Krishnan Iyer	Jayant Swamy

Act with Alumni: Krishnan Iyer & Jayant Swamy

Two alums want to make it easier for you to help the homeless

Where Microsoft Alumni Network members share their personal stories about giving back and invite others to act with them.

Microsoft alumni Krishnan Iyer and Jayant Swamy are putting principles they learned at Microsoft to work again – this time to help Humanize Homelessness.

Krishnan worked at Microsoft from 1991 to 2006, first he helped enterprise customers transition to Windows 2000, then as a group manager with the Windows core operating system division, then finally as an acting general manager for the Microsoft.com learning platform group. After leaving Microsoft, he founded consulting firm Expera and mobile first patient engagement platform mohCare. 

Jayant was at Microsoft from 2008 to 2011 as a senior program manager. When he left, he started JSWAM where he’s a corporate trainer and finance and management consultant.

Both are immigrants from India. Both believe in community service and giving back. And both men are struck by the massive homeless problem.

Around half a million Americans are estimated to be experiencing homelessness. King County, with approximately 11,643 homeless individuals, has the third largest homeless population trailing only Los Angeles County and New York City. 

Inspired by fellow Microsoft alumnus Paul Shoemaker’s “Can’t Not Do” philosophy, Krishnan decided it was time to do something. Krishnan and a small group of fellow Indian immigrants pooled their collective skills and founded Humanize Homelessness, a nonprofit organization to have a long-term effect and systemic impact on shelters already working to improve the lives of homeless people in the community.

Krishnan is a founder and chairman. Jayant is the organization’s vice president, secretary and board member. We spoke with them about why they stand with Humanize Homelessness.

Our cause: Humanize Homelessness

Where it is located: It’s based in Bellevue, Washington. Currently, we’re doing work on the Eastside of King County. Our first project is to adopt the Lincoln Day Shelter in Bellevue. We have plans to expand to the greater Seattle area and the Bay Area. 

We stand with this organization because… We want to immerse ourselves into the communities we live in and present unhoused people with viable opportunities, so they can get back on their feet. We “Can’t Not Do” this. Because we want to do this, and we want to give back to the society that nurtures us, protects us and provides for us.

What’s its mission? Humanize Homelessness is a connector of goodwill between organizations and people who can help and those who need it most. Life is unpredictable. Mental illness, poverty, joblessness, domestic violence…the reasons for homelessness are a myriad. We believe, people experiencing homelessness need to be embraced by the society around them, so they can be reintegrated. We want to make it easy to help those who are experiencing homelessness.

Why we’re involved: 

Krishnan:  I have lived on the Eastside for about 25 years and seen how much things have changed. I am an immigrant and I feel blessed that our family has access to a safe and inclusive environment for our children with the amazing schools, parks and infrastructure. I have also seen the challenges many fellow Americans around us are facing. I felt it was my obligation to help my fellow Americans who were hurting. America is hour home. It’s hurting and charity begins at home. As immigrants, we were raised with values of empathy and compassion though typically restricted to our family and friends. If we somehow expanded our circle of empathy and compassion, we could use it to fill the gaps that some of our fellow American neighbors were experiencing. 

Jayant: Giving back to the community surrounding us is my way of showing gratitude to all that this country has offered us throughout the 20 years my wife and I have made this our home.

How we help: 

Krishnan: I like to create new opportunities that connects the (a) superpowers/goodwill within organizations and people who want to help to (b) those who need the most. I would like Humanize to be the bridge that connects these two neighbors.

Jayant: Krishnan is the heart and soul of Humanize Homelessness and the main driver. I support him in doing what comes naturally to me — management, finance, wordsmithing and facilitation.

How alumni can get involved:

• We want the alumni-led organizations, businesses and individuals who want to help with the homelessness that we see around us to reach out to us krishnan@humanize.ngo 
  
• We are looking for leaders to help create and build out our various programs. We will match your superpower to the need. 
  
• We are looking for volunteers who want to just come for a bit and help the programs.
  
• We are looking for fund raisers who can help rally a community and raise funds. 
  
• If you feel you want to donate to our 501©3, we’d welcome that as well.
  
• Anything that you want to contribute to this cause, we will figure out a way to connect! We have some ideas, such as conducting a drive for one homeless shelter; donating cash, food, merchandise, gift cards; conduct a Humanize Homelessness drive to curate complimentary products, such as toothbrushes from your dentist, shampoo and soap from hotels, etc.; hire qualified people among the homeless population; deliver training to help people learn employable skills.

For more information about Humanize Homelessness, go here.

To volunteer, email here. 

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