The Sophia Way

2015-08-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

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Growing Stronger

This gigantic beauty can be found in our Sophia's Place gardens!

Our garden at Sophia's Place is in full bloom and ripening with fresh delicious vegetables. Thank you to all of the Volunteers that made that possible. The summer has also been a time of new growth for The Sophia Way as we continue to improve our programs and implement some beneficial changes with the intent of better serving our women. We are in the process of hiring new staff at our overnight shelter. I would also like to welcome six year veteran staff member, Karie Stearns, as our new Programs Director of case management and Sophia's Place.

I continued to be awe inspired by the overwhelming amount of generosity from our donors, volunteers, staff, the faith based community and the dedicated Board of Directors. We are grateful for this much needed support, especially since the demand continues to rise. Throughout July, our Day Center served an increasing number of women on a daily basis and our Shelter was at full capacity. Thank you for helping us give the women respite from the heat and show them that someone cares.

- Angela Murray, Executive Director

Summer Movies in the Park, August 25th

Please join us for a fun family evening at Summer Outdoor Movies in the Park, this year at Hidden Valley Sports Park. We will be enjoying the family-friendly Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG,) starring Ben Stiller and the late, great Robin Williams. Admission and popcorn are free! We will be collecting donations which will go towards helping us end homelessness for adult women on the Eastside. We hope to see you there!

Each new resident of Sophia's Place is welcomed with a beautiful quilt and a care basket- a uniquely and thoughtfully put together collection of donated essentials.

Susan

Susan, (not her real name,) was just about to run out of money. She had been paying premium prices to stay at a motel, and even though she saved money by paying for a week's stay at a time, it was still much more than she could afford.

Susan had recently lived in a lovely apartment in Queen Anne, but steady work had tapered off, her rent rates suddenly rose, and a mild elbow injury was making it difficult to find more work - that was the tipping point. She lost her home. And now she was about to lose her shelter and be out on the streets. She only had enough money for one more night in the motel. That's when she came to the Sophia's Place Day Center.

Susan received assistance and a listening ear at the Day Center from staff that know the ins and outs of various local services agencies. They encouraged her to put her name on the Sophia's Place Night Shelter vacancy wait list, and assisted her in finding other shelters and transitional housing to apply for, so that she could save what money she was earning and have a little more to work with while she was in transition. Susan cried tears of relief - she was finally getting the help she needed!

Today is Susan's birthday. And it will be one to remember, because patience and persistence finally paid off. Today Susan's turn came and she moved into Sophia's Place Night Shelter. She will have a safe, secure place to sleep and store her belongings. She will have a case manager cheering her on as they work together to make her a fresh start. And, as she remarked to Day Center staff today, she could finally stabilize and start rebuilding her life.

Happy Birthday, Susan! Let's see what this year will bring!

Welcome Meyyammai Subramanian to our Board!

Maya is passionate about helping women and children everywhere. Since moving from New Delhi, India in 1997, she has been actively educating herself on women's issues, and increasing her presence through volunteering and fundraising for local organizations. In late 2012, her friend introduced her to The Sophia Way, and she volunteered as a companion for almost 3 years. It is her experience as a companion that inspired her to join the board in the summer of 2015. Maya has been part of the tech industry all her life, and for the last 16 years, she has been with Microsoft, Redmond. She lives in Redmond with her husband and two young daughters. She spends her spare time worrying about how she ended up with spare time.

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Helen, Our Wonderful Day Center Intern!

I am an incoming junior at UW Bothell, and I decided to intern at The Sophia Way because I wanted to give back to my community. I also believed that working here would help me with my professional goals since I want to work in the non-profit sector where I can help people along their journeys to improve their quality of life. I am glad

that I can offer practical support, such as helping to prepare and serve meals and taking care of the kitchen.

Interning at The Sophia Way has been a rewarding experience because I know that I am making a difference, and I am learning how to be a better leader and become more aware of the diverse experiences around me. Understanding the women at this organization has helped me improve my communication skills, so that I can make sure they always feel welcomed at the day center.

Want to volunteer with TSW? We have lots of diverse opportunities for all skill and experience levels! Please e-mail volunteer@sophiaway.org to learn more.

We Couldn't Do It Without Our Meal Donors!

Jean Harris is a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Jean comes the first Tuesday of every month since the beginning of The Sophia Way to bring a meal to our clients. Jean is the representative, but reports that its very much a team effort of 12 ladies who donate funds, dishes, fruit for Sophia's Place each month.

Patricia (left,) is a resident of our shelter who also volunteers with Lake Sammamish Four Square Church. They provided her with the means, and she cooked and delivered chicken, mashed potatoes, and all the side dishes to share with the other women in the shelter!

Meal donors provide a variety of hot, delicious, and healthy meals to our Sophia's Place every day! If you are interested in donating a lunch or dinner to our clients, get more information or simply sign up for a meal here!

A Very Special Party

All of us at The Sophia Way would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to Lorraine Stromswold. She received a grant fromThrivent "Live Generously" program, which empowers community members to meet the needs of their community, and decided to use this to collect much-needed items for The Sophia Way.

Lorraine threw a party on March 25, 2015 to collect donations. Eight people attended; Thrivent sent out black with blue trim tee shirts for everyone to wear. Everyone gave generously: one couple went shopping at Bartell's and brought a big bag of stuff, one woman gave bags of travel soaps and shampoos. A salon supplier gave a case of hair conditioner. This program through Thrivent Action Team also gave Lorraine $250 credit card to spend on anything she chose, so she bought underwear from Marshall's, which is always needed. The estimated worth of the donation was $400-$500 total.

Sterling Benson encouraged her to do this project since she is a member of Thrivent. The party is the Thrivent requirement to reach out, get others involved in giving and strengthen communities. She felt she was reaching out beyond the church, to the greater community as a whole.

Thank you again, Lorraine and Thrivant Financial!

Our Van is Clean, Thanks to Brown Bear Carwash!

Thank you to our friends at Brown Bear Carwash for donating vouchers for two washes! Our green van is now sparkling clean!

In This Issue

July Numbers

71 visitors to the Day Center

4 new clients at Sophia's Place Shelter

3 women moved from Sophia's Place Shelter to housing

64 referrals for much-needed services given by our case managers

Wish List

We are always in need of supplies for our shelter and our clients!

Visit our Amazon Wish List here if you'd like to make a much needed In-Kind donation

Shelter Tours

August 25 and September 17 & 22 at 2:00 PM

Join board member Karina O'Malley for a tour of Sophia's Place Shelter & Day Center. Karina will explain why we are here, what we do, and opportunities to help end homelessness on the Eastside.

Email to sign up

here

Save the Date

August 25th

Movie in the Park

October 1st

"You are the Key"

Luncheon

Thank you to all of our incredibly generous and creative donors!

From all of us at The Sophia Way, have a safe and fun rest of your summer!

Sophia's Place. 3032 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

www.sophiaway.org

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2015-07-17T16:15:00.001-07:00

We Are Jumping For Joy

It is only 2 weeks into July and already three women from Sophia's Place shelter have found housing with the help of our case managers! That is a total of 22 women in 2015 that have moved from the streets, to shelter, to their own home.

Day Center Changes Maria's Life

When Maria first visited our Day Center with her two children on a hot June day, she came to eat a meal and take a break inside from the sun. While there she met our Day Center Manager Carrie, using her limited English she explained that she was unable to communicate her family's need for housing to King County Housing Authority or understand their emails. Carrie's days are usually filled with organizing meals, keeping the laundry machines going, and distributing goods, but over the next 2 weeks she advocated for the family via several emails with KCHA. Today the family is secure and living in their own apartment! Carrie says "this is the first time I had the chance to help a family move into a home, it feels really great to be able to help them".

(clients name has been changed for story)

Angela Murray at EICCS on July 14th

Executive Director Angela Murray is the featured speaker at the Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council on Tuesday, July 14th. EICCS is a forum for Eastside congregations to listen to one another, the community, and to agencies providing services. The Sophia Way was originally formed under EICCS.

The meeting will be held at noon at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Factoria.

Pictured (Clockwise from top left pane): Volunteer Coordinator Kavya and Companions Carol and Peg; Development Manager Robin and Assistance League of the Eastside; Volunteer Alison's granddaughter; board member Janet, Intern Tara, and Pathways Coordinator Karie.

Cheers for Volunteers!

We had lovely summer evening with great company at our volunteer appreciation picnic. The Sophia Way volunteers are our partnersand we are thankful for all of the energy, intellect and compassion they bring to every task!

Safeway Stocks Pantry

This month we had a visit from Safeway Corporate who brought in several boxes of food and drink to fill our pantry! Stacy Smalls and Sarah Osborne from Safeway set up the delivery of much needed pantry staples -

thank you Safeway!

Stacy cares deeply about women struggling with homelessness in our community and we are happy to have such a committed community member as this

year's Luncheon Chair.

Neiman Marcus

In June Neiman Marcus Bellevue raised funds, donated sundries, and served a gorgeous healthy meal to the woman at Sophia's Place shelter. The Sophia Way is thankful for their spirit and generosity!

If you would like to set up a donation collection at your workplace, church or with friends,please contact Robin at events@sophiaway.org

Pathways Finance Class

Our pathways program is designed to meet the needs of the women in our program to acquire new skills. Last monthBhaj Townsend from Focus and Sustain led a series of classes on empowerment through managing financesand reflecting on ones relationship with money. The participants enjoyed and learned so much from the class that Bhaj added an extra class!

Summer Movies in the Park, August 25th

Please join us for a fun family evening at Summer Outdoor Movies in the Park, this year at Hidden Valley Sports Park. On the night dedicated to giving to The Sophia Way the movie title is "Night at the Museum, Secret of the Tomb" (PG). If you are interested in helping with collecting donations or handing out pamphlets please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@sophiaway.org.

19 Reasons to Shout Hurray!

2015-06-12T11:49:00.003-07:00

19 Reasons to Shout Hurray!

We're ecstatic that we have been able to help 19 women move into permanent housing so far this year, and we are shouting "hurray" for each one!

19 Women Moved into Housing

You have helped changed the lives of 19 women. We can't do it alone. While our staff is amazing, hard working, and selflessly dedicated to this important work, we depend on supporters like you who generously give their time, talent and treasure.

Just in a weeks time one volunteer delivered beautifully handcrafted bars of soap to our Day Center, another volunteer took on the monumental task of organizing the Shelter pantry, and of course, what would we do without the nutritious meals that are lovingly prepared and served everyday by community volunteers like you. Thank you.

And to top off the week, last Friday I was working in my office when I suddenly heard joyous laughter and crying coming from our reception area. After 17 years of being homeless, one of our women came to our office to share that she had just received the key to her apartment and was moving in that day. That's how you help change lives.

Angela Murray, Executive Director

$12,910 Raised During Give Big

Thank you for giving big on May 5th! This year Seattle Foundation will stretch your donation by 8.4%, which means The Sophia Way will be receiving a check for $1,084 in June because you chose to help women in need. Thank you!

Cheers for Volunteers!

Are you a volunteer at The Sophia Way? We would like to recognize your service with an appreciation picnic! Please leave your checkbook at home andjoin us on Thursday, June 25, from 4-7 at Crossroads Park. Click on link below for more details. If you haven't accepted an email invitation please RSVP to robin@sophiaway.org.

Link to RSVP and information

Welcome New Board Member Karen Odle

Karen brings more than 40 years experience as a nurse leader in women's health care to the Board, as well as a passion for caring for women and families. Odle will provide clinical knowledge and understanding of how to serve individual clients' needs as well as a broader healthcare perspective

"As a nurse executive, Karen brings experience with organizational development and performance, and a focus on quality, safety, service, and value based outcomes," said Executive Director, Angela Murray.

Odle is also active as the President of Soroptimist International Bellevue Metropolitan, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls.

Pat Pauley Interview

Lead Case Manager Rebecca Nelson and Volunteer Coordinator Kavay Dharmarajan wereinterviewed by Pat Pauly on her radio show, Get Active, on 1150 AM KKNW. Pat toured Sophia's Place shelter last week before the interview.

Link to Pat Pauley's Interview with Kavya & Rebecca

Daddy-O's Benefit Jam

On Saturday, June 13th from 7-10 PM, the Daddy-O's band will play at Luther's Table in Renton and they are generously donating their tips to The Sophia Way. Please come out and join them!

Link to Luther's Table

Farms for Life Partners with TSW

We are so happy to have Farms for Life as a partner serving women in need. Farms for Life donates and delivers farm fresh local produce to our clients and promotes a healthy lifestyle by also teaching cooking classes at Sophia's Place.

Link to Farms For Life

Shelter Tour on Thursday, June 18th at 2:00 PM

You are invited to join board member Karina O'Malley on our next Sophia's Place shelter tour. Bring a friendand learn about opportunities to to help women in our community through The Sophia Way.

Please contact Robin Brown for questions and to RSVP

Email Robin Brown: robin@sophiaway.org

The Sophia Way | Phone | info@sophiaway.org | www.sophiaway.org

News From The Sophia Way

2015-05-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

A note from our new Executive Director

Angela Murray

I have been here almost a month and here is what I've learned and observed so far.

I have a lot to learn.
Repeat number one.
The Eastside is an incredibly generous and supportive community.
Our case managers, Day Center and Shelter staff, and service providers work tirelessly to advocate and serve our women.
We can't do this important work without our Volunteers - especially our dedicated Board of Directors.
A woman has full time job at a grocery store and still cannot afford housing.
Another woman who works two jobs, catches up on her sleep by riding the bus.
The faith based organizations and their compassionate congregations consistently ask "How can we help? What do the women need?"
21-the number of beautifully sewn handbags, with inspiring quotes, that were so lovingly stocked with wonderful toiletry items that were brought in and donated by a business owner. And she's bringing in more this fall.
We have a lot of work to do and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to help lead The Sophia Way. THANK YOU.

