Why practice Housing First?

Having stable housing allows you to change your priority list.
— George Plymouth Resident

What is Housing First?

In short, it’s exactly that: housing before anything else. Plymouth offers homes to people experiencing homelessness without asking them to “prove” that they’re ready for it, because we believe that everybody deserves a home.

Stable housing transforms lives. Without a home, people cannot meet their basic needs. Sleeping, eating, and bathing become monumental tasks. And many people experiencing homelessness also live with disabilities, substance-use disorders, and behavioral health conditions. Instead of getting the support they need, their challenges are furthered by life on the street.

Once somebody has experienced homelessness, they’re often shut out of housing by barriers like rental history requirements, credit checks, and up-front security deposits. At Plymouth, we lower barriers so that our housing is accessible to the people that need it. Our model of permanent housing, coupled with wraparound supportive services, gives our residents the solid base they need to rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind forever.

William, a Plymouth Resident

Over 7,600 people slept outside last night.

During the 2022 Point in Time Count, 13,368 people were experiencing homelessness in King County. Of those people, 5,748 people stayed in temporary shelter. 7,620 were sleeping outside.

Plymouth serves adults experiencing chronic homelessness, meaning people who have experienced long-term homelessness who also live with a disability. In 2022, more than 4,000 individuals experienced chronic homelessness in King County.

Homelessness can happen at any time.

For the many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, one unexpected expense is all it takes for the world to come crashing down. Low wages combined with rising rents and a widespread lack of affordable housing leaves many teetering on the edge. One sudden illness, death of a family member, or job loss is all it takes for somebody to fall into homelessness.

Brandon Getz, Plymouth Building Manager, shares his experiences with Plymouth's residents.

The big picture

While every person experiencing homelessness has their own story, their experiences are also part of a greater context, which is shaped by social and historical forces beyond their control.

  • Plymouth Housing

    Structural racism puts people of color, particularly Black and Indigenous people, at far greater risk for homelessness than white Americans. In King County, 6% of the general population is Black, but Black people account for 29% of people experiencing homelessness. American Indian/Alaska Native people are less than 1% of King County’s population, yet they make up 5% of people experiencing homelessness.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    Disabled people are two and a half times more likely to live in poverty than people without disabilities. Disabled people who receive Supplemental Security Income are not allowed to have more than $2,000 in assets without losing their benefits and health insurance, making it nearly impossible to prepare for emergencies or improve their situation.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    Formerly incarcerated people are nearly 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public, according to data from 2018. Discrimination against people who have been incarcerated limits their access to jobs and housing once they’re on the outside.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    In the United States, there is little economic mobility from generation to generation. When children of low-income families grow up, they are often low-income themselves, as are the people in their communities. When emergency expenses come up, low-income people may not have anybody to borrow money from to keep them afloat. This is called network impoverishment, and it especially impacts people of color.

    Plymouth Housing

“Why don’t you just pick yourself up?”

The everyday costs of homelessness make it even harder to find and keep a home, perpetuating the cycle of chronic homelessness.
  • Plymouth Housing

    If all your worldly possessions, including personal records, civic documents, your work uniform, and extra clothes, are stored in a tent or in a car, they're vulnerable to theft when you're not there. And what are you to do if the police throw away your tent or impound your car? How will you pull together everything you need to get an apartment?

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    Around 97% of Plymouth's residents live with a disability. Those on Social Security disability benefits receive around $800 per month. If you had only $800 per month, how would you find a place to live in Seattle? In Washington State, there are only 29 affordable homes available per 100 extremely low-income households.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    Even if you have applied for every opportunity, there just isn't enough affordable housing. Most of the people who move into Plymouth apartments have waited for housing for years.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    If you get sick or injured, how will you heal while living in a tent, even if you receive treatment? Without running water, a bed, or adequate food, your illness is prolonged and serious complications can arise easily.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    If you live in poverty or have bad banking history, banks are often not accessible to you. If you're trying to save money for an apartment, where will you keep it? Carrying around cash isn't safe.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    Feeding yourself while homeless is expensive. Without a kitchen, you can't store fresh food or cook at home. And with just $5 in your pocket, visiting a faraway low-cost grocery store and buying in bulk aren't options.

    Plymouth Housing
  • Plymouth Housing

    If you manage to save up enough money for a security deposit, first month's rent, and last month's rent, you may not have a recent enough rental history to qualify for an apartment.

    Plymouth Housing

Homelessness is more expensive than housing.

Human Costs of Homelessness

People experiencing homelessness are three to six times more likely to become ill than those who are housed.

Homelessness can lower life expectancy by more than 20 years.

Without adequate mental health care systems and housing, people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health conditions are often pushed into jail instead. The trauma of incarceration and a lack of medical services worsen their conditions.

Community Costs of Homelessness

The annual cost of uncompensated healthcare (often emergency care) for those experiencing homelessness has been estimated at $80 million.

A lack of affordable housing hurts everybody. When teachers, bus drivers, and restaurant workers can’t afford to live near their work, these essential jobs may see shortages, delays, and other issues.

Over three years, providing housing for King County's most vulnerable residents, people experiencing chronic homelessness, offset an estimated $7 million in public costs. (2019 data)

How do Plymouth’s costs compare?

The same funding can buy vastly differing stability, support, and time:

16 Days

AT A KING COUNTY HOSPITAL

10 Weeks

IN A KING COUNTY JAIL

1 Year

AT PLYMOUTH HOUSING

Housing is a human right.

The cost—societal, moral, cultural, and financial—of not housing our neighbors is high. Everyone deserves a place to feel safe and secure. Plymouth provides permanent homes, not shelter or transitional beds. Why? Because we believe that healing begins with a home.

Home is a place to recuperate and energize yourself to face challenges and opportunities. A place to gather the tools you need to achieve your goals, to prepare yourself before heading out into the world, to sleep at night without fear of waking up to an assault on your person or the theft of your belongings. “Housing First” is our creed because “Everyone Deserves A Home” is our motto.

How does Housing First work at Plymouth?

Over Plymouth’s 40 years, we’ve developed a set of best practices that lead to life-changing outcomes.

We Believe

That everybody is ready for housing, and we make moving into our apartments as easy as possible for our most vulnerable neighbors.

We Empower

Our residents by offering them the choice to engage in services and we’re here when they need us.

We Provide

Opportunities for growth that start with each resident’s individual needs.

We Advocate

For our residents’ rights and voices.

We Build

Diverse, welcoming communities that help our residents avoid a return to homelessness.

We Celebrate

Every small success because we know that change happens incrementally.

We believe that everyone deserves a home, and that everyone matters exactly as they are.

Freeduh Building Mascot
Greg Property Management
Phong Property Management
Anna Human Resources
Elliot Rental Office
Jennifer Compliance
Kristina Social Services
Crystal Plymouth Resident
Will Human Resources
Linda Social Services
Stephen Resource Development
Kevin Property Management
Lisa Finance
Eric IT
“And we offer a support network to assure that our residents have every chance to succeed.”
Plymouth’s permanent housing and support services—and their life-changing outcomes—are made possible by the support and advocacy of people like you. Together, we can ensure that all of our neighbors find the safety and peace of a home.