Founded in 1987 to protest the demolition of low-income housing stock in Seattle, Operation Homestead first became known for its occupation of vacant downtown apartment buildings. The organization was an eclectic group of social workers, college students, pastors, unhoused people, retired people and others who had spent years trying to convince the city and the state to build more affordable housing.

This Operation Homestead flier promotes an October community forum on the preservation of affordable housing and neighborhood identity. The event was to take place in Seattle’s Central District, an area feeling the pressure of gentrification.

Caption information source: “Singing out for the Homeless,” by Kerry Godes, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 11, 1989, pages A1, A7.