I spent the morning with Ricky Moore, who has an inspiring story and was brave to share it. He was sleeping in the laundry room of an apartment building in Auburn when police kicked him out. He later found Co-LEAD, which set him up with temporary hotel lodging and more. Co-LEAD grew from the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping people experiencing homelessness, or who come into contact with law enforcement, out of jails while providing temporary lodging at hotels, deploying intensive outreach responders, and providing other basic resources including medical care and case managers.
SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here outside his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. Co-LEAD grew from the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping people experiencing homelessness, or who come into contact with law enforcement, out of jails while providing temporary lodging at hotels, deploying intensive outreach responders, and providing other basic resources including medical care and case managers. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here outside his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and poses for a portrait here outside his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here in his room arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here holding an old photo of himself with favorite singer Smokey Robinson in a room arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here in his room arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here working on his laptop at accomodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore (R), who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and speaks here with his case manager, Michael Williams, at accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here working on a laptop at his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here working on a laptop at his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here laughing with front desk staff at his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here laughing with front desk staff at his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here doing a card trick with front desk staffer Diva Rodriguez at his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured adjusting his mask before leaving his room arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here in his room arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start, was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, and is pictured here looking through class projects in his room arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: A note from hotel staff is seen in the room of Ricky Moore, who is a college student, entertainer, and says he is grateful for a fresh start after he was removed by police while sleeping in an apartment building’s laundry room during the winter, at his accommodation arranged by the Co-LEAD program at a hotel in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Dr. Cynthia Kotarski poses for a portrait while attending to clients at a hotel serving Co-LEAD clients in south King County on May 6, 2020 near Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Harm reduction supplies for clients, including needles, are pictured in the Co-LEAD program offices on May 6, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Personal hygiene supplies for clients are pictured in the Co-LEAD program offices on May 6, 2020 in Seattle, Washington.
