On a cold winter evening in Kirkland, Sheila Stanton could often be found at St. John’s Episcopal Church, greeting neighbors with her signature warmth and making sure everyone had a seat at the community dinner table.
Stanton spent decades connecting unhoused neighbors to resources, organizing meals, and championing racial justice through Kirkland’s first Juneteenth celebration and Black History Month programs. She served on the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs and worked tirelessly to make her community more equitable and compassionate. Stanton died in a tragic car accident in 2025.
Sheila Stanton was known for organizing community dinners in Kirkland
In early 2026, Plymouth Housing will honor her spirit in a profound way: by opening Sheila Stanton Place in Kirkland, a new permanent supportive housing community that will provide 100 homes for individuals leaving homelessness.
Sheila Stanton Place is part of King County’s Health Through Housing initiative, and it represents something bigger: a regional commitment to meet the need wherever it exists.
Why this matters
Homelessness is not confined to Seattle. In East King County alone, nearly 2,000 people experienced homelessness last year — about 11% of the countywide total. Emergency shelters are often full, and many individuals face barriers such as disability and behavioral health challenges.
For 45 years, Plymouth Housing has been a cornerstone of King County’s response to homelessness. From our first building in downtown Seattle in 1981 to our growing presence on the Eastside, we’ve refined a model that works: deeply affordable homes paired with on-site services like case management, substance use treatment, and community meals. This combination changes lives: 95% of residents remain housed long-term.
Sheila Stanton Place in Kirkland
We’re rising to meet the growing need. In 2023, we opened Plymouth Crossing in Bellevue, the city’s first permanent supportive housing. Sheila Stanton Place follows in Kirkland this winter, and a new development for 100 individuals in Redmond will open in 2027.
King County’s Health Through Housing initiative, launched in 2021, complements this work by converting former hotels into apartments with 24/7 staffing and services. Sheila Stanton Place is a proud part of this initiative’s broader vision to increase access to supportive housing across the county.
Looking ahead
Since 1980, Plymouth has set the standard for compassionate, evidence-based solutions to chronic homelessness. Sheila Stanton Place continues that legacy on the Eastside.
As we look forward to welcoming residents, we are grateful to King County, the City of Kirkland, and the many partners who made this milestone possible. Together, we are building a future where every community in King County has access to permanent supportive housing, and every neighbor has a safe, stable home.