Get ready for Key to Hope 2025! This year’s annual fundraiser centers on how human connection fuels healing, stability, and well-being after homelessness. Join Plymouth and our keynote speaker, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, as he shares powerful insights on loneliness, community, and health.
Key to Hope will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17 at The Westin Seattle, with more than 1,000 local leaders, businesses, and advocates in attendance. Register now or make a gift in lieu of attending.
More about our keynote speaker
Dr. Vivek Murthy has championed the importance of social connection as a critical factor in public health, emphasizing the dangers of loneliness and its impact on mental and physical health. Notably, he issued a landmark advisory on the “epidemic of loneliness,” warning that chronic isolation poses health risks on par with smoking — including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and early death.
Dr. Murthy’s book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World offers inspiring and encouraging stories of individuals and communities who are making great strides in helping us to understand that we are not alone.
Dr. Vivek Murthy
How does Dr. Murthy’s work connect to Plymouth’s mission?
Many of our residents have experienced profound isolation due to long-term homelessness, mental health challenges, or disabilities. Echoing Dr. Murthy’s research, Plymouth works to create a powerful sense of belonging for residents, volunteers, and the broader community alike. Through community meals, holiday celebrations, substance use treatment options, on-site nursing and medical care, and behavioral health treatment, our model of permanent supportive housing not only provides stability but also fosters meaningful connection — a vital part of healing.
Thanks to this strong network of support, 95% of residents never return to homelessness.
A Plymouth resident speaks with staff and a neighbor at his door
More than housing
Before coming to Plymouth, Shawn was running a successful art supply business until a devastating accident turned his life upside down. He lost everything: his business, his housing, and his ties to his family. After years of homelessness and isolation, he found an opportunity to start fresh when he moved into a Plymouth building in downtown Seattle.
At Plymouth, Shawn found more than just housing — he found connection. Today, his favorite part of living at Plymouth is the staff. They’ve helped him move beyond survival mode and begin enjoying life again. From housing case managers to on-site nurses, Shawn says the people who work at Plymouth have helped him feel seen, supported, and truly at home.
Shawn (right) sharing handmade jewelry with staff
A lifelong artist and former chef, Shawn has returned to both of his passions. He collects rocks and transforms them into polished gems with a tumbler in his apartment, giving bracelets away to friends, neighbors, and staff. He also loves to cook meals for building events, sharing comfort and creativity in the kitchen, just like he used to. Shawn takes rough stones and reveals their shine. That’s exactly what permanent supportive housing is about — seeing people’s potential and helping them thrive.
The connections formed at Plymouth — between residents, staff, and supporters — offer more than just housing; they offer stability, care, and a sense of belonging. Join us in exploring the power of connection and how, together, we can make a lasting impact. Learn more here about Key to Hope 2025.