At PorchLight, we understand the power of stories to illuminate the human experience, foster empathy, and drive change. Every day, we are entrusted with caring and protecting deep, personal stories. They are not just narratives but raw expressions of personal journeys, despair, resilience, trauma, and transformation.
As a non-profit, we have a profound responsibility to treat these stories with great care and protect them as the gifts they are. For this reason, we don’t share as many client stories as we hear—even when we know these stories will highlight the transformative power of our services, advocate for the needs and rights of our community, and build a supportive network among individuals with shared experiences.
These stories can illuminate the darkest times, inspire hope, and catalyze change. However, there is a delicate balance between sharing client stories to empower and the risk of using the same stories for gain. Often, when we share stories, we are able to minimize stereotypes, create a human connection, and gain compassionate support.
Our first and most important consideration is for our clients. Without implicit permission and understanding of what it means to share his story publicly, we will not do so. At PorchLight, we handle each narrative with care, ensuring that we maintain the trust our clients and our community placed in us.
Sharing our philosophy and guidelines regarding client stories is important to our work, our values, and our commitment to transparency.
HOW WE USE CLIENT STORIES
To Educate and Inspire. We share stories to highlight the real-life impact of our services and to inspire others who may be facing similar challenges.
To Advocate. Through storytelling, we advocate for the needs and rights of our community, aiming to influence policies and practices that benefit them.
To Build Community. Sharing stories helps connect individuals with similar experiences, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
OUR ETHICAL GUIDELINES
Voluntary Participation. All stories are shared with explicit consent from our clients. Participation is entirely voluntary, and clients may withdraw their consent at any time.
Privacy and Anonymity. We prioritize our clients’ privacy. Personal identifiers are removed or altered when requested, and any identifiable information is only included with the client’s express permission.
Respect and Dignity. We handle every story with respect and dignity. We are deeply committed to presenting each narrative in a way that honors the individual’s experience and perspective without sensationalism.
Transparency. We are transparent with our clients about how their stories will be used and shared. We provide clear information regarding the audiences and platforms for their stories, ensuring there are no surprises.
OUR COMMITMENT TO NON-EXPLOITATION
We firmly believe in the ethical use of personal stories. We never exploit these narratives for commercial gain or sensationalize them for promotional purposes. Our storytelling efforts are driven by a mission to support and empower our clients, maintaining their trust in us.
At PorchLight, we are grateful to those who share their stories with us and the world. We handle each narrative with care, ensuring that we maintain the trust placed in us by our clients and our community.
Founded in 1993, PorchLight is a nonprofit organization helping unhoused men in East King County regain stability through safe shelter and comprehensive support that addresses health, housing, and self-sufficiency.
PorchLight recognizes that the ground we stand on is the traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples. We honor their past and present connection to this land and are grateful for their stewardship, which continues to inspire our work creating spaces of safety, belonging, and renewal.
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