Press

Emily's Story: From Unhoused to Unstoppable

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:45:26 GMT

What Happens When Hope Has a Home

To sit with Emily Abell, a former OWL360 housing resident, is to immediately feel a spark. She brings a brightness, kindness, and sense of goodwill into the room that makes a person want to know more about her. Curiosity is piqued when you learn that Emily's path to independence, a college degree, and a successful career and relationship, were nearly derailed by unstable housing, substance abuse, and mental health challenges.

This is Emily’s Story

In a brave act fitting for Emily's spirit, at 22 years old and married, Emily moved with her then husband from Virginia to Port Angeles in 2019. Only weeks after arriving on the Olympic Peninsula with a secured job at Fort Worden, what should have been an exciting chapter of her life began to unravel. Emily’s relationship proved unmanageable, and her marriage quickly began to dissolve.

Divorce and moving across the country are major life transitions for anyone, and they led Emily into an unhoused, unsafe, and untenable situation that only got worse. For weeks, then months, Emily lived in her car and couch surfed. Navigating a divorce, working, and attending college while living in survival mode, is a lot for a young person to carry.

Emily recalls, “I wasn't really able to focus on school because I was focusing on my safety.”

Emily’s situation was not a unique one. Broken relationships of all kinds and housing instability are major destabilizing factors for someone to deal with, especially a young person, and especially an under-resourced young person. OWL360 is working on that. And while Emily’s situation may not have been unique, her ability to forge ahead could be considered so.

From couch surfing and some car sleeping, Emily and her new partner found a travel trailer in Quilcene to live in. A travel trailer with no running water, no toilet, and an hour-and-a-half by bus to Port Townsend. Anyone who has worked while attending college understands Emily’s is a story against odds, a story of grit and determination.

While determination can take a person far in life, substance abuse, mental health challenges, unsafe housing, and the isolation of the pandemic were formidable foes. By 2021 Emily was grappling with all four.

After nearly two years of working with Olycap as a client in search of housing, Emily was encouraged to apply for an open position to work within the OlyCap organization, which she landed. Her new job as program specialist solidified her desire to work in social services, and still living in the travel trailer, she continued attending college to that end.

Enter OWL360

Emily was one of the first seven residents to be housed and case managed by OWL360, finally leaving the unsafe travel trailer after several years. She shared,

“Having a safe and stable place to live and access to consistent mental health support allowed me to maintain a job I loved - which gave me a sense of purpose - and gave me the capacity to focus on school instead of my safety. It was a game changer for me.”

It might be obvious that one needs stable housing to live a meaningful and productive life, but it’s important to note that housing is just one component a young person needs to become sustainably independent. Many young people enter life on their own without having been taught the basic life-skills that many of us take for granted. To that end, all OWL360 housing residents receive wraparound services paired with human connection, both of which are at the heart of OWL360’s work - and both of which are directly related to Emily’s success.

What comes up repeatedly when listening to Emily tell her story is the name of her then case manager, Kelli Parcher, OWL360’s Executive Director and Housing Program Director. Emily’s story is deeply connected to the care and devotion poured into her by Kelli, and currently poured into each housing resident by OWL360 case managers Tobi McEnerney & Derek Firenze and previously Sonia Frojen.

For Emily, having a case care coordinator that met her where she needed to be met made all the difference, “Kelli was very low barrier and trauma informed, she was really supportive, and that was really the biggest part for me. And she also was really good with my dog.”

Kelli connected Emily to OWL60’s mental health counselor, which was quintessential to her moving from instability to stability. Events and classes produced by OWL360's Nest Community Coffeehouse and Resource Navigator provided a place to belong, and Kelli's mentorship in making Emily the Pfeiffer House's RA was instrumental. A safe, well cared for apartment gave her the peace needed to continue working not only at OlyCap, but on her Bachelor’s Degree from Western Washington University, where she will graduate this June.

Today Emily lives with her partner in Chimacum, and works as a specialist at the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Office of Homeless Youth. No longer a mentee of Kelli’s, now a colleague. This fall Emily will begin her Master’s program in Social Work at the University of Washington. We pause with admiration of both Emily’s perseverance, and Kelli & OWL360’s devotion.

Emily’s story is a living testament of how far a young person can go when there’s a foundation of support and people to walk alongside them as they navigate challenging times and discover their endless potential.

For lack of a better word, “wow,” might just be the most appropriate exclamation of what happens when a young person who needs help is paired with an individual and an organization committed to providing that help. OWL360 is that organization, and OWL360’s staff is that collective of individuals.

