Housing Hope & HopeWorks
DWELLINGS Summer 2020
ONCE AROUND THE SUN
A TIME TO CELEBRATE A TIME TO REMEMBER HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
It’s been quite a year for the newly opened HopeWorks Station North. Since October 2019, we've gone from an empty shell to housing 65 families, individuals, and veterans, as well as opening the doors of our expanded culinary training program at Kindred Kitchen.
LEED-ING THE WAY As mentioned in our Spring Newsletter, HopeWorks has received the highest level of energy efficiency in the city of Everett and the plaque is mounted to prove it!
REMEMBERING GEORGE One month before we celebrated our 33rd anniversary on September 30th, the Housing Hope family lost a dear friend of our households. At the young age of almost 101, George Youngstrom passed on peacefully on August 18th, 2020 to join his sweetheart Amy whom he married on Valentine’s Day in 1942, and who had passed on eight years prior. Amy was one of Housing Hope’s five original founders, and as such, the Youngstrom family was a dynamic force for good within Housing Hope over our entire 33 year existence. They were generous with their time, their talent and their finances. While we’re very sad to lose George, their legacy will live on as they were one of the earlier households to join our Society of Hope planned giving program. We’ll miss you George!
LEAVE A LEGACY THAT LASTS
If you’d like to join George and Amy and dozens of other households who’ve included Housing Hope in their wills or estate plans, visit housinghope.org/leave-a-lasting-legacy or email TimFoley@housinghope.org to learn more.
George & Amy
A NIGHT IN AT THE MOVIES Over the Labor Day weekend, a few of our residents got together for a socially distanced outdoor movie night to watch Frozen. Thank you to James and Wendy at New Life Church for making the holiday weekend extra special for our families at Station Place. Brandi, a member of our staff said, “What was moving for me and Eric that night was to see families come together and enjoy themselves, and each other, in a really positive way. We had many residents stay after to not only thank the volunteers but to actively help clean up. It was memorable and magical for the kids….and we sang all the songs together too!”
James & Wendy
TOMORROW’S HOPE | tomorrowshopecenter.org Farms for Life and Housing Hope teamed up to tackle child food insecurity in Snohomish County, which has spiked at an alarming rate since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Earlier this year, a study conducted by Feeding America projects that by the end of 2020, food insecurity will affect a staggering 26 percent of Snohomish County children—due to the pandemic. This led Housing Hope to partner with Farms for Life to combat this. As of June, Farms for Life has donated nearly 700 pounds of locally grown, farm-fresh produce to Tomorrow's Hope, feeding hundreds of local, underserved children up to 12-years-old.
Beet Humus & Cucumbers
Housing Hope Community Meals Manager Dani Knapstad says Farms for Life's contributions have played a major role in keeping children’s bellies full throughout the pandemic. "Their donations have allowed us to continue to serve delicious, nutrient-dense food," Knapstad said. "Once we returned from the required 6 week state closure in the spring, we noticed in all classrooms the children were suddenly eating double to triple the portions of meals and snacks served in the center. This increase in appetite has remained consistent center wide, across all age groups. We suspect that this is an indicator of increased food insecurity due to all the challenges families are experiencing at home due to the pandemic Because of these donations, we've been able to meet our children’s increased appetites, increase our nutrition education opportunities at the lunch table and establish healthy eating habits." Unused produce is available for Housing Hope volunteers to take home to their families to reduce waste and encourage healthy eating. We also use the produce to feed students of our adult education program, College of Hope.
GROUND WORKS LANDSCAPING | groundwrks.com
FALL IS HERE & WINTER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER Did you know that when you hire Ground Works, you provide valuable job-training experience for low-income and formerly homeless individuals.
FALL & WINTER SERVICES: • Snow Removal/ ice melt application • Christmas tree removal • Mulch installations • Garbage/Junk Removal • Hardscape installations • Drainage installations • Tree Pruning • Exterior Holiday Decorations/Lights ...and more For more information & a free estimate Contact 425.610.4935
“Ground Works taught me how to manage my time, how to properly use tools, how to follow safety instructions, and how to work better in a group, but the most important lesson I learned from Ground Works is to never give up on yourself no matter what”. -Mujo, Ground Works Trainee
KINDRED KITCHEN | kindredkitchen.com Graduation Time!
