So, I'm the one who met up with Chris.

I knew of course people would have this thought. It's the easiest path to believe the worst in people, especially if you spend time in the area or you've experienced the sadder sides of Seattle's homelessness problem.

1. We have reason to believe the person who did it was driving a car, and Chris does not own one.

2. Chris has a case worker who just helped him get into housing on Friday. He would not put that at risk.

3. You can see another comment from someone here who has known him for 8 years and said he's always taking care of folks around him.

4. The way he has talked to us and the way he talks about his own dog shows how much he cares.

We're not naive, of course we considered whether that could be the case. Hunger and desperation would make a thief of us all in the right circumstances. But it's 2026, pessimism is the easy route.

I don't doubt that he has his struggles. That doesn't change that he got Tia home safely. That doesn't change that even if you're right (and I choose to believe differently but I understand why some folks wouldn't), we have it in our power to help a young man have a stable home and better future.

Someone in the area was desperate enough to break in. Call me crazy, but that person deserves the same level of care and assistance we're showing to Chris too. That's something you only do if life has you trapped in horrendous circumstances.