We are having a fabulous time on the World Homeless Day Tour 2010! After a long drive with a couple of RV repair issues, we arrived in Seattle on Sept. 21. Serena, my video person and all-around extraordinary co-pilot on the tour, is creating some amazing photos and footage. I can’t wait to see it!
Yesterday, we visited our first site – the Compass Housing Alliance’s Adult Service Center in downtown Seattle. When we pulled up in the alley out back, we were greeted with a flood of enthusiastic people who couldn’t wait to help us unload our supplies and equipment. Everyone wanted to talk at once and tell us about their plans and their dreams.
After the workshop, we headed to another Compass Housing Alliance facility – the Hammond House. 
Since the Hammond House was only a few blocks away and I didn’t want to move the bulky RV from its hard-to-fine parking space, we organized a caravan of helpers from the Adult Service Center who cheerfully hauled all our supplies and equipment to the Hammond House. After dinner, we had a wonderful time talking and drawing with the great and powerful women who live there. The Hammond House started “housing first” years ago, long before it became the latest solution to homelessness. Everyone had a great time.
We drove back to our friend’s place in the Seattle suburbs as the smell of something burning permeated the interior. After the drive shaft issue and the blow tire, we thought anything could happening. We were so tired when we got “home” we gave up trying to figure out where the stench and smoke was coming from. Today, when I woke up, it dawned on me. I left the emergency brake on!
Tonight we are make our last stop in Seattle. We will be empowering the people at Compass Housing Alliance’s Pioneer Square Men’s Program and are really excited about it. Tomorrow, Sept. 24, we will head out to our next stop – Portland, Oregon. I know some amazing people are waiting for us there!
Glad you are getting such good receptions and help. Sounds good.