One of the things that strikes Andrew DeVore most about Plymouth Housing is what becomes possible when someone finally has a place to call home.

As a Plymouth board member, DeVore has met residents whose lives look very different today than they did when they first moved in. People who experienced long-term homelessness are now managing their health, reconnecting with loved ones, and making plans for the future.

“What I’ve seen directly is the impact that a stable home can have on these individuals,” said DeVore. “These are folks who are dynamic, capable, and caring, and with the benefit of stable housing and support, they’re able to become thriving, engaged members of our community.”

From attendee to advocate

After returning to Seattle from several years in New York City, DeVore was looking for ways to become more involved in the community. Friends invited him to Plymouth Housing’s annual Key to Hope luncheon, where he gained a deeper understanding of the organization’s work and impact.

For more than two decades, Key to Hope has brought together local leaders, businesses, advocates, and community members who believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

Years later, DeVore is helping lead the event that first introduced him to Plymouth’s work. He is co-chairing Key to Hope 2026 alongside entrepreneur and strategist Ruby Love, and Amazon is a co-presenting sponsor of this year’s luncheon.

A shared commitment to housing

 

“I think it’s easy for homelessness to be seen as an abstract set of statistics, part of a policy conversation. But in fact, it’s people in our community who need help and support,” DeVore said.

That people-first approach, combined with Plymouth’s model of housing and supportive services, is what continues to resonate with him. Today, 95 percent of Plymouth residents remain stably housed long-term after moving into a Plymouth home, a success rate he calls “really remarkable.”

Plymouth’s success is also a reminder that addressing homelessness requires more than any one organization can provide.

Through the Amazon Housing Fund, Amazon has committed $3.6 billion to help create and preserve affordable homes in the communities where it operates, including more than $900 million across the Puget Sound region. Those investments have helped create and preserve upwards of 10,000 affordable homes across the region.

“We’re not able to do this work alone,” DeVore said. “It takes really engaging with the organizations that are doing the hard work, day in and day out, like Plymouth Housing, to have the impact that we need to have on this tough and complex problem.”

Taking the first step

 

The theme of this year’s Key to Hope luncheon, Home Changes Everything, reflects what DeVore has witnessed firsthand through Plymouth’s work. It’s also a theme he sees reflected in the writing of keynote speaker Cheryl Strayed, whose work explores resilience, compassion, and the power of human connection.

He hopes that message resonates long after the event ends.

“I want people to leave Key to Hope knowing there are real people behind the numbers, and how their own engagement can help to support real material impacts in our communities,” DeVore said.

For those who want to help but aren’t sure where to start, DeVore’s advice is simple.

“You don’t need to understand every aspect of the problem we’ve set out to solve. Start to learn about organizations like Plymouth that are having an impact in our community. Donate, volunteer, and help other people understand how they can get engaged.”

What gives DeVore hope is seeing that impact up close: residents rebuilding their lives, dedicated staff showing up every day, and supporters like Amazon who continue to invest in proven solutions.