Plymouth Housing

Plymouth Housing's young professionals ambassador board, Promoters of Plymouth (PoP), is seeking new members! PoP is a group of future leaders who support Plymouth’s mission to end homelessness. Through their involvement, ambassadors learn about and advocate for Plymouth’s essential practices like Housing First and permanent supportive housing. They also work directly with Plymouth residents and organize events, the biggest of which is the Pop Some Tops gala. Putting on this uplifting, energizing, and unforgettable evening supporting Plymouth’s mission is a fun and rewarding endeavor for our PoP members! With all their hard work, the PoP Ambassador Board increases community connectedness, raises funds for Plymouth, and promotes a compassionate approach to eliminating homelessness. We're seeking members for our 2024-2025 PoP Ambassador Board! Learn more at PlymouthHousing.org/PoP

Welcome to the Plymouth Supply Center (PSC)! At this storefront in Belltown, Plymouth Housing residents can shop for personal care items, household goods, pet food, and other essentials—free of charge. When someone moves into a Plymouth apartment after experiencing homelessness, not needing to worry about the cost of essential goods can go a long way in helping them find stability. The PSC also provides our residents with a sense of agency in choosing which products and supplies fit their needs best. With your support, we hope to stock the PSC with the home essentials and basic necessities that are most requested by our residents. If you are interested in donating new and used items or volunteering at the center, more information can be found below at PlymouthHousing.org/PSC.

With Election Day approaching in less than two weeks, Plymouth Housing hosted a nonpartisan voter registration drive to empower and equip our residents to vote this year if they are interested in doing so. People who have experienced homelessness bring an important perspective to our democracy and deserve to be full participants in electing leaders who make policy decisions. Volunteers from the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County joined us at a Plymouth building in Belltown to help residents find out if they were already registered to vote, and if not, to help them register. Reporters from the KUOW Public Radio daily podcast "Seattle Now" interviewed Plymouth staff and spoke to residents about their experience getting registered. Kenneth, when asked why voting was important to him, said: “I get a choice—I get a voice,” and spoke of housing as an issued he cared about. Owen referenced “access to basic needs: education, food, housing.” Heather said that registering to vote was part of a larger goal: being an active citizen and getting involved. She cited homelessness and the economy as the top issues on her mind. A resident named Darren said he was very proud and honored that he regained his right to vote after being incarcerated for felony convictions. Listen to the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gwNeJtTJ

Introducing the Plymouth Supply Center (PSC)—featuring a mural by Stevie Shao! This brand new space will be a vital resource for Plymouth residents, offering essential supplies free of charge. When someone moves into their new home after experiencing homelessness, it’s the small things that help make it feel like home. Local artist Stevie Shao, alongside amazing community volunteers, brought the space to life with a stunning mural that celebrates hope and community. Your support can help us keep the shelves stocked with the most requested items, like personal care products, household goods, and more. Whether you want to donate goods or volunteer your time, your contribution makes a huge difference! Interested in helping or donating? Learn more at PlymouthHousing.org/PSC

The brand-new Plymouth Supply Center (PSC) is almost ready to open! Over the past several weeks, volunteers from Washington Holdings, LLC, Wells Fargo, and the Washington Community Reinvestment Association helped us put final touches on the space. Over 20 volunteers built shelving, painted the shop mural, and stocked the supplies over two days. The PSC is a place where Plymouth Housing residents can come and shop for supplies for themselves and their homes, free of charge. Creating this resource has truly been a community effort. In addition to the volunteer support, funding and in-kind donations from Washington Holdings, PNC, Napier Park, and IKEA have made the project possible. Special thanks to local artist Stevie Shao for designing the mural in the space. We’re so thankful for our partners who are committed to helping Plymouth's 1,400 residents rebuild their lives after experiencing homelessness.   Through the PSC, we hope to provide the home essentials and basic necessities that are most requested by our residents. Learn more about how you can get involved at PlymouthHousing.org/PSC.

Meet Anthony—a man who faced unimaginable struggles and emerged with newfound strength and purpose. Once on a path to a bright future, his dreams were shattered after an injury led him down a painful road of addiction and eventually to experiencing homelessness. With the support of his mother and the community around him at Plymouth Housing, he overcame homelessness, survived a heart transplant, and discovered a new reason to live—for himself, for the person who donated their heart, and for everyone who now looks to him for inspiration. Anthony’s story reminds us that every person who has experienced homelessness is exactly that—a person. His resilience, coupled with Plymouth’s whole-person approach, shows how compassion and care can light the way out of even the darkest times. Learn more about Anthony's story here: https://lnkd.in/gxWqGDtW

