“I started using drugs at 11 years old,” shares Linda. Linda is now 58 years old with three grown children. In 2007 and just out of rehab, Linda moved into Titusville in Kent, MSC’s housing for women in recovery. Linda lived there for about a year. “It was hard. I had to focus with [...]
“It was really the lack of access to services,” shares Elizabeth (Liz) Johnson when asked how the Multi-Service Center came to be. In 1971, Liz was the Lead Head Start teacher in Federal Way and had three young children. Her husband, Preston, was just a year out of law school, having attended on the GI [...]
“We weren’t millionaires by any means, but we were doing fine. COVID hit and my life changed,” shares Sara. Prior to the pandemic, Sara worked as a bartender four nights a week. She made a good living and was able to pay all her bills and build up her savings. Bartending gave her the flexibility [...]
“COVID19 has really taken a toll on me emotionally,” shares Ericka. Ericka was homeless for a year before she moved into her current apartment three years ago. In recovery for over twenty years, and dealing with multiple health issues, Ericka has been unable to work and is dependent on Social Security Disability. “I’ve wanted to [...]
“I joined the board because I realized my voice could be a voice for vulnerable people, those that we serve,” shares MSC Board Member Teleda Holmes. Teleda has served on MSC’s Board of Directors since 2010. Her first experience with MSC was as a client. In 1998, Teleda earned her GED through MSC, and then [...]
“Without Open Doors, I wouldn’t have graduated,” shares 20-year-old Hailee. Awarded her diploma last June, Hailee’s road to graduation was full of twists and turns. Hailee struggled with school starting in middle school. As a freshman in high school, she admits to slacking off. During sophomore year, although she had switched schools, Hailee still wasn’t [...]
At 58 years old, Sonya is happy to have found stability again. As a mother of eight kids, she and her husband had struggled with disabilities, limited income, and housing stability throughout their 31 year marriage. When her husband left and moved out of state, Sonya found herself losing housing stability once again, this time [...]
“Don’t stop, keep going, those words meant a lot,” says Sharon. Over a decade ago, Sharon’s family moved back to the Seattle area from Minnesota to be close to Sharon’s mom who was having medical issues. Sharon and her partner had been together for 23 years and had three children. In Minnesota, they owned a [...]
“I really enjoy and believe in helping people without judgment, and that’s what housing first and harm reduction is. They go hand-in-hand.” Chris Cates is one of MSC’s housing supervisors and is also one of the first in King County to use the housing first and harm reduction model back in 2011. After five years [...]
Theo was struggling in his traditional high school. He was experiencing severe social anxiety and sensory issues. His mental health issues were making attending school difficult, and led to him eventually dropping out of school during his tenth grade year. Theo still wanted to graduate from high school, so he joined the Open Doors program. [...]
