Unhoused Neighbors ~ unexpected, remarkable encounter; Seattle, Pacific Northwest Tour

Ben Harper has a song called Blessed to Be a Witness. And we are blessed, as we travel, to encounter some of the most fascinating people, and share in deeply rich conversation. We get to be witnesses of movements of hope, compassion and goodness. We have the privilege of hearing those stories and sometimes even getting invited to participate in those movements through song.



On our most recent trip to the Pacific Northwest, we met for coffee and listened to the story of our new friend, Dustin Cross, who is a life-traveling companion alongside the community of unhoused in Seattle. Dustin began his journey with open eyes and an open heart, ready to learn and be aware of what was happening around him on the streets of Seattle. He determined to get to know the city and believed he could do that best by LISTENING, especially to "the baristas, the bums, and the bartenders" ~ the people who know their city best. So he became a bouncer at a bar and spent as much time as he could asking people this one question: "If there was one thing you could do to make your city a better place, what would it be?" He told us that out of 300 people with whom he spoke and asked this question, 250 of them answered: "If I could only get someone to hear my story."



Dustin spends his days and nights in mutual relationship with the perpetually relocating "residents" of Nicklesville, marrying, burying, listening, learning, being a friend, being an advocate where necessary. The day we met him, he was working on getting a couple of ladies some shelter. At least, one of them was pregnant.



Dustin invited us to join the Nickelsville's weekly community gathering around the campfire. We went, guitar in hand, and signed in as visitors per the community's own internal security policy. The strict rules for people to stay within the tent village, such as no drug or alcohol abuse and no violence, are regulated by self-goverance and communal accountability.



In the drizzly dusk, several men, women and children casually gathered around the campfire and we did music unplugged. A couple gentlemen passed around a djembe and an adorable curly-haired boy with glasses sat next to me, bongos between his knees, and struck them in rhythm to my strum.



After playing guitar and singing a few songs, I talked with several folks. A really nice couple asked about our travels and when I shared about the trip to Arizona, they were curious if we stopped by the Grand Canyon because the gentleman had worked on the new Grand Canyon overlook and they had stories to tell! They went on to share more about their own lives and about Nicklesville, how they have to relocate every 90 days and that people will walk by their current location and shout insults at them like "Get a job!". The gentleman remarked that he has a full-time job, and with a sort of ironic humor, said that they should at least shout something like "Get a house!", since THAT'S at least obviously relevant! I could see this man was genuine, sincerely hard-working and I could hear from his story (with a very dignified tone, not a sorry-for-myself tone) that he may sometimes feel dismissed, judged and underestimated.



Thank you to our new friends for trusting and welcoming us warmly to their tent city. And thanks to Dustin for sharing his passion to authentically connect and lead us all into solidarity - the unhoused and housed together; for being an example of a true and faithful friend, a consistent listening ear, open to reciprocity and mutuality as we all grow together as helpful, hopeful presences in our community and world. Learn more about Dustin's work and the work of One 4 One at www.joinone4one.org.