'97 Fellow Margaret Yung is on the board of the Plymouth Housing Group, which operates single room occupancy housing projects in Seattle for the homeless and very low income populations. She realized that the residents rarely had access to computers or the Internet. It was tough for them to stay in touch with their families because they often lacked permanent addresses, and they had little chance to get experience with computers that might help them get jobs.

Margaret solicited equipment and contributed funds, and computer rooms were set up in two Plymouth facilities. Classes were offered to tenants of those and other buildings. Many were able to learn computer skills and contact family members via E-mail. The computer rooms are now open with volunteer help available for five hours a day.

Many lives have been touched by Margaret's project. One man who suffered depression took the class and became quite good at using the computer. He made contact with his brother, who worked at a dot.com, and his brother got him his own computer. This resident now teaches others and is less socially isolated. In the course of her project, Margaret worked with and mentored a young Vista volunteer, Erica Schneider. Erica has gone on to become a staff member at Plymouth Housing Group.

Margaret Yung is Vice President at Washington Mutual Bank in Seattle, where she manages low income housing tax credit investments.