Concert series aims to give Urban Rest Stop a financial lift

When the staff of the Noise for the Needy benefit concert series met to select the beneficiary of this year's event, there was little doubt about who would be the recipient.

Urban Rest Stop, situated in the historic Julie Apartments on Ninth Avenue, has provided free restroom, shower and laundry services to homeless individuals and families of all ages since March 2000. Last year, the center underwent a major expansion and added a women's restroom, an expanded waiting area, additional laundry capacity and a health exam room to be staffed by Harborview nurses starting later this month. Though URS now is able to serve an additional 2,000 people per year, it is struggling to keep up with the recent spike in patrons.

"We're pretty maxed out," said Ronnie Gilboa, URS manager. "There's a great need of our services and there are costs that need to be covered."

These expenses consist of basic necessities, including laundry and body soap, toothbrushes, razor blades and other supplies, whose costs continue to rise. There also is a need for an additional paid staff member, Gilboa said.

The fifth annual Noise for the Needy concert benefit, running June 11 to 15 at clubs throughout Seattle, aims to offset the URS's daily expenses.

"We had a few applications we all really liked," said Richard Green, co-founder and director of NFTN. But the moment URS was brought up, he said, "We all agreed to it."

In a meeting with Gilboa to discuss the charity project, the NFTN staff was moved by the URS mission, Green said.

"The need is very present in the city of Seattle," Gilboa said. "Every neighborhood in Seattle needs a public restroom that is staffed and clean. We do not have behavior problems that the homeless are typically associated with. They just want to simply survive in a dignified and humane manner."

More than 60 percent of URS patrons are working homeless people who do not make enough money to afford a home, and thus need to shower and shave for the sometimes multiple jobs they juggle. In the summer months, URS sees 500 to 800 people a day.

"We've seen people from brand-new babies to people who remind you of your grandparents," Gilboa said.

The Noise for the Needy event has a heroic story of its own. It started in 1991 with Dave Green, Richard's brother, who was a student at Chapman University in California. He was concerned about the homelessness problem near campus and organized a benefit concert to support a struggling soup kitchen.

Richard Green, who helped his brother in California, was inspired.

"I kind of saw the impact the show had there on the charities involved," he said.

Upon moving to Seattle in 2004, Green, a research scientist, attended local music shows and noticed something about the Seattle scene that Los Angeles didn't have. Though his brother struggled to persuade L.A. musicians to work together, he said, "I just realized how close (local musicians) are and what a strong music community Seattle had."

With the help of college friend Jeff Henry, Green organized the first Seattle Noise for the Needy, which featured four bands and garnered $1,000 for The Compass Center in Pioneer Square. The Nectar Lounge in Fremont was the only venue that would take on the event, three days before the bar officially opened.

Since then Noise for the Needy has grown into a five-day, citywide event. This year more than 60 DJs and bands have been selected to perform from more than 200 applicants. The first show Wednesday is sold out.

"It's really nice to see this kind of support," Green said.

Last year, NFTN raised more than $23,000 for Rise n' Shine, a local organization that supports children and teens affected by HIV/AIDS in their families and offers mentoring, support groups, holiday gifts, school supplies and camps.

The NFTN board consists of five volunteers and 90 percent of the event's proceeds are directed to the year's featured beneficiary.

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