By Karen Lee, Plymouth Housing CEO
As we near the end of 2022, I’m thrilled to share what’s new here at Plymouth Housing. Since beginning my work as Plymouth’s CEO this summer, I continue to be inspired by this organization, our incredible staff, residents, board—and supporters like you.
Karen Lee, Plymouth Housing CEO
As you may know, I am fueled by my commitment to serving others and making it possible for everyone to lead a life of dignity. Previously, I served as CEO of Pioneer Human Services and was a cabinet member and agency director under Governor Christine Gregoire. I am also a proud West Point graduate and served as a logistics officer in the Army during the 1980s. Others may know me from Puget Sound Energy, where I was Director of Gas Operations. Early in my law career, I worked for K&L Gates (read more about me on the Plymouth Housing blog).
My strategic priorities
As we stand poised to open three new buildings in Ballard, Bellevue, and First Hill, we are in a time of unprecedented growth for Plymouth Housing. (Head to the Plymouth Blog to learn more about the artist who created a mural for our Ballard residents). These new buildings will bring 300 more people from homelessness into safe homes and supportive communities. In order to meet the needs of our region, I am working on a three-year strategic plan with the board and staff to chart Plymouth’s future growth and stability.
One of the new buildings Plymouth is excited to open in 2023: Blake House located in the First Hill neighborhood.
Our advocacy
I continue to prioritize the people working on the frontlines of homelessness. During this Seattle and King County budget process, Plymouth joined allies to secure a 7.6 percent inflationary adjustment to contracts supporting direct service workers. We are making progress, but there’s more work to do. As we plan for the state legislative session and the Seattle Housing Levy in 2023, Plymouth will continue advocating for those who provide essential and lifesaving work every day.
What’s new
Plymouth Housing not only provides safe and permanent homes—we deliver supportive services that allow residents to transform their lives. Our new Chief of Behavioral Health Integration Huynh Chhor (pronounced “win chore”) will help us enhance the type of impact we can make on our residents’ well-being. Most recently, Huynh was Director of Operations at Swedish Edmonds. She brings extensive experience in nonprofit social work, developing behavioral health programs from the ground-up, and long ago, she served on the Mobile Crisis Team at DESC. We are so grateful for Huynh’s leadership at Plymouth.
Speaking of well-being, hundreds of supporters helped us raise $1.3 million at this fall’s Key to Hope, our first in-person luncheon since 2019 (watch the recording on Plymouth’s YouTube channel). This winter, Plymouth staff and volunteers delivered more than 4,400 cookies to our residents, plus enough winter goods/emergency food staples to fill an entire conference room. Incredible! If you would like the chance to support Plymouth, please consider giving to our End of Year campaign, and save the date for next year’s Seattle Dances (Saturday, March 11, 2023).
Looking ahead
I want to express my gratitude to you, and to everyone in the Plymouth community, for the warm welcome and for your support this year. Look for more updates from me in the months ahead. I am so grateful for the strides we continue to make as an organization—and as a community working to ensure that everyone has a home.
Karen Lee (with Huynh Chhor) serves a meal to Rhonda B. during Plymouth’s Native American Heritage Month celebration.