Today we visited Dandelion House and were welcomed by Lisa, Julian, and Fumi the three Catholic Workers who maintain the house of hospitality. The property was located in a grounding forested area, with a large garden that they use to feed their community. Instead of being a service provider, they told us, they are a community provider and support one to two people experiencing houselessness at a time while they pursue their goals. They live a countercultural lifestyle favoring sustainability, gathering, and peace. We were really moved by their commitment to make a large impact in a few people’s lives and their dedication to building relationships with the people that stay with them. After a lunch together, we worked with the three of them to split wood, weed the driveway, and expand the mulched area that would become their food forest.
After our morning at Dandelion House, we drove to the Neakahnie L’arche home to meet the residents and Director of Community Life, Jessica. Julia, the Executive Director, told us that the house was custom built to be accessible with wider hallways, low counters and special details such as a view of the front door from the kitchen. L’arche homes are distinct from care facilities in that residents with disabilities live in tight community with shift-scheduled assistants working alongside them. Everyone was friendly and we cooked and shared a meal with them, by the end of the night we felt welcomed into the family that they had built there.
Here’s to four more days!!!
-Stella and Ash, the mulchers