Written by Carlos Reiner, Plymouth Housing Case Manager

“A good place for people to come off the street, the right place for people that need help.”

Yvetta, photo by Jorge Lausell

This is how long time resident Yvetta describes Plymouth Housing Group. As an employee of Plymouth, I think all of us come to work each day with this goal in mind.

Yvetta has been living at our Plymouth on Stewart building since August 2006 and has been able to make a comfortable life for herself since moving in. She has become a fixture on the block, making friends with people that pass by her favorite spot to enjoy the sun on Stewart Street. Anyone who walks by finds that they simply can’t resist her irrepressible cheer. She has a beaming smile and an infectious laugh that carries throughout the building, and will greet strangers like best friends. On many mornings I walk into work having just received an enthusiastic greeting from Yvetta, which is always a nice way to start the day.

Yvetta enjoys the privacy and independence that Plymouth has allowed her to have. She likes the security that comes with 24-hour staffing and is appreciative of the help that we provide to our residents. Yvetta tells me that the organization and structure are comforting. Here at Plymouth, says Yvetta, having a lease allows her the freedom to have a place of her own and provide for herself in the way she sees fit. She now has extra money with which she can buy gifts for people close to her, which is very important to her.

Yvetta also appreciates how the residents at Plymouth help out their neighbors. She herself is always willing to assist her neighbors when she can and is always willing to share with others, whether it’s lending someone some coffee or helping them get up if they’ve fallen. Yvetta tells me that staff and residents have together made Plymouth On Stewart feel like a real community. She appreciates that the staff organize outings and events in the building, and she’s particularly fond of the special meals.

As a life-long resident of Seattle, Yvetta has witnessed the transformation of the city she grew up in. Thanks to Plymouth Housing, though, she still feels at home despite all that has changed. She states that Plymouth provides a stable environment that allows her and others to feel safe and cared for.