Korey Believes There is NO Place Like Home
At Pioneer, we work at making each housing program a community with the help of our residents. Korey, one of our Aspen Terrace resident’s in Seattle shared his gratitude for getting assistance from a housing specialist on our Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team to secure and apartment and rental assistance. And, he thanked our Aspen Terrace case managers and staff who have continued Korey’s care with support services.
Korey shared, “My name is Korey and I am of slightly poor health, an amputee and confined to a wheel chair. I was formerly incarcerated for 15 months and released homeless. Before being granted my most precious gift of housing, I spent four years unhoused and staying at two different shelters after my release from jail.”
Korey continued, “I became familiar with Pioneer Human Services and was introduced to Dre Hoyt, FCS Supervisor. Dre not only worked diligently to get me moved into Aspen Terrace, she also connected me with Shelter Plus Care to assist me with my rent.”
The Shelter Plus Care Program (SPC) is a rental subsidy program funded by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by Plymouth Housing on behalf of King County. While SPC programs vary by county and state, the program is designed to link rental assistance to supportive services for formerly homeless individuals and families. The SPC team works with landlords throughout King County to provide permanent supportive housing to eligible households.
Korey added, “My third anniversary at Aspen Terrace was July 29, 2024 – Happy Anniversary to me! Most days when I leave my apartment I say, ‘Bye apartment – I’ll be back later.’ I also greet my apartment when I get back. My gratitude to have a place of my own is enormous. My apartment is my safety, my sanctuary, my peace and my home!”
Dre Hoyt, FCS Supervisor, said, “I met Korey through a partnership we had with a Compass shelter in Seattle. Korey had been sleeping at the shelter for a year and the Compass case managers had been unable to obtain any type of housing for him. We met, completed an assessment for FCS, and screened for eligibility with SPC.”
Dre stated, “We were able to secure a SPC voucher for Korey and he applied at Aspen Terrace and has been living there ever since. Korey was tenacious and determined to not let his unique barriers keep him from having his own safe space to rest his head.”
Dre added, “We worked diligently to secure housing and I clearly remember the day he moved into Aspen terrace stating, ‘I have a home now. This is MY home.’ Korey pays 30% of his income towards his rent and SPC covers the rest. He’s a die-hard fan of the cinema, movies and TV, and his favorite past time is going to the theater. Worthy of mention, Korey has EXCELLENT taste in music as well and we often discussed and debated our favorite artists and how he felt, ‘this generation’ will never understand the soul music of the past.”
The Pioneer team at Aspen Terrace have been working with Korey on getting him involved in the community. Jennifer Defatte, case manager has recruited him to their “Adopt a Street” campaign where they will be keeping a block clean and free of trash. And, she also is planning to include him in a future pea patch project. Pride in their building, street and community is always promoted to help bring people together.
Jennifer stated, “Korey has always shown so much appreciation for Pioneer and Pioneer staff. He is a very valuable and important part of our community here at Aspen Terrace housing. He is always smiling and such a pleasure to be around. I recently overheard him asking someone to pick up a dropped wrapper sharing with the resident that they all needed to work together to help keep their home clean. He has a sense of pride in the facility and it is catchy.”
Laura Lopez, former Aspen Terrace apartment manager, said, “Korey is an amazing resident. He is so full of life and an inspiration to everyone here at the building.”
When Korey was asked about how he is being treated at Aspen Terrace, he replied, “The staff here at the building are incredible. They have each made me feel not only welcome here, but also not so alone – like they see me as family. I regularly attend the Aspen Terrace community housing events such as “Creative Writing” which is an amazing class, and I also go to the monthly food bank event in the community room. Pioneer has given me a beacon of hope in a world of darkness.”
Korey concluded, “I am so grateful that Pioneer is always in my corner. When I was unhoused for all those years, I never complained because I never had to sleep in a tent, or on a park bench. There were plenty of daily reminders that things could always be so much worse. Then I got housed here at Aspen Terrace and oh goodness, all I can say is there is NO place like my home!”