Best wishes,

Angela Murray

Executive Director

Tracey gets a job and a home!

She turned her obstacles into opportunities

It's a great feeling to be handed a new set of keys! Tracey received her set of house keys on Saturday, March 21. She was going to rent from a community member who graciously offered to rent or share her Bellevue home with a Sophia's Place resident. Tracey has shown great determination since she entered the shelter 8 months ago with no job, no resources, and no way to get around. She couch-surfed for more than eight months before she contacted The Sophia Way on a recommendation from a friend.

Tracey had lost her job in Oklahoma City. She traveled to Washington for a job interview in the tech field, but she didn't get the job, and was unable to return to Oklahoma City. She acquired a local job after a dedicated search, where she advocated for herself to employers. Tracey was a shoe-in for the job thanks to her job experience and her tireless work. The Sophia Way supported Tracey in acquiring a car, which was necessary to keep her job. She faithfully paid off the car loan and she uses the car to get to work every day.

Tracey proudly showing off her car title

When a community member approached The Sophia Way with an offer to rent out her home, Tracey instantly came to mind as a perfect candidate. We introduced Tracey to the homeowner, and it turned out to be a great match. We arranged to subsidize Tracey's rent with our rental assistance program for as long as she needs it, as well as provide case management services whenever necessary.Very recently, Tracy moved to her own permanent apartment! She is working hard to build her credit history, to upgrade to a higher-paying job, and after ten years, finally getting rid of her storage unit. We are hopeful that next year, Tracey will no longer need her apartment subsidy and she will finally reach her goal of ultimate independence.

The strength of the human spirit

Patricia Klingler recounts her Companionship experience with Tracey

First name, last name, and cell phone number. That's all I had. Well, there was a bit more. I also learned she likes to cook and was staying at Sophia's Place Shelter. That was enough information for me to grow excited about the prospect of becoming Tracey's companion, once the match had been made. It took 2-3 text messages for us to connect, but our first visit lasted four hours as did the next and the next and the next. There was so much to talk about as we discovered how we are alike, how we differ, but mostly how we could grow in our friendship

As Tracey's story unfolded, I discovered a woman with a professional background that had become waylaid by a set of circumstances. I discovered a woman who knows she has the personal resolve to improve those circumstances. I discovered a woman who seeks out resources to help her in her quest. I witnessed a woman move from life in a shelter to paying rent for a room in a private home, and who now lives independently in her own studio apartment. My discoveries confirmed that, in due time, Tracey will reach her employment and other life goals.

The best discovery, however, is that I have been blessed with a friendship that reminds me of the strength of the human spirit to prosper.

Our Companion Program is run by the WomanSpirit Center. You can learn more about this program here. If you would like to be a Companion, please email: companions@sophiaway.org.

One hotel room that's worth a million dollars

Monica found a temporary 'home' to recover from a major surgery

You can imagine how Monica felt when she learned that her cancer had relapsed. But that was not all that she had to deal with. She was also experiencing homelessness and was at our shelter at Sophia's Place. She was making great progress in our program and was about to move into her own apartment. Her apartment was going through some

renovation and was not yet ready for her to move in. Now she had to urgently go for her surgery. We helped her get admitted to the hospital. The plan was that after her surgery, she will stay at the hospital for a few days to recover, and by that time her apartment will be ready for her to move in.

Her surgery was a success. We were very happy for her! She was recovering well at the hospital. However, the hospital decided to discharge her just after two days and her apartment was still not ready for her to move in. She couldn't come back to the shelter because of the shelter timings and our lack of resources to keep it staffed 24 hours a day. She urgently needed a place where she could rest and recover. After all the stressful health issues, the last thing she needed was to be homeless again two days after her surgery.

We desperately looked for a temporary option for her. Finally, Red Lion Hotel, Bellevue, came to our rescue! They not only let her stay until her apartment was ready, they also took great care of her. Monica was beyond grateful for her temporary 'home'. Words fail to express our gratitude for Red Lion hotel. We feel so fortunate to have such a strong community partner.

Monica is now recovered and living on her own in her apartment. We are proud of her for being so strong through all these difficult circumstances and glad that things eventually worked out for her.

Getting the results you want

2015-04-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

April 9, 2015

In this edition

Passing on the baton As my journey with The Sophia Way ends, another begins	Getting the results you want Through support, resources, and most importantly, kindness
Six women moved to independent housing Just in the month of March	Join us for GiveBIG on May 5 Be a champion on the biggest giving day

Passing on the baton

As my journey with The Sophia Way ends, another begins

How time flies! It's been nine months since I started here at The Sophia Way. From my first day on the job, I have been impressed with the level of community support that The Sophia Way was fortunate to have. The organization had key ingredients for success - a compelling mission and a track record of positive results, dedicated board and staff, and huge community support and engagement.

It has not been all rosy. There have been ups and downs and some hard decisions to make. We focused on building on our core strengths and strengthening our partnerships. After nine months, I'm happy to say that The Sophia Way is now stronger than ever. Through this time, your support has helped us stay on course and do what we do best -- assist women from homelessness to independence. Thank you!

As an Interim Executive Director, my goal is to help an organization through the period of change and hand over the helm to a capable hand. I'm excited about the future of The Sophia Way with Angela Murray coming on board as the new Executive Director next week. Angela brings a broad range of experience and expertise to this organization. I will be working closely with her for a smooth transition over the next few weeks. Please extend a warm welcome to Angela as you have done for me. And please mark your calendar to attend the meet-and-greet reception for Angela on Friday, May 8.

It's been a pleasure working with you. I look forward to hearing about The Sophia Way's ongoing success. I'll be reading these newsletters and plan to attend the Annual Luncheon on October 1.

Thank you for all you do and for your continued support for The Sophia Way!

Best wishes,

Rae Levine

Interim Executive Director

Getting the results you want

Through support, resources, and most importantly, kindness

Kim recently went through a divorce after 20 years of marriage. She suddenly found herself in a tough situation. She had spent the last twenty years supporting her husband in his career, and now she had to find a job as soon as possible.

Kim spoke at our Luncheon in 2014, just a week after she received her full time job with benefits

"My first job after my divorce, I was a lead at a retirement home," she said. "I reported abuse and neglect. I was demoted and so turned in my keys." Kim immediately went out looking for a new job, but it was impossible to keep up with the rent, so she lost her apartment.

Kim accessed the resources offered by the Emergency Winter Shelter. "That is when I met The Sophia Way," she said. "When I reached out for help, they were there to help. Not only there to help, but there to guide those looking to better their lives."

She stayed at the Emergency Winter Shelter rather than with friends, because she wanted to learn and to become independent. Like many women, she transitioned from the Emergency Winter Shelter to the six-month program at Sophia's Place. She was given her own quiet space, and she was given access to resources for her job search, along with guidance and encouragement.

After a few months, Kim moved on to a six-bedroom transitional housing with a house manager, where she pays rent. "The Holly House has given me almost complete independence," she said. "But the Sophia Way is still there if I need guidance, advice or encouragement. If I need any information about programs that would help me, they are there."

She mentioned the kindness of The Sophia Way staff and all the different ways they helped: general encouragement, financial guidance, emotional guidance, nutrition advice and exercise tips. She described the staff as non-judgmental and kind. Kim believes that the kindness the women receive is one of the most important things about The Sophia Way.

A week before Kim gave her speech at The Sophia Way Luncheon, she received a big piece of good news. She was offered a full-time job with full benefits, which would let her take the next step towards living on her own. Kim described herself as independent, with confidence that she could stand on her own, thanks to everything she learned through The Sophia Way.

"You follow this program, you will get results in life," she said.

Kim has recently produced a song -- Always U -- that will soon be released for radio and itunes. Follow us on Facebook and we'll share the link to the song as soon as it is released!

Six women moved to independent housing

Just in the month of March!

March was an exciting month for us! Six women from our Sophia's Place Shelter Program successfully moved into independent housing -- four of them into permanent housing and two to transitional housing. We are proud to be part of their journey from homelessness to independence. And, we are thankful to you for your ongoing support. None of this would be possible without you!

In addition, two women from our supportive housing program recently won the housing lottery for new apartments through Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) in Bellevue. They will be moving into their permanent housing soon!

Congratulations, ladies!

Join us for GiveBIG on May 5

Be a champion on the biggest giving day in the Northwest

Mark your calendars and spread the word -- The

Sophia Way is going to be part of The Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG again this year on May 5th. And we need your support.

GiveBIG is an online event coordinated by The Seattle Foundation to promote charitable giving in our community. A portion of every contribution made that day, Tuesday, May 5, 2015, will be matched. This is a great way to stretch your donation dollars and make them go further. We know you receive many requests for donations on GiveBIG and we hope you will keep The Sophia Way on the top of your list.

We need your help in reaching out to community members who care about the issue of homelessness, but may not be aware of our programs or the need of services on the Eastside. We know you care passionately about this issue. Now we want you to be an advocate for the women we serve as well and bring your friends and co-workers on board. We cannot solve homelessness alone. We need to work together to make meaningful long-term changes. We count on you as our partners in this mission.

Upcoming Shelter Tours!

Join us for one of our upcoming Sophia's Place shelter tours this month and experience first hand how your donation dollars are assisting women from homelessness to independence. The next tour dates are Thursday, April 23rd and Tuesday, April 28th, both at 2:00 pm.

The mission of The Sophia Way is to help end homelessness for adult women in King County by providing shelter, life skills training, social services and supportive permanent housing, offering a path from homelessness to stable independent living.

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Lena's long road to housing

2015-03-19T17:57:00.002-07:00

March 19, 2015

In this edition

Lena's long road to housing And new dreams, after years of homelessness	Meet our case management consultant Karen Staley brings her decades of experience
An unexpected gift from a sister agency Imagine Housing employees select The Sophia Way	Not one hundred, not one thousand, but 18000! That's the number of meals you donated in 2014

Lena's long road to housing

Persistence and hard-work finally paid-off for Lena

Lena first contacted The Sophia Way through our Emergency Winter Shelter (EWS). After a short stay at the winter shelter during the colder months, she left the EWS for a spot at Sophia's Place, our 21-bed shelter located at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Bellevue.

Holly House, our community home for 6 women, is made possible by East Shore Unitarian Church who provided the space in their former parsonage

She made great use of the resources offered by Sophia's Place, including laundry facilities, computers, phones, showers, and more. She was a great help at the Day Center, pitching in with chores and cleaning whenever possible. She was a conscientious community member and a great person to have around! She invested herself in her own success and developed a long term plan for addressing one of the major obstacles in her way when it came to finding an apartment: rental history. Without one, it was unlikely that she would find a property manager willing to rent to her.

It's part of The Sophia Way's mission to provide every woman the opportunity to live independently and move into permanent housing, and in keeping with that, Lena was offered a spot at our Holly House -- a 6-bed community housing program. We are thankful to East Shore Unitarian Church for providing the space for Holly House in their former parsonage. This has increased our capacity to serve more women and enabled us to add the community housing program. Lena lived at Holly House for two years in order to build up a rental history while she looked for permanent housing options. Due to her mental health challenges, she required more help than other women in our program. Her case manager helped her through each stage of the process in applying for housing.

Earlier this month, Lena was able to obtain housing that met her income requirements while also being in a recently constructed building with plenty of storage space and onsite housing management. Just last week, Lena moved from Holly House to her own apartment. When she left Holly House, she had a rental history and new skills to aid her at her own housing. She prepared her first meal in four years last weekend and was very excited to let her case manager know! She will continue to meet her case manager at The Sophia Way for some more time to make sure this transition is a permanent success.

Despite many challenges and the difficulties that come with experiencing homelessness, Lena proved to be a great community member and a great advocate for her own independence. We wish her success.

Meet our Case Management Consultant: Karen Staley

Karen brings her decades of experience and care to The Sophia Way

I am honored to join The Sophia Way as a Case Management Consultant. I am providing interim case management to newer shelter guests as the amazingly capable and dedicated team of The Sophia Way take the time required to find the right person to add as case manager.

For more than a decade, beginning with volunteer work at a rape crisis line and work in domestic violence shelters, and then continuing to work with homeless adults in shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing as an advocate and case manager, I have been moved by the resilience, resourcefulness and determination of the women whose struggle and achievements I have witnessed. The work of advocating for and empowering women experiencing homelessness is deeply meaningful for me.

I am all the more moved and impressed, then, to find in The Sophia Way, a breadth of service, a depth of commitment, and a connection and integration with the community that is both rare and powerful. It is my hope that my experience will allow me to provide some additional connections to resources and partnerships in the areas of supportive and affordable housing and to offer some tools to strengthen and enhance the flow of services across agency programs from initial contact to day center through shelter and transition to independent, affordable, sustainable housing.

Karen Staley

Case Management Consultant

Not one hundred, not one thousand, but 18,000!

That's the number of meals you donated in 2014

At the beginning of every year, when we do our accounting for the previous year, your donations never cease to amaze us. This is especially true for all the meal donations that we get. 365 days a year, you provide healthy hot meals for our overnight shelter residents. You provide meals for the Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter when it's in operation. You provide lunches for our Day center residents 5 days a week, when it's open. And all those add up to an incredible 18,000 meals in 2014. Thank you!

If you are interested in donating a meal, check our meal donations website, find a date on the calendar there, and signup! If you have any questions, please email Delilah VanCourt at meals@sophiaway.org and she will get you all the information you might need.

An unexpected gift from a sister agency

Imagine Housing employees select The Sophia Way

Our Interim Executive Director, Rae Levine, accepting the check from Gary Helling, Interim Executive Director of Imagine Housing.