Plymouth Community Happenings | Sept. 14 - Sept. 27 Fridays are a special time across our Plymouth communities! At Plymouth Crossing, early risers get to kick-start their day with a grab-and-go breakfast, served bright and early from 7 to 9 a.m. It’s the perfect way to fuel up and connect with fellow residents before the day begins. Over at Humphrey House, Friday lunch was a hearty affair, with staff serving homemade lasagna and salad. Thanks to team members Mia and Anhtuan for leading the way, ensuring residents enjoyed a delicious meal and a chance to come together. The sense of gratitude from all who attended was palpable, making it another heartwarming success. Toft Terrace also celebrates Fridays with "Coffee Time," a cherished tradition where residents and staff gather to relax, chat, and savor their time together. It’s these small moments that create a sense of family within our community. The team at Scargo/Lewiston hosted a 2 a.m. bingo event for our night-owl residents. Thanks to the leadership of Andre, Stan, and the overnight shift crew, the turnout was so large that they ran out of chairs! The residents were thrilled to have an after-dark event tailored just for them. Lastly, residents from Toft Terrace enjoyed a wonderful outing to the aquarium, sending in photos of their adventure. A big thank you to our partners at Town & Country for making this experience possible! These events highlight the diverse ways our communities come together—whether through morning coffee, late-night bingo, or exciting trips, we continue to build lasting bonds. [#PlymouthHappenings gives you a glimpse into the daily lives of our residents and staff. Follow us for more stories and updates at PlymouthHousing.org]

Plymouth Stories: Milvia Gray, Housing Case Manager “I am Maya first, Latina next. I love being Maya. I am from Guatemala. That is where I started my career in social work. I love to show my culture, so I decorated my office with a Maya calendar and dreamcatchers. Residents will come in and see things from our shared native culture and say it reminds them of home.  “Our building is special because nearly half of our residents speak Spanish. We understand each other. No matter where we’re from, Spanish unites us. Residents speak English and Spanish to each other back and forth when they spend time together. We also teach English and Spanish classes at Toft for residents, Plymouth staff, and the wider community.  “When residents first come to Toft, they don’t have their family structure, which is big in our culture. They are lonely. When I’m out of the office, they tell me, ‘The building is so quiet because you’re not there.’ They see me as a kind of a mom figure, someone to protect them. It means so much to me to have that role.” ______________________________________ "Soy maya primero, luego latina. A mí me encanta ser maya. Soy de Guatemala. Mi carrera como trabajadora social comenzó allá. Me encanta mostrar mi cultura, así que decoré mi oficina con un calendario maya y unos atrapasueños. Los residentes entran y ven las cosas de la cultura nativa que compartimos, y dicen que les acuerda de su hogar.   "Nuestro edificio es especial porque casi la mitad de los residentes hablan español. Nos entendemos. No importa de dónde somos, el español nos une. Los residentes se hablan en inglés y en español cuando pasan tiempo juntos. En Toft, también enseñamos clases de inglés y de español para los residentes, los empleados de Plymouth, y la comunidad en general.   "Cuando los residentes primero vienen a Toft, no tienen su estructura familiar, lo cual es muy importante en nuestra cultura. Se sienten solos. Cuando estoy fuera de la oficina, me dicen, ‘El edificio es tan callado porque usted no está.’ Me ven casi como como una figura materna, alguien que les puede proteger. Significa tanto para mí estar en ese rol."

Thank you to everyone who contributed to an incredible Key to Hope! Yesterday, over 1,100 members of our community came together for Plymouth Housing’s signature luncheon. We’re so grateful to those who attended, donated, and supported Plymouth’s compassionate, evidence-based approach to ending homelessness. Together, we raised more than $1.6 million! If you missed it, you can still watch the inspiring keynote from journalist Esmy Jimenez and hear from Anthony, a Plymouth resident, who shared his powerful story of recovery here: https://lnkd.in/gfJZaVUU Thank you for supporting our mission to ensure that everyone in our community has a safe, stable place to call home!

Next Wednesday, September 25, we are back with our annual fundraising luncheon, Key to Hope. As one of the largest providers of permanent supportive housing in King County—and with a 95%+ success rate of helping people exit homelessness for good—Plymouth is playing a vital role in solving one of our region’s biggest challenges. Together we can create a brighter future—where everyone has access to the care and stable housing they need to thrive. This year’s keynote will be delivered by Esmy Jimenez, senior reporter for The Boston Globe and co-producer of the acclaimed podcast “Lost Patients,” a six-part series from KUOW, The Seattle Times, and NPR. Esmy Jimenez’s work sheds light on the mental health crisis, addiction, and the systemic barriers that prevent access to care, making her a powerful voice for change and a fierce advocate for those affected by homelessness and mental illness.