Longtime Compass Housing Alliance supporters Paul & Karen Hogle believe everyone deserves a home.
As we see the ongoing rapid growth and change in the Puget Sound area, one heartbreaking reality remains: too many of our neighbors struggle to find stable housing. In response, my wife Karen and I have prioritized the work of Compass Housing Alliance.
It is a commitment that is significantly impacted by my personal story.
During my childhood, my family was on the brink of homelessness. We lived paycheck to paycheck, with every repair cost, medical necessity, and unexpected expense creating those hushed conversations that parents desperately try to hide from their children. Then, when I was 7 years old, we were forced from our home, with our next option being to live in our family car.
Thankfully, at the 11th hour, a relative stepped in to offer their home. Yet, decades later, I still recall the dread of those circumstances.
Whenever I close my eyes, those painful memories flood into my mind, and I feel the struggles of the 60,000+ people in King County who experienced housing insecurity in 2024 as if they were my own.
As such, I have dedicated much of my life to supporting those who lack a safety net, primarily through my involvement with Compass Housing Alliance. For more than a century, this extraordinary organization has furthered housing stability and created a safety net through programs that span the Puget Sound.
Paul & Karen Hogle are generously offering a match of up to $150,000 for gifts given during this spring appeal (between now and June 30 – or whenever the match has been fully met). All gifts will be matched one to one, and we need your support to maximize this important investment in our work.
Numerically, Compass touches the lives of nearly 7,000 people a year through its emergency services, 222 beds in its enhanced emergency shelters, and 673 units of affordable housing. Beyond the numbers, what moves me is that the staff and volunteers of Compass Housing Alliance walk side by side with every person they serve, bringing comfort, love, and hope into their lives.
Please join me in supporting Compass Housing Alliance this spring. Your gift will help provide safety, stability, and critical services to those most at risk. Together, we can ensure that the greater Seattle area remains not just a place of innovation and growth but also a community where everyone can have a safe place they call home.
With gratitude,
Paul Hogle
P.S. It is no accident that the word “compass” is rooted in compassion; together, we can make a difference in addressing one of the most pressing issues in our communities and change the lives of those served. By donating today, we can proudly join Compass in being the safety net for our community.