On November 23, we lost a dear member of our Plymouth staff to a tragic incident. As you may have heard, Kristin “Kris” Benson, our Housing Case Manager who had worked for Plymouth for 8 years, was fatally assaulted by a resident.

As you can no doubt imagine, we are heartbroken and mourning. Plymouth staff and residents gathered in honor of Kris along with some of her friends, family, and members of our local housing community.

In 2013, Kristin became one of our Housing Case Managers at Plymouth, where she worked tirelessly the past 8 years. In the words of her coworkers, Kristin had the strength to show up to her job as the person she was the first day, and to always look for ways she could advocate for tenants. She was always welcoming and outgoing, making a point to express to those around her how much she valued them. Her generosity of spirit, genuine kindness and never-failing humor left an impression on every person she met. She is remembered as an amazing friend, passionate advocate, and tireless champion of those she served. Her compassion will live on through the many lives she touched.

In addition to being a nature lover herself, Kris regularly took groups of residents on day trips to natural areas and beautiful vistas. In order to honor her dedication and her love of nature, funds are being raised for a memorial tree or bench at the Washington Park Arboretum. Any remaining funds will be used to create a Kris Benson Memorial Fund to carry forward her incredible legacy of supporting staff and residents at Plymouth.

In the wake of this tragedy, we have been focused on supporting our staff and residents, in both the immediate and long-term future. We have also been the recipients of an amazing outpouring of support from many of you and the broader community, and for that we are so grateful.