Kindred Kitchen is proud to announce the graduation of its first trainee! After Courtney started the program with us early in the year, our closure due to COVID-19 forced a pause for on-the-job training. Despite not meeting in-person, Courtney remained engaged through digital meetings and remote learning tasks ranging from watching videos, completing written tasks and practicing hands-on skills with at-home culinary kits that our team delivered. Her hard work paid off. She is working on getting her diploma. Three new trainees are currently engaged at Kindred Kitchen and on their own pathway to graduation.
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS Turn lemons into (homemade) lemonade!
It is no secret that the restaurant industry has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. While Kindred Kitchen is no exception, the team has persevered, adopting new strategies and turning lemons into lemonade. Due to a COVID-19 related pause in one of Housing Hope's services, Kindred Kitchen took the opportunity to re-purpose an idly sitting van as a new delivery vehicle. As necessarily strict guidelines have cut our café seating in half, NEW outdoor seating provided a more comfortable dining environment for many customers and highlighted our warm and breezy PNW summers. As temperatures grow colder, patio heaters will be added. Indoor dining, curbside pick up, and delivery are among some of the options to keep you warm and cozy. In addition to our scratch-made soups, dressings and meats, Kindred Kitchen has created a line of signature baked goods, all made in-house. Don’t miss our focaccia or our mouth-watering chocolate chip cookie. You’ll also find fresh-baked croissants and cinnamon rolls in our pastry case.
· KINDRED KITCHEN participated in AMERICORPS VISTA, National Day of Service!
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Monday-Friday| 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Order online at kindredkitchen.com
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Trainer Jon & Trainee Casesept showed viewers how to cook Moroccan Chickpea Soup.
COLLEGE OF HOPE | collegeofhope.org
STORY TIME
with Abby
AMERICORPS VISTA: National Day of Service Building Community Through Learning College of Hope, in collaboration with HopeWorks and AmeriCorps VISTA celebrated National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11th with a day of free online workshops. “On this day Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many who have risen in service to defend freedom.” – AmeriCorps & Senior Corps website With COVID-19, volunteering for the National Day of Service this year looked a little different. People who were choosing to participate on 9/11 were encouraged to do so in safe and socially distant ways. VISTA members in Snohomish County decided that they wanted to bring their community together through a day of virtual learning as their act of service. Each VISTA member put together their own content, recorded their workshop, and then shared those videos together as one complete event. With online learning being the new norm for College of Hope during this pandemic, we were asked to host the event on Facebook Live.
It took a lot of hard work and collaboration between Cathryn with the AmeriCorps VISTAs, workshop content and support from Renew and Kindred Kitchen, marketing from Brea, and video editing from Nikki to make the event possible.
Watch All Workshops! facebook.com/hhcollegeofhope
UPCOMING CLASSES: Solid Foundation Workshop (Online) Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. November 9th – 20th December 7th – 18th
Incredible Years coming in January 2021
RENEW HOME & DECOR | reneweverett.com
BREAKING RECORDS Renew Home & Decor had their biggest July, August and September ever! That’s owing in part to our readers coming in and shopping. Thank you for your continued support!
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The Renew staff is hard at work processing, selling and acquiring furniture. The team in place is a very cohesive unit with the same heart for the mission.
Want to receive offers, discounts and updates?
We currently have four new trainees in their first weeks of training in the Renew Training Academy. Alex our trainer is doing a wonderful job acclimating them to this new pathway in their lives.
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Sign up for our monthly newsletter by sending your email address to rwcontact@reneweverett.com Subject: Email List Renew PICK UP & DELIVERY AVAILABLE! If you would like to donate, consign, or shop, we can pick up or deliver! Call 425.404.3462 for pricing.
Our goals for the month are to continue on this path of success in telling our story and turning consignments into donations.
