THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEER MEET OUR TENANTS

Homes First has residents from a wide spectrum of lived experience. Each resident brings a unique and singular story with him or her, some of which are shared with us, others kept private, each valuable and ongoing. Below are the stories of two of our residents.

PENNIE

“My background includes a lot of jobs in the business world – as a bank account executive, customer service rep, office manager at a CPA (certified public accountants) firm. I have struggled with drug addiction and been homeless. I have been suicidal and struggled with borderline personality disorder, depression and the effects of childhood trauma. I am now physically disabled.

My life fell apart. There were many times when I would have a ray of hope and then lose it. When I found Homes First, I was in a very broken place. I was homeless. Before I connected with Homes First six years ago, I struggled with feeling safe. I’ve lived in my car, on the streets, in shelters. It was really devastating.

There was no stability in my life. I was so self-conscious. I had to decide I could come out of it, and I did. I knew when I found Homes First that I wanted to be a long-term renter.

I love my life now. I have a cozy apartment with a fenced backyard. My home is my safety, my sanctuary, my grounding place. I’ve gotten healthier. Every step of the way Homes First is accountable and helpful, it’s the best resource. I tell everyone. I work with a lot of homeless people now, so I can give back. Homes First is my first go-to for everyone. It works because they are committed, it’s not just collecting a check for them. So many times when you are on programs, you don’t want to progress because you might lose what little you have. That’s not true with Homes First, they are the best landlords I’ve ever had. There’s a safety net to keep moving forward and it’s helped me not stay in the cycle of the system. I’m very active in my church. I love doing volunteer work with those who are homeless or struggling in other ways. Sometimes I’ll have craft time and invite people over and we paint or do stained glass.”

Scott

“I grew up in the suburbs of New York City and at 17 joined the military, serving for 17 years in Germany, Afghanistan, Europe, and Iraq. I got married, had a daughter who is now 10, then divorced in 2014. About that same time, I got a medical discharge for disability from the military. I have back issues and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). All at once, my life was pretty horrible. I’ve gone through quite a nightmare. I was homeless for about four years, out on the street -when the weather was bad, it was really horrible. You’re always wet. Everything you have is wet. You get trapped in a mindset and lose yourself bit by bit. The VA (Veterans Administration) actually helped connect me to Homes First about three years ago, but I also learned about them from people at Drexel House and the Salvation

Army. They were able to help me when no one else could.

I have a two-bedroom apartment in a four-plex in Lacey. I am working toward getting custody of my daughter, which is why I have two bedrooms. I’ve learned to garden and I’m pretty good at it. Last year I gave extra food that I grew to the Thurston County Food Bank, including cucumbers, tomatoes, garlic, watermelons, beans and squash. I like to study esoteric philosophies of the Ancient World. I’m an herbalist and like to teach others about herbs. I play acoustic guitar.”

These stories represent a not uncommon section on the range of experiences our residents bring with them. Diversity in resident experience and demographics is a gift to our organization, allowing us to challenge ourselves to provide the best possible service and resources in an individual way. Our residents are our customers, and being able to meet them where they are with resources and support valuable to them is vital to their success and ours.