The growing crisis of senior homelessness in America takes center stage on February 2nd at the North Bend Theatre, where a special screening of the documentary No Place to Grow Old will illuminate this urgent issue.
Hosted by longtime Snoqualmie Valley resident Megan Burch and her family, the event aims to foster understanding and dialogue about the systemic challenges and deeply personal stories of older adults who are aging into homelessness.
After attending the film’s Portland premiere in September, Megan and her husband, Sam, were first inspired to host the screening. “My husband, Sam, and I had the opportunity to view the film when it premiered in Portland this past September. We were really moved by the documentary and wanted to provide our friends and neighbors with an opportunity to see the film, grow empathy for those experiencing homelessness, and engage in discussion with local agencies who are working to provide shelter and housing,” Megan shared.
Directed by Davey Schaupp and produced by Humans for Housing, this 44-minute documentary offers an intimate portrait of three individuals navigating life without a home in Portland, Oregon. Their stories of hardship and resilience are interwoven with insights from experts, making the film both a poignant human narrative and a powerful call to action.
Megan’s connection to the film runs deep—Michael Larson, the founder of Humans for Housing, is a longtime friend and colleague. “Michael, the founder of Humans for Housing, is a dear friend of mine who I’ve known for almost a decade. He and I serve together on staff at a summer leadership camp for high school students. Michael is also a fellow Zag. He brought compassion and love to the streets of Spokane through his ‘Meals in the Margins’ initiative. He has always been someone who puts his boots on the ground to make change, and Sam and I are grateful to support the powerful work he’s doing,” Megan said.
The rising housing costs in the Pacific Northwest and the increasing visibility of unsheltered individuals in the area motivated Megan to bring this issue to the local stage. “As a Snoqualmie Valley resident for over 20 years, I have noticed an increasing number of unsheltered people living in our area. The cost of housing in the PNW continues to rise, and difficulty finding an affordable place to live is a rapidly growing challenge,” she noted.
Bringing the event to life involved collaboration with the North Bend Theatre, local organizations, and community partners. Megan worked with the theater manager Britni to secure the venue and partnered with Jen Kirk, Executive Director of Reclaim, to plan the panel discussion.
Reclaim connected Megan with other local agencies to assemble a panel of Q&A participants. Front Row Graphics contributed promotional materials, and publicity efforts were launched through social media, nonprofits, churches, and word of mouth. “We’ve had a great response from the community, and as of 1/20/25, we’ve sold over 50 tickets,” Megan shared.
The panel discussion will feature five local leaders who bring a wealth of expertise to the conversation:
- Alison Roberts, Executive Director, Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank
- Angelina Holverstott, Housing Manager, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
- Jen Kirk, Executive Director, Reclaim
- Michael Larson, Founder and Executive Director, Humans for Housing
- Susan Kingsbury-Comeau, Executive Director, Mt. Si Senior Center
Megan hopes attendees will leave the event inspired to act. “I hope that attendees will leave with more empathy and concern for our unhoused neighbors, and that they would be moved by and inspired to join in the work of our community partners,” she said.
Tickets for the screening are $10 and can be purchased here. Watch the trailer for No Place to Grow Old here.
Don’t miss this chance to join the conversation and stand in solidarity with older adults facing homelessness. Together, we can envision a future where everyone has a safe and secure place to call home regardless of age.