“Every young person deserves someone who believes in them, especially during the challenging transition into adulthood. Safe housing, consistent support, and genuine care can change the trajectory of a life. Emily's resilience, determination, and commitment to building a better future are truly inspiring. She is a shining star and a powerful reminder of what is possible when young people are met with opportunity, encouragement, and people willing to walk alongside them “ - Kelli Parcher

Housing That Creates Opportunity

Today, OWL360 provides safe, affordable housing for 33 young people and 4 small children, helping young adults build stability and move toward independence.

Our housing program operates through a Global Lease Model, which creates a win-win partnership for local property owners and the young people we serve. Landlords receive reliable rent payments, reduced risk, and peace of mind, while OWL360 manages tenant support, property oversight, and ongoing maintenance coordination.

If you own a rental property and would like to learn how you can make a lasting difference in the life of a young person, please contact Kelli Parcher.
Kelli@owl360.org

Twenty Young People. One Community. Countless Possibilities.

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:32:25 GMT

At first blush OWL360 can be tricky to understand. Our organization was recently described as “three or four separate nonprofits,” though we humbly stand as one.

By Tobi McEnerney, Housing Case Care Manager

The genesis of OWL360 in 2021 was a desire to meet young people’s need for stable housing as they emerged from the pandemic. The landscape of our community’s education, workforce, and housing availability had taken a sharp turn in the wrong direction. As new residents found Port Townsend, our young people were being squeezed out, many without the ability to compete for the limited stock of ever increasingly priced rentals in Jefferson County.

Thankfully, OWL360 has grown to have a robust housing program. What started as six units has tripled to eighteen, in large part thanks to our “global lease” approach. Our model partners with local landlords & community members in a unique and mutually beneficial way to provide not just stable housing, but stable income to property owners. Upon entering a global lease, OWL360 takes over property management, provides a reasonable monthly rent payment, and leaves homeowners with peace of mind - all while both parties make it possible for young people to build their futures from a stable home.

OWL360’s housing program presently serves 20 young people between the ages of 18-26, and 4 children under the age of 5. A Case Care Coordinator meets with each young person before they enter our program and places them on a waitlist. During this time, many young people remain living in their cars or couch surfing night by night. Our Resource Navigator begins working with them immediately. This work is aimed at solving anything from food insecurity to a desperate need for a dentist, to support in obtaining a cell phone in order to apply for employment.

Once there’s a housing unit available, in either shared or independent housing, the young person signs a one-year lease and agrees to continue working with a Case Care Coordinator, establishing and working towards reaching their goals. Often, the signed lease in itself is life changing. Having successful rental history allows our young people to more readily compete for market rate housing when they leave OWL306. It’s a small, but noteworthy aspect of the OWL360 housing journey.

Once into housing, our residents are set up with all furniture, pots and pans, bedding and all other “basics” for a home. We, the young person, and the case care coordination team then start on the next part of the journey. The “starting to dream” part. As a team, we set small and measurable goals to achieve those dreams. It’s heartening to see these dreams grow and expand the longer a young person is with us.

Housing is just the beginning.

Because just housing a young person, who may not possess the skill set to launch, is not enough, OWL360 has expanded with full wraparound services. Enter the “3 or 4 non-profits” previously mentioned, all of which are in-house and therefore deeply interconnected.

The social service world can be full of flyers and links meant to solve problems. Links to external resources can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate for anyone, let alone a young person in survival mode.

People solve problems. OWL360’s Mental Health program provides a licensed therapist to all housing residents free of charge. A robust Workforce Development program offers a certificate and internship opportunities, where hard skills like resume building are taught and soft skills, like interviewing, are explored. OWL360, in partnership with Port Townsend School District, houses Open Doors , a non-traditional high school completion program. Mental health services, workforce development and educational support are all offered in-house by the same people the young person has already gotten to know, largely in a place (The Nest) that is comfortable and welcoming.

Our housing waitlist grows every month, and so does our heart for the work of supporting our young people who grow alongside it. The triumph, trauma, and hope that comes out of our young people is staggering. Cheers to the future we’re all building together.

Interested in Learning More?

Contact Kelli Parcher
Kelli@owl360.org

Eva's Journey From Stuck to Soaring

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:53:04 GMT

How One Person's Future Came Into Focus at OWL360

Sometimes it takes the right mix of programs and the right community for a young person to discover their path. In her own words, Eva shares how Earn to Learn, Level Up, and Flight Crew helped her move from "stuck" to launching the next chapter of her life.

By Eva, April 2026

I finally have clarity about what I want to do with my life, and I wouldn’t have been able to figure it out as fast as I did without the support of OWL360.

