I saw two perfect examples of Seattle's good side last week.
Last Friday at lunch I sat and listened as Lily Tomlin made us laugh at ourselves. She was in town to help Plymouth Housing celebrate its 30th anniversary of effectively and efficiently serving our homeless neighbors. (Nicole Brodeur writes about Tomlin's visit in today's Seattle Times.)
Plymouth Housing got its start when parishioners at downtown's Plymouth Congregational Church stood up and took action to help homeless people living on our sidewalks, in our doorways, and under trees in our parks. That direct action 30 years ago has grown into one of our finest social service organizations that houses over one thousand individuals in small, comfortable apartments. Many Plymouth residents struggle with chronic mental health, alcohol and drug problems. Many are military veterans. Plymouth not only provides each with an apartment, but they staff their buildings with professionals who are especially equipped to lend necessary and important assistance to the residents. Often called "housing first" or "wrap around services," this link between an apartment that brings dignity to residents and services to deal with very real and specific challenges is the core reason for the organization's success.
Plymouth is an excellent partner of the City, which has provided funding for more than 900 units of housing in 12 different Plymouth developments over the years. It is well managed and recognizes the value of accountability and measuring effectiveness.
Last Thursday morning at breakfast I marveled at how the newspaper, Real Change, has given a boost to thousands of homeless and low-income women and men over the past 16 years. The Real Change breakfast was a bit more edgy, provocative, even prickly, compared to the Plymouth lunch. Real Change follows the personality of its founder and editor Tim Harris, who, as I've written before, makes us uncomfortable in a good way. There were a few gentle barbs thrown at me because of my sponsorship of an aggressive solicitation ordinance earlier this year that was passed by the Council but vetoed by Mayor McGinn. Joe Martin, a long-time Seattle humorist and passionate advocate for the poor, delivered a very funny roast of Harris, who was celebrating his 50th birthday at the breakfast. Tim himself was designated Seattle's "brutal humanist," and gave a thoughtful speech about what he sees right and wrong with our good city.
While listening to Harris, I thought of my neighborhood Real Change vendor. His name is Walter and he's stood at exactly the same spot in front of my favorite grocery store for years. We have interesting conversations about his life, my life, the banner headline on this week's edition of his paper, how sales are going. I remember when he told me he had moved into a more permanent shelter. Walter is my most personal link to Real Change, but the breakfast gave me a better glimpse of the scope and breadth of their work.
Two meals last week. Two examples of the good side of Seattle.