RENEW participated in AMERICORPS VISTA, National Day of Service! With Tips on Interior Decorating for a Small Space, in partnership with Everett Recovery Café and Renew – Hannah shared some simple design elements and suggestions for making the most of living in a small space. Check it out! www.facebook.com/hhcollegeofhope/videos
CAMA’S STORY I was fourteen when my family lost our home. There were five of us kids and my mom. I remember like yesterday, coming home to police officers on my front lawn taking my bed and dresser and putting them in the yard, along with every other paper, book, scrap of food, and item of clothing we owned. They were evicting us. I remember my mom loading what clothes we could fit into our car. We left the rest. Shortly after that we were moved into a shelter in Everett called Interfaith. Moving into the shelter felt like a miracle. We were in the car as we usually were, and one afternoon we got a call from the coordinator at Interfaith Shelter. She greeted my mom and proceeded to tell us that in spite of a six month waiting list, she had a room. She told my mom, “you sound like a woman who needs a break.” And just like that, we had somewhere to go. I had spent the first half of my school year struggling to finish my work and not having access to the internet; being homeless will do that. Moving into Interfaith changed my life. I had been sleeping on couches and in my moms car, and all of a sudden we had beds again.
“Even though it was all five of us smushed into one room, it felt like a home.” There were amazing tutors there who helped me get caught up with school, and taught me how to play soccer. I went from failing classes to being a straight A student over the course of two months. It was because of the support and the skills I learned from those tutors that I later graduated from my high
school with high honors and a 3.85 GPA. I would not have graduated without the help that I received from them, or without the structure that was given back to my family with the home we moved into through Housing Hope. I will forever be grateful for Housing Hope, which allowed not just my family but thousands of others to be reintegrated into the workforce, and move off of the streets. It was confidence-inspiring to be deemed a worthwhile cause to invest in, and that there were people who wanted to help and see my family succeed. When you experience homelessness, it makes you feel small and insignificant. Housing Hope takes families like mine, that had been deemed a lost cause by most of society, and gives them a second chance. Many people don’t think about how difficult it is to go to school, keep a job, send or respond to mail, or vote if you don’t have a home. It changes how you have to approach every aspect of your life. At fourteen, I was painfully aware of these things, but thanks to Housing Hope, the stress was short-lived. We were given the chance to make a better future for ourselves. Now I am a receptionist and service support specialist for Kendall Ford of Marysville, and I get to come to work every day to do something I really enjoy. I have an education, and I was able to start off my adult life with a clean slate. Unlike some children who go on to carry forward the generational cycle of poverty, lack of education, and homelessness, I was able to move on from it. This program changed my life, and the people who make Housing Hope a reality are heroes to young adults like me.
HOUSING HOPE TAKES FAMILIES LIKE MINE, THAT HAD BEEN DEEMED A LOST CAUSE BY MOST OF SOCIETY, AND GIVES THEM A SECOND CHANCE.
NEW DONOR PROGRAMS We are always trying to find ways to help you, our supporters, see and feel the impact you are having in our work. Toward that end, we have two new donor programs to announce and celebrate! The President’s Circle, offers supporters who annually give between $5,000 and $15,000 the opportunity to be in direct communication with Housing Hope’s Board President, Harold Dash and our CEO several times a year. Once Covid restrictions are lifted, this group will also enjoy an annual celebration with their fellow President’s Circle members, key influencers and leaders.
The second donor program recently launched, Hand Up! Partner, recognizes and celebrates those faithful monthly donors of any amount. Your consistency provides Housing Hope a firm foundation from which to provide our life-changing services. To become a Hand Up! Partner right now, text HandUpPartner to 44-321. To learn more about either of these opportunities, please contact Tim Foley, Donor Advisor at timfoley@housinghope.org
DONOR SPOTLIGHT From our first supporter who signed up … Sandy and I were pleased to join the President's Circle because Housing Hope and HopeWorks are two of the most impactful non-profit organizations with which we have ever been involved, or seen anywhere. Housing Hope's provision of wrap-around services to ensure a successful future path for clients is exemplary. HopeWorks' incorporation of highly professional social enterprises to provide much needed career opportunities, generate income for programs, serve the community, and revitalize Broadway Avenue in Everett is world-class, and a model that can and should be replicated everywhere. We have been involved with Housing Hope and HopeWorks since 2008 and have marveled at their phenomenal growth and success these past 12 years. Bob and Sandy Malone
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS! PREMIER CORPORATE PARTNERS We are grateful for the businesses and corporate foundations that support Housing Hope and HopeWorks’ missions with annual giving of $25,000 or more.