We are humbled by wonderful support from a sister agency - Imagine Housing. They had an opportunity to grant funds to a nonprofit as part of their Velocity housing project. As part of that process, Imagine Housing staff voted for The Sophia Way to receive this gift of more than $20,000 as a sign of their 'deep appreciation' for our work! We are deeply grateful.

Velocity is a brand new affordable apartment community, located at the South Kirkland Park and Ride, for low-income individuals and households. Some of the women from our program have moved into Velocity and they love it!

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Announcing The Sophia Way's new Executive Director

2015-03-13T10:00:00.002-07:00

Greetings!

On behalf of the Board and Staff at The Sophia Way, I am very happy to announce that we have hired Angela Murray as our new Executive Director.

After a thorough search, Angela rose to the top with her experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, board development and volunteer engagement. Angela brings not only the experience, but the energy and enthusiasm, necessary to continue to advance the mission of The Sophia Way.

Angela comes to The Sophia Way after serving as the executive director of the Volunteer Center of Whatcom County, where she was recognized for her success facilitating board, staff and community partners working together in a strategic initiative to collaboratively solve community challenges through volunteerism, donor engagement and partnership with key stakeholders. She was also recognized with the 2014 Community Achievement Award for her efforts in the local community.

With our new leader, we are eager to move forward, serving women experiencing homelessness in our community and strengthening the partnerships with our local providers, funders, and the many individuals and groups who actively support our programs. Angela will start in her role on April 14. Rae Levine, Interim Executive Director, will be working closely with the staff, board and Angela to ensure a smooth transition.

Please join me in welcoming Angela to our Eastside community. More details to follow on a welcoming meet-and-greet with Angela.

Finally I want to thank Rae Levine for her leadership as Interim Executive Director. She has been invaluable in assisting us through this time period and putting us in a strong position to move forward with our mission.

Thank you for your ongoing support of and collaboration with The Sophia Way.

Lynn Engel, Board Chair

This is where I belong

2015-02-13T15:15:00.001-08:00

February 12, 2015

In this edition

This is where I belong Holding hands through celebrations and hardships	Kathy and the key to a new home And new dreams, after years of homelessness
Looking forward 2015 and beyond	Home for the Holidays Great stories happen right here

This is where I belong

Holding hands through celebrations and hardships

Several years ago, as a single mom, I searched for services that could help me. I was able to find several resources and with those services, I usually had a case manager that was there to help me
navigate unfamiliar territory. Some of these case managers were amazing and others were not. I knew that everyone deserved to be treated with dignity and respect and that did not always happen. I knew that I could help people if I had the right tools. So I went back to school, earned a degree in Human Services and set out to find a job helping people.

In October of 2013, I found The Sophia Way, and was lucky enough to join the team! I began working long overnight shifts at the Emergency Winter Shelter. I had never worked an overnight shift before and it took some getting used to. Although I was often tired on my way to work each night, seeing the clients come in from the cold, eat a hot meal, and get ready for bed each night, seemed to energize me.

After a few months, I was trained to work a regular shift at Sophia's Place, our 6-month, 21-bed program shelter that offers case management, life skill classes, and helps to provide a sense of community for the women while they deal with other aspects of their lives. I liked the change and got to know all of the clients very well. I often helped the ladies find resources, actively listened to them and shared many cups of coffee with several residents. It was during one of those shifts that I learned that a case management position was opening up at the office. I jumped at the chance! Becoming a case manager was what I really wanted to do. I applied, got the position and began readjusting to sleeping at night and working during the day.

I love being a case manager. I have had the chance to witness the amazing opportunities that The Sophia Way provides for our clients. I get to help people find resources that can change their lives. I get to listen to clients tell their story, where they have been and where they are heading. I get to celebrate their successes and hold their hand when they feel defeated. I get to call them with exciting news and I love to hear them tell me about the strides they are making towards independence.

Not every day is a celebration, but every day I learn more about what the women we serve need and how I can help them obtain those needs and reach their goals. I can confidently say that I have found exactly where I belong.

Rebecca Nelson

Case Manager, The Sophia Way

Kathy and the key to a new home

And new dreams, after years of homelessness

We first met Kathy when she and her child arrived at The Sophia Way Emergency Winter Shelter, operated by Catholic Community Services. They had each other and little else. Kathy had been on the road for a long time, traveling across the country to escape domestic violence in her home state. She left a good paying job and everything else in order to find a better situation for herself.

Kathy got the keys to her new home just a few weeks back. New city, new life - we couldn't be more excited for her!

After staying at various shelters in several states for the past four years, Kathy came to our Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter late last year. We soon had an opening at Sophia's Place, our programmatic shelter, and she moved in there. Once her immediate needs of shelter and food were taken care of, we discussed how we could help her find a more permanent place to live.

Despite being in a new city with minimal resources and no contacts, Kathy found her own housing and did all of the legwork herself, with a little bit of our help. Fortunately, she was approved for housing under section 8 at the beginning of this year. Just a few weeks back, she moved into her own home in Bellingham, with her child, and is in the process of getting settled for the first time in a long while. One of our case managers, Rebecca, accompanied her to the housing and helped her get comfortable. We provided her with all of the household items she needed, donated by generous donors like you, to get started in her new life in a new city.

In a situation that would have been intimidating for anyone, Kathy was her own best advocate. She took care of herself. She had a lot of spirit and she was never too shy to ask for the help that she needed. Thanks to her hard work and resilience, she is well on her way to living a normal life again.

Kathy was an amazing client and a good friend to many people at the shelter. She stays in contact with her friends she met through the program and we are very happy to have known her!

Looking forward

2015 and beyond

The Sophia Way has been extremely fortunate to earn the love and support of so many individuals, faith organizations, businesses, and foundations since its inception. You, along with our government partners, have made it possible for us to provide shelter and a pathway to independence for hundreds of women experiencing homelessness. It was your support and encouragement that helped us through some bumpy time during the last half of 2013 and beginning of 2014. Last year, our board made the decision to hire a professional Interim Executive Director, Rae Levine, to bring in stability, to give the board more time to find the right Executive Director (ED), and to strengthen our organizational foundation and processes during this transition period. More than six months and some tough decisions later, we are stronger than ever. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we ended last year on solid financial footing. This year, we are able to expand our direct client services staff. And, we are in the process of interviewing for new Executive Director to lead the organization into the future. Please watch for the announcement about our new ED in March/April.

In case you are wondering about our Auction, we are not having one this year. Instead, our BIG event of the year will be our Luncheon on Thursday, October 1st. Save the date on your calendar now! We will have more information coming your way about that in a few months.

Your support is going to be the most important asset for the new ED as he/she takes the reign. We are ready to move forward. Thank you again for walking with us on this journey of The Sophia Way.

Home for the Holidays

Great stories happen right here

Imagine a single mom with four children. Now imagine they don't have a home to go to and are looking for a shelter on a cold and wet winter night. This is the story of Hanna. At the end of last year, when she was looking for a shelter, she found out about the Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter (EWS) for women and families and was grateful to find a warm place to sleep and a hot meal, especially for all her children. It turned out to be a pivotal moment in her life. The shelter staff of Catholic Community Services was able to give her Family Housing Connection program resources and through that she soon found her own apartment. The apartment was a tremendous relief, but she was not prepared for what happened next!

The need for permanent and emergency shelter services is greater than ever -- the EWS has assisted more than 225 individuals this winter alone.

A Bellevue city police officer, during his regular security check at the shelter learned about Hanna. He was so moved by her story that he called some of his friends and together they helped set up Hanna's new apartment with everything they needed to get started on the right footing. And the timing could not be more perfect - it was right before Christmas! Hanna and her children were able to spend the holidays in the security and stability of their new home.

It is indeed heartwarming to see community members stepping up to take care of others, like Hanna, who are not so fortunate. Unfortunately, for every happy story like Hanna's, there are many other not-so-happy stories of women and families who are forced to spend their nights unsheltered. There has been a huge increase in the number of people accessing the EWS for Women and Families this year and, we are very grateful that Catholic Community Services, working with our church partners, is providing shelter services at full capacity. We are actively exploring options for separate and permanent emergency shelter for women and families to meet the need. In winter 2014-2015, the EWS has served more than 225 individuals already, providing food, clothing, and shelter to women and families in need during the coldest months.

At the beginning of this month Catholic Community Services staff moved the winter shelter to Redmond United Methodist Church. We want to take this opportunity to thank them for hosting the shelter again this year. Our gratitude to St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Bellevue for hosting the EWS there from mid-November until the end of January. And many thanks to Catholic Community Services for operating the shelter. Together we are making sure that women and families have a warm place to go this winter.

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

I faced down my dragon

2015-01-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2015

In this edition

When nothing else works We turn to our most effective tool & it never fails	I faced down my dragon How I walked away with my head held high
We bow to you Overwhelmed by your generosity	We're hiring And you can help

When nothing else works

We turn to our most effective tool & it never fails

"I am so lonely."

The woman sitting across from me in the Sophia's Place Day Center office laments, unbidden tears streaming down her cheeks. Ashamed of her admission, she tries to hide her face, but she knows she needs to talk to someone.

As Day Center Manager, much of my job entails tending to hurting human hearts. It's fair to say that everyone who walks through my doorway is hurting in some way. Professionally speaking, this is called "Trauma Informed Care". But I call it one word: Compassion.

Me on that actual day - I had Christmas lights in my hair for the yuletide amusement of Day Center guests.

Compassion takes many forms at the Day Center. Compassion is what inspires individuals and groups to donate warm, nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch to feed the bodies and hearts of guests at the shelter. Compassion urges community members to bring us gloves, clothes, hats, and coats to protect women and children experiencing homelessness from the wind, rain and cold. Compassion energizes our volunteers to give of their time and energy to helping the Day Center live up to its full potential of being a resource and comforting shelter to those in need. Compassion is the commitment and practice of staff and service providers at the shelter as we interact with this vulnerable population.

Loss and pain can come to anyone at any time. It takes a compassionate community to tend to the needs of its members, to help them through those tough times that are beyond what any individual can bear alone. Matching an individual's needs to the available resources requires knowledge about what is offered by literally hundreds of agencies and organizations, as well as creative problem solving to develop and discuss action plans and plausible solutions to so many of the accompanying issues facing individuals experiencing homelessness: domestic violence, disability, mental illness, dysfunctional family, lack of social support, unemployment, evictions, addiction, aging, insufficient income, health issues.

Many times I can offer resources that meet the needs of the individual, and it's a beautiful thing. Like the time I was able to help someone obtain transportation to the Social Security Administration, just so she could get her ID card and finally proceed with her housing. Or helping someone find professional clothing and makeup so she can feel confident at her interview and get that job. Or find a safe, warm place for them and their children to sleep for that night - one day at a time. The stories just keep growing.

But that day I realized that there was no resource, no agency, no program, no donation I could offer to the woman sitting across from me with the broken heart from a broken life. Yet ... I have compassion, and that may be exactly what she needs.

I handed her a tissue with an understanding smile and reassured her:

"Mmmm. Yeah ... loneliness ... I can relate. But you are *always* welcome here."

Carrie De Vault

Manager, Sophia's Place Day Center

I faced down my dragon

By Jennifer Kerr-Healy

When I arrived at Sophia's, I was lost

The circumstances in which I found myself,

Were as frightening, as they were tragic.

A new place full of unknowns filled me with trepidation.

That first night at the Emergency Shelter.

With time my reality changed,

When I first arrived at The Sophia Way I was sure I was losing my mind

if I had not lost it already.

Abuse, control, and fear does that,

to borrow a line from Dune

"Fear is the little mind killer."

When in fear, our thoughts become muddy, our focus blurred.

With time, I forged new relationships and I learned to trust again.

Most importantly, in myself.

I learned just because we stumble, does not mean we are doomed to failure.

I grew, learned to smile and laugh again.

The Sophia Way tempered me,

Took what was weak, and shaken

and through caring, understanding, and an ear to listen,

made it strong.

I faced down my dragon,

That which I had feared and dreaded.

Something I wouldn't have been able to do

If not for great staff at my side, cheering me on.

I came out successful, I slew my dragon.

And walked away head held high.

Without them, I fear for where I would have ended up.

Instead I stand here a success.

Perhaps not by the measure of wealth and power,

But in strength and perseverance.

I leave you with the words of Maya Angelou

"Woman, though you may face many defeats, may you never be defeated."

* This poem is written by Jennifer Kerr-Healy, one of the women in our program. She recited this poem at our Donor and Volunteer appreciation evening in December last year. She is currently working full time and will be moving into her own apartment later this month.

We bow to you

In recognition of your overwhelming generosity

We set an ambitious goal for our year-end fundraising. We set out to raise $150,000 in individual donations in the last quarter of 2014. That was close to double of what we had raised in 2013 during the same period. And the result? You helped us surpass that goal! We received a little more than $153,000 in donations from more than 375 individuals. This is huge! You have propelled us into 2015 with a strong financial foundation and helped change lives. A women has shelter and a pathway to a better future, as you read this, because you made it possible. We hope you are feeling good about that. We are tremendously grateful for your support for the mission of The Sophia Way.

We also received more than $80,000 in grants from foundations in the last quarter of 2014 (some preferred to remain anonymous). Thank you!

Beighle Family Foundation	Moccasin Lake Foundation
Byron W. and Alice L. Lockwood Foundation	The Norcliffe Foundation
The Charles See Foundation	Sill Family Foundation Inc.
Far Family Foundation	The Seattle Foundation
The McKibben Merner Family Fund	The Safeway Foundation
Medina Foundation	Verizon Wireless

Thank you for your caring support in assisting women from homelessness to independence. As always, we cannot do this work without you. Only with you.

We're hiring!

And you can help

Thanks to you, we are now in a strong position to expand our small, but mighty team. Filling these positions will allow us to grow our capacity to serve. We have these positions open:

Executive Director

We are seeking an Executive Director who is passionate, understands the critical role the organization plays in addressing the issue of homelessness for women in King County, and can lead us into the future.

