Newsletter Fall 2013
From Homelessness to Housing: One Resident’s Success Story
At Rose of Lima House, it is our desire to help women thrive as
they transition out of homelessness. Jessie Moore, a Rose of Lima
resident since November 2010, is a shining example of how one can
persevere through even the toughest of circumstances .
Jessie became homeless in 2009 after she lost her job as a check
processor. To avoid a formal eviction, Jessie put her belongings in
storage and found an emergency shelter.
While homeless and staying at the Noel House Shelter, Jessie
continued to pursue her educational dreams. She would go to class
and spend the rest of her time in the library doing homework. Since
2009, Jessie has completed three AAS degrees. She is proud to have
maintained a 3.35 GPA.
Jessie was offered a field placement at the YWCA; upon completion, she continued on with them as a
volunteer. One of Jessie’s many accomplishments at her field placement is a file cabinet of resources that
she created. Jessie loves assisting people with information and referrals. This passion has translated into more
than 1,000 volunteer hours at the YWCA!
Jessie is 57 years young. She is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She maintains close ties with
her family.
When asked about Rose of Lima House, Jessie says, “Rose gave me a place where I could continue to pursue
my education. I have a stable home. I can leave and come back, and don’t have to do homework in the library. I
can come home and do it.” Thank you for being an inspiration, Jessie!
The Gift of Transportation—That’s the Ticket!
Many thanks to our volunteers at St. Mark’s for donating bus tickets! Through King County Metro’s “Transit
Incentives Program”, you can get 8 free bus tickets when you renew your vehicle tabs. We’ve given out dozens of
tickets so the women in our community can get to various appointments, including doctor and health clinic visits.
Interested in contributing? You can download a form at metro.kingcounty.gov/programs/tip/order-tickets.html;
call 1-866-709-8472; or email [email protected]
Tickets can be mailed to Sharon Poole at Noel House Programs, 118 Bell Street, Seattle WA 98121.
Noel House Programs
118 Bell Street
Seattle, WA 98121
206-441-3210
www.noelhouse.org
Eileen McComb
Program Director
[email protected]
Sharon Poole
Community Liaison
[email protected]
Rose of Lima House
118 Bell Street
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-456-3100
www.rosehouse.org
Quanetta West
Program Director
[email protected]
Scarlett Williams
Resident Services Manager
[email protected]
Fund Development
Jackie Schultz
[email protected]
Phone: (206) 456-3105
Paying it forward through peer counseling
Annette Kline has survived some trying times. After becoming homeless due
to a landlord’s neglect of her home, Annette lived in her car. When her car was
stolen, she camped in the woods. That area was raided by the police, and she was
told that she had to leave. Annette moved to Seattle and found refuge at Noel
House Programs’ volunteer-run shelters.
“When I was offered a home at Rose of Lima House” reflects
Annette, “it changed my life.”
In the five years that she has been part of Rose of Lima
House (ROL), Annette’s health has improved tremendously:
she successfully quit smoking while participating in the
ROL Tobacco Cessation Program, and was able to access
dental care.
The stability and security of Rose of Lima House afforded
Annette the opportunity to give back what was given to her.
She has participated in the annual One Night Count of people sleeping on the
streets, traveled to Olympia to speak to our elected officials on Housing and
Homelessness Advocacy Day, and earned a scholarship to attend the Washington
State Coalition for the Homeless state conference.
Continued on the next page...
Volunteers offer a taste of home at Noel House
Twice a year, the Windermere Relocation and Referral Services in Northgate
closes its office, and the staff devotes their community
service project to the women at Noel House. Debbie,
Ashlyn, Rose, Cauline, and Kathy lovingly prepare a
beautiful brunch at the beginning of summer, then
they come back with treats during the holidays.
Watching their final presentation being spread out
in the Noel House kitchen is quite exciting!
The women are grateful for the hard work the
group joyously puts into offering a variety of
homemade brunch items, along with the muchneeded donations of laundry soap and toiletries.
Joan was eager to express her gratitude; “They
have come a few times over the past year or
so. We love their biscuits, gravy, fruit—really,
anything they come up with. And they appreciate
us as much as we appreciate them, too. That’s
what I love most about all our volunteers.”
Many thanks to our friends at Windermere in Northgate!
If you would like to get a group together for a rewarding volunteer experience,
please contact Sharon at [email protected] or 206-456-3103.
Noel House Programs’
2013 Holiday Card is Here!
Give the ones you love a meaningful gift
this holiday season.
Each year, Noel House Programs invites our
supporters to give the gift of shelter, meals and
community to women experiencing homelessness.
For a suggested minimum donation of $10 per
card, you sustain the life-saving services that help
women move out of survival mode and truly thrive.
Make your holiday card order today by calling
Sharon Poole at 206-456-3103, or via e-mail:
[email protected]
Interested in selling cards through your
church or community group? Contact Sharon
at the number listed above.
Give a gift that transforms lives.
Union Women’s Shelter Opens!
On September 22nd, Noel House Programs will open
its fifth volunteer-run shelter. Union Church, located in
the South Lake Union neighborhood, has created a lovely
and welcoming space for 12 guests.
“The congregation at Union Church is amazing,”
shares Eileen McComb, Program Director at Noel House
Programs. “They have taken a very thoughtful approach
to designing the shelter and have learned about the services available to the women who will be their guests.”
Initially, the shelter will open one or two nights at the
end of each month.
Volunteers are welcome! Union Women’s Shelter is in
need of people to stay overnight with the guests (two volunteers per night), transport bedding, and prepare light
meals. If you are interested in lending a hand, please contact Eileen at [email protected].
Paying it forward, continued...
“At Rose of Lima House, I feel like I belong,”
Annette shares. “I’m home. I’m where I’m supposed
to be, and it’s awesome.”
Annette now works as a Peer Counselor for
Catholic Community Services’ Counseling, Recovery
and Wellness (CReW) program. As part of an outreach team, Annette engages people who are
homeless and encourages them to participate as
a CReW member.
“Having been homeless myself, I am able to
relate to the people we’re trying to reach,” explains
Annette. “I think seeing someone who has reached
the other side of homelessness—seeing that things
can change for the better—gives people hope.”
Thank you, Annette, for improving the lives of
people experiencing homelessness!
“I love the staff at Rose of Lima House because they accept me for who I am.”—Ginny
“I didn’t know it was possible to be part of a positive community until I lived at Noel House.”—Tina
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Seattle, WA
118 Bell Street
Seattle, WA 98121
Permit #6602
Please indicate changes in the boxes below and return
the address label to the address above:
□
Remove me from your mailing list
□
Change name or address
□
I am receiving a duplicate
□
I’d prefer to receive the newsletter via email
email is: ________________________
My
Enjoy great company, a delicious salmon dinner, and a view of the
sunset over Puget Sound at Seattle’s acclaimed Local 360 Restaurant.
VIP Tickets: $150
Includes reception, jazz performance, and 5-course dinner
Guest Tickets: $100
Includes 5-course dinner
When: Thursday, October 17, 2013
Doors open at 6 p.m. for VIP ticket holders
Program begins at 7 p.m. for Guest ticket holders
Where: Local 360 Restaurant
2234 1st Avenue, Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood
Order tickets now by contacting Jackie Schultz at 206 -456-3105 or [email protected]