From Streets to Home — Compass is There
Compass Housing Alliance works tirelessly to walk alongside people experiencing homelessness to help them find safe and stable housing, connect with resources, and overcome barriers to stability.
Sometimes, we are able to provide a direct continuum of Compass services to a neighbor in need, from streets to day center, to shelter, to a permanent home with support staff available 24/7. We are proud to share that for Robert, we were able to do just that.
Robert was renting a room in Bothell for a long time, but due to rapidly deteriorating health issues, he lost his ability to work. He soon lost his housing because his building was struck with COVID. As a person with a compromised immune system, he couldn’t stay there even if he wanted to.
“If I ever slept outside, even for a night, I would die,” he said.
He didn’t know what he was going to do until he talked to a good friend, Pastor Rick, who told Robert about Compass and what we might be able to do for him.
“First I went down to the 77 Washington,” he said. “I was there for a long time as I’m not the easiest person to work with. But the people at Compass were always patient with me.”
Compass staff never stopped looking for placements that would serve Robert better and he eventually landed at the Blaine Center near the Space Needle. Blaine Center is a 24/7 enhanced emergency shelter program that focuses on permanent housing placement for its guests (as all our enhanced shelters do).
“The case manager I worked with, Anthony, never gave up on me,” Robert said. “An apartment opened at Nyer Urness House and I jumped on it, but I got really sick and got hospitalized. Once I got back, Compass staff picked it up from there and kept helping me. I have a lot of challenges, you know. I couldn’t work, I had physical disabilities. It looked really dire for me, but those guys kept going and kept trying.”
“I have a lot of challenges, you know. I couldn’t work, I had physical disabilities. It looked really dire for me, but those guys kept going and kept trying.”
Compass staff were able to get Robert into Nyer as soon as another space opened up and this time, Robert was ready.
“I’m just so grateful, no complaints,” he said. “I have an awesome case manager and the people here at Nyer, the other residents have been wonderful.”