Africatown Community Land Trust is among several United Way partner organizations that are taking what it refers to as a community-driven and culturally aligned approach to addressing homelessness.

Last week, Africatown spotlighted Seattle’s unhoused Black male population at a Mobilization and call to Action on Saturday morning at its Benu Community Home in the Central District. The mobilization was part of Africatown’s Benu Community Day Celebration at the venue, which opened in 2021 as a shelter for single adult males.

Once an assisted living facility, the 76,000-square-foot building has 150 beds, is ADA compliant, and is within walking distance from public transportation, medical services, and community resources.

Africatown says it hopes that Saturday’s event will help address the over-representation of people identifying as Black or African American in the homeless system through a program designed to address trauma resulting from multi-generational exposure to systemic racism.

“Benu Community Home is more than just a transitional housing facility —it is an opportunity for our guests to experience transformational impact in their life through culturally relevant and trauma-informed programs and services,” said Dr. Amir Law, Africatown director of programs and services.

Africatown is a member of the Black Community Building Collective, a group of 14 Black-led organizations brought together by United Way to build relationships, share best practices, and form strategies to bring power to King County’s Black community. For more about the Black Community Building Collective, click here.

Africatown says that since its opening, the Benu Community Home has served 256 guests, transitioned 95 guests into stable housing, and helped 123 find employment. For more information about the Benu Community Home, click here.

Last week’s mobilization featured political leaders, community advocates, and others fighting for equity in Seattle’s Black community. It also marked the release of Africatown’s Benu Community Home Impact Report, which highlighted its ongoing efforts to create meaningful opportunities and called for increased commitment and action to bridge the racial equity gap in housing.

Other United Way partner organizations currently providing housing for people in their communities are the Chief Seattle Club, El Centro de la Raza, and the Filipino Community of Seattle.