Alfonso “Al” Brown was a 24-year-old college graduate when he first stepped into the Lakewood Family YMCA in 1994. He was looking for a place to unwind, shoot hoops, and run a few laps. What he found instead was a community that became a lifeline during the most challenging years of his life.
Finding Belonging in Hard Times
In the years after his graduation, Al’s life took unexpected turns. The 2008 market crash cost him his job and marked a long period of instability. He experienced homelessness for a decade, moving between abandoned houses, garages, and temporary shelters like the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
Through it all, the YMCA remained one of the few constants in his life. Al attended Clover Park Technical College and was able to stay connected to the Y thanks to financial assistance that allowed him to keep his membership.
“The Y kind of draws an intersecting line between what makes you feel better and what's gonna help you become better,” said Al. “You get the emotional and the physical, you get it all here."
Turning Experience into Purpose
While experiencing homelessness, Al continued to pursue his education. He earned his doctorate degree from City University of Seattle in 2024, where his research focused on homelessness and what causes people to lose connection to community.
He found that, despite the many different paths to homelessness, many people share the same root experience: disconnection from vital support systems such as family, friends, or work. The Y, for Al, became a bridge back to belonging.
“The Y takes off some of that pressure,” he said. “It helps you feel better and become better.”
Full Circle at the Y
Years after first joining the Y, Al stood on the stage of the Tacoma’s Temple Theatre to share this story with YMCA staff. His words inspired them to give back, helping to raise $13,000 more than the previous year. What no one knew at the time was Al was still without a home himself.
Today, Al has a home of his own and dedicates his time to advocating for others who are experiencing homelessness. The Y remains his sanctuary, a place where he can recharge and reflect.
“It’s like a different universe,” he said. “I come here to quiet things down, regenerate, and then go out to do what I’ve got to do. It still serves the same purpose it did in 1994. It’s one of my favorite places to go.”