Formerly homelessness man now a resource for non-profit benefiting from Pearl Jam's funds
SEATTLE - At his lowest moments, Roel Williams sought refuge at Seattle’s waterfront.“I see the water, I see the Sound," Williams said. "I don't know, it really uplifted me."Some nights while homeless, Williams found a spot on a staircase overlooking the water.“I would hunker down,” Williams said.Williams' path to homelessness started at the age of 7 when he lost his mom to cancer - his only support in life was gone.
SEATTLE - At his lowest moments, Roel Williams sought refuge at Seattle’s waterfront.“I see the water, I see the Sound," Williams said. "I don't know, it really uplifted me."Some nights while homeless, Williams found a spot on a staircase overlooking the water.“I would hunker down,” Williams said.Williams' path to homelessness started at the age of 7 when he lost his mom to cancer - his only support in life was gone.
Puyallup sued for illegally trashing belongings during homeless camp sweeps
A group of people who lived in a Puyallup homeless encampment is suing the City and Pierce County alleging their personal belongings and medical records were illegally thrown away.
A group of people who lived in a Puyallup homeless encampment is suing the City and Pierce County alleging their personal belongings and medical records were illegally thrown away.
Man dies after being stabbed near Seattle homeless encampment
SEATTLE -- A man died Thursday after being stabbed near a homeless encampment at 6th Avenue and James Street in Seattle.Police said officers responded to "several disturbances" in the encampment between James Street and Yesler Way.
SEATTLE -- A man died Thursday after being stabbed near a homeless encampment at 6th Avenue and James Street in Seattle.Police said officers responded to "several disturbances" in the encampment between James Street and Yesler Way.
Job fair planned in Pierce County aims to end homelessness one hire at a time
TACOMA, Wash. – As the homeless crisis in our region continues to grow, finding stable employment is just one of the ways local nonprofits are trying to turn the tables.Early next month, the Hire 253 Job Fair plans to offer employment opportunities on the spot.“Getting your name out there, practicing, because, you know, we all need to practice,” said Norman Brickhouse with Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region.Brickhouse led a job club seminar Wednesday teaching resume writing, interview skills, and anything else needed to nab a job during next month’s job fair.“Mock interviews are so important; everyone thinks they know what to say -- until there’s a little pressure,” he added.“We are working with a high-barrier population,” said Goodwill’s Kelly Blucher. “These are folks we need to do job club with firsthand.”Goodwill helped host the Hire 253 Job Fair in June when more than 500 people showed up looking for work from dozens of companies ready to hire on the spot.
TACOMA, Wash. – As the homeless crisis in our region continues to grow, finding stable employment is just one of the ways local nonprofits are trying to turn the tables.Early next month, the Hire 253 Job Fair plans to offer employment opportunities on the spot.“Getting your name out there, practicing, because, you know, we all need to practice,” said Norman Brickhouse with Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region.Brickhouse led a job club seminar Wednesday teaching resume writing, interview skills, and anything else needed to nab a job during next month’s job fair.“Mock interviews are so important; everyone thinks they know what to say -- until there’s a little pressure,” he added.“We are working with a high-barrier population,” said Goodwill’s Kelly Blucher. “These are folks we need to do job club with firsthand.”Goodwill helped host the Hire 253 Job Fair in June when more than 500 people showed up looking for work from dozens of companies ready to hire on the spot.
Homeless, loved 'Uncle Charlie' shot, left to die on Everett sidewalk; family pleads for justice
EVERETT, Wash. -- Everett Police are searching for the person who shot a homeless man on the streets of Everett and left him to die on a sidewalk.The victim was Charlie Wall, 47.Sheena Jensen says her Uncle Charlie lived on the streets of Everett for about as long as she can remember.
EVERETT, Wash. -- Everett Police are searching for the person who shot a homeless man on the streets of Everett and left him to die on a sidewalk.The victim was Charlie Wall, 47.Sheena Jensen says her Uncle Charlie lived on the streets of Everett for about as long as she can remember.
Puyallup council to vote on proposal that would restrict where homeless services can open
PUYALLUP, Wash. – There isn’t a city in the Puget Sound that is immune from our growing homeless problem.
PUYALLUP, Wash. – There isn’t a city in the Puget Sound that is immune from our growing homeless problem.
Bezos: Mary's Place shelter is model for other partnerships in his $2B effort against homelessness
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says he’ll spend $2 billion to fight homelessness and open up more preschools. Bezos made the announcement Thursday on Twitter.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says he’ll spend $2 billion to fight homelessness and open up more preschools. Bezos made the announcement Thursday on Twitter.
