EP014: WE NEED YOU NOW: Daniel
Transcript available here.
You Know Me Now would like to raise funds for hotel stay while housing can be found. You can Venmo funds to @YouKnowMeNow. Please list Daniel in your donation. No funds will be used by YKMN. If for whatever reason Daniel does not use all of the funds they will go to someone else struggling with homelessness and in need. If you have any questions you can call Rex 206-330-1142.
The ‘WE NEED YOU NOW’ episodes are a quick call-out for all of us to step forward when direct and immediate action is needed for someone struggling in our community.
The episodes are typically less than 15 minutes, being short and to the point, just enough to let us all know the situation and what is needed.
We hope to build a network of like minded folks who want to get involved and help their neighbors in times of need. We believe this is what a healthy community looks like.
In this episode you will hear from Daniel.
Daniel and his partner Nicole, along with their 18 month old son, had been living in a HEN provided apartment in the University District, in Seattle. HEN stands for Housing & Essential Needs. The funding for their housing was stopped and as of last Monday they had to move out.
Daniel and Nicole were stressed, to say the least, and unfortunately got into an argument that had them splitting up. They had been together for five years. Daniel is crushed. He loves her.
Along with his partner being gone, Daniel and his son are now homeless. For the last week, without a bed, they have been couch surfing and staying in open-all-night restaurants. Last night they stayed in a tent.
In addition to caring for his son, Daniel has spent the week calling and visiting service providers looking for housing. With no disrespect to the non-profits, Mary's Place, REACH, and others, they have been unable to find him shelter.
Just so you know a little bit about Daniel. He has had a hard life. For most of it, while living in California, it included drugs, gangs, and jail. When he found out his partner was pregnant, he knew instantly he had to change his life. For him it all came together when his son was born. When he cut the umbilical cord he decided to quit all drugs and vowed to make something of himself, to give his son an example of a better life. A year and a half later he is still making good on that promise.
“…not having that roof over his head is killing me. It's killing me. I know I can get all that stuff. If I went back to my old life, you know, I mean, but I can also not get it and lose two lives, myself and his by me going to jail. Being in this situation is not easy. But if I can just keep myself on the straight line. And I take the narrow path we will be alright. It's not gonna be easy..”.
Daniel - May 2023