Three years in: Looking Back, Leaning Forward

Troy Christensen, Executive Director

This week marks three years since I joined PorchLight. It’s a good moment to look back at what we’ve been through, what we’ve built, and what still needs our attention. More than anything, it’s a chance for me to say how grateful I am to be in this role and to work alongside the people who carry this work every day.

When I think about the past three years, I keep coming back to a few moments that really shaped this season at PorchLight.

What We’ve Built

• We opened the doors of our permanent men’s shelter on Eastgate Way, which gave us a stronger home base for this work and a better place to serve men with dignity and consistency.
• We also changed our name from Congregations for the Homeless to PorchLight. That was more than a rebrand—it was a chance to be clearer about who we are and the kind of welcome we want people to feel.
• And over that same time, we built a leadership team that has now worked together for three full years. That kind of consistency matters, especially in work like this.

What We’ve Faced

• Some of the hardest moments involved public scrutiny and difficult conversations about our work and about adult male homelessness. We had to stay grounded in our mission, even when the noise around us got loud.
• We also had to respond to federal funding cuts, which meant making careful decisions and staying disciplined about how we steward our resources.
• And then there were the weather emergencies — the bomb cyclone and atmospheric river among them — which tested our ability to keep services going when conditions were anything but normal.

How We’ve Grown

• We are investing in the renovation and expansion of our Kirkland housing so more men can move beyond shelter and into permanent housing.
• We added a four-plex and another house, which meant 11 more men were able to leave homelessness behind and move into stable homes.

What stands out to me most is how much the work has changed.

The first half of my time here was about building—laying groundwork, making plans, and trying to strengthen PorchLight for the long haul. The second half has asked something different of us. We’ve had to respond quickly, adjust often, and keep moving even when the path hasn’t been clear.

That has only deepened my respect for the people around PorchLight. Our staff, board, volunteers, donors, and partners have kept showing up—and that steady commitment is what makes this work possible.

Through all of it, the goal hasn’t changed: fewer men living outside on the Eastside and more men moving into stable housing.

Over the past three years, PorchLight has grown in important ways, and that growth has helped clarify where I believe we need to stay focused in the years ahead.

• Making sure our programs are as strong as they can be, so men receive care that is consistent, thoughtful, and grounded in what actually helps.
• Expanding the path from shelter to housing, so more men have a real chance to move into stability.
• Helping more people understand this work and why it matters across the Eastside.

I’m grateful for the trust people have placed in PorchLight and for everyone who has helped carry this work forward. The past three years have changed us and helped us grow, and I believe that growth will continue as we stay focused on what matters most.

As we look ahead, I’d love to hear from you about what you hope PorchLight will keep building toward, and what you believe our community needs from us in the years ahead.