Lead Case Manager

This position will provide services to clients and lead a team of Case Managers who provide tools, guidance, assistance with housing search, and referrals to clients in our shelter and housing programs for women.

In addition, we are also looking for a part-time volunteer Development Intern. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual looking to learn more about a career in development and event organization.

For more information about any of these programs and to apply, please visit the jobs page on our website. Spread the word if you know anyone who might be interested in any of the open positions.

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Feeling the Holiday love

2014-12-11T18:29:00.003-08:00

December 11, 2014

In this edition

Happy six year anniversary! Some thoughts as we step into our 7th year	How donating meals has made our family stronger Reflections from a long-time meal donor
Cindy goes to the Nutcracker A longtime wish fulfilled!	Feeling the Holiday love A story of strong passion and melted hearts

Greetings!

As 2014 draws to a close, we celebrate the 6th year anniversary of the founding of The Sophia Way in December 2008. Thanks to your support and involvement during these action-packed first six

years, The Sophia Way has been able to help many women move forward on the pathway from homelessness to stable independent living. Your support has helped provide a home for many women who would otherwise be homeless.

The Sophia Way started its journey just as the great recession began in 2008. While our ability and resources to meet the needs of women who are homeless on the Eastside have grown in this time, so has the need. Our work is far from over. As a community, we would do well to ask the hard questions about a system that allows for homelessness in the first place and fails to provide necessary safety nets. Meanwhile, at The Sophia Way, we will continue to do everything in our power to provide the critical services that are needed until the day that no woman on the Eastside has to spend the night on the streets, cold and wet, or in her car or riding night owl buses.

We are pleased with the progress we've made this year to strengthen the agency's ability to serve. We are profoundly grateful to all our partners who have collaborated and contributed in so many ways to our success. We are honored to have you on our side as we move forward together into 2015.

Best wishes for the holiday season and the new year,

Rae Levine

Interim Executive Director

How donating meals has made our family stronger

A longtime regular meal donor recounts how his family started donating meals to The Sophia Way programs and what it has meant for his family

A message from the Eastside Winter Shelters for Women, Men, and Families with Children : Food and Meals Are Needed for Clients

That was the headline in the January 13th, 2012 Kirkland Neighborhood E-Bulletin. I forwarded the email with this E-Bulletin to my family, "What do you think, would you like to help out?". The response came back loud and clear from all, and in one case in all caps, "LOVE TO HELP".

We had previously helped out at Hopelink, donating food and helping the Boy and Girl Scouts collect food donations. We have an annual family Holiday tradition of buying and donating food to Hopelink, helping hungry people in our community. Sophia Way felt like a good fit for us. We signed up for a few evenings' meals and went shopping for dinner. I remember the first time we donated, our son Harry was off at school so my wife Norizan and our daughter Aisha did most of the cooking while I helped with the shopping and packing food for delivery. It was fun and rewarding, knowing that we were going to help people in our community who needed help.

Frank, Norizan and their family

Our first night Norzian and I took the food to the women's shelter, which at the time was housed at the Salvation Army in Bellevue, behind the Cross Roads Mall. We got there at 8:00 early to find a very icy parking lot and one lone volunteer trying to unload mattresses from a van. Outside in the cold, near the entrance to the parking lot, was one woman in her mid 20s. We brought in the food and offered to help prepare the shelter. I carried in mattresses while Norizan helped inside. The woman who was outside in the cold moved closer and offered to help. I suggested that it would be warmer for her to help inside but she refused. I asked her why and she told me that the shelter did not accept clients until 8:30 but she really wanted to help so she pitched in and moved mattresses. This proud woman was a client. She was cold and hungry, but she was not helping to hurry things along, she was helping just because help was needed. She typified the wonderful people in our community, always ready to help, always looking out for others, and in this case also in need.

A couple of evenings later Aisha and I delivered food to the men's shelter, which at the time was located a few blocks east of the woman's shelter at St. Peter's United Methodist Church. This time the mattress where stored in a shed like storage unit and when we offered to help we were joined by the volunteers and another client who again just wanted to help.

After the first few times we delivered food we knew that we wanted to help Sophia Way so we signed up for more nights while the shelter operated that winter, until March 15th that year.

We signed up again fall 2013 and again in the fall of 2014. As we have done our small part we see clients progress and get back on their feet, and new people in need arrive; single men and women, and increasingly families. We have seen the shelter extend its operating period each year as well while serving more and more clients. Our whole family helps out with preparing and delivering food, including my new daughter in-law Lexi, and each time we receive more kindness and gratitude from clients and the staff than is warranted, and each time we are reaffirmed in the knowledge that we made the right choice to help The Sophia Way.

I know that the women and men are grateful for the food we prepare but what they might not know is that each evening that we deliver food, our family gets closer and stronger, just helping others just because help is needed. The nights we deliver food are truly the most rewarding parts of our week.

Cindy goes to the Nutcracker show

A longtime wish fulfilled!

Cindy wanted to see the Nutcracker since 2001. But life had other plans for her. She found herself couch-surfing for a while after she was forced to leave an abusive relationship. When she found out about The Sophia Way, she contacted us, and we were able to place her at Sophia's Place in July where she is now.

Once at the shelter, she immediately won the heart of the staff and other women. She often picks up other's chores and helps out in any way she can. Cindy never turns down a friend in need. She often buys small gifts for her friends when they are having an extra hard time. She never complains and always has a smile on her face. Oh, and did we say that she loves the Seahawks?

But life hasn't been easy for Cindy. She has been diligently looking for a job with the help of our case managers for quite some time now, but is having a hard time securing permanent employment. Right now, she cleans houses for a few local families.

Recently a we received a donation of three tickets to the Nutcracker show. As luck would have it, Cindy won them in the monthly drawing of the chore incentive program, where each resident gets one entry in the drawing for any extra chore they do at the shelter. Cindy was very excited about that and when we found out about her decade-long desire to see the Nutcracker, we were very excited for her as well! In her usual way of sharing her joy with others, Cindy invited two other residents from the shelter to join her. All of them are looking forward to the event!

We are so glad to be able to offer Cindy this experience, thanks to a generous donor. All her worries are still going to be there, but at least for one night, she gets to sit back and enjoy a great show that she wanted to attend for more than a decade.

Feeling the Holiday love

The warmth of our loving community has melted our heart!

Women at the shelter having fun decorating the Christmas tree

It was Thanksgiving day. Maggie and three other women spent many hours preparing a meal. This was, however, not for their families, but for the women at Sophia's Place. Volunteers from National Charity League, Lake Sammamish Chapter spent their Thanksgiving serving meals for women at our shelter. They sacrificed time with their family to serve others who don't have one or are not able to spend time with their families. They are doing it again, for Christmas -- serving special meals at the shelter.

They are not the only group. We are honored to have the support of many volunteers, individual donors, community organizations, and faith groups, who have come forward, in a big way, to make this Holiday Season special for all the women we serve. Many Holiday gifts are flowing in for the ladies from Assistance Legaue of the Eastside, Bellevue Yatch Club, City of Bellevue employees, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, East Shore Unitarian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Girl Scout (Brownie troupe) from Bellevue, Grace Lutheran Church, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, PEO Chapter, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Seastar restaurant, St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, St. Louise Parish, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church, St. Peter's United Methodist Church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and many other individual donors. BelPres Handbell Choir and singing group "Learning to Fly" are performing songs for the women. Other churches including St. Peter's and Newport LDS have invited women from our program to their Holiday special events.

We are grateful for this wonderful show of support from our community. It means a LOT to all the women we support, gives them hope, and brightens up their Holidays. Thank you!

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

What happens at night

2014-11-14T14:15:00.003-08:00

November 13, 2014

In this edition

What happens at night A night shelter staff's experience at Sophia's Place	Barbara has a home to call her own Finding home through life's ups and downs
Our most successful Luncheon ever! What happens when a community comes together for a mission!	Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter Opening this weekend A place for warmth, nourishment, and shelter

What happens at night

Life at Sophia's Place through the eyes of a Night Shelter Staff

When everyone prepares to go to bed at night, I start my work at Sophia's Place. I make sure that the needs of the women here are provided for throughout the night such as putting snacks out for the women that have a hard time sleeping and they use food to comfort them or just be there for someone to listen to them. We call it the grave shift. It is not easy work, but one that gives me a sense of fulfilment. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know that I'm helping to provide a safe, secure facility for the women at night and to have them tell me how they appreciate me being here.

I started working at The Sophia Way in November 2013. I was originally hired as an on-call shelter staff for the East Side Emergency Winter Shelter. I started working at Sophia's Place in February of this year as permanent overnight staff. I have recently started interning at the Day Center as well where I'm learning the daily operations of shelter management and the role of case management.

My background is in working with men, women, children and families experiencing homelessness. I'm currently a student at Seattle Central College, studying Social Services to obtain my Bachelor in the hopes of continued work with the homeless population as a Housing Case Manager.

As I serve breakfast to the women in the morning, I'm re-energized every day, to hear their stories of receiving housing, going to school, or getting a job. As I keep the facility clean, the storage room organized, and track referrals and donations, I know that by addressing the needs of each women, we are helping them find affordable housing and a stepping stone out of homelessness to to stable independent living.

Frances Tucker

Night Shelter Staff

Barbara has a home to call her own

Finding home through life's ups and downs

Barbara became homeless in 2011 due to family difficulties that lead to an eviction. Having no home of her own, she couch-surfed with friends and family members for many years. She didn't have a stable job and barely managed to get by. Her future was uncertain and difficulties seemed insurmountable.

Barbara came to our shelter in early 2014. One of her top
goals, when she met with our case managers here, was to be employed in the food service industry. Having a stable place to sleep at night helped her concentrate on acquiring the skills she needed for her job and also for job search. We helped her get a license that was required for her job. Being as industrious as she was, she was able to quickly learn all the skills she needed and found a job at a reputable hotel in Bellevue. The next priority was to find her a housing. With high rents and a serious lack of affordable housing options on the Eastside, finding a home, where she can pay the rent with her salary, was a challenge. We were able to use Rosco Housing Fund, a program funded by a generous donor, to subsidize her housing for the first 6 months. She signed the lease and was getting ready to move in a few weeks. Everything was going well as planned.

Life, however, often has a way of throwing curve-balls at us; to destabilize things, at least for a while, when we think everything is going well. There was an unexpected family emergency and Barbara was not able to go to work for a couple of days. She called her work and left them a message to let them know that she was not able to come. When she didn't hear back from them, she was very afraid. Barbara was not sure if she might lose her job. That was a scary thought for her. Her case manager encouraged her to do her due diligence to let her employer know about her emergency and reason for her sudden absence. She did. However, the uncertainly still hung heavy on her. Those two days were long and stressful. Finally she learned that her job was safe. She got back to work as soon as she was able to and things got back on track!

After almost 5 months at the shelter, Barbara moved out to her own apartment! We are very excited about her future. We are glad that we were able to walk alongside Barbara in her journey from homelessness to shelter, and now, to her own housing.

Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter opening this weekend

A place of warmth, nourishment and shelter for Women, Children, and Families

We got a little taste of winter in Seattle area this week. We are so glad that the Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter for Women, Children, & Families for the 2014-15 season is opening this Saturday, November 15th at the St. Peter's Church in Bellevue. From our last year's experience, we know the huge demand for such shelters, especially where families can stay together. This year the Emergency Shelter will be operated by Catholic Community Services. Dinner, breakfast, and sleeping mats will be provided. You can help provide meals for the shelter by signing up using the meals calendar.

Please spread the word. See the flyer below for more details. We want to make sure that anyone in need is able to access the services. Together we can make sure no one has to spend the night outside in the cold and rain this winter.

Our most successful Luncheon ever!

What happens when a community comes together for a cause

What a luncheon it was! We had close to 300 people show up for our Annual Benefit Luncheon on October 30th at The Red Lion Hotel and together we raised just more than $50,000 at the event! This is huge. It was our most successful luncheon ever. We are grateful for the wonderful show of support from our community. Thank you! This is a great boost to us and will help us continue to provide the critical services assisting women from homelessness to independence.

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

A lesson in living

2014-10-09T15:51:00.002-07:00

October 9, 2014

In this edition

A lesson in living Finding our humanity in difficult times	Nemo becomes a citizen A Companion's story of walking alongside Nemo
Just three more weeks to our Luncheon Three reasons you don't want to miss it!	Changing lives one woman at a time Would you lend an ear?

A lesson in living

Finding our humanity in difficult times

On October 5th, 2009, I started my first overnight shift at the Sophia Way. Much has changed in the last five years. No longer is the Sophia Way servicing a small handful of clients with mats on the floor, transitioning from one weekend shelter host site to another every other month. In these five years I have seen Sophia Way grow to serve three times the number of clients in the shelter. We have moved from mats on the floor in a small room to a beautiful shelter where each women has her own safe space that she can call her own. We have also added to our programs such as taking on the Day Center. It was exciting for me to help open that program in April as the Day Center Manager.

What keeps me at The Sophia Way, however, is not the growth, but what originally attracted me to this organization: seeing the humanity in the clients we serve and operating with the recognition that these are adult women who deserve dignity and respect.

I have now held every possible, past or present, direct service position at the Sophia Way, and feel I have a good understanding of the services we offer. I am proud of both the services we offer and the staff offering them, knowing that each of us bring compassion and dedication to our work in helping those in need.

I also marvel at our wonderful and numerous volunteers whose compassion and dedication is equally apparent. From the volunteers I met at our host sites where I started this work to the numerous volunteers I have the pleasure of interacting with in my many roles, each of them is a blessing to the Sophia Way.

