The ceremonial groundbreaking event for Bellevue’s first permanent men’s homeless shelter included speeches by several prominent government officials from King County and Eastside cities. The best speech of all, though, was from Kayla Hodges, likely the youngest person to address the 100+ people in attendance.
As a program coordinator with Congregations for the Homeless, Kayla regularly interacts with men experiencing serious personal setbacks — the kind that land them at CFH’s emergency homeless shelter, which is a deteriorating temporary facility slated for demolition (thus the need for the new permanent shelter currently under construction).
The transcript of Kayla’s 3-minute speech below is worth a read. It shines a positive light on men whom she knows personally — men who may have received little empathy or compassion in their lives, as this quote from coverage of the event by the Seattle Times conveys:
For CFH, the groundbreaking for this facility means long-awaited relief after years of challenges. Finding a site to shelter men who do not have stable housing can be particularly difficult, Executive Director David Bowling explained. This is because people often respond to men experiencing homelessness with stigma, fear, or an expectation that they will simply pull themselves up by their bootstraps. (emphasis added)
The Seattle Times
See related piece: Chairperson of King County Council rejects idea of a Men’s Commission: ‘Men don’t face systemic discrimination, Women do’
Speech by Kayla Hodges
“This place saves lives”
Recently a client slipped a note under my door, and it said “This place saves lives.” That is why we are all standing here today, because CFH not only saves lives, but it changes them too — mine included.
My name is Kayla Hodges. I have had the privilege of working alongside the men accessing services at the Emergency Men’s Shelter since 2019 when it opened up for its first year of year-round low-barrier shelter services.
Before I began working at CFH, I didn’t realize how many men on the Eastside experience the daily struggle of finding a safe place to sleep at night or a warm meal to eat. When those things are removed from the daily struggle, incredible things happen.
I’ve seen hundreds of lives changed and watched so many men take steps in their journeys to regaining stable living.
What do the men look forward to?
In a recent community meeting with men at the shelter, I asked them what they were looking forward to most about the permanent shelter being built. Some talked about the new kitchen, where it will be easier to prepare the quantity of food needed. Others were excited for new bathrooms (which I highly agree with).
But the majority of the men answered in a way that really moved me. They said they look forward to coming back and volunteering at the new shelter in the future. I was touched by these men expressing that even when they achieve stability and independence, they don’t want to stop being part of the CFH community.
This is a community I am proud to work alongside. It is filled with men that share statements like, “The shelter saves lives for some, and for others it helps them get their lives back.” And, “We need this place to feel safe and to have somewhere that understands us.”
We are all looking forward to a new building, one that is designed to show the men that they are worthy of dignity and respect — a beautiful space they can make their own for a night, a week, or as long as they need to regain stability.
The men we serve are not able to be here at this ceremony, but they would like you to know that they are so thankful to benefit from CFH’s programs and services, and thank you all so much for getting us to this next phase in the journey.
END
See related piece: Union Gospel Mission acknowledges violent mothers too — not just violent fathers — can lead to homelessness
Partnering with men and the community
The mission of Congregations for the Homeless is partnering with men and the community to create a path from homelessness to stable living. The video below is about one man whose life has turned around with CFH’s help.