My experience with OWL360 started with Earn to Learn. At the end of last summer I did not know what I wanted to do next. I felt stuck. Earn to Learn was a really helpful class where I was able to explore career possibilities and meet new people. I learned that there are a lot more opportunities and resources in Port Townsend than I thought there were. I realized that I wanted a job as a writer. I’ve always loved to write but I was questioning if it was the right career choice for me. I connected with a writing mentor and that was super helpful. I also wanted to explore other creative options to make a living alongside writing.

I decided to do the Level Up Internship next. I am currently working as a floral assistant learning how to be a floral designer. I’m really enjoying it! I love to create, that’s what I’m best at. I’m able to be creative with flowers, and I get so much joy from it.

Along the way I learned about Flight Crew. I was drawn to it because I’ve always felt like I needed support with my leadership skills. It’s been a really great experience. I love the connections I’ve made and always look forward to it. I’ve learned how important community is to me. Flight Crew has taught me what kind of leader I am, what skills I have, and what I need. I had no idea there were so many kinds of leadership! It’s given me confidence to start bigger things and helped me realize how much I like working with other people, which was kind of a surprise to me as a shy person.

Earn to Learn helped me realize what I want to do and the Flight Crew has helped me figure out how I want to do it. I have found what I was looking for. It's clear to me now just how exciting and fun it is to create things with other people. I want to write and inspire others to create stories and share them, especially people from marginalized communities. I want to see more local young artists working together making art.

I'm happy and relieved that I have direction. I’m launching into the next phase of my life and I’m grateful for all the support from OWL360.

Follow in Eva's path:

Thank You AJ!

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:13:32 GMT

Bon Voyage, AJ Schott, OWL360's Longtime Peer Support Ally!

"I don’t think I know how to put into words just how much every person I've worked with, whether for 20 minutes or 2-years, has made me a better person. I feel genuinely lucky to have been a part of their journeys." - AJ

What has been positive about your experience as a Peer Support Ally?

The positives of working as a Peer Support Ally with The Nest has been getting to support strength, recovery, passion, confidence and community within young people in our community. As a person who found a lot of support from peer support specialists I worked with when I was navigating my own mental health and substance use struggles as a teenager, it has felt incredibly rewarding to share my own story and offer the same support that helped empower me when I was younger.

Where are you off to next?

One of my favorite parts of the peer support model has been meeting people where they are, learning people's unique stories and life experiences, and supporting harm reduction tools in one's recovery. After 3 years in my role at The Nest, I have learned that I have a long-term passion for supporting people through vulnerable times, so I have decided to transition out of Jefferson County and go to school for social work at Whatcom Community College. Thank you to OWL360 and our community partners for supporting my journey at The Nest and for making being part of the team such a connective experience!

Do you need support or know someone who needs support? Contact ( derekf@owl360.org ) or click the button below.

Resource Navigation with Care

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:20:28 GMT

A Human Centered Pathway at OWL360

Howdy! Derek Firenze here, OWL360's Resource Navigator and Case Care Coordinator. All of those very official sounding words translate into the messy and meaningful work of helping young people find resources, community, and sometimes just the next right step.

When people hear the phrase “resource navigation,” it can sound abstract and bureaucratic. But the reality is much simpler and much more human.

You see, the vast majority of the young people I meet in my work don’t lack motivation. They lack a clear path. They’re bombarded with the same firehose of information we all are through social media, the news, and the complexities of relationship with all the other human beings in their families and social circles. They’re trying to figure out housing, jobs, education, transportation, and mental health. Sometimes all at the same time. When everything feels uncertain, even knowing where to put your feet is a challenge.

That’s where resource navigation comes in.

My job is to walk alongside young people to help them untangle the overwhelm. Sometimes I’m connecting them to housing support, so they have a foundation of safety to build on. Sometimes I’m offering them tools to build a resume or engage in job hunting. Or maybe I’m just sitting down and talking through the goals they’ve been quietly carrying in their head while pointing out manageable steps on the path to their dreams. Often, I walk those first steps alongside them while they build confidence and independence, lending a little grounding from my nervous system while they relax into their power. Always, I’m honored to meet young people in their struggles with unconditional positive regard for the outcome. Mistakes happen, and we can always learn from them.

This is the work of connection. Jefferson County is full of organizations, businesses, and mentors who genuinely want young people to succeed. Through partnerships with those organizations as well as the young people we serve, we’re connecting people to opportunities and services that might otherwise stay hidden. That’s also the hope of HOOT360, the online resource library we built to share what Jefferson County has to offer its youth.