Most of all, my interaction with clients is what inspires me. Each and every woman is going through immense struggle and stress which only she fully knows. Yet despite existing in such difficult times these women persevere, striving to achieve their goals and holding compassion and concern for others while doing so. This is a lesson in living that they teach me every day.

Karie Stearns

Case Manager and Pathways Coordinator

Nemo becomes a citizen

A Companion's story of celebrating some sweet moments with Nemo

This is a story from one of our Companion volunteers, Carolyn Moon. For more information about The Sophia Way companion program, visit: http://www.sophiaway.org/companion_program.html.

When I first met my companion, Nemo, a Somali woman, she was no longer homeless, but living in an apartment, which The Sophia Way had helped her to obtain through Section 8, a federal housing program. She felt herself to be very lucky to have a job, because she was not a citizen, her English was poor, and she could not read or write. Her overriding concern was to get her citizenship. She knew she would have to pass a test but was almost in despair over how to do so.

So, not knowing how much time before her test date, we started working to cover all bases. First, we drilled on the civics & history questions. Then we worked on a vocabulary list for reading and writing. She studied for the test questions by listening to a tape, but the most difficult part was writing.

When she finally received a date for her exam, it fell at a time when I would be traveling out of state, and we were both terribly upset. But another companion, Ellen Rider, offered to fill in for me and take my friend to the USCIS and give her moral support. She passed! All three of us are so thrilled! My husband (at her request) and I took her to a Somali restaurant to celebrate, and both Ellen and I accompanied her to her swearing-in ceremony.

Proud Nemo after her swearing-in ceremony showing off her citizenship certificate.

Nemo has taken the first step to a better life. Now she wants to continue learning to read and write, and I was able to find some excellent materials at a store for home schooling. Her next goal is to learn to use the internet and email. It is so exciting to share this journey with my new friend.

Just three more weeks to our Annual Benefit Luncheon

And three reasons why you don't want to miss it!

There are many reasons why you don't want to miss this year's luncheon. But we heed our expert editor's advise and decided to give you only three!

First, we have Rex Hohlbein, Founding Executive Director of Facing Homelessness, as our keynote speaker who will be sharing many inspiring stories behind some of the most beautiful faces he has captured in his Homeless in Seattle project. Did we also mention that Amy Walen, the Mayor of Kirkland, will be our emcee? You can read more about them on our event webpage. Second, Red Lion Hotel, Bellevue is sponsoring this Luncheon for us, which means, you get the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that 100% of your donations will benefit our programs assisting women from homelessness to independence. And finally, there is a beautiful energy when so many wonderful people like you come together for one cause. We promise, you will leave the Luncheon inspired.

We are very excited about how our Luncheon is shaping up and we can't wait to share that with you.

Changing lives, one woman at a time

Sometimes all you need is for someone to listen to you

If you are inspired by Nemo's story, consider volunteering as a companion for one of our clients. Often, all it takes to make a difference in someone's life is to be available, accepting, and a good listener. As most of our companions would tell you, it is a life changing experience.WomanSpirit Center provides necessary training and guidance and our existing companions provide peer support. If you are interested, visit our Companion Program webpage or email us at:companions@sophiaway.org.

The Sophia Way Companions with our Companion Coordinator Evelyn Wemhoff

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The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Going home

2014-09-18T13:35:00.002-07:00

September 18, 2014

In this edition

Introducing Delilah VanCourt Shelter Manager at Sophia's Place	Linda has a home to call her own And how it came about
Eight women moving to independent housing What you made possible!	Reserve your place for our Luncheon, Oct 30 Stories that bring us together

A Home for the Homeless

The difference you are making in the lives of women in need

Introducing Delilah VanCourt, Shelter Manager at Sophia's Place.

I have been enjoying my role as Shelter Manager at Sophia's Place since I began at the end of July. When I stepped into Sophia's Place, I was struck by the huge difference in feel from that of other shelters I have worked in, particularly in comparison to Seattle shelters. I like that the women have a cubicle to themselves and the personal touches offered such as donated homemade quilts on the beds, a welcome basket with necessities given at move-in (donated from a volunteer group), and a wide network of meal donors who provide a home cooked meal nightly set the program apart from others and set a welcoming tone.

I have a long work history of working on homelessness, including work with Compass Housing Alliance (CHA), Catholic Community Services (CCS), and Seattle Mental Health (SMH). After getting both my Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Social Work, for 15 years I have worked in various capacities including women's advocate, residential counselor, case manager, therapy facilitator, and so on. I live in Tukwila with my husband Charlie, 3 month old daughter Violet, and our orange tabby cat named Butterfinger.

I have a strong passion for providing services to homeless women and have always found this work most moving and rewarding. My beliefs include treating all people with dignity and in a way that empowers people to build upon their strengths to make the connections needed to be safe, content, and fulfilled. I appreciate that your support is providing much needed services on the Eastside and operating a beautiful shelter. I think that the team of case managers, the Interim ED, office staff, and shelter workers all provide a wide array of expertise and a willingness to work together towards fulfilling the mission of The Sophia Way. Since joining the team here, I have been continually impressed by the community contributions and volunteer efforts that serve the agency. I am excited to be a part of The Sophia Way during this time of re-definition and look forward to the work ahead.

Delilah VanCourt

Shelter Manager, Sophia's Place

Linda has a home to call her own

But that didn't come easy

To respect the privacy of our client, all identifiable information, including her name, has been changed for this story.

Linda had more than 4 episodes of experiencing homelessness in the past three years. The last one lasted for more than a year. That was a very long one year for Linda as she struggled to find stability. She was planning to rent a room from someone prior to coming to The Sophia Way. As luck would have it, that person turned abusive and she did not feel safe. She managed to sleep on couches until she entered our program.

While in our program, Linda received case management. She utilized many other services that we were able to provide. Finally, just a few weeks back, Linda was able to move from the shelter into her own apartment! She did a lot of the foot work on her own. She diligently made phone calls, rode the bus to many different appointments and never gave up. Her persistence paid off. She was very concerned that she would not have enough money for her very first month's rent. The Sophia Way was able to provide a check to her apartment to cover the remaining balance. She was so grateful! We also were able to provide her with towels, blankets, and a few other household goods, thanks to generous donors, to welcome her into her new apartment. We all wish her the very best!

Eight women moving to independent housing

How August turned out to be an exceptional month for our clients

August was an exceptional month for us. A total of eight women in our program, people like Linda, from Sophia's Place and from Holly House, are moving out to independent housing! Five women received the word that they would be eligible for housing through Section 8, provided by King County Housing authority with federal funds. Another three women qualified for affordable housing and are moving out of our program as well.

We are thrilled and excited about the future of these women! As they move to independent housing from our program, we will be able to serve more women in need, through our shelters and transitional housing programs. Your support made this possible. Thank you!

Stories that bring us together

The Sophia Way Annual Benefit Luncheon on Thursday, Oct 30th

Registration is now up and running for our upcoming Annual Benefit Luncheon. We hope you are able to join us with your friends, family, and coworkers in support of our mission to assist women from homelessness to independence. Feel free to share the invite widely and register early to reserve your place! For more information about the Luncheon, visit our event page.

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The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Introducing Rae Levine

2014-08-01T10:52:00.001-07:00

July 29, 2014

Introducing Rae Levine

A Message from the Board

The Board of Directors of The Sophia Way is pleased to announce that Rae Levine has been appointed Interim Executive Director. Rae comes to The Sophia Way with more than 25 years experience in nonprofit leadership, management, and program delivery.

Rae takes the helm from Karina O'Malley, who stepped in from the Board in June to ensure continuity of services. We are deeply grateful to Karina for serving in this capacity and for her dedication to The Sophia Way.

With Rae's leadership over the next several months, The Sophia Way will continue providing shelter, tools, and guidance that women experiencing homelessness need to ensure sustainable changes in their lives. The Board has also asked Rae to conduct an organizational assessment, with assistance from Kim Loveall Price, a consultant who has worked extensively with Eastside housing and homeless organizations, to provide guidance on strengthening the organization and assist the Board in making important decisions about our future direction and leadership.

Please welcome Rae to The Sophia Way. You will be hearing from her in the coming weeks. You can reach her at rae@sophiaway.org or 425.463.6285 ext. 101. To learn more about her experience with nonprofit leadership transition and more -- visit: http://raelevine.com/.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement with our work. I can assure you that the Board of Directors, along with staff, is committed to the continued success of The Sophia Way.

Sincerely,
Lynn Engel
Board Chair
The Sophia Way
Lynn@SophiaWay.org

Summer Movies in the Park

Enjoy a multiple-Oscar winning movie and support The Sophia Way

Mark your calendars for August 5th for a big movie night! Come and watch blockbuster movie Gravity, which won 7 Oscars in 2014, on a giant 40 foot inflatable screen. Bring your camp-chairs and picnic basket, enjoy free popcorn and spend a nice summer evening with your friends and family at the Bellevue Downtown park - all that while supporting The Sophia Way as the featured charity that evening.

The movie nights are sponsored by inome and Bellevue Parks and Community Services. We are proud to be one of their featured charities. Please visit us at out table next to the popcorns and say hello to our wonderful staff, volunteers and board members! We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Interested in Volunteering at The Sophia Way?

We are looking for volunteers for our front-desk

Our office, at the heart of downtown Bellevue, is a busy place, with phone calls coming in, clients arriving to meet with their case managers, community members bringing in donations for the shelter, and so on. There is often other help that we need in the office as well. We can always use some extra hands and minds. If this is something that you are interested in, please
email volunteer@SophiaWay.org and we can get you more details. Time commitment is flexible -- you can commit for a few hours every week that works for you, preferably on a regular schedule.

Do you know that in 2013, we had more than 6000 hours of volunteer service provided by more than 300 volunteers? That is equivalent to having more than 3 full-time employees at The
Sophia Way year-round! We are grateful to have such generous volunteer support from our community. Thank you for your support.

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Living on the edge

2014-07-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

July 3, 2014

Living on the edge

Not in a romantic adventurous way

In an ideal world, all of us would have some savings or a safety net to fall back on, in times of crisis. However, it is not the case for most of the women we serve. A full-time minimum-wage job does not come close to meeting the cost-of-living in our area. Savings are a luxury many cannot afford. We journey with women who are living dangerously close to the edge. We know that most of our clients are one paycheck or a medical emergency away from losing their home.

That is exactly why our ability to quickly and creatively meet our clients' needs is so critical. In this newsletter, I want to share the story of Carrie with you. She had a crisis that could have resulted in homelessness. We were able to intervene, just in time, in her case. This is what we do best. This is what your support enables us to do, providing shelter for the women in need and helping them get back on their feet. This is what we will continue to do until the day the existence of organizations like The Sophia Way becomes unnecessary.

In Peace,
Karina O'Malley
Interim Executive Director

Timely intervention, avoiding homelessness

Being flexible in meeting our clients where they are

What do you do, when you suddenly find out that your monthly income is dropping to zero or close to zero, for the next couple of months? That is exactly the situation Carrie found herself in. When the Social Security Administration (SSA) found out that they had overpaid Carrie, their plan to fix that was to cut two lump-sums from her paychecks in the next two months. That meant, Carrie would have no paycheck for the month of July and very little for August. That was a scary situation for her. This was not something she was prepared for.

Carrie had come to The Sophia Way more than two years back. She started in our shelters and then moved to an independent apartment through a subsidized housing program. Last month, she approached us, very worried about her recent situation. Our case manager helped her connect with the SSA. The goal was to change her deductions to a smaller monthly amount, spread over about a year, instead of two large amounts in two months. While they were open to the idea, SSA initially mentioned that the process may need more time. But they did turn around quickly and we are happy to say that Carrie received her check yesterday! That means, she will be able to keep her housing and won't default on her other loans and payments. This is a huge relief to Carrie.

Carrie would not become homeless all over again.

Check out our 2013 Annual Report

For the complete repost visit: http://www.sophiaway.org/PDF/TSW%20Annual%20Report%202013.pdf

Have you looked at our 2013 Annual Report? Make sure to check out what your dollars have achieved last year.

It was a year of change for The Sophia Way. It was also a year that proved our resiliency and our focus on the services that we provide. Through all the changes at The Sophia Way, one thing was constant: our commitment to quality and reliable service to women in need.

Our 2013 numbers are impressive. We served 76 women at our night shelter, Sophia's Place. We brought 142 unduplicated individuals in out of the cold at our Emergency Shelter, including 22 children. We also supported 53 women in our housing program.

Thank you for your on-going support and all that you have made possible. If we maintain our focus on the work and build on your continued partnership, we know the road to end homelessness for women on the Eastside will not be too long.

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Forward we move

2014-06-09T14:57:00.003-07:00

June 9, 2014

Moving through change

A Message from Lynn Engel, Board Chair

I would like to welcome Karina O'Malley as our new Interim Executive Director. She takes the helm of The Sophia Way as someone who has been an important part of this organization since day one. Karina is no stranger to anyone at The Sophia Way, she previously served in an Advisory Council Role, on the Board of Directors, and also as the Interim Executive Director last winter for 4 months. Karina is a powerful advocate for the homeless and is well respected by her fellow Board members and employees at The Sophia Way. We are thrilled she will be working in this capacity once again and look forward to The Sophia Way's future as we continue our mission of assisting women from homelessness to independence.

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we want to express our gratitude to Katherine Jordan and for all her efforts on behalf of the women we serve. We wish her luck in her future endeavors.

Thank you for your on-going support and commitment to The Sophia Way.

Sincerely,
Lynn Engel
Board Chair

More than a place to sleep

Another record-breaking season of our emergency shelter

May 30 was the last day of this season of our longest-running Eastside Emergency Shelter (EES) for women and families with children. This was a record-breaking season in many ways. For the first time ever, we were able to extend the season until the end of May. This was two and half months longer than we were able to serve last year. We saw a marked increase in the number of women and children coming to our shelters. This year we served a total of 105 children as opposed to only 22 children in the last winter season. Extending the shelter this year until the end of May meant that these children had a stable place to stay at night almost through the end of this school year.