GRANTS Bank of America BECU The Boeing Company Crane Fund for Widows and Children Haggen Foundation JPMorgan Chase KeyBank Foundation Kirtley Cole Margery M Jones Trust
Northwest Children's Foundation Premera Blue Cross Safeco Insurance Fund Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians The Boeing Company The Whitehorse Foundation US Bank Foundation Washington Federal Foundation Windermere Foundation
STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fred Safstrom, Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Kohl, Chief Operating Officer, Housing Hope Renata Maybruck, Chief Operating Officer, HopeWorks
Aaron Adelstein Alka Atal-Barrio, MD Barb Yates Carol Jensen Chris Blakely Chris Gray Colm Boer Harold Dash, MD Jeff Capeloto, JD Jennifer Marvin
Bobby Thompson, Director of Housing Crystal Simpson, Director of Property Management Cynthia Eichner, Community Development Director Janice Nishikawa, Director of Finance Jim Gabriel, Ground Works Landscaping Director Kandi Graber, Renew Home & Décor Director Karin Resing, Kindred Kitchen Director Kelsey Taylor, Director of Education, Employment & Training Lynda Plummer, Director of Social Services Nate Greenland, Director of Donor Impact Nick Montanari, Social Enterprise Development Director Todd Fast, Director of IT, Human Resources & Administration
Kay Frederickson-Kolb Kirby Duncan Kristina Jorgensen Laura Brent Louise Stanton-Masten Nik Halladay Pat Sisneros Dr. Paul Pitre Tom Berquist Tony Balk
Interested in working at Housing Hope? Contact our Human Resources Department at 425.347.6556 x300 or housinghope.org/careers
5830 Evergreen Way Everett, WA 98203-3748
OUR MISSION Housing Hope shall promote and provide affordable housing and tailored services to reduce homelessness and poverty for residents of Snohomish County and Camano Island. @housinghope @hopeworksocialenterprises
@housing_hope
Dwellings Message Fred Safstrom, CEO IN THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY I am reminded of Charles Dickens’ opening lines to A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” This was written in 1859, but it applies as much today as it did then. While our nation’s housing stock increases, housing affordable to low income households is decreasing. While homelessness in America has fallen, African Americans make up more than 40% of the homeless population (Homelessness Research Institute) while representing just 13% of the general population. While the stock market is at historic highs and 18.6 million Americans have become millionaires (Credit Suisse), there remains 38.1 million people living in poverty (US Census 2018). With these stark realities, should it be surprising that we are seeing increased efforts to suppress the vote in some parts of our country? These inequities cannot continue and I believe our democracy depends upon it. I was profoundly saddened by the Everett City Council’s decision to block our planned project to house homeless
families with students in Everett Public Schools. Despite this, I am pleased to report that Housing Hope is accomplishing more than ever by continuing to fight against housing injustice, find new ways to heal from trauma, and support the growth of our residents and trainees to break the cycle of poverty. We are in various stages of planning new affordable housing projects in Marysville, Everett, Lynnwood and Edmonds. We have the “green light” from the State of Washington for Tomorrow’s Hope Child Development Center to become licensed as a Therapeutic Center. Our job training programs are expanding and serving more trainees than ever at our HopeWorks Social Enterprises – Ground Works Landscaping, Renew Home & Décor and Kindred Kitchen. Like Charles Dickens, I see wisdom, belief, light and hope. Darkness disappears in the light and hope brings confidence we will have a better tomorrow. Yours in light and hope,