Seattle has already removed more homeless encampments than all of 2017
Seattle already has removed more homeless encampments this year than it did in all of 2017, with a sharp increase in the cleanup of camps without prior notice to residents.
Seattle already has removed more homeless encampments this year than it did in all of 2017, with a sharp increase in the cleanup of camps without prior notice to residents.
One family's story of success amid a growing population of homeless students
PIERCE COUNTY -- Cheryl Hernandez didn't have the will for a long time, her on-and-off drug addiction for years sidetracked not just her life but her two sons.“When you have nothing, you are hopeless,” Hernandez said Friday.For more than a year Cheryl's family was homeless.“It definitely feels isolating,” Cheryl’s son said.The 17-year-old boy still went to school, catching the bus at 5:30 every morning.“Nobody who I didn’t tell knew I was homeless at all,” Cheryl’s son said.An unspoken hardship not just for Cheryl's son, but hundreds of other students in the Bethel School District.“These are very capable students,” said Jay Brower, Bethel School District's director of community connections.About 8 percent of new students enrolled this fall have no home address to give.Over the past seven years, the number of homeless students in this district has doubled.More than 200 of them are without housing; "they are literally out in the weather,” Superintendent Tom Seigel said.They are trying to reach those in need with a repurposed bus packed with food, hygiene backs and other basics.But the district says the need is beyond the resources they can provide.The “list to get into shelter, you are looking at six months to 12 months,” said Carly Cappetto, the district's family resources coordinator.Cheryl's family fortunately got into a shelter quicker than that.
PIERCE COUNTY -- Cheryl Hernandez didn't have the will for a long time, her on-and-off drug addiction for years sidetracked not just her life but her two sons.“When you have nothing, you are hopeless,” Hernandez said Friday.For more than a year Cheryl's family was homeless.“It definitely feels isolating,” Cheryl’s son said.The 17-year-old boy still went to school, catching the bus at 5:30 every morning.“Nobody who I didn’t tell knew I was homeless at all,” Cheryl’s son said.An unspoken hardship not just for Cheryl's son, but hundreds of other students in the Bethel School District.“These are very capable students,” said Jay Brower, Bethel School District's director of community connections.About 8 percent of new students enrolled this fall have no home address to give.Over the past seven years, the number of homeless students in this district has doubled.More than 200 of them are without housing; "they are literally out in the weather,” Superintendent Tom Seigel said.They are trying to reach those in need with a repurposed bus packed with food, hygiene backs and other basics.But the district says the need is beyond the resources they can provide.The “list to get into shelter, you are looking at six months to 12 months,” said Carly Cappetto, the district's family resources coordinator.Cheryl's family fortunately got into a shelter quicker than that.
Seattle to enlarge team that oversees homeless camp removals
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has announced the expansion of a team of police officers and outreach workers who interact with people living in the city's hundreds of unauthorized homeless camps.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has announced the expansion of a team of police officers and outreach workers who interact with people living in the city's hundreds of unauthorized homeless camps.
Starbucks joins Pearl Jam in their effort to fight homelessness in Seattle area
Starbucks is inviting customers to join the effort to bring unsheltered families and children in King County inside by donating to Pearl Jam’s Home Fund.
Starbucks is inviting customers to join the effort to bring unsheltered families and children in King County inside by donating to Pearl Jam’s Home Fund.
Long-awaited homeless shelter in Seattle expected to open in fall
A 100-bed shelter is expected to open in the old residency building across from Seattle's Harborview Medical Center in October, two years after King County officials allocated funding for it.
A 100-bed shelter is expected to open in the old residency building across from Seattle's Harborview Medical Center in October, two years after King County officials allocated funding for it.
Putting politics aside, Seattle's 'Third Door Coalition' hopes to help end chronic homelessness
SEATTLE -- “I don’t want to sit here a decade later when my kids are graduated from college and see that the problem is worse.
SEATTLE -- “I don’t want to sit here a decade later when my kids are graduated from college and see that the problem is worse.
Mariners' Pearl Jam Night highlights band's homelessness initiative
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners on Friday, July 20 are celebrating two upcoming benefit concerts with a special night at Safeco Field.Earlier this year, Pearl Jam announced two concerts in the summer of 2018 to fight the homeless crisis in the Seattle area.Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox will preview those concerts with guitarist Mike McCready throwing out the first pitch before the game.There will also be a silent auction benefiting the band's Vitalogy Foundation.
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners on Friday, July 20 are celebrating two upcoming benefit concerts with a special night at Safeco Field.Earlier this year, Pearl Jam announced two concerts in the summer of 2018 to fight the homeless crisis in the Seattle area.Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox will preview those concerts with guitarist Mike McCready throwing out the first pitch before the game.There will also be a silent auction benefiting the band's Vitalogy Foundation.
