlyLast Friday we made tremendous progress on tiny homes number 20 and 21. Thank you to all who came early, put their tool belts on and got the job done right! (and we do have fun in the process!!)

Photos from last Friday build day

Also a very special thank you to Chris Chrisman for providing a wonderful lunch. We really appreciate the support!

This Saturday tasks will include:
-Roofing
-Interior and exterior caulking and painting
-On the end of the day the plan is to push the two finished homes out of the construction tent.

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NOTE: This week wear work clothes that you don’t mind getting paint on.
Below are a few photos of folks who have recently moved into our new tiny homes (or are about to move in). A reminder why we build for, by, and with our neighbours. Pictured is Randy, Seth, Kammie, Sonia and Gary.

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Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

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Would you like to provide a lunch for the build team?

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

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Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities. 
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May 1, 2019

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THIS WEEK WE BUILD ON FRIDAY

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Greetings tiny home builders and friends,

This week we are trying something different. Instead of Saturday only days, we are testing a Friday build day (Friday May 3rd) to see what the interest might be. We hope to have a good team assembled. Sign up today!  If this works out, we hope to mix or alternate Fridays and Saturdays throughout the months ahead.

Friday tasks include:

-Caulking and painting exterior (please wear clothing suited for painting!)
-Install roof structure
-Install wall and roof insulation
-Install interior panels
-Exterior trim and possibly interior flooring
-Build walls on jigs for future homes if time allows

Please note there will be no Saturday build day this week.

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In other news:

We have reached a milestone of 20 tiny homes built! Great job team!

Photos from last Saturday build day

Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

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Would you like to provide a lunch for the build team?

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

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Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities.
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April 23, 2019

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Two More Tiny Homes Completed

Over the last week volunteers finished the two homes in the work tent and we got them moved outside on Saturday. We have a clean slate and all the materials to start the next two this Saturday, April 27th.  

Sign up here for the available spots on the build team. Mark and I have worked hard to make the project as accessible as possible to all skill levels. We hope you come and join us this Saturday and make your community a better place.  “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”

BIG THANK YOU to all who provided mattresses and bed frames to the residents of the camp. It is greatly appreciated!

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Are you interested in volunteering during the week?

We often have a small volunteer crew during the week. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to arrange what days are typically good for you.

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Provide a Lunch for the Build Team

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

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Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities. 
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April 8, 2019

Time lapse video of this week’s events.

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Greetings tiny home builders and friends

Today two more homes were placed and leveled. A young couple and a senior lady moved into two new warm clean homes and out of the cold dark tents. It’s all the work we do as a community that is making a real difference. Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who made this happen. 

LET’S KEEP IT UP!

There are still a few slots available for this Saturday (April 13th) There is a diverse list of task on the two current “in construction” homes including trim work, painting, interior panels, possibly flooring and roofing. We can also start building the walls for the next set of homes if time allows.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS ACTION LIST 

We have an immediate need for beds and mattresses. There are a few older and frail folks who currently sleep on the floor of the tents. The new homes we delivered today also need beds. I have created a wish list on amazon. Please help us get these folks off the ground!

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Are you interested in volunteering during the week?

 

We often have a small volunteer crew during the week. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to arrange what days are typically good for you.

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Provide a Lunch for the Build Team

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

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Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities. 
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March 27, 2019

 

 

Greetings tiny home builders and friends,

There are still a few slots available for this Saturday (March 30th) The homes are almost done so it’s mostly painting this Saturday. Please wear appropriate clothing for paint.  Hopefully we can push the Model “T” (Tiny) out of the factory on Saturday to make room for the next two!

IMMEDIATE NEEDS ACTION LIST 
Here is a much needed tools wish list to keep the project moving forward successfully. Your help and support is greatly appreciated. The build team will put these items to immediate good use.

Are you interested in volunteering during the week? We often have a small volunteer crew during the week. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to arrange what days are typically good for you.

PHOTOS FROM LAST WEEKS BUILD DAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Provide a Lunch for the build team

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

 

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Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities.
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March 20, 2019

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Greetings tiny home builders and friends

There are still a few slots available for this Saturday (March 23rd) There is a good chance that we will be painting this Saturday. Please wear appropriate clothing. We will also be installing interior panels and trim.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS ACTION LIST 
Here is a much needed tools wish list to keep the project moving forward successfully. Your help and support is greatly appreciated. The build team will put these items to immediate good use.

Are you interested in volunteering during the week? We often have a small volunteer crew during the week. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to arrange what days are typically good for you.

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Camp Second Change Open House A Success!

 

Click here for PHOTOS FROM THE MARCH 17th OPEN HOUSE

Thanks to all who participated in the open house!

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Provide a Lunch for the build team

If you would like to donate a lunch for the build team, please coordinate with Michelle Gaither at gaithermj@gmail.com A big Thank You! to Chris Chrisman for providing lunches for the team over the past few months!

Good Day,
Tomasz Biernacki
Building Coordinator
Sound Foundations NW
soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com
www.soundfoundationsnw.org
Sign up for this newsletter here
Sound Foundations NW is a community based outreach project of Alki United Church of Christ.

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.

Company Team Building Opportunities

Build dates are now available during the week for company team building parties or community service. Please contact Tomasz Biernacki at 707-339-1144 or soundfoundationshomes@gmail.com to schedule a private team building event. Select weekdays are available for company team building events.  Saturdays are generally reserved for individual volunteer opportunities.
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