Fran's journey to find a home.

It was her husband's death. A pink slip. Then, a severe illness.

Forces out of Fran McKinzie's control left her without a home at the age of 56.

She called The Sophia Way, the only staffed overnight women's shelter in East King County. The program, just starting its second year, provides a structured path for women to gain overnight shelter, support services and a subsidized apartment until she is ready to be on her own.

The process takes time, and is a journey for its participants.


Wrapped in a wool blanket, Fran McKinzie, 56, rests while on the bench outside The Sophia Way overnight shelter at the Bellevue First Congregational Church. Between the few hours when the day center closes, and the overnight shelter opens, McKinzie sometimes waits for hours in cold, trying to keep warm.


Fran McKinzie, 56, holds a blanket given to her by a loved one inside her temporary room at a home for women provided by The Sophia Way. The program briefly placed McKinzie into a room of her own to help her recover from a serious illness.


Fran McKinzie felt mixed feelings returning to the overnight shelter, although there are plans to soon place her into an apartment of her own.


A room of Fran's own provided her with privacy, something she desired, even if it was only temporary.


Fran McKinzie touches her swollen ankle inside her temporary room at The Sophia Way house for women. Along with multiple illnesses, Fran sprained her ankle and needed a walker to transport herself around the house and Bellevue.


Fran McKinzie walks onto the porch of one of The Sophia Way homes for women, where she stayed in for a few weeks recuperating.


The Sophia Way model provides opportunities for homeless women to make sustainable changes for their future. The women in the program come from a variety of backgrounds— widows, domestic violence victims, those with illness and the working poor.


Fran McKinzie rests while on the bench outside of The Sophia Way overnight shelter at the Bellevue First Congregational Church.


The Sophia Way overnight shelter is based in the heart of downtown Bellevue. Located across Lake Washington from Seattle, Bellevue is known for it's wealth and business sector.


Fran McKinzie pushes her walker near the Symetra Financial Center, located across from The Sophia Way in downtown Bellevue.


Fran McKinzie visits the Symetra Financial Center when she needs to warm up, use the restroom or find a smoke. Fran said spending time in the building, sometimes watching a little television in the lobby, feels luxurious.


Exhausted after a long day, Fran McKinzie, rests in the lobby of the Symetra Financial Center. McKinzie sometimes visits the building, and sits in the lobby to warm up from the cold. Wanting to respect the occupants of the building, she tries to not stay for too long.


Inside the Bellevue First Congregational Church, Reghann Redlin, with Seven salon, styles Karen Paige-Dash’s hair during The Sophia Way hair and fashion night. Three stylists from the salon volunteered their time and talent to provide The Sophia Way women with new hairdos. Fran asked for a Christmas tree to be shaved in the back of her head.


The women at the overnight shelter keep some of their belongings in lockers.


Fran McKinzie carries down her mattress before going to bed at The Sophia Way overnight shelter in downtown Bellevue. Before coming to The Sophia Way, Fran stayed with friends and family members.


Fran McKinzie prepares for bed at The Sophia Way overnight shelter in downtown Bellevue. The shelter serves eight women at a time so each woman has personalized attention.


Fran McKinzie, 56, wraps herself in blankets before going to sleep at The Sophia Way overnight shelter. The Sophia Way is the only staffed overnight shelter in the Bellevue and East King County area that provides for single adult women. Fran said she looks forward to one day having an apartment of her own.



Click here to read Nicole Tsong's article about The Sophia Way for The Seattle Times.
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Four Lakewood Police Officers Killed

Early Sunday morning, four police officers were shot and killed at coffee shop in Parkland, Washington while working on their laptops. A massive manhunt ensued through Tacoma and Seattle until Maurice Clemmons, the suspect, was killed by police Tuesday in South Seattle. The officers, three men and one woman, were in their late 30s and early 40s. They leave behind children, and grieving families.

This story is complex and tragic. I've been proud how our paper has followed this story, online and in print.

Below, are some images from the last few days.


Cadet Baz, with Pierce County Sheriff’s department, checks people in and out of the crime scene Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington where four police officers were shot to death Sunday morning inside Forza Coffee at 14401 Steele Street South.


An individual walks near the scene of the crime near Parkland, Washington where four police officers were shot to death Sunday morning inside Forza Coffee. Different agencies vehicles were parked on Steele St. S, leading to the coffee shop.


Officers talk near the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland after four police officers were shot to death.


Tacoma Police Officers wait outside of a gas station on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S near Parkland. The officers said they were off-duty, and came to help. They said they will likely help escort the bodies out of the crime scene.


Tacoma Police Officer John Parkes talks with other officers outside of a gas station on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S near Parkland. The officers said they were off-duty, and came to help. They said they will likely help escort the bodies out of the crime scene.


Christina Hood, 29, and her boyfriend Josh Horton, 30, watch officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland. They are residents of The Willows apartments, located across the street from Evergreen.


Armed sheriff officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland.


Residents of The Willows apartments watch armed officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland.


Pierce County Sheriff officers turn onto on Steele St. South Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland.


Individuals watch armed officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage from The Willows apartments Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland. (From right) Trudie Overby(cq), 44, and her mother Lee Stanley(cq), 61, both residents, said they were shocked and sad to hear about the shooting.


Norma Africa, who lives nearby the scene of the crime, watches fire trucks prepare for the procession that transported the bodies of four slain police officers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington.


Beverly Elhare(cq) waits for the procession for the four slain police officers to begin on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland


Fire fighters put up a large American flag for the procession for four Lakewood police officers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington.


Merissa McCreary, 19, and her fiancée Matthew LaLonde, 19, wait for the procession to begin for four slain police officers to begin on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland.


Fire fighters prepare to raise the flag for the procession for the four slain police officers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington.


Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Captain A. Dulas(cq) salutes during the procession that transported the bodies of four slain police officers from where they were killed in Parkland, Washington to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office in Tacoma. The procession includes police, fire and medical examiner's vehicles.



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Gudrun Olsen(cq), 93, watches police activity from behind the gate of her home Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood. Officers continued to investigate a home on East Superior Street, a few houses away from Olsen, connected with the Maurice Clemmons manhunt.


An officer exits the home on 3804 E Superior Street connected with the Maurice Clemmons manhunt Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood.



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(On right) Deputy Paula Bates, with the King County Sheriff Department, visits the memorial outside the Lakewood Police Department Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009.


Correction officer Champion, with the Fife Police, walks toward the memorial outside of the Lakewood Police Department after helping with the procession Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 that transported the four slain Lakewood Police Officers from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office to Mountain View Funeral Home.


(from left) Todd Roggenkamp and other members of the Mercer Island Police Department bring flowers to the Lakewood Police Department memorial to show their solidarity with the police community and their support for the slain officers.



The flag flies at half-staff Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of the Lakewood Police Department. Father Tryphon, of Vashon Island, came to the memorial to show his support for those affected by the tragedy.



“This has impacted every police department in the country,” Father Tryphon said. “None of these people are going to feel like they can relax anymore.”


Jennifer Whetstine tears up while writing in one of four notebooks memorializing the four slain officers Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of Forza Coffee, where the killings occurred last Sunday morning. Whetstine said she knew all four officers.



Individuals, including Monica Hart, (in front in white) pay their respects to the four slain officers Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of Forza Coffee, where four officers were killed Sunday morning. Notebooks lay out for people to write down their thoughts and prayers.


From Bottom Left, going Clockwise: Ronald Owens, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Greg Richards.


Jeff Burch, and his son Ben, pay their respects to the four slain officers Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of Forza Coffee, where four officers were killed Sunday morning.