Seattle Area Businesses Join Pearl Jam to Call for Shared Strategy on Homelessness

Pearl Jam ‘s amazing Home Shows concerts at Safeco Field this week have had a great effect already:  causing more than 50 businesses to release a letter committing to a shared strategy toward fighting homelessness in the region. It is hoped that this will be the beginning of a viable plan and solution that can be modeled all over the United States and beyond.

Along with the letter, Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard released this statement:

“There is simply no way to address homelessness in our region without the work of all of us. This is not an issue that government, nonprofits, philanthropy or individuals alone can solve. We need everyone — and that includes the business community. Businesses have innovative ideas, resources and employees eager to be engaged. We’ve been thrilled by the role Seattle’s business community has played in the Home Shows. We’re looking forward to continuing the collaboration as we work toward a shared strategy to fighting homelessness.”

The full text of the letter follows:

As business leaders, we care deeply about our city and the most challenging issues it faces. As employers and philanthropists, many of us are playing an active role in fighting homelessness in King County. We’re committed to doing much more.
Through Pearl Jam’s Home Shows Initiative, we saw the power of what we can do when we band together.
We’re standing together now with elected leaders, local residents, advocates on the front lines, and those experiencing homelessness to chart a path forward to make our economy one that both thrives and holds a place for everyone.
In the past, some of us have stated what we’re opposed to. We have not been clear about what we support. We’re committed to one coordinated effort that optimizes the roles of government, nonprofits, and business to ensure that everyone in King County has a roof over their heads.
What will it take?

• One shared plan that explicitly outlines the strategies we’ll prioritize, policies we’ll pursue, and resources we’ll allocate, as well as the metrics that tell us if we’re succeeding.
• Clear leadership and accountability from all of us working in service of a shared plan, including our elected officials.
• A larger financial commitment from all of us­­—funding for organizations that have a proven track record of success in working across populations to both prevent and move people out of homelessness, along with funding for new, creative and efficient solutions.
• Engagement of the community. We need to continue to raise awareness throughout the community and engage and activate our employees and customers.

We can do this—but we have to do it as one community working together.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mark Okerstrom
President and CEO
Expedia Group
 
H.S. Wright III
Chairman & Founder
Seattle Hospitality Group
 
R. Guy Hudson
MD, CEO
Swedish Health Services
 
Neal Myrick
Global Head
Tableau Foundation
 
Ethan and Angela Stowell
Owners
Ethan Stowell Restaurants
 
Bill Hilf
CEO
Vulcan Inc.
 
Diana Birkett Rakow
Vice President, External Relations
Alaska Airlines
 
Tod Leiweke
President and CEO
NHL Seattle
 
Larry Cohen
CEO
Gates Ventures
 
Scott Redman
CEO
Sellen Construction
 
Manny Chao
Founder
Georgetown Brewing Company
 
Jennifer Shea
CEO and Founder
Trophy Cupcakes & Party
 
Mickey Smith
President
Martin Smith Inc.
 
David Bley
Director, Pacific Northwest
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
 
Tricia and Jeff Raikes
Co-founders
Raikes Foundation
 
Jeff Trisler
President
Live Nation Seattle
 
Connie Ballmer
Co-Founder
Ballmer Group
 
Rob Glaser
Founder, Chairman and CEO
RealNetworks
 
Jill Wood
President
Windermere Real Estate
 
Rod Hochman
MD, President and CEO
Providence St. Joseph Health
 
Molly Moon Neitzel
Founder and CEO
Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
 
Leslie Scott
Program Director
107.7 The End
 
Lee Rhodes
Owner
glassybaby
 
Trey Busch
Partner and Winemaker
Sleight of Hand Cellars and Underground Wine Project
 
Robert B. Gilbertson, Jr.
President/CEO
YMCA of Greater Seattle
 
Linda Derschang
Founder and CEO
The Derschang Group
 
Dave Richards
Vice President, Programming and Operations
KISW
 
Pamela Hinckley
CEO
Tom Douglas Restaurants
 
Rachel Marshall
Founder
Rachel’s Ginger Beer
 
Chad Mackay
CEO
Fire & Vine Hospitality
 
Travis Rosenthal
Owner
Sand Point Grill, Tango, Rumba
 
Renee Erickson
Owner
Sea Creatures
 
Tom Mara
Executive Director
KEXP
 
Thierry Rautureau
The Chef In The Hat
Luc / Loulay
 
Linda Di Lello Morton & Tamara Murphy
Owners
terra plata
 
Brian McAndrews
Chairman
United Way of King County
 
Tony Mestres
President & CEO
Seattle Foundation
 
Matthew Stubbs
Owner
Big Chickie
 
Jennifer Teunon
Executive Director
Medina Foundation
 
Dave LaSarte-Meeks
Executive Director
Vadon Foundation
 
Rich Fox
Operating Owner
Weimann-Maclise Family of Restaurants
 
John Stanton
Chairman and Managing Partner
Seattle Mariners
 
Brian Robinson
Managing Partner
Northlink Investment Group
 
Jon Fine
President & CEO
United Way of King County
 
Joel VandenBrink
Founder, CEO
Two Beers Brewing Co, Seattle Cider Company & Sound Craft Seltzer Co.
 
David Blandford
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
Visit Seattle
 
Daniel Pitasky
Executive Director
Schultz Family Foundation
 
Leslie Thomson
Owner
Dream Dinners
 
Herb Gould
CEO
Anthony’s Restaurants
 
Pete Nordstrom
Co-President
Nordstrom, Inc.
 
Dan Black
President
Zeeks Pizza
 
Jennifer and Justin Stiefel
President, CEO and Founders
Heritage Distilling Co.
 
John Hoyt
Founder
Pyramid Communications
Publisher’s Note:  Thank you, thank you and THANK YOU to Pearl Jam for playing these shows and putting a spotlight on the homeless situation in Seattle and beyond.
Pearl Jam rocks Seattle for two amazing shows to put spotlight on homelessness.  Way to go Pearl Jam!