First Beacon Holder Housed
“A bed. A two-stove burner. Food. A door I can actually lock. I can’t afford even that. I’ve been on a housing list for 3 years. I have to live out here in the meantime.”
These are words from Charles last July when I met him outside the Union Gospel Mission. At the time, we were trying to get our first beacons out there. Andrei and I went on a beard pact — vowing not to shave till we got the first beacon out.
The time finally came. Andy Bangs and I nervously shuffled across a street towards Charles (Chuck) on a bright August evening in Pioneer Square. We gave him our first beacon ever.
Over the months, I’d spot Chuck’s wheelchair and say hello. He’d often have a bag of groceries with him, or clothes he’d bought because of citygoers with our app. Each month to renew his beacon, he’d sit down with a counselor and discuss how things were going. He went because people like you were using Samaritan to get to know him and support him.
I didn’t see him where he usually posts up last week. I didn’t think much of it. But we recently confirmed it — Chuck secured housing.
And as it turns out, it happened because of his monthly touchpoint. His counselor at the MID had been tirelessly advocating for him.
Chuck was the first person ever to own a beacon. He was the first person to ever receive support from one of our app users. He’s the first beacon holder to find housing through the beacon.
Here’s the thing — we’re not building houses here; we’re not paying for housing; we’re not even doing the advocating. But your compassion, when you saw him in his need, helped him survive to this point. Your generosity opened the door (which he can now lock).
Congratulations Chuck. Congratulations Seattle.
Quick product note: We’ve confirmed that iPhones running iOS 10.2 are having a tough time detecting beacons when the app is force-closed. On the next iOS update (10.3) this bug should be resolved. In the meantime, for best results, please leave Samaritan open in your background “stack” of apps. Hit us with questions!
