Happy Summer Solstice! Read on for an interview with Alisa Chatinsky of The Sophia Way, which serves women coming out of homelessness; and highlights from our recent social media.
The Sophia Way (TSW) provides emergency shelter, longer-term programmatic shelter, case management, and supportive services to support women on their journey from homelessness to safe and stable living. TSW, with Environmental Works, Catholic Housing Services/Catholic Community Services, and a host of other partners, recently brought to fruition the Kirkland Place for Families & Women (completed in August 2020). TSW CEO Alisa Chatinsky spoke with EW about the unique circumstances of women experiencing homelessness, how TSW helps, and what we can do to learn more and support their work.
What unique circumstances contribute to women’s homelessness?
A substantial number of the women we serve have suffered domestic violence at some point in their lives. Many have survived trafficking or sexual assault. We also serve many women, especially older women, who devoted tremendous time and resources over the years to being a caregiver for a partner. Their partners’ illness and attendant medical bills, or death, led to the women’s loss of stable housing.
Tell us about The Sophia Way’s work.
The Sophia Way offers services at Helen’s Place [at the Kirkland Place for Families & Women]; and Sophia’s Place. Helen’s Place is an emergency shelter serving 40 women, providing 24/7 shelter, showers, laundry facilities, nutritious meals, access to computers, and case management. Sophia’s Place is an extended-stay shelter serving 21 women for up to 6 months. Residents work intensively with case managers to develop client-driven plans to connect them to the resources they need to succeed and emerge from homelessness.
Our whole team is trained in trauma-informed best practices that promote women’s healing and empowerment. Core to our work is building supportive relationships that continue to sustain our clients. Even after women are settled into long-term housing, they are welcome to return to the day center to do laundry, or have lunch. We’ll give them food for their pantry when they’re running low. They can rely on their case managers as long as they need to.
The women also support each another. We had a resident with dementia who other women would assist with getting ready for the day - from dressing to eating. When a woman without a car needs to get to a doctor’s appointment, someone with a car will give her a ride. I am so proud of our community of staff and residents who care for one another!
What brought you to The Sophia Way?
I was living in Arizona, and was interested in doing some short-term consulting in the Seattle area. TSW had an urgent need for an interim executive director. I came on in March of 2019. I led a full organizational assessment, and worked with the board on a hiring process for a permanent executive director. We couldn’t find the ideal candidate. At the same time, I had fallen in love with the organization and we had a good thing going. So I agreed to stay on to continue growing TSW and work on a succession plan.
I love The Sophia Way, and I love the Eastside! Coming from Arizona, I find it very refreshing to be living in a region with such a strong focus on helping others. And TSW has undergone a phenomenal evolution since its founding in 2008. At its start, it was all-volunteer. Now we have a professional staff with an amazing leadership team, and a highly strategic governing board.
How can we learn more? How can we help The Sophia Way?
TSW shares stories about clients and programs on our social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). The new King County Regional Homelessness Authority's website gathers a lot of information on homelessness in our region, and plans for the future.
Advocating with local governments is critical. It’s also critical to acknowledge and listen to people experiencing housing instability as fellow human beings.
TSW welcomes donations of time and money. All of our meals – more than 50,000 in 2020 – are donated. Groups of coworkers, congregants, and friends can sign up to make meals and bring them to our shelters. You are also welcome to attend our annual fundraiser, or schedule a tour at one or both of the shelters.
