This Olympia nonprofit strives to end homelessness one person at a time. Here’s how

Correction: SideWalk was founded as an Interfaith Works program in 2011 and spun off as a non-profit in 2013. Phil Owen initially led the program and then non-profit with help from Jill Esbeck. A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Owen and Esbeck founded the non-profit in 2011.

Alanna Barros-Dotson knows how difficult it can be to find housing. She said she experienced homelessness in 2016 soon after being hired as a manager at SideWalk, a local nonprofit that helps people in similar situations.

“I’ve been where a lot of these folks are,” Barros Dotson said. “I know how difficult this system is and how scary it is. … Lived experience is so vital in this work that we do. People can really feel when you’re genuine.”

In her case, Barros-Dotson said she camped with her family for about a year after a domestic dispute forced them out of their home. She eventually found housing and now works as Operations Director at SideWalk.

Executive Director Olivia Hickerson describes SideWalk as a largely volunteer operated nonprofit that specializes in quickly helping single adults experiencing homelessness, either with direct help or by referring them to other resources.

“Day to day, the people that meet with our participants are volunteers,” Hickerson said. “We don’t do wait lists. We average 30-minute appointments and a 20-minute wait. We also have same-day funding. … That’s what sets us apart.”

Earlier this month, Hickerson announced SideWalk would unveil a “new brand identity” during a relaunch event on Thursday, April 27. In a letter to supporters, she said the new brand would better communicate their mission and help them stand out in an “increasingly crowded nonprofit space.”

The event will be held 3-5:30 p.m. at 1139 Fifth Ave. SE in Olympia. Hickerson told The Olympian SideWalk will unveil a new logo but keep their current name.

“We understand that change can be difficult, and we want to assure you that our mission and values remain the same,” Hickerson said in the letter.

“We are committed to ending homelessness through community engagement and evidence-driven practices, and our dedication to serving the unhoused will never waver.”

SideWalk’s history

SideWalk began as a program under Interfaith Works in 2011 before being spun off in 2013. Phil Owen initially lead the program and later the non-profit with the help of Jill Esbeck.

Esbeck left her role as Operations Director in 2021, Hickerson said. Owen stepped down as Executive Director in 2022, leaving the spot open for Hickerson to take over in July.

A March report indicates SideWalk housed 15 people at an average cost of $501 per person that month. Hickerson said the nonprofit got about seven visits per day.

From 2021 to 2022, SideWalk spent $161,292 to help house 452 people, according to data shared by Hickerson. She said the nonprofit helped house 2,344 people from 2012 to 2022.

How does SideWalk do it?

SideWalk operates out of a blue home located on Fifth Avenue in Olympia. Visitors to the property are directed to a side entrance where they are offered coffee before being heard by a volunteer.

The nonprofit currently operates three main programs, Hickerson said. When someone walks-in, they may be offered one-time diversion assistance if they meet eligibility requirements.

“We can pay for a deposit, first month’s rent or we can pay for a trip to where you have permanent housing,” Hickerson said. “If you need to get back to family that’s out of state or in-state, we can provide that.”

Their Foundational Community Supports (FCS) program offers Supportive Housing Services to eligible single adults with “complex health needs,” according to its website. Hickerson said certified peer counselors help people through the program, which is billed through Medicaid.

Lastly, SideWalk partners with the Olympia Community Court, a system that diverts people accused of low-level crimes to specialized services rather than jail time. Hickerson said this court may order someone to meet with a SideWalk volunteer to create a plan to find housing.

Youth or people with families fall outside SideWalk’s purview, but Hickerson said volunteers still connect them with Community Youth Services or Family Support Center of South Sound.

“We never turn anyone away because everyone has their own situation,” Hickerson said. “We just point them to the services that are tailored to their population.”

SideWalk is mostly funded by individual donors and some foundation grants, Hickerson said. But she hopes to apply for more funding from Thurston County.

The people who make it happen

Isaac Delys chose to become a Certified Peer Counselor for SideWalk in 2020 following a stint working at the Interfaith Works shelter. He’s in recovery from alcoholism and manages the FCS program while keeping a full caseload.

“The shelter was very rewarding, but I wanted to be doing something where I felt like I could help people improve their lives,” Delys said.

Delys said he’s seen that improvement firsthand. One person he helped stayed at the shelter when he worked there. He said that person has since progressed to the point where he’s working at the shelter.

“It’s just really inspirational to watch how he’s progressed,” Delys said. “They’re where I was when I first met them.”

Pam Turlove, a former school counselor, said she decide to volunteer for SideWalk about two years ago. As a Navigator, she helps guide people through their offerings and the wider homeless services system.

“I live pretty close to a homeless encampment and over the years have just seen the situation of our unhoused growing more and more,” Turlove said. “It’s at a crisis level right now.”

Many people tell her how experiencing homelessness limits their ability do things others may take for granted, such as getting their medications in the mail or taking a shower before going to a job interview, she said.

“If they’re not healthy, how are they able to then take the next steps to get employment or to even find a stable house?” Turlove said.

John Klimek, a retired teacher, works as an intake volunteer at SideWalk, meaning he assesses clients before transferring them to a Navigator. He said the nonprofit has adapted in the five years he’s been there, but the mission has stayed the same.

“There’s really tough challenges that we face, but it is also pretty awesome to see people just straight up helping people,” Klimek said.