What we believe

We are South Seattle community members who believe in building a neighborhood (and world) where we all have our needs met. Those who profit from the housing market and the colonization of indigenous land separate everyday people from their basic necessities like food and shelter.  These are the roots of poverty. We are working to undo this unjust system, starting from the base level of our local communities.

We believe in operating from a framework of solidarity, not charity. Everyone in our community will both be able to provide support and be in need of support at different times. Even working class people who are housed are still likely to be just a few paychecks from the street. Rather than relying on help from the oppressive forces that keep us down, our strength draws from sharing the resources and labor that are already in the hands of the people.

This mutual aid started with a concern about our neighbors during this COVID-19 crisis. We aim to continue this work on an ongoing basis, knowing that many members of our community are continually in crisis as a result of systemic oppression. We seek to create a self-sustaining community through collective skill and resource sharing so everyone can thrive and be nurtured.

What we do

Right now, we are focused on ensuring our unhoused neighbors have their basic needs met to make it through this crisis. That includes sharing:

• Warm and waterproof clothes, shoes, and sleep gear

• Basic shelter (tents, pallets, tarps)

• Heating and cooking sources (propane, heating, and cooking accessories; weekly propane and butane refills)

• Food (via a weekly partnership with Rainier Valley Food Bank and a meal program run by an unhoused organizer)
  
  

At the moment we are mostly working in North Beacon Hill, but are working on establishing more ties further south.

How to help right now

Financial and time donations of community members like yourself are the only way this work happens. You can help right now!

Cash Donations

These funds go directly to survival gear (propane tanks, ice, tents, clothes, heaters, etc.), weekly fuel program, and special requests (generators, tools, cash assistance). We can't do this work without your help.

• Patreon

• Cash app

• PayPal

Drop-in Outreach

Join us on the ground on Tuesday afternoons to see what it's all about. Connect with us to join:

• Twitter

• Instagram

• Email

How to help long term

The only requirement of joining Beacon Hill Mutual Aid is that you are committed to building lasting relationships with our neighbors.  Whatever your ability to contribute, you are welcome here. From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.

We may have additional opportunities / change up the opportunities depending on our needs, but these are our immediate asks:

Community Outreach Crew — Tuesdays around 5pm

• Build in-person relationships with unhoused community members via weekly visits at an encampment

• Gather and communicate community requests

• Distribute requested items

• Partner with other members to serve the community at the same time

• Time commitment of 2 to 3 hours per week for at least three months

• Helpful skillset: compassion, clear communication and boundary setting, timeliness, ability to walk on uneven ground and communicate in very loud places

Fuel Crew — Tuesdays around 3 or 5pm

• Gather up to 20 propane tanks at multiple encampments on a weekly basis

• Refuel propane tanks at a location in Georgetown

• Redistribute propane tanks to our neighbors

• Partner with other members to serve the community at the same time

• Time commitment of 2 to 3 hours per week for at least three months

• Helpful skillset: timeliness, access to a car with carrying capacity (truck, Subaru, etc.), ability to walk on uneven ground and carry and lift up to 25 pounds

Supply Crew — Your time!

• Pack weekly supply bags for the community outreach crew (all supplies and bags provided, only packing help needed)

• Time commitment of 1 hour per week for at least three months

• Helpful skillset: communication, ability to lift up to 10 pounds and maneuver small bags and supplies 

Communication Crew — Your time!

• Welcome new members

• Post to social media for fundraising and outreach purposes

• Create a (short) monthly newsletter to share efforts with our community (via Patreon)

• Time commitment of 1 hour per week for at least three months

• Helpful skillset: communication; writing, graphic design, and/or video abilities; access to a computer or smartphone

Other Roles

These are the other pieces that go into the process — reach out if you'd like to help with one of these roles!

• Onboarding Coordinator: ensures new community members get a warm welcome, manages communication with members to ensure all roles are filled on a weekly basis

• Requests Coordinator: manages shopping based on community requests and budget, either gets items on shopping list or coordinates to get these needs met

• Financial Coordinator: processes reimbursements and communicates with the community about budget

Who we are

Beacon Hill Mutual Aid* works in solidarity with our houseless neighbors to share resources, knowledge, and skills. In the short term, we're working to get everyone access to basic necessities (shelter, warmth, food) and in the long term, we're working toward justice.

*Formerly called Homeless Organizing Community Seattle Beacon Hill or HOCS Beacon Hill.