Day 20: Seattle Build

8/25/22

Build day with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI).

Writing a journal at the back end of the trip lends a special privilege to reflect. Bike and Build is a riveting journey filled with such unique moments of wonder. Time to sit and write what I’ve been experiencing (for eyes other than my own) is very welcome.

Today was a build day in Seattle, a city large enough to appear daunting to tackle the affordable housing crisis. The organization we had the pleasure to work for did not shy away from that challenge. LIHI is a special group that operates tiny house villages across Washington while advocating at all levels of government for just housing policies. The villages are impressive displays of community building that provide vital resources and help move folks into more stable housing situations over time. A practical piece of the puzzle, LIHI left a strong impression on our team for their efficiency, care for the community, and innovative solutions to a problem that seems to stretch with no end in sight.

LIHI knows how to leverage their assets while doing what they do best. Their ability to partner with the local government on the tiny village pilot program while working with other non-profits for tenant referrals has led to a successful campaign: 3,000 permanent and transitional housing units at over 70 properties. Additionally, over 72% of LIHI’s units house formerly homeless persons.

This work is built on partnerships and common ground, folks coming together between the private and public sector for effective solutions. In short, LIHI can’t be siloed, and their ability to pull so many levers effectively gives me hope in the affordable housing space.

It’s easy to romanticize the work we do. We arrive at an organization like LIHI, get dirty, get excited about the work they do (and what we do with them), even pat ourselves on the back in a sense; however, there was a moment in the prior ride day that struck our team. We passed through Tacoma on our route to Seattle. Almost every ride I say aloud, “oh, this is a cool area,” and Tacoma certainly fit that bill. As we rounded a turn around the outskirts of the city we were hit with a hill that was flanked with large encampments of tent after tent, all placed outside of the Tacoma Rescue Mission. It’s not my job to assume anything about the folks staying there or their situation, but it’s hard not to think about them every time you swing a hammer, build a wardrobe, or clear brush at the build site. Our trip isn’t solving the affordable housing crisis, but I am absolutely thinking about it more and more each day. That, I believe, is special.

It’s up to us to carry this experience with us as we leave such a unique trip. The work we do afterwards is equally as important. I’ve begun reflecting with fellow teammates on what we’ve experienced on the trip and almost always someone acknowledges that taking the time to invest in communities and do as little as think about them will be a part of their life moving forward.

Not sure I’m ready to quite articulate what this trip has meant to me and my teammates, but some quick highlights to leave you with include: embracing vulnerability and trusting your life to others on the road, learning to love strangers again (global pandemic put a strain on that one for me personally), and believing in yourself and your abilities.

Cheers

-Daniel Neff, DW'22