Spotlight Series | Brandon

Brandon, manager of an apartment building for Plymouth Housing taken at the Olympic Sculpture Park

As a personal project, I have started what I am calling my Spotlight Series. There are so many people in our community that are working to make things better in some way. My vision is that I want to find them, meet them, photograph them, and tell their stories. If you know an amazing person or a regular person doing amazing things, please send me an email, or fill out our nomination form!

Brandon has a fantastic story. He is formerly a homeless person with substance abuse issues that now runs an apartment building that provides permanent supportive housing for others that have suffered from homelessness.

Brandon helps people change their lives by helping them get and stay in homes.

You are formerly homeless and now work for Plymouth Housing. Can you tell me a little about Plymouth housing and what they do?

Plymouth housing provides permanent supportive housing for people that were formerly chronically homeless. Many of our residents had multiple barriers preventing them from getting housed in the past including mental illness and substance abuse issues. Aside from giving them housing what I take pride in is that we are giving them a sense of community and a sense of self-worth once again. 

How did you end up homeless, and how did you end up so far from home?

After many failed attempts to get clean, I came out to Seattle having resigned to the fact that my substance abuse was most likely going to kill me, and I did not want my family to witness that final chapter in my life.  

How did you get yourself off the streets and with a job at Plymouth?

How did I get off the streets? The short answer to that was the compassion and support of others. Namely, one person named Michael, saw in me something I could no longer see - hope. He offered to let me stay on his couch, as long as I made good faith attempts to try to get clean. While sleeping on his couch I was able to finally get clean. He put me to work landscaping with him and then I enrolled at Seattle Central Community College shortly after that.  

While attending school at Seattle central I ran into an old friend I knew from the streets who had become a resident and employee at Plymouth housing. He encouraged me to apply for an open position they had. I reluctantly applied, confident they would not hire me due to my past. To my surprise, I was offered a job as a building assistant at Plymouth housing.  

What is your favorite part of working for Plymouth? 

Showing someone their new home and handing someone their keys to their apartment. Seeing someone become empowered and connected to our community.  

I also have made some lifelong friends while working at Plymouth which is no surprise. I get to work with amazing people who genuinely care about everyone in their community. 

What are your future goals?

Record an album and set some more goals. I honestly don’t spend much time thinking about the future but instead, try not to dwell on the past. Most days I try to remain in the present and in a place of gratitude. 

I know you are in a band. Can you tell me what kind of music you do? Also, what’s on your current playlist?

Unfortunately, the band was just getting started when covid hit but it was mostly original stuff but did I did do an acoustic version of Hallelujah at the few shows we played. 

Brandon on the corner opposite of the building he runs for Plymouth Housing.