Crime rate rose 103% in a two city block radius of tiny-home village in north Seattle, according to data
On any given day, Licton Springs Village houses 60 homeless people. It’s the only city-sanctioned homeless encampment that’s low barrier, meaning it allows people to stay there even if they are using drugs and alcohol.
On any given day, Licton Springs Village houses 60 homeless people. It’s the only city-sanctioned homeless encampment that’s low barrier, meaning it allows people to stay there even if they are using drugs and alcohol.
U-District homeless shelter for young people now forced to search for new site
SEATTLE -- Neighborhoods across the Seattle area are undergoing major transformations as light rail extensions get closer to completion.The pace of life in the University District is changing.
SEATTLE -- Neighborhoods across the Seattle area are undergoing major transformations as light rail extensions get closer to completion.The pace of life in the University District is changing.
Tiny home village for women-only opening in Ballard
SEATTLE -- A unique tiny home village only for women is opening in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.For months, organizers worked on the 15 tiny homes that make up the new Whittier Heights Village.“We don’t have enough affordable housing in Seattle,” said Sherry Sternhagen, a housing case manager for The Low Income Housing Institute, which develops, owns and operates housing for low-income, homeless and formerly homeless people in Washington.Sternhagen will oversee day-to-day operations of the new Whittier Heights Village.Growing up, Sternhagen says she experienced homelessness.
SEATTLE -- A unique tiny home village only for women is opening in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.For months, organizers worked on the 15 tiny homes that make up the new Whittier Heights Village.“We don’t have enough affordable housing in Seattle,” said Sherry Sternhagen, a housing case manager for The Low Income Housing Institute, which develops, owns and operates housing for low-income, homeless and formerly homeless people in Washington.Sternhagen will oversee day-to-day operations of the new Whittier Heights Village.Growing up, Sternhagen says she experienced homelessness.
Seattle expands City Hall homeless shelter to 160 beds
SEATTLE -- The city of Seattle in implementing the mayor’s $13 million plan to get 500 people off the streets.Starting Tuesday night, up to 160 people can sleep in City Hall now.The mayor’s plan is to include the City hall shelter expansion, 50 more beds at the King County Administration Building, 50 beds at 420 Fourth Avenue, and an additional 316 beds at three different Salvation Army locations in the city.The new shelter expansion at City Hall is for both men and women and is considered low-barrier housing, meaning they don’t check for sobriety and they don’t check bags.It’s all under Mayor Jenny Durkan’s new plan doubling how many people can call City Hall home – at least overnight.“I don’t sleep outside, not in Seattle, no,” said Bill Lester who sleeps at City Hall at night.But thousands sleep outside curled up on the sidewalks and benches.
SEATTLE -- The city of Seattle in implementing the mayor’s $13 million plan to get 500 people off the streets.Starting Tuesday night, up to 160 people can sleep in City Hall now.The mayor’s plan is to include the City hall shelter expansion, 50 more beds at the King County Administration Building, 50 beds at 420 Fourth Avenue, and an additional 316 beds at three different Salvation Army locations in the city.The new shelter expansion at City Hall is for both men and women and is considered low-barrier housing, meaning they don’t check for sobriety and they don’t check bags.It’s all under Mayor Jenny Durkan’s new plan doubling how many people can call City Hall home – at least overnight.“I don’t sleep outside, not in Seattle, no,” said Bill Lester who sleeps at City Hall at night.But thousands sleep outside curled up on the sidewalks and benches.
Seattle City Hall opens shelter for 120 more homeless people at night
It's no secret the homelessness crisis in the Emerald City is bad and only getting worse. That's why Seattle City Hall is rolling out the welcome mat for people living on the street.
It's no secret the homelessness crisis in the Emerald City is bad and only getting worse. That's why Seattle City Hall is rolling out the welcome mat for people living on the street.
Infant found at Seattle encampment in protective custody
SEATTLE — A 5-month-old infant found at an unsanctioned homeless encampment is in protective custody as police investigate child neglect.Seattle Police said Thursday that the child was removed in late May from an unsanctioned homeless encampment near Interstate 90 and Rainier Avenue South, where people were reportedly using methamphetamine.
SEATTLE — A 5-month-old infant found at an unsanctioned homeless encampment is in protective custody as police investigate child neglect.Seattle Police said Thursday that the child was removed in late May from an unsanctioned homeless encampment near Interstate 90 and Rainier Avenue South, where people were reportedly using methamphetamine.