Volunteers having fun after setting up the room for our ladies and families.

In our 2013-2014 season, we have served 333 unique individuals with 5632 bed nights in just seven months. Of our seasonal total of 5,632 individual bed nights, 1,298 or 23% of our bed night were provided to children. Children made up 31.5% of our total demographic.

Mattresses stacked up ready to be used.

Our shelter is also unique because we are the only low-barrier, staffed shelter on the Eastside accepting women with children and intact families (with fathers). This allows families, already distressed by homelessness to remain together through the night, rather than experiencing the additional trauma of having to be split up, in order to secure a safe, warm place to sleep.

The success of EES can be attributed to the active collaboration between our staff, many donors, volunteers and community organizations. We couldn't have done this without the help from our community. Many funding agencies and faith organizations came forward with their support; volunteers helped set-up the rooms, brought meals, and helped clean up; Our staff coordinated the entire effort, made sure all women, families and children were welcome in the shelter, resolved all conflicts that came up, and provided valuable resources to everyone who needed it. Especially, in the last few weeks, our staff worked very hard to make sure all the families we served had another shelter to go to after we closed.

At The Sophia Way, one of our goals is to extend our emergency shelter year-round. The need is there. We are working hard to find the resources to make that happen. We are hopeful that with your help, we will be able to find a permanent place to always be able to welcome women and families who have nowhere else to go.

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Beaten down, but not defeated

2014-05-23T11:59:00.003-07:00

May 22, 2014

In our work at the Sophia Way, we are privileged to meet and partner with the most generous people and organizations; It is definitely one thing about our work that we love. From big businesses to faith organizations and small civic organizations, we receive support from a wide range of community partners. We are highlighting one of our community partners - the Assistance League of the Eastside - in this newsletter.

I am also sharing the story of Beverly, one of our clients who was able to get back on her feet with assistance from The Sophia Way. Success stories like these from our ladies make our work incredibly worthwhile.

We have had many staff changes at The Sophia Way as we grow the capacity of our organization. Jim Lakin joined us as our new Accounting Manager. He brings strong experience in financial planning, budgeting and compliance. Mari Kim is our new Director of Advocacy and Grants, already actively reaching out to our community, building strong relationships. Mari has a strong academic background having acquired her Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Brandeis, Princeton and Emory University. Also joining our Support & Resource Coordination team is Rebecca Nelson. She has been a tireless advocate for our clients at Sophia's Place as a shelter staff. We are excited to have all this new energy join our team!

As always, never hesitate to reach out to me if you have any comments; I truly appreciate hearing from you.

Thank you,
Katherine Jordan
Executive Director
The Sophia Way
Katherine@SophiaWay.org
425.463.6285 x101

Featured Community Partner:

Assistance League of the Eastside

At The Sophia Way, many community-minded organizations, corporations, foundations and faith organizations, are an integral partner in all our endeavors toward ending homelessness in King County. It is a community issue that needs attention from a variety of stakeholders. We are proud to have support from many different organizations. In this newsletter we are featuring our recent partnership with the Assistance League of the Eastside.

Assistance League of the Eastside donated 21 beautiful baskets, filled with many necessities and wrapped with love for our ladies at Sophia's Place. They also donated 21 vases with flowers - no doubt those will brighten up the cubicles for our ladies.

They also helped install two new vegetable beds at Sophia's Place and planted some saplings. Our ladies will soon benefit from fresh produce right from the shelter backyard! As our relationship with the Assistance League of the Eastside takes root, we are confident that it will grow and continue to be very meaningful for our clients and the community at large.

Beaten down, but not defeated

The Sophia Way believed in Beverly and that changed everything for her

Beverly was beaten down by the circumstances of her life, having lost hope she had no idea how to continue to live. She had nothing left to give. She had lost faith and didn't believe in anything anymore. She was lost and weary.

When Beverly came to The Sophia Way shelter, Beverly was homeless, unemployed, with her 20-year-old son still dependent on her for support. Since The Sophia Way is focused on shelter for women only, we had to find a separate place for her son to stay.

Beverly was a strong-willed person. At the shelter she learned to adapt to a variety of personalities. She worked with her case manager and together they created a plan for Beverly. They worked to discover paths to take in her search for independent housing and employment.

Beverly had a marketable skill - she was a registered Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN). Beverly was able to secure both a job and a slot in a subsidized housing program. Moving into her own apartment, with her own furniture, was a meaningful experience for Beverly. She allowed the experience to renew her.

She worked hard, continuing to further her career as best she could. Reuniting with her son, Beverly continued to blossom. The Sophia Way believed in Beverly, helping her stand on her own feet and move forward with hope.

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The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

A Night in the Life

2014-04-24T15:38:00.002-07:00

April 24, 2014

It was a night I will not forget. This past Monday I decided to spend the night at our Emergency Shelter to experience a glimpse of the hardships that the women we serve experience. It was a very humbling experience for me. I want to share my experience with you in this newsletter.

I also want to remind you that Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG Campaign is coming up on May 6th; this generous campaign matches all contributions that are made to The Sophia Way. I hope you will take part in the campaign as well as get the word out among your friends, coworkers and family. At The Sophia Way, we have BIG dreams for the women we serve which can't be fulfilled without your support.

I look forward to your insights and suggestions on how we are doing. We always appreciate hearing from you.

Thank you,

Katherine Jordan

Executive Director, The Sophia Way

A Night in the Life

My reflections on spending a night at our Emergency Shelter

Katherine Jordan, Executive Director, The Sophia Way

Monday night was very special - it was a fragile and humanizing experience for me. For almost six months I have served as the Executive Director (ED) of The Sophia Way. Within that time I have embraced the organization, the mission, the community and the staff, but always with my eyes directed to the people we serve. In the hopes of a greater connect, understanding and clarity of the realities of homelessness, I decided to spend the night, as a client, at The Sophia Way Emergency Shelter. I am hopeful my words can convey the experience, the emotion, and simply, the humanity of that night.

My choice is to always come from a place of transparency - I will point out, approach and dispel the elephant in the room for the benefit of a greater result. The elephant for me - I was simply afraid of staying the night at the Emergency Shelter. I couldn't quite put my finger on it for about a month, and then last week it became clear... I was frightened. As the ED, I find this ironic; I know the quality of the program and staff, the generosity of the meal donors, and I have spent many hours in the actual space that the shelter resides in as my son's Sea Scout group has met there for years. I knew my car would be right outside in the parking lot, my office within a stone's throw, and my home and family ten minutes away... and yet, I was scared. I humbly apologize to those who turn to the Emergency Shelter in need, who have no other choice, who are not familiar, who don't know what to expect, and who are lost in this moment in their lives. I apologize for resonating with my fear, with that voice in my head, for as long as I did, and for not joining you sooner.

My second apology goes out to the mothers, who out of necessity have to bring their children to the Emergency Shelter. As I was making the decision to stay the night, I considered bringing my 11-year old daughter with me - and then I changed my mind. I wanted to protect her from the experience - so I left her to sleep safely in her own bed, in her own home. As a mother, this is the piece that has haunted me. I had a choice, so many mothers do not have that choice. To the five mothers with their nine children who joined me at the shelter last night, I am humbled by you. To the mother who played "I'm gonna get you!" with her little one bringing fun and play to his evening even in light of their circumstance; to the mother who tried to calm her exhausted toddler through a temper-tantrum at 11pm; to the mother who held her sick and coughing baby through the night as it was struggling for breath - to all of you, I am humbled by your courage, strength and fortitude.

I stayed to myself through the night in the hopes guests might not recognize me, visiting only for a moment with staff who had expected my arrival; I wanted the experience to be as authentic as possible. Even though many guests have been at the shelter for weeks, for months, the majority remained in quiet solitude through the evening. I was grateful for the dinner of chicken and pasta salad, and by 10pm, I was very grateful for my mat and blankets. I woke many times through the night to the sounds around me, to the cacophony of snoring, and spent that time looking out the window at the lights of the Symetra and Concur buildings, knowing the folks who work there might never know this reality right outside their windows - 42 people sleeping on mats - women, children, families - with nowhere else to go.

I promised myself to stay as close to the real experience as possible - I would not go home the next morning to shower or get a bit more rest. I did fall short on this commitment; I found I wasn't willing to shower at the shelter, somehow that felt vulnerable in a way I still can't put in words. I decided a sponge bath would have to suffice for my work day, and found myself getting ready in the restroom of our office building next door. The shelter's restroom was so busy with 42 people getting up and ready within an hour's time - that's the excuse I am using to justify my desire for the privacy the Bradford restroom afforded me.

I am grateful for my experience; I will hold it close for a very long time. I am certain this experience will allow me to share the realities in an enlightened way I could not before. I am humbled by the people we serve, I am humbled by our staff who commit each day to making other's lives better, and I am humbled by my role to serve, to advocate for, to empower, and to lighten the hardship of those who carry a burden I didn't clearly understand until Monday night.

GiveBIG to The Sophia Way - Tuesday, May 6th!

Here is a unique chance to Grow Your Gift! Be part of the Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG campaign and see your gift grow as your contributions get matched from a 'stretch pool' of foundations.

Mark your calendars. Spread the word. Help us help those in need. We are counting on you!

STAY CONNECTED:

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County

Together, we are changing the future

2014-04-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2014

Together. Changing the Future.

I am extremely pleased to share very exciting news! The Sophia Way is taking two large steps forward in advancing our mission: 1) we are extending our Emergency Winter Shelter for women, children and families for more than 2 months until the end of May; and, 2) we are taking over the operations of the Angeline's Day Center at Sophia's Place from our longstanding partner, the YWCA. These events provide an incredible opportunity to extend our support for women experiencing homelessness in East King County. Please know that you, our community partners, share in this growth, success and opportunity. Read along for more details below.

I also want to thank you for making our Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction on March 15th at the Hilton Hotel a resounding success. It was a beautiful evening attended by more than 250 guests. We do not have final numbers at this time, but do know that more than $100,000 in net revenue was raised at the Auction! This would not have been possible without the support of all of you as contributors, volunteers and ambassadors of The Sophia Way. All funds raised will help to maximize our programs as we work to meet the needs of women experiencing homelessness.

Slowly, but steadily, we are changing the face of the future. I am so grateful to have you beside us!

Thank you,

Katherine Jordan

Executive Director, The Sophia Way

Introducing the Day Center at Sophia's Place

The Sophia Way is taking over the operations of the Angeline's Day Center!

Since the inception of The Sophia Way, we have partnered with YWCA. They have provided the Angeline's Day Center in the same location as our overnight shelter. In 2012, Angeline's moved with us to our new location, Sophia's Place, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church. Beginning tomorrow, April 1st, we will be taking over the operations of the day center serving up to 40 women each day, Monday through Friday. The program includes two hot meals, shower and laundry facilities, a comfortable place to rest, computer and phone access, and additional resources which include nursing and dental services. With great thanks to the Sammamish Rotary Club and the St. Thomas Medina Episcopal Church, our guests will arrive to five brand new computers and printers on opening day. Having these state-of-the-art computing systems, with the latest of operating systems, is a great resource for Day Center and Night Shelter participants! Additionally, we plan to have tech-savvy volunteers on hand to help navigate the new look and feel!

The Sophia Way has always been painfully aware that our shelter hours are sometimes restrictive for the women we serve. It has always been our goal to move toward a 24 x 7 service model; taking over the Day Center operations moves us closer to that goal. This will not only allow us to serve more women, we will also be able to prevent more women from becoming homeless by providing the much needed services and resources to offset that possibility.

Volunteer Opportunity!

The Day Center provides a great volunteer opportunity to work directly with many of the women we serve. We will provide a required specialized training for all volunteers interested in helping at our Day Center. You can assist by sharing your skills - computer skills, gardening, knitting, arts and crafts and more. We are looking for volunteers who can commit at least once a week for 2-5 hours between the hours of 8:00 am and 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity contact Nicole at volunteer@sophiaway.org.

Emergency Winter Shelter Hours Extending Until May!

This is news that requires a drumroll! Since it's inception, each year The Sophia Way Emergency Winter Shelter has extended the duration of days open during the harshest months of the year. This year, through partnership with United Way, Holy Family Parish, and the Kirkland Interfaith Network, we are able to extend service longer than ever before - providing an additional ten weeks! This is a huge step forward with providing service to the community in a time of need. We all know that cold and wet weather conditions last well into May in the Pacific Northwest. We want women, children and families to have access to a warm place to stay and a hot meal to nourish them!

We have seen a distinct increase in the number of women and families accessing our services this year compared to last. Last week we reached a record high of 45 people in one night including 14 children. We have served 45 unduplicated children this year so far compared to only 17 last year. This is not a hopeful trend; we are honored to provide the resources needed during such difficult times.

Running through the end of May means we will almost see these children through their school year. A warm place to stay at night and hot meals provide that extra bit of stability that can have a profound effect on their education and future success. An emergency shelter is no replacement for a home, but it is an alternative for many who have no place else to go.

This is another big leap forward for The Sophia Way as we extend our services in East King County. We are very excited for the future we are building together in our communities!

STAY CONNECTED:

When Giving is Getting Back

2014-04-03T09:24:00.003-07:00

Thursday February 27, 2014

Greetings!

We often think of volunteering as a way to give back to the community. And although that is certainly correct, what we often don't realize is that, when we volunteer, our lives are changed in ways we would not have imagined. Recent research has confirmed what many of us have know experientially for a long time -- that giving, money or time, gives us a deep sense of satisfaction, and is positively correlated with our psychological wellbeing. Many of the Sophia Way Companions have time and again shared with us, how their engagement with women in our program, has enhanced their lives. In this newsletter, we share a story from one of our Companions and how our Companion Program changed her life.