For me, this work is personal. I know what it’s like to feel like the ground under your feet isn’t stable yet. I also know how powerful it is when someone takes the time to say, “Let’s figure this out together.”

And that’s what resource navigation really is. Sitting down with someone, listening to where they are, and helping them take the first real step forward. Folks find their way to start this work with me oftentimes just by walking into The Nest. Or perhaps they pick up one of the toys I like to fiddle with when I’m tabling at schools and other youth programs. I’m also surprisingly happy to receive emails. However a young person crosses my path, I’m grateful to share this journey with them.

In my experience, people usually know more about what they want than they think they do. Sometimes they just need someone willing to slow down, look at the options together, and help turn possibility into a plan.

For more information contact Derek Firenze ( derekf@owl360.org ) or click the button below.

Workforce Development With Heart

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:16:07 GMT

An Inspirational Story of Growth and Connection at OWL360

Hello! I’m Sonia Frojen, OWL360’s Workforce Development Program Lead. The past year in this current role has taught me so much about how young adults show up for learning, especially when it’s THEIR choice.

In the summer 2025 ‘ Earn to Learn ’ class, which is a 45-hour career exploration and ‘Adulting 101’ class, students showed up on night one with quiet hesitation. As we met each week to check-in and discuss the week’s topics (career exploration and research, resume writing, interview skills, mindfulness, financial literacy, resource navigation, education resources and more), students started opening up during discussions about work/life balance, the stresses of housing insecurity, mental health challenges, and the group became more than a class - it became a cohesive space where support, acceptance and connection were present.

Community members visited the class each week to bring career-related topics, and host discussions. The young adults were actively building connections in their community through this experience.

A few end of class survey answers when asked “What is the most important thing you learned about yourself in this class?”

“My voice does have power, maybe even more.”
"That I am stronger than I think I am."
"The things I really want to do are realistic"
"That I don't have to live with stress constantly on my back, and that finding the right workspace can even make work seem enjoyable."

What comes after Earn to Learn?

The OWL360 ‘ Level Up’ Internship Program is a 90-hour opportunity for Earn to Learn graduates, and allows interns to earn $1000. OWL360 has three interns actively interning in the first half of 2026.

One intern is learning about floral design, another intern is working at a local furniture maker's woodshop, and another intern is a teacher's aide for the Clemente Course humanities 3-credit class. All of the current interns had identified areas of interest during their 45-hour Earn to Learn for a possible career pathway. As interns, they are making further community connections for work-related learning, building executive function skills by scheduling and attending their weekly shifts, as well as building a mentorship relationship with a local business owner that can guide and support them as young adults after their 90-hour internship ends.

When asked how the OWL360 workforce development program has helped, two current interns said:

“I signed up for Earn To Learn when I had been unsure what the best next step to take in my life would be, OWL360 has helped me grow confidence in myself and the plans I have for the future, as well as given me opportunities in our community I had not considered or known about. I have recently started my Level Up internship and am very grateful for the opportunity. I have learned so much in the last several months and met so many amazing people in the process. I'm very glad that I signed up, this program has been exactly what I needed and greatly increased my hope!”

“Earn to Learn and Level Up have helped connect me to resources and opportunities in Jefferson County, as well as helped me meet some very cool people! Especially since I moved here relatively recently, OWL360 programs have really helped me build a social life and a sense of community & belonging since the move.”

OWL360 offers Earn to Learn twice a year (January through April) and (late July through mid-November). The next cohort begins late July and will take place at The Nest in Uptown Port Townsend. The Level Up Internship is designed around each student, and set up on a case-by-case basis depending on each intern’s ideas. If you are a local business interested in hosting a 90 hour internship, please reach out to us!

To apply for the Earn to Learn and Level Up programs, a student needs to be between 17 and 26 years old, and live in East Jefferson County.

For more information contact Sonia Frojen ( soniaf@owl360.org ) or click the button below.

2026 Woman of Excellence Award

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:41:02 GMT

Kelli Parcher Named AAUW's "2026 Woman of Excellence"

We are so proud to announce that OWL360 Executive Director Kelli Parcher has been named AAUW Port Townsend's 2026 Woman of Excellence! Kelli works tirelessly for the young people of Jefferson County, and for her staff. This award serves as a torchlight that signals OWL360 is not just on a mission, but is being lead with heart.

Kelli's Letters of Recommendation Say it All:

Join Kelli as an OWL360 ambassador! Please reach out if you are curious about what that means or what it might look like for you specifically.

EMAIL KELLI: kelliparcher@owl360.org

Please visit AAUW Port Townsend to learn more about their program and what this award means >>