Occupy Chaplains Seattle

02/16/2026

We need your help to ensure two critical bills to help prevent and end homelessness move forward in the state legislature this week. HB 2266/Peterson and SB 6069/Alvarado would prevent local governments from delaying or blocking permanent supportive housing and shelter.
One of these companion bills must pass out of their chamber of origin by 5pm on Tuesday in order to stop discriminatory actions by local governments that are based on stigmas and stereotypes of people experiencing homelessness.
Contact your state lawmakers today to demand that they require communities to allow permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and shelter. These are resources that are needed for stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.

Please take a minute now to send a message to your lawmakers: https://secure.everyaction.com/-UYYJmwmsUCtZ3mYQ4S23w2

We only have two days to prevent these bills from dying. Please feel free to forward this email to your friends and family so that they can take action. All of us at the Housing Alliance are grateful to be in community with you!

02/04/2026

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/why-nobody-really-knows-the-scale-of-the-us-housing-crisis/ar-AA1VDQlP?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=69835be2bbac4a00aa58170728b130b3&ei=16

Experts say the U.S. needs an additional 2 million to 20 million homes to fix the shortfall, underscoring the challenge of meeting the nation’s housing needs.

12/26/2025

From King 5 news: SEATTLE — West Seattle's only overnight homeless shelter may close at the end of the year after donations dried up, leaving 36 people without a place to sleep.
The Westside Neighbors Shelter, run by volunteer Keith Hughes, has served breakfast and dinner to about 80 people daily for six years. During winter, it provides the only overnight accommodations in the area. But with donations down 40%, Hughes says he has run out of money to keep the overnight program open. The shelter's breakfast and dinner services would continue.
The shelter's financial crisis reflects a broader collapse in support for homeless services across western Washington. Several shelters in the region have shut down this year, forcing more people to seek help from remaining facilities.
Donations to the shelter have dropped 40% compared to the last three years, Hughes said. He attributed the decline to political uncertainty and blamed the Trump Administration.
"When you have a constant barrage saying they're going to take away your Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps — people get scared, and they can't donate," Hughes said.
Operating the overnight shelter costs about $6,000 per week. Roughly $5,200 of that goes to two security guards, a requirement imposed by the city. The remainder covers utilities, food and other expenses.
Hughes said the operation has never faced this kind of financial crisis in its six-year history.
"This place runs on individual donations, the majority of which are $25 or less," Hughes said.
Stephen Cowlishaw, who has been homeless for a year, said closure would be devastating. He warned that people currently using the shelter would likely end up in nearby parks or on the streets.
"There are struggling people here," Cowlishaw said. "They'll just hit the streets and it's going to be quite a mess."
Hughes said he is hopeful donations will come through. A board decision on whether to close the overnight shelter early is expected next week. If the shelter closes, Hughes said breakfast and dinner services would continue.
Despite the crisis, Hughes is determined to maintain operations through the holidays. "The operation goes on. I mean, sadly, the majority of the people here haven't had a life as we have had in many years," he said.

12/12/2025

12/12/2025

12/11/2025

Earlier today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) withdrew the FY2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Continuums of

12/07/2025

11/10/2025

11/09/2025

Can we do this?

In the Netherlands, unused spaces beneath bridges are being quietly transformed into stacks of sleeping capsules—compact, secure shelters offering overnight refuge to those without homes. These minimalist pods are built from insulated materials, weatherproofed against rain and cold, and stacked in modular arrangements that fit neatly into urban gaps where traditional shelters cannot reach.

Each capsule is equipped with a coded entry system, allowing registered users to access a personal pod without waiting in lines or risking conflict. Inside, a simple mattress, soft lighting, thermal lining, and a charging point provide a space of peace and recovery. For many, it’s the first place they can lock a door behind them, breathe, and sleep safely.

The initiative is run in partnership with local housing groups and social services. QR codes and mobile apps allow outreach workers to schedule use, offer assistance, or check in when needed. Some pods are even mobile, moved seasonally or reassembled in different configurations as needs change.

Crucially, these capsules restore a fundamental layer of dignity—offering not just protection from the elements but autonomy, privacy, and respect. They’re designed not as a final answer to homelessness, but as a humane bridge between crisis and stability.

The Netherlands shows that when public design meets compassion, even the smallest spaces can offer powerful shelter. Safety doesn’t need grandeur—it just needs a locked door and a light.

10/28/2025

Worth careful consideration in addressing homelessness.

A career spent trying to end homelessness is like your first heartbreak, but set on slo-motion. I remain an advocate for the underdog because I am a survivor of many things that shall never be discussed, but are felt daily. At OrgCode we want to see each person that experiences homelessness have som...

09/30/2025

another reason to preserve public lands!

A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble

09/30/2025

In 2025, Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Wednesday, Oct. 1 and ends at sundown on Thursday, Oct. 2.

What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur is a Jewish day of fasting and prayer that falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. According to Jewish tradition, every individual’s fate for the year is “written” on Rosh Hashanah and “sealed” on Yom Kippur. In ancient times, Yom Kippur was marked by a series of complex rituals of public atonement performed by the high priest in the Jerusalem Temple. Today, Yom Kippur is observed as a day of personal reflection and prayer.