At Washington Trust Bank, we believe in giving back to the communities where we work and live. That includes helping the most vulnerable among us.
In coordination with Do Good Multnomah, a nonprofit aimed at helping veterans experiencing houselessness get off the streets and into stable housing in the Portland Metropolitan area, three Washington Trust bankers in Vancouver are helping get veterans into housing.
One veteran who worked with Washington Trust to open an account ended up receiving enough money in undisbursed benefits and back pay that he’s not only in his own home, he’s now looking at how he can invest his money.
More than a place to stay.
In Vancouver, Do Good Multnomah operates Kiggins Village, a Safe Stay Village of 20 tiny homes located on Main Street.
While at Kiggins Village, Do Good Multnomah works to get people assistance with finding permanent housing.
“I’ve always done some sort of social service, but for me, I’m really invested in building places of human flourishing,” said Erin Iwata, Do Good Multnomah’s Human Navigation and Retention Specialist.
Kiggins Village, a Safe Stay Village of 20 tiny homes located on Main Street.
Iwata said they also get help with seeking out other resources.
“A lot of my job is connecting people with the community and getting them resources,” she said. “Whether that be medical or mental health, or working with the justice system.”
This is important as people without a house or address can fall through society’s cracks.
“Folks experiencing houselessness have probably been detached from numerous systems,” Iwata said. “So a lot of them don’t have a primary care doctor, a lot of them maybe don’t have income to be able to engage with a bank.”
Hands-on help.
One thing that’s often a struggle for those experiencing houselessness is access to a bank account.
“Banks can be especially difficult because some institutions require really high deposits to start,” Iwata said. “Others just aren’t working with people very directly.”
That’s where Washington Trust Bank is different.
Three employees at Washington Trust Bank’s Vancouver Financial Center decided to take a hands-on approach to helping those at the Kiggins Village set up an account: Dani Reyes, RBO / Senior Branch Manager; Kent Crawley, Personal Banker II, and Jasmine Morgan, Personal Banker II.
“We go out there and talk with them, even if they aren’t ready,” Reyes said. “A big thing in these communities is they don’t trust easily, so getting out there and being consistent, being someone they can trust, someone who cares and they can call.”
Iwata said Dani, Kent, and Jasmine have come to the village whenever she’s asked to help out those in need of financial services.
“Now, Do Good Multnomah reaches out to us when they get new residents,” Kent said.
Left to right: Kent Crawley, Dani Reyes, and Jasmine Morgan.
Another way that Iwata said Washington Trust has been helpful is by allowing those staying at Kiggins Village to use its address to open an account. She said the staff picks up mail for the residents at the post office and delivers it to their pods.
With this help from Washington Trust, those staying in the village are able to have a safe place for their funds, and in some cases, are able to receive funds that were being delayed or withheld due to the fact they didn’t have a bank account.
One example is social security benefits. Iwata said if someone doesn’t have a bank account, they instead are sent the funds on a card. But if that card gets lost, Iwata said it can take weeks to get a replacement.
When someone experiencing houselessness gets a bank account, it can be the stepping stone needed to get into more stable housing.
“A lot of housing is contingent on them having some sort of income,” Iwata said. “It’s really hard to prove you have income without a bank. You need a bank to be able to verify it.”
By assisting those in the village set up bank accounts, Dani, Kent, and Jasmine are helping people get set up for stable housing.
One example is a man who needed an account to receive back pay that was waiting for him. He was unable to receive a sizeable amount of money owed to him via various forms of government benefits and back pay. That’s when Washington Trust’s Vancouver team met with him.
The team set him up with an account, and since opening that account, he’s received that back pay. He’s not only in his own home, but also is considering investment options.
If you’re interested in volunteering with Do Good Multnomah, visit their website. For more on Washington Trust Bank’s commitment to helping our communities, visit our Community page.