I am very sad to announce that our Client Services Director, Leslie Miller, will be leaving us in early March. However, I am thrilled for Leslie as she moves on to the City of Kirkland as the City's Human Services Coordinator. The experiences and opportunities of service and growth that Leslie is taking with her to her new role will, no doubt, help her excel in her sevice of the greater Eastside community. Our best wishes are with Leslie for all her future endeavors - she will be greatly missed!

We are two weeks away from our Annual Benefit Dinner and Auction. If you have not yet registered, take a few minutes to do so today. This is going to be an extraordinary event and I look forward to seeing you there.

Finally, I'm happy to share that we are extending the Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter for Women and Families with Children this season until the end of March. This is a great stride forward in our efforts to keep women and children warm, safe and sheltered. We will keep moving forward!

Thank you,

Katherine Jordan

Executive Director

When I Met Sally

This piece was written by Maya Subramanian, a volunteer Companion at The Sophia Way.

I heard about and joined the Companion Program at The Sophia Way in Jan 2013; it is simply the best thing that has happened to me! That might sound cliché but there is just no better way to say it.

For a couple of years before learning about The Sophia Way, I felt a need, a strong need, to work with women. I was looking for more meaning in my life, and to me that meant getting out and giving more in any way that I could. And I wanted to do it in a way that would sustain and increase my energy and passion for giving for the rest of my life.

I wasn't sure beyond that. I tried going to digital conferences looking to see how I felt about educating young women about embracing technology. I tried reading about women's rights to see if I could do something in that space. I tried knocking on many doors - work place reformation, mentoring career women or teenagers, and so on. Either my knocking was not effective, or my heart really wasn't in it, I am not sure, but I believed that if I kept trying, I would find what I was looking for.

Then I bumped into my friend, who is a staff member of The Sophia Way, and learned about the organization. I was instantly excited, and over lunch the following week he told me all about The Sophia Way. I was very inspired by everything he shared. He connected me with Evelyn and Jan, coordinators of the Companion Program, who volunteer their services through WomanSpirit Center. A couple of months later, I join the Companion Program. It seemed to offer everything I was looking for and more. What do I mean by and more? I have mentors (like Jan and Evelyn) who train and support companions, the connection I now have with my fellow Companions, the once-a-month Companion meeting which is like a support group for volunteers, and the opportunity to have fun while giving. What I have learned about empathy, listening, and gratefulness has helped me become a better person at work and at home.

I am blessed to have a wonderful friend in Sally. I became her companion when she joined the Bellevue shelter. She is a smart, warm, intelligent person, and inspires me with her wisdom and kindness. She is a talented seamstress, and makes adorable doll clothes and accessories. She is a great cook. After she moved to her own place, Sally started making vegan meals especially for me, and brings them to our monthly companion dinners, so I don't have to eat just salad and fruit. I am used to salad and fruit - that is all I have to choose from, at many restaurants, as a paying customer! But to Sally, that just isn't acceptable! We have many common interests, and have had so many similar experiences in our lives, that we both believe we were always meant to be friends. She has taught me to look at the world and people in a more holistic way, to be more patient, and more balanced. In other words, I am growing up, and loving it. I am more real and more in touch with the real me, now more than ever in my life.

What I have learned is that for me, giving doesn't have to be serious or tedious, or it won't last long. For lifelong giving, givers need to be replenished. That is what I love about the program, it replenishes me. My fellow companions are the most gentle, wonderful people, and I want to be like them when I am older - actively volunteering, giving back, and caring. All this is what makes the Sophia Way program so beautiful thing, and I am glad I found my door. I am inside, and I see no Exit sign anywhere, and that is how it should be.

Extending Our Winter Shelter

We are very excited to share that our Eastside Emergency Winter Shelter for Women and Families with Children will be extended to the end of March this year - this is the longest this resource has ever remained open! Everyone living in the greater Seattle region knows that the official end of Winter does not bring the harsh wintry conditions to an end; bitter cold and wet conditions often persist well into the month of May.

We have a limited number of beds at Sophia's Place, our year-round shelter. The Emergency Winter Shelter allows us to serve many more women and children in need whom we otherwise are not able to due to our limited resources. This is not just a lifeline for those out in the streets, it also often serves as a bridge for many women to come to our permenant shelter or to get other services.

Our ability to extend the Emergency Winter Shelter this year was, in part, made possible by a generous donation from Holy Family Catholic Church in Kirkland. We are grateful for this partnership and the extended opportunity to serve!

In This Issue

When I Met Sally

Extending Our Winter Shelter

The Sophia Way is Losing a Family Member

Leslie Miller was hired as a part-time shelter staff person when Sophia Way first started. She would work evening weekends, and so from the beginning was the "face of Sophia Way" to the many neighborhood churches that hosted the shelter on the nights we couldn't be at Bellevue First Congregational. She was also a steady presence in the lives of our very first clients, helping them adjust to the new surroundings.

It quickly became apparent that Leslie was a great talent for Sophia Way. She took her responsibility very seriously, not just to do the job assigned, but to figure out how we could deliver services better. She became an advocate for the clients and the agency. She sought out training opportunities, taking on more responsibility and becoming expert in anything she thought would benefit the program. When Sophia Way had the opportunity to partner with the Eastside cities to provide a winter shelter, Leslie took the lead. When our funding contracts required special reporting, Leslie took the lead. When we had opportunities to become engaged with the broader social services community, Leslie took the lead. When we moved from the 10-mat shelter to the new 21-cubicle space, Leslie oversaw every detail in making the daily life of our clients the best that it could be. When she was named Client Services Director of Sophia Way, it was a recognition of how she touched the lives of all our clients, how she shaped their experience of Sophia Way and how she led by example as she kept the focus on the women we serve.

It is with deep gratitude and respect that we now say goodbye to Leslie, as she takes on the new challenge and opportunity of working for the City of Kirkland. We look forward to all the wonderful work she will do and all the new lives she will touch in this exciting endeavor.

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County.

Seeing the Invisible

2014-01-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

Tuesday January 14, 2014

Greetings!

As the New Year ushered in, we celebrated the good news that one of our clients secured a job after being unemployed for 2 months, and another client moved to her own apartment. Both are looking forward to reuniting with their children and grandchildren, respectively. We are very excited for their future. In this edition of our newsletter we are sharing the story of Patty, another client, who has worked very hard at overcoming distrust - something that can be very common for people dealing with homelessness.

Additionally, we are sharing a note from one of our Community Business Council (CBC) members who recalls her first interaction with us and how she felt when she unexpectedly learned about the issue of homelessness in our affluent Eastside community.

Please mark your calendar as we are co-hosting a free screening of the "American Winter" on January 17th at 7:00 p.m. at the Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirkland. Please join us for this unique and informative documentary, portraying how homelessness affected eight American families, and stay for the discussion afterwards. See more details about this event below.

Finally, we are gearing up for our annual benefit dinner and auction on March 15th at the Hilton Hotel in Bellevue -- you won't want to miss this opportunity for a very fun and exciting evening all in support of adult women who are experiencing homelessness. Our email invitations will be sent February 3rd, but you can register on our website beginning the week of January 20th. Invite your friends, family, neighbors... I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

As The Sophia Way enters its sixth year, we are busy preparing a five year business plan focusing on sustainability and scalability. You will be hearing more from me about the execution of our new plan as we progress through 2014. Together we will build a strong, resilient and sustainable organization carrying our mission forward with the ability to provide more services to those in desperate need of shelter.

Thank you,

Katherine Jordan

Executive Director

From Distrust to Independence

Patty came to The Sophia Way with debilitating mental health issues. She was very fearful of people. She stayed mostly on her own and was frightened of her surroundings. Patty had cause for deep-seated distrust; since early childhood she had been victimized. When she entered The Sophia Way, Patty cooperated with her doctors to better regulate her medications. As a result, she began to venture outside the shelter to take walks, but she continued to get scared very easily.

The Sophia Way helped Patty enter into relationships in our Companion program. Companions are trained volunteers who travel side by side with a woman in need of friendship and support during an admittedly desperate period in her life. Patty met with her companion enjoying walks, friendship, and a valuable listening ear. Eventually she confided in her companion that she wanted to obtain gainful employment. Transportation was such a difficult factor in her life. She feared that even if she found a job she would have no way to get to it. To help overcome these fears, Patty's companion showed her how to use the bus system. They traveled day after day to the same place, so that Patty could be confident that she could go and come from a singular location. Eventually, Patty became comfortable riding the bus alone.

Finally Patty did get a part time job. Patty is now living in a subsidized apartment which is a big step forward. The Sophia Way Companion program was invaluable in Patty's journey to independence. We are glad to see the progress Patty has made. We are confident she is creating a new and stronger foundation on which she will be able to regain her financial stability and independence.

Free Screening: American Winter

January 17, 2014, 7 pm

Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church
308 4th Ave South, Kirkland

Millions of people who work hard and play by the rules are still out of jobs, out of luck, and out of time. Homelessness is on the rise in almost every city. Wages are stagnant. Where do people turn for help?

The good news is that more people are accepting the reality of what is going on in our own communities, and are ready to take action.

We all have a stake in making sure America creates and protects ladders of opportunity for success. Join us for a free screening of American Winter.

American Winter, a film by Emmy winning directors Joe and Harry Ganz, features struggling families who called into the 211 social services hotline in search of help during the depths of the recession in the winter of 2012. Framed through the very personal stories of eight families, American Winter reveals the devastating fallout of the mortgage meltdown, unemployment, the health care crisis and a shrinking social safety net.

This isn't just about what's going wrong, but also what it would take for things to be going right again for these families and millions of others.

After the movie, we'll have a discussion about how to make potential solutions a reality right here in East King County. When neighbors and community members come together to learn that our economic strength doesn't come from the top down, but from the middle out and bottom up, we can make the economy stronger for all. Click here to RSVP.

In This Issue

From Distrust to Independence

FREE Screening: American Winter

Seeing the Invisible

SAVE THE DATE: Auction 2014

Seeing the Invisible

Shannon Bell is the Northwest Regional Treasury Sales Manager and Senior Vice President at Key Bank. She wrote this piece for us after learning about The Sophia Way and our programs. She serves on The Sophia Way Community Business Council and is part of the Key Executive Women's Network. Shannon is committed to education and diversity within the communities she serves.

I pride myself on my love for the Eastside Community. For years, I sat in my office in Bellevue, driving back and forth, in and out of the Key Tower and I missed it! I remember the day when I was given a gracious invitation to tour The Sophia Way Women's Shelter. I couldn't believe it was directly across the street from my office. I could see the church from my window.

There's so much support in this incredible place. Warm meals, counselors, resources and a place to rest. The Sophia Way works tirelessly creating opportunities for women to rebuild their confidence and allow them to gain skills and experience that will mend their broken ladder for endless heights. How did I miss them? After I got past my guilt, I was so thankful The Sophia Way was here for them.

Women are lost in a place that so many have always called their home. This is our beautiful Eastside where we are blessed with wealth and opportunity. It's time we look a little harder, dig a bit deeper, and support all that call the Eastside home.

SAVE THE DATE:

The Sophia Way Annual Dinner & Auction

March 15, 2014 5:00 p.m.

Hilton Hotel, Bellevue

We are gearing up for our biggest event of the year -- The Sophia Way Annual Dinner and Auction!

Mark the date on your calendar now! It is going to be a spectacular event -- you won't want to miss it! We will be sending out the formal invitation with link to register on February 3rd. You can also register on our website beginning the week of January 20th. Stay tuned!

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County.

Five years of changing lives

2013-12-26T13:26:00.003-08:00

Celebrating five flourishing years

Five years. This is not such a long time. Looking back, though, it feels like an eternity. Five years ago there was no overnight shelter for adult women in East King County.

In 2006, Bellevue First Congregational Church (BFCC) and YWCA partnered to open a day center for women in downtown Bellevue. The intention was to meet homeless women, offer services and assess the needs of the community. Women who visited during our first few years made it abundantly clear that while the services offered were crucial and appreciated, there was still an unmet need. Women needed a safe place to sleep and a pathway to a better life.

To answer that challenge, Helen Leuzzi, the Outreach Chair of BFCC, called together a group of people who wanted to help. With the fiscal sponsorship of Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council, some large and small donations of money and supplies, space from BFCC as well as "weekend host" congregations, coupled with the determination and energy of volunteers and staff, The Sophia Way came into being.

During a snowstorm in December 2008, The Sophia Way opened its doors at 7pm to a woman who wanted a place to sleep. She came, had a hot meal and shower, slept on a mat on the floor, and made an appointment with her case manager. She worked through her goals, moved into subsidized housing and got a job. That woman is still part of the Sophia Way family. She has been joined over the last five years by many extraordinary women (and some men) - clients, staff, volunteers, donors - to form the amazing tapestry of support that we call The Sophia Way.

Our education about homelessness was enhanced that first night as we learned from the women we intended to serve. We learned what it means to be homeless, how it is not just a lack of a place to sleep. We learned what challenges might prevent a woman from renting an apartment, getting a job, applying for benefits. We learned how to be in community, how to support each other, how to ask for help. Most importantly, we learned that we are all people, not homeless or housed, not well-off or poor, just people, struggling with challenges and trying to live the best life possible.
So, for all the people who have been part of The Sophia Way, those who have slept overnight and those who have stayed awake all night to keep them safe, those who make the meals and those who eat the meals, those who schedule the Dental Van and those who get their teeth fixed, those who donate household goods, toiletries, clothes, time and money and those who put those donations to good use, I have a message.

Thank you. It has been a truly life-changing five years, and I am grateful to all of you.

