Mission to save Seattle parks becomes a life saver for people too

It started last September when ‘can do’ Belltown resident Andrea Suarez decided rather than complain about parks strewn with garbage and needles, she’d lead volunteer community trash picks. Six months later she and her group, WeHeartSeattle, have collected 55,000 lbs. of trash and along the way helped 30 people move from tents into shelter, housing or treatment programs.

She says the key is daily contact, meeting people where they’re at and being willing to “ram through barriers,” especially bureaucracy.

The group’s humanitarian journey began with their approach: “boots on the ground and picking litter every single day.” They soon came to know Denny Park and the people living there. As trust and relationships grew, Saurez found people experiencing homelessness “are not always who you think.” She found that some worked full time making up to $20 an hour, and with some help following through, they could get into housing.

But for many the problems are dire. Saurez was collecting trash near 1st and Mercer just before New Year’s when a man in crisis approached asking to use her phone because he needed help. “At that moment I made the bold, conscious decision to become a provider and at his request helped get him into detox.”

Since then, she’s followed a solution-driven model, making calls to find placements for people and personally driving them there. Funded out-of-pocket and with donations, she provides whatever missing piece is needed to help someone in need ‘move up and move on,’ whether it’s a $250 apartment deposit or plane ticket to Alaska where family was ready to help.

The solutions are as different as the people and she finds her strength is responding to individuals in the moment without layers of administration and procedure.

Suarez has come to know and work among the network of public and private outreach and housing providers. She finds their hands can be tied by restrictions to prioritize who receives aid and where. She’s seen hundreds of Covid-safe shelter beds unfilled because some jurisdictions avoid referring to faith-based shelter providers based on social policies. 

Suarez’s motto is “I’ll work with anyone” and her model is “friction free services” that are apolitical, non-denominational and action-based. Thanks to social media, WeHeartSeattle’s work for parks and people has drawn local and national attention. To volunteer, donate or sign their Change.org petition to protect people and parks, click here.