The Gardner House in Seattle (Image credit: Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Photo)
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen donated $30 million in 2017 to help homeless families in Seattle find stable housing. Three years later, the project opened with 95 affordable apartments and a community centre offering support services to families. He died in October 2018 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Called Gardner House, the development was built through a partnership between the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the City of Seattle and nonprofit organisation Mercy Housing Northwest. The project aimed to help families facing homelessness by combining affordable housing with services such as childcare, employment assistance and help finding permanent homes. Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, supported several philanthropic efforts aimed at addressing homelessness in Seattle. His sister, Jody Allen, took over management of his estate and continued the foundation’s work.