Real Stories

Policy Matters: One in 33 Students is Homeless — At Least, That’s How Many Have Been Identified

Stephanie Heffner (left) interviewed Dinah Ladd about her job identifying and helping homeless students. Dinah is one of only two homeless education liaisons serving more than 2,100 homeless students in Seattle Public Schools. Image credit: StoryCorps
Stephanie Heffner (left) interviewed Dinah Ladd about her job identifying and helping homeless students. Dinah is one of only two homeless education liaisons serving more than 2,100 homeless students in Seattle Public Schools. Image credit: StoryCorps
How can you tell a student is experiencing homelessness? There are a number of often-subtle clues, explains Dinah Ladd in the newest interview to come out of the StoryCorps "Finding Our Way" project.

A Formerly Homeless Veteran Reflects on Volunteering in the One Night Count

Volunteers look for people sleeping outdoors during an annual Point in Time Count. Photo credit: Todd Bookman for <a href="http://nhpr.org/post/one-day-count-finds-nhs-homeless-population-down-14-percent" target="_blank">NHPR</a>.
Volunteers look for people sleeping outdoors during an annual Point in Time Count. Photo credit: Todd Bookman for NHPR.
Participating in the One Night Count can be an emotional experience for anyone, but it was especially poignant for first-time volunteer Thomas Green because he once experienced homelessness. In a new video, Thomas shares what it was like for him to walk outdoors and count people who were without shelter.

Introducing the New StoryCorps Section of Our Website!

Alexis Gaines and her case manager Tanya Mendenhall Mettlen participated in the StoryCorps "Finding Our Way" project. In a new audio story produced from their interview, Alexis talks about how she tried to create positive memories for her son, even as they experienced homelessness together. Image credit: StoryCorps
Alexis Gaines and her case manager Tanya Mendenhall Mettlen participated in the StoryCorps "Finding Our Way" project. In a new audio story produced from their interview, Alexis talks about how she tried to create positive memories for her son, even as they experienced homelessness together. Image credit: StoryCorps
Our new StoryCorps page currently features five short audio stories that help listeners understand how homelessness affects families in our community, and we'll continue adding stories over coming months.

I’m an Advocate: Shelly Cohen

Shelly Cohen has advocated for a number of causes. Here, he holds an advocacy card that customers signed expressing their support for QFC workers during the UFCW 21 Stand With Our Checkers Campaign in 2013. Image credit: Alex Garland.
Shelly Cohen has advocated for a number of causes. Here, he holds an advocacy card that customers signed expressing their support for QFC workers during the UFCW 21 Stand With Our Checkers Campaign in 2013. Image credit: Alex Garland.
Happy holidays! We're delighted to regale you with the wise words of yet another inspiring advocate. Shelly Cohen is a Real Change vendor who has a lot of experience advocating at the city and state level for affordable housing, a service animal protection act, and other causes.

I’m an Advocate: Susan Russell

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Following a debilitating car accident, Susan Russell lost her ability to work as a cement mason and eventually lost her home. During six years of homelessness, she was beaten, robbed and raped. In 2013 she was accepted into transitional housing. Even as she recovers from the traumas she experienced on the streets, Susan is a strong voice in the movement to end homelessness.
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