In Peace,

Karina O'Malley

Board Member, The Sophia Way

One Year of Sophia's Place at St. Luke's

Our overnight shelter, Sophia's Place at St. Luke's Church, is also celebrating its one year anniversary this month! We are remembering all the contractors, cities, foundations, faith organizations, and individual donors who has made this shelter a reality for us. Thank you!

New Life in a New City

2013-11-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

Thursday November 21, 2013

Greetings!

There are things we take for granted in life, only realizing their value once we have lost them. Take for example Beatrice, a Sophia Way client, who ended up in Seattle after escaping her violent marriage; Beatrice had no where to live other than her car. What she didn't realize until she started looking for a job was that every employer wanted a home address; of course, as she was homeless, she had no address. This quickly becomes a catch 22 scenario - it becomes difficult to get a job without an address, and almost impossible to get a new address without a job. What do you do in such a circumstance? Read more about Beatrice in our feature story in this newsletter.

The Sophia Way opened the Eastside Winter Shelter for women and children at the beginning of November. On the first night, we had 9 women and 4 children compared with only 3 women last year. On average, we have had higher numbers this year so far; we are looking for your help to assure the women and children we serve get adequate meals every night and morning. See how you can help on the right.

Finally, I want to share with you that The Sophia Way Board of Directors has decided to close Sophia's Thrift Shoppe. This was a difficult decision to make, but one that was necessary due to the ongoing struggle to meet the high rent costs of the Shoppe space. While we are sad to see it go, we think this is the right thing to do at this time. For the future, The Sophia Way will continue to focus on becoming a social enterprise with long-range sustainability as the primary objective. Thank you to everyone who contributed mightily by donating to and volunteering at the shop. As we close the doors this weekend, please don't miss out on some amazing deals at our Grand Clearance Sale - please see details below!

Thank you,

Katherine Jordan
Executive Director

New Life in a New City

Beatrice was in a violent marriage, and her only escape was to leave her husband. She drove to Seattle to start a new life, living in her car. This took tremendous courage and effort.

Beatrice arrived with nothing besides her vehicle. Alone, and with nowhere to turn, Beatrice found the Sophia Way. She quickly discovered that a major obstacle to finding employment would be her lack of address; every application expected one. Should she tell her potential employer that she was homeless? Beatrice's concern was that she would not receive equal consideration.

Beatrice slept in her car until she learned about the Sophia Way. She came to live in our temporary shelter, Sophia's Place, and was able to use this new address. Other obstacles to re-establish independence were addressed when Beatrice moved into the shelter as she was welcomed to attend the Sophia Way Fashion Night. The Fashion Night provides the opportunity for ladies to pick out clothing for interviewing that instills the sense of confidence so necessary during employment search and interviews. Beatrice succeeded at landing a new job - and her case manager helped her to make decisions that aligned with her personal goals for success.

Today, Beatice is self-sufficient and provides for her own permanent housing. Beatrice looks forward to returning as a volunteer to the Sophia Way to help others on their path to independence.

In This Issue

New Life in a New City

Winter Shelter & Help with Meals

Sophia's Thrift Shoppe Closing

Winter Shelter & Help with Meals

We are seeing more women and children coming to our Eastside Winter Shelter on average this year compared to last year. On our opening night, November 1st, we served 9 women and 4 children, compared with only 3 women last year. We are so glad to be there for these women and children during our worst weather conditions. However, we need your help! We are in need of meals for our Winter Shelter -- for more details and to sign up, please visit our signup page.

In addition to our Eastside Winter Shelter, every day, 365 days a year, we serve meals to the 21 women staying at our shelter, Sophia's Place at St. Lukes, in Bellevue. We rely on volunteers to purchase the food and prepare these meals for the women. Many of our women have diabetes or other health challenges, so we try to provide healthy meals for them.

Cooking 21 meals can be a bit daunting for one person, but we encourage you to make it a group event. Your group can stay and serve the meal, or just drop it off -- it's entirely up to you. We have many groups that sign up to do this once a month, so you can make it a regular event, or just do it once in a while. Visit our shelter meals webpage for the meals calendar and to find days when you can help.

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County.

Grand Clearance Sale - Everything Must Go!

Sophia's Thrift Shoppe is Closing

After almost nine months of operations, Sophia's Thrift Shoppe is closing. It was a very difficult decision for us to make, especially given the amount of effort it took for it to become operational. However, we believe this is the right decision for us at this time. While the business model was certainly viable, our location has proven not to be.

Which brings us to our Grand Clearance Sale this weekend. This is the last weekend the Shoppe is going to be open for business (Thursday and Friday from 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm) and we are having a store wide 75% off sale. There are many bargains to be had as everything must go! Pease spread the word - bring your family and friends to take advantage of this great sale! Get all your holiday shopping done early this year -- we have all our Christmas decorations out too!

We also want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers, board members, staff and community members who have assisted us in a myriad of ways over the past nine months. It was a huge undertaking for us and we wouldn't have been able to do it without the assistance from our Sophia community! We can't thank you enough for your ongoing support of our mission. Together we will continue to serve the women on the Eastside who need our assistance as they make their journey from homelessness to independence.

Embracing Change

2013-11-07T17:43:00.001-08:00

Thursday November 7, 2013

Greetings from The Sophia Way Board of Directors!

In just five short years, Helen Leuzzi has developed The Sophia Way into a respected non-profit and changed the lives of hundreds of adult women experiencing homelessness . Helen's imprint on our organization will last forever as will the positive impact she has had on all the women we have assisted from homelessness to independence. In recognition of Helen's small idea that turned into a powerful force for change and optimism, a plaque has been placed, and a tree planted, in her name at our shelter at St. Luke's Church. We are grateful that Helen was willing to step back into the Executive Director role while we transitioned to a new permanent Executive Director. Helen has now resigned and we all wish her well in her future endeavors.

The Sophia Way Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Katherine Jordan has now stepped into the role of Executive Director after her short planned stint as Assistant Executive Director. Katherine has been training with Helen over a transitional period that has now ended and she's off and running. Beyond the standard role and responsibility of managing the day-to-day operations of The Sophia Way, Katherine will be very focused on the future sustainability of the organization. With her strong background in fund and partnership development, along with a committed and experienced board, she will develop a strategic plan that will place The Sophia Way on a path to rock-solid stability while maintaining its high level services for women in need.

Katherine Jordan is a Washington native residing in the Bellevue area since 1984. She received a Bachelor Degree in Public Administration (BPA) from Seattle University; she has found her passion for serving others while focusing her career efforts for the past 15 years on partnership development, community building and fund raising.

The Sophia Way looks forward to maintaining our mission of providing shelter, support and housing for women experiencing homelessness while we work diligently to create a sustainable future wherein these services are available to all the women we serve.

In This Issue

Change in Leadership

A Toast to Springtime in Paris

Community Business Council Benefit Breakfast 2013

A Toast to Springtime in Paris

Friday, November 13th

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Hilton Hotel, Bellevue

Join us for a toast to "Springtime in Paris" Wednesday, November 13th, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel Atrium in Bellevue. This event is sponsored by the Hilton Hotel and Southern Wines. Admission is FREE. However, we are requesting each person bring a bottle of wine valued at $35+ retail for use in our upcoming Auction 2014. There will be wine, appetizers and hand-crafted Thai merchandise for purchase, along with free gift wrapping, for the holidays!

This is our kick-off event for our 2014 Dinner & Auction to be held on March 15th, 2014. Check out the link below for more details and register NOW! to attend.

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County.

Community Business Council Benefit Breakfast 2013
& "Best Corporate Partner of The Year" Award

It was a great show of support from our local business community at our Inaugural Community Business Council Benefit Breakfast at the Red Lion Hotel on October 25th. Our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who joined us that day, all our donors, sponsors and supporters.

We want to thank our Keynote speaker, Naveen Jain, the CEO of inome for delivering a powerful and inspiring speech prodding us to re-frame our challenges and be entrepreneurial in our approach. As he so eloquently stated, the women we serve are our mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters who are experiencing homelessness in our community.

We also want to thank our featured speaker, Penny Sweet, Councilwoman of the City of Kirkland, for sharing her insights from the government perspective in dealing with homelessness in our community.

Finally, but certainly not least, our gratitude to James Whitfield, the President of Leadership Eastside, for so skillfully handling the job of Emcee and weaving our program together like a fine tapestry. He was inspirational in sharing his story of the child wanting to save the starfish on the beach as he knew a storm was coming. Borrowing James' allegory, we want to take a bucket and save all the starfish we can because the storm is not coming, it is here now. But like all storms, we know it will pass, and we will pull through, because we have a strong community of businesses who recognize their role in supporting our mission to end homelessness for adult women in our community.

At this event, we were honored to recognize The Red Lion Hotel in Bellevue as the recipient of our inaugural Best Corporate Partner of The Year 2013 award. This award was presented in recognition of Red Lion Hotel's outstanding support of The Sophia Way's mission. Over the last few years, The Red Lion Hotel has not only sponsored many major events for The Sophia Way, they have often opened their rooms for women needing emergency shelter and for women recovering from illness who had nowhere else to turn for help.

The Invisible Women

2013-10-28T13:58:00.001-07:00

Tuesday October 22, 2013

Greetings!

I can't tell you how many times have I seen the startled look on people's faces when I have talked about homelessness as an issue on the Eastside. There is a common perception that homelessness may be an issue in Seattle, but not on the Eastside with it's seeming affluence. And, it is true that the Eastside has more wealthy neighborhoods than Seattle. However, poverty resides right next to the riches, often hidden from plain sight. When it comes to homelessness among women, they have many reasons to be invisible from us. Our feature article below talks about this aspect of homelessness.

I also want to extend my invitation to all of you to join us for our Second Annual Community Business Council (CBC) Benefit Breakfast coming up this Friday, October 25th, 7:30 am at the Red Lion Hotel, Bellevue. There is no cost to attend and the registration link is above. We launched our CBC last year and had our first Benefit Breakfast in October 2012. Since then our CBC has grown to more than 40 members. We greatly benefited from the collective wisdom of the CBC as we ventured into our first entrepreneurial effort, Sophia's Thrift Shoppe, and the launch of the jobs program for our clients. We look forward to creating a stronger collaboration with the local business community in eliminating homelessness for adult women in King County.

Thank you,
Katherine Jordan
Assistant Executive Director

The Invisible Women

The Eastside area of Puget Sound is one of the most affluent areas of the Seattle/Bellevue Metro area. Microsoft, Expedia, and Nintendo all have their headquarters on the Eastside. Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos live on the Eastside. Downtown Bellevue is booming, with skyscrapers rising and more high-end condos being added weekly.

But if you ask about homelessness on the Eastside, you will get blank looks. Surely, in this upscale area, there are no homeless people. That's something that Seattle might have to worry about, but not the Eastside.

The numbers tell a different story. The 2013 One Night Count, coordinated by the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH), found 197 people without any shelter on the Eastside. Out of those 96 were men, 26 women and gender couldn't be determined for the other 75. And this is surely an undercount; volunteers can't search everywhere, and homeless people are good at hiding.

Women experiencing homelessness take great care not to be visible. If they are homeless and own a car, then often times they sleep in it. Some find refuge in dumpsters, dark alleys, bushes or undergrowth, parking garages and other lightly travelled areas. Some will not get any sleep at night and will just walk around or take the night owl buses. Sometimes they will move between different places, at best getting some fragmented sleep.

There is also a shame associated with being homeless in our culture. We have a tendency to think that this person deserved to be homeless and brought it upon herself. Blaming the victim is easy, but it is much harder to see the systemic nature of the problem. Our economic policies, lack of social support and healthcare systems all contribute to the problem of homelessness.

You cannot easily stereotype women who are homeless. They can dress well and may be walking next to you inside a shopping mall. While this helps the woman survive, it also keeps the problem hidden. If we don't see women who are homeless, then it is an uphill task to convince people that there are so many women experiencing homelessness in our communities.

At The Sophia Way, we provide the services that women need to get back on their feet. We also partner with many sister organizations, individuals, businesses, foundations, and local governments who are working to improve services for this segment of our population. We all need to work together to end homelessness. Obviously, we wish this problem did not exist in any community or anywhere in the world for that matter! But it does exist. And we all need to continue to work together to help women who are less fortunate than ourselves.

In This Issue

The Invisible Women

Community Business Council Benefit Breakfast

Corporate Giving

Second Annual Community Business Council Benefit Breakfast

October 25th

7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

Registration at 7:00 a.m.

Red Lion Hotel, Bellevue

You are invited to our second annual Community Business Council (CBC) Benefit Breakfast coming up this Friday. The Sophia Way CBC was launched in 2012 recognizing the need to build a community of local businesses and business leaders who could help us effectively execute our plans moving us closer toward our goal of ending homelessness. This year's breakfast will focus on cultivating economic vitality - the power of social enterprise, connection and contribution. Please join us to listen to our Keynote Speaker, Naveen Jain, inome CEO, talk about integrating business goals with social responsibility. We are also excited to have Penny Sweet, Kirkland City Councilmember, as our featured speaker. James Whitfield, President of Leadership Eastside, will be our emcee for this event.

Inspiring speakers, great breakfast, wonderful networking opportunity, and a cause we can all stand behind. We are looking forward to your participation. You can register at our event page here.

The Sophia Way is supported by United Way of King County.

Corporate Giving Campaigns

& The Sophia Way

Talking to an employees at the Expedia Social and Human Services Non-Profit Fair

Many corporations in the Pacific Northwest have their Corporate Giving Campaigns this
time of year. If you have friends or family employed with those corporations, please ask them to consider supporting The Sophia Way during their Giving Campaigns. We would really appreciate if they would also help spread the word about The Sophia Way and the critical work that we are doing in the community to end homelessness for adult women in King County. We need a broad spectrum of supporters from all walks of life to end homelessness and to create a thriving community where we all can prosper.