Plymouth Housing provides permanent housing and support services to people who have experienced long-term homelessness in King County.

SEATTLE — Local community leaders are stepping onto the dance floor next month with one shared goal: to help end homelessness in our region.

I’m one of eight "celebrity" dancers taking part in Seattle Dances, each working to raise $50,000 for Plymouth Housing – a nonprofit that provides permanent housing and support services to people who have experienced long-term homelessness in King County.

The best way to understand the impact of Plymouth’s work is through the people they serve.

One of them is 74-year-old Deb White. Her apartment is brimming with plants, yarn and paint – small, everyday things that make it feel like home.

But for five years, White lived on the street.

"Every day was about survival," she said. "You have to plan where you’re going to eat. You have to plan and schedule where you’re going to go to the bathroom."

The trauma of homelessness took a toll. White said she lost sleep, struggled to find food, and felt herself spiraling.

"You’re not going to get better until you have a home," she said.

Everything changed when White was given the keys to a permanent apartment through Plymouth Housing. Still, the transition wasn’t easy.

"It took me a long time to realize I had a home," she said. "That I had a place where I could be safe."

Healing took time. At first, Deb barely spoke. Plymouth staff say she struggled with trust so deeply that she communicated through a puppet for nearly a year before using her own voice.

At Plymouth Housing, that kind of journey is expected.

The organization follows a "Housing First" approach – meaning people are not required to meet conditions like sobriety or treatment before moving in. The only requirements are that residents are single adults and have a disability.

Once housed, residents receive ongoing support and services, including mental health care and substance use treatment.

About 70% of Plymouth residents live with a mental health condition, and many also struggle with substance use disorders. Plymouth serves about 1,500 people across 18 buildings in King County. About 95% of residents remain permanently housed.

White is one of them. She has now lived at Plymouth for 18 years.

"I see a psychologist every week," she said. "You have to first take care of being homeless before you can deal with what made you homeless."

Today, she finds joy in the simple things – knitting, painting, and caring for her plants – that she once thought were impossible.

Asked what home means to her now, her answer is simple.

"It’s your identity," she said. "It’s a place where you can heal. Plymouth saved my life."

As local leaders dance to raise money this month, the goal is to help make stories like White’s possible – one home, one life, and one second chance at a time.

You can vote for me in Seattle Dances to help end homelessness: Donate to Seattle Dances 2026 Voting - Mimi Jung