Donnie loves martial arts movies — classics like Wu Tang, and Shao Lin, and the “modern” ones like Old Boy, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. He will watch them in the common area at Don’s Place, our emergency housing program in Auburn, make some snacks, and invite fellow residents to join in.
“I’m doing really good,” Donnie said. He was all smiles.
He has lived at Don’s Place for a little over a year and a half, but he came to Compass from another Compass service, Otto’s Place. It’s not too often that we have people who go through our emergency shelters find a place in another Compass location, due to the systemic norms in Coordinated Entry, but when it does happen, it’s a wonderful throughline.
“Donnie was with us for quite a while,” said John, a Compass housing case manager. “He was actively looking for work, but it never panned out. He was dealing with a lot, but he never gave up.”
John worked the phones, emails, and Coordinated Entry forms to find a place that would be best suited for Donnie. Different housing programs have different criteria, and John pushed hard to find one that would give Donnie the best chance to flourish. Donnie was right by his side.
“The thing I learned the most about this job is you have to be flexible,” John said. “You can’t give up; you have to be persistent. You also have to take into account what our guests prefer and want. It’s more like a partnership.”
After a few places fell through, Donnie was able to get into Don’s Place, but a new city and a new lifestyle were going to be an adjustment.
“Donnie has adjusted to living in Auburn,” said Isabel, a housing case manager at Don’s Place. “At first, it was a little hard for him. He’s never lived here before. He is a Seattleite! But he has adjusted. Now he goes on his adventures to the stores, visits his friends from time to time in Seattle, and he even went to the Seahawks parade after the Super Bowl. He’s an independent person who takes his time and then gets things done.”
Donnie is actively working with both his case manager and a social worker to ensure he gets the benefits he is entitled to and to see his son, who is in foster care.
“I’m so happy that I get to see my child now,” Donnie said.
Isabel and the Don’s Place community have all gotten to know Donnie as he started to open up to others after a few months.
“He has hobbies now,” Isabel said. “He is secure enough in his living situation he can do more than just survive. Everyone around here knows Donnie now, and he feels like a real part of this community. It has been wonderful to watch!”
Even when new challenges or setbacks arise, Donnie, with the support of his community, meets and surpasses them.
“Donnie is really resilient,” Isabel said. “He is doing so much better now, and I am proud to be walking by his side.”