HNNL founded on a dream and passion has evolved into a precision planning powerhouse in one short year. On their resume: the building of tiny homes on Lummi Nation, design and operation of mobile shower truck, monthly Homeless Summits to date: feeding over 2000 Homeless in conjunction with the Sikh Langar Temple; handing out clothing and gear to well over 1000 of our community members. In addition, HNNL has served as a Legislative conduit, working across party lines to successfully affect Emergency Land Use Ordinances that will enable establishment of tiny home and tent encampments in our County. HNNL has rallied other community non profits to leverage the power of coalition towards a common goal: the end of homelessness in our community. Now. 100% volunteer operated and 100% dedicated to its mission. Homes Now. Not Later has lived up to its name.
Homes now has taken a leadership role in working to end homelessness. They have faced-down apathy and rejection, opposition from our former Mayer, and may other barriers, as they work to educate the public, build bridges with community agencies and service organizations, and ultimately, improve the opportunities of our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, grandmothers and grandfathers experiencing homelessness. I am in awe of this group.
When Jim Peterson told me he wanted to start HomesNow Not Later to help with the homeless situation and get them off the streets I totally backed him. I have done some volunteering for HNNL when I am able to due to my work schedule. They have been able to help several people get off the streets in a year of running and have recently been able to supply showers so the homeless can feel good about themselves. I will continue to support HNNL in any way I can.
I’ve had the best volunteer opportunity of my life working with HomesNOW! I got to lead the shower truck volunteers and we were able to give showers to 25 people.
I’ve only volunteered at an HomesNOW event once but will do so again. Their monthly homeless summit was beautifully organized. Evary person, either homeless or event volunteer, was treated respectfully. Homeless and Volunteers were invited to a delicious meal prepared by the Sikh community. It was a pleasure to watch everyone work together in a friendly yet focussed manner.
I am someone who counts as both a volunteer and a client served.
HomesNow is comprised of grounded, straightforward, action-oriented people. Most of us are funny, intermittently foul-mouthed, and focused. HomesNow shows up, cares, and raises the voices that need to be raised.
They are persevering people who are adamant about advancing the solutions for the human rights issue of homelessness in Whatcom County. Their proposals are creative, fair, and logical. The scope of their mission includes short-term, mid-term, and long-term answers.
Please support HomesNow.
But more importantly, do something that is true to you to reverse and eliminate homelessness in its entirety.
I've been volunteering with Homes Now since December 2017 at the monthly summits and helping with the new shower truck. Since my first day volunteering, I was hooked. The people at Homes Now are passionate about housing the homeless and I have complete faith that this group will make it happen. There have been many obstacles along the way preventing tiny homes from being built, but Homes Now keeps moving forward doing whatever they can to help our homeless neighbors. I'm so thankful to be part of this organization.
I used to think highly of this organization because of the work they do. For three months I was the garden coordinator and devoted seven days a week to the community garden for the unhoused, watering, planting, weeding, harvesting, preparing, cooking, and delivering fresh food.
During those three months I was repeatedly disrespected and mistreated by the executive director's assistant. Her behaviors were unprofessional and disruptive. Yesterday, was the last straw. When I aired my grievances about someone in a position of power and control misusing said power, one of the directors said that *nobody* in the organisation is in control including the board of directors, which is asinine. Excuses were made for her behavior and my concerns with how volunteers are sometimes treated were ignored. The executive director didn't reply to my messages and never responded to the situation.
In short, if you like being treated with respect as a volunteer and having grievances actually dealt with in an appropriate manner instead of ignored, then this isn't the "non-profit" for you. Instead they enable abuses of power.
There are some fundamental issues with the organisation and running of HomesNow that impede forward progress, such as constantly badmouthing the mayor and city council in public forums and then wondering why they don't want to work with HomesNow. Not holding problematic behaviour accountable. The exec dir said numerous times in person and via private messages that "we" shouldn't or don't have to follow all the laws, such as having food handler's permits. And so much more. I have the "receipts" (screenshots and messages that back up everything that I've stated here and MORE).
Stop enabling the mistreatment of your volunteers and have accountability!
HomesNOW_NotLater 07/04/2018
Well for one thing I did not say nobody made desicions I said Me Jim Peterson doesnt the BOD and the core people make the desicions on what we do. You said that I either had to get rid of one person that volunteers or you where leaving. I decided that I was not going to make anyone leave adn if you wanted to leave that was your choice. No one at HomesNOW makes a penny we are all volunteers so that way we can spend what money we get on helping the homeless not paying staff. You have had a problem with the one volunteer since you started. So to say what you say is your right but I dont agree with it. It was your choice to leave. On the law issue tell me what laws we have broke. As far as bad mouthing the Mayor you are right I have. When everything we have tried has been a fight with the city I am not going to talk nice about them if you want to then go for it. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you do and thank you for the time you put into the garden you did an awesome job. Peace
The homes now team is an amazing group of individuals working together for real change.
I am so impressed with what they have accomplished together especially with the shower truck and getting things in line to have a housing village for the housless ...
They are a true inspiration.
I love volunteering with them and hope to continue doing so In the future...
The entire team is friendly and truly has a passion to improve the lives of houseless people around Bellingham ,Washington..
I am so glad I found this group...I feel like part of the community now.
Seeing the smiles on the faces of the people they help is beautiful and enriching.
Thanks homes now for bringing dignity to the homeless through championing basic needs and housing as a human right.
I have been volunteering with HomesNOW and I am so happy to be part of this group. We are not polished. We do not kiss up to people. We are direct. We do what we say. We do it now.
The people without homes are amazing people with amazing stories.
We could be them.
HomesNOW_NotLater 06/29/2018
thanks Amy you are such a great assest to HomesNOW we would be lost with out you
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HomesNOW is just doing it. They are not waiting for the County to give them land or money. They hooked up with our local Native Tribe, Lummi Nation and together, they are building Tiny homes for people without homes. NOT complicated. Just build the home and put people in them.
We would have housed all the homeless people in our county if we just had our local government help. Instead HomesNOW is doing it alone. It will take a lot longer but they are determined and I am proud to be a part of this new non-profit.
My experience is positive!
Homes Now helped me go from being on the street, and without hope, to having somewhere to live and a job. Jim, Doug, and Amy are the most helpful, caring people. They put all of their effort to help those that just need a place to rest and get their goals together. They are straightforward and will not settle for "no's".
When Jim asked me if I wanted to help form a non-profit organization to solve and alleviate homelessness, I was happy to lend a hand any way that I could, here we are a few months later and already 3 homes built. We hope to keep tearing it up out there!
I just found out about HomesNOW Not Later this summer (2017) and I am inspired by this grassroots effort to challenge the status quo of homelessness. Most people view homelessness as 'acceptable' in society. I disagree -- homelessness is unacceptable. So how do we shift our social acceptance of homelessness and help people thrive? We start by helping them achieve the one thing they lack -- a home.
I support HomesNOW Not Later because the people involved with this work aren't waiting; they are taking action NOW and changing lives while challenging the age-old stereotype that homelessness is acceptable.