Margie Quinn cuts Richard Wentworth’s hair in a University District alley on Monday. The non-profit ‘Facing Homelessness’ offered food, massages and free haircuts to the homeless community as part of their quarterly “Feel Good Project,” designed to build community and help the less fortunate feel better. Facing Homelessness also partnered with the Urban Rest Stop to provide showers and hair washing.

Architect Rex Hohlbein started the non-profit after an encounter with an artistic, homeless man changed his perspective on homelessness. Hohlbein eventually started photographing the homeless community and sharing their photos and stories on Facebook through the Homeless in Seattle page. The page tries to connect the general public with Seattle’s homeless population and change negative stereotypes. The non-profit is still seeking volunteers to offer services in the future. Wentworth, who lives in his van, was just approved for Section Eight Housing and is in the process of looking for an affordable place to live.
Massage therapist Sarah Steilen massages a young woman from the homeless community. “I believe in the connection with people and we are all part of this community,” she said. “I love to help people and I can do that through touch.”

During late 2010, architect Rex Hohlbein started sharing stories and images of the homeless community through the Facebook page, “Homeless in Seattle.” He has photographed around 1,000 individuals from the homeless community. “People on the street feel invisible,” he said. “This act of photographing them is a way for them to be seen and validates that their life has been documented.”

ERIKA SCHULTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Erica Medina, a hair stylist out of Seven Salon, cuts Stephan Milne’s hair in a University District alley. Medina saw the “Homeless in Seattle” photo project, and the experience left her wanting to feel more connected with the homeless community. “I had family who didn’t have a stable place to live,” she said. “It’s about making them feel loved and good about themselves.”

Permanent House for Yangton Lama Tashi

Urgent Appeal of Geshe Tenzin Yangton:

Last year, we made a plan to construct a permanent residence for Lama Tashi on a small piece of property that he owns in Kathmandu, Nepal. This was in response to the devastating earthquake in Kathmandu as well as Lama Tashi's ongoing health concerns. Then last year, an incident of robbers coming to his lama residence in Tsarka while he was there, made these plans much more urgent. We began construction on his residence in May 2016.

We were able to complete, the construction of his residence is half finished. However, there is not enough money to finish. So, it is necessary for us to begin fundraising. We kindly request of the students and friends of our dear Lama Tashi to please help support the urgent completion of this project by making a donation today. A gift of any amount is very helpful and generates great merit.

The residence has 2 floors, both containing 2 bedrooms, a small kitchen area and a bathroom, as well as a 3rd floor with a small shrine room. This space will allow for family to stay with Lama Tashi as well as the assistant that lives with him in order to give him needed help.

We were able to complete more than half of the construction. Unfortunately, due to the recent increase in cost of construction materials in Kathmandu, and some obstacles of miscommunication with the builders, the cost for this project has far exceeded our funds. We spent all of the money already donated to this project, as well as Lama Tashi's and my savings. So now it is necessary for us to fundraise to raise the $30,000 needed to complete the construction and repay a loan we needed to take out to pay for the work already completed. We kindly request of the students and friends of our dear Lama Tashi to please help support the urgent completion of this project by making a donation today. A gift of any amount is very helpful and generates great merit.

Please visit the Khyungdzong Wodsel Ling contact page at this link http://kwling.org/projects/lama-tashi/

Thank each and every one of you for your kind generosity and care for Lama Tashi.

Sincere regards,
Geshe Tenzin Yangton

Thank you