This is my worst fear, being homeless

 John and Michelle are both from Seattle. Both of them had difficult childhoods. With a matter of fact expression, John shares, “It’s a sad realization when as a little boy you realize you can do a better job of parenting yourself than your parents can.”

Despite the difficult beginnings, both John and Michelle have held down good jobs. John ran his own landscaping business and Michelle did makeup in the film industry. Then, in separate events, everything changed. Both had traumatic experiences that altered the course of their lives.

John was involved in an auto-accident where the other person died. As he began to share the experience, his eyes welled up. Michelle moved closer putting her arm around him, “It’s only been recently that he can talk about it.” I asked if he had received therapy. He said yes, but the therapists he’s seen ask him to retell the story and then don’t really know what to do for him. “At the end of the day I’ve stopped trying to make sense of it. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” When I asked Michelle about her own trauma experience she immediately streamed tears, saying, “I can’t talk about it. It changed me. I stopped participating in my own life.”

John and Michelle have been together for four years. It’s clear they are a team. I ask if they are in love. Both smile and nod. John says, “We’ve been through a lot of adversity out here together, you learn what you are made of, what you can do, who you can rely on. At the end of the day, we are still alive, still together.”

For nearly four years they have been on a housing wait list. A week ago they were contacted about an available apartment through HUD Housing. They are beyond excited! John says, “This is a huge deal for us, getting a place, having the chance to rebuild our lives. Out here you don’t have time to do anything except battle the elements. I have what looks like cancer but have not gone back in for the biopsy, there are so many things we are not addressing while trying to survive. Having housing changes everything.”

UPDATE!!! - The goal has been met! Thank you for so much love from the community.
John and Michelle could use some help to make their housing happen. To move in this Monday, they need $232.00 for rent and $95.67 for security deposit. Separate checks made out to Holden Vista Apartments. If you can make this happen for them, please let us know in the comments below and call Rex 206-330-1142 for details.

It was such a pleasure meeting you John and Michelle. You are beautiful together. We all are so veryVERY happy that you are on a path for getting indoors, getting a home with a front door.