Emily's Story: From Unhoused to Unstoppable
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 car living, 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 Frojin.
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 in a few short weeks.
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
