Shelter Request: 425-200-5121
GiveBIG 2025 was on May 6-7

GiveBIG 2025 was on May 6-7

Thank you to the generous supporters who helped us raise $2,918 toward laundry upgrades  at the Family Shelter!

GiveBIG now!

GiveBIG is all about supporting local nonprofits that make a difference in our communities – like the Interfaith Family Shelter. This year, we focused on a specific need at our shelter.

GiveBIG 2025 fundraiser: Loads of Love

We have approx. 44 families using the Family Shelter facility every year, and that’s a lot of laundry, washing & drying! Our families desperately need better laundry equipment.

So for GiveBIG 2025, we requested your help to raise $5,000 towards replacing residential appliances with sturdy commercial equipment!

We are so grateful to the generous supporters who contributed to this cause. With your help, we raised just over $2,900!

GiveBIG now!
Client Spotlight: Shelley’s Story

Client Spotlight: Shelley’s Story

Interfaith helped Shelley and her family rebuild their lives and find a home!

 

Shelley* grew up in Hawaii where she met her ex-husband, and they moved to WA after she graduated college. But by early 2020, and in the early stages of recovery, she met Tommy at a sober house in Snohomish County. Despite concerns about his abusive behavior, Shelley’s infant child and dependency needs made it difficult for her to break away from him— especially when Tommy promised to care for them. Besides, Tommy always found her when she did try to escape.

They moved to the east coast in search of a better life, but returned to WA when Shelley became pregnant again. Her efforts to work stable jobs were soon thwarted by the high cost of childcare, and being unable to leave Tommy at home with the children. Eventually, the family lost their Seattle apartment due to Tommy’s addiction, and found themselves living in their car and later in a tent off Green Lake (Feb 2024). She recalls that Tommy often left her and the now three young children for days at a time—he would break her phone so that she could not contact friends or family.

I’m definitely stronger after a few months of being at Interfaith. I could not have done all this alone and been able to get housed within 90 days by myself.

Shelley, Interfaith Family Shelter client (2024)

Shelley finally escaped to a motel through DSHS and a navigator. But Tommy found her, and this time it was particularly ugly: he dislocated her jaw, fractured her cheekbone, and threatened to take their lives. Then the police intervened and arrested him—Shelley and the children were finally safe! That’s when they came to the Interfaith Family Shelter. She struggled to adjust to normalcy and leave the constant fear behind. She persevered “for the kids,” and worked diligently with our case manager to get housing and find a job.

We are proud to serve clients like Shelley and her young family (4, 3 and 2 years, respectively) and provide the resources and space for them to rebuild their lives from trauma. Shelley recently received the keys to her very own housing unit in Snohomish County, and her hard work is paying off. She is a measure of true resiliency.

“I’m definitely stronger after a few months of being at Interfaith,” she says.  “I could not have done all this alone and been able to get housed within 90 days by myself.”

*Names and some details changes to protect client confidentiality.

Does your family – or a family you know – need emergency shelter and a pathway out of homelessness?

Let us know, and we can reach out if a unit becomes available.

Submit a Shelter Intake Form
MOD Pizza Fundraiser on Sun, Dec 08

MOD Pizza Fundraiser on Sun, Dec 08

Take a slice

out of

family homelessness!

We are teaming up with MOD Pizza to join forces against family homelessness on Sun, Dec 08.

And YOU can help!

Simply order a MOD Pizza anytime on Dec 08, 2024, and make sure you use the code “MODGIVES20“

Order:

  • online
  • through the app
  • or visit the Mod Pizza at 7909 Evergreen Way, Everett WA 98203 (offer valid on in-person orders at this store only – make sure you bring the flyer below with you when you visit!).

And MOD Pizza will donate 20% of your bill to support Interfaith and our programs!

Giving Tuesday is on Dec 03, 2024

Giving Tuesday is on Dec 03, 2024

GivingTuesday is on December 3, 2024.

It’s a special time of year, when the whole world comes together to give back through acts of kindness, gifts of voice, time, talent, or treasure.

Make a difference through your gift

No child should sleep unhoused.

Every family deserves a home.

We are committed to giving families the resources that they need to rebuild their lives and achieve permanent housing.

Especially as many of us struggle with increasing prices and inflation, your gift can help keep a family warm, nourished, and motivated to overcome homelessness.

Interfaith is a great shelter for families – thank you, thank you!

The staff were really there to help us and point us in the right direction.

The time you took to help us get off the street and find housing is amazing!

Junice

Mom, family of 5, (Aug 2024)

Created in 2012, GivingTuesday started with a simple idea: a day focused on encouraging people to do good.

Today, it’s a global movement that inspires generosity and giving back to make a positive change in other people’s lives.

Families Together 2024 was a Success!

Families Together 2024 was a Success!

 

Families Together 2024 was on Thursday, October 24, 2024

 

Thank you to everyone who made our annual fundraising event a big success!

Once again, Families Together was streamed online with two watch parties:

one in Marysville, and the other in Edmonds.

 

We are still finalizing the numbers, but here is what we know so far:

  • Total number of attendees: 75

    • 59 guests attended in-person watch parties
    • 16 guests joined online

  • Total amount raised (so far): $11,700… and counting!

All funds raised through Families Together fundraiser are included in the ongoing 2024 Annual Fund campaign, which aims to raise $140,000 by the end of the year.

 

And we have exciting news:

this fundraising event brought us to $100,745!

Even better: YOU helped us maximize and meet the Donor Match Challenge!

We could not have done it without each and every one of you – thank you so much!

Learn more about the 2024 Annual Fund campaign

Keynote Speaker:

Megan Dunn, Snohomish County Councilmember, District 2

Emcee:

Mary Cline-Stively, CEO, ChildStrive

Watch the recording of Families Together 2024:

It’s Back-to-School Time – and our volunteers are stepping up!

It’s Back-to-School Time – and our volunteers are stepping up!

August is back-to-school time, and our staff and programs are busy getting kids at the shelter ready for the new school year. And volunteers like Kimberly Jones play a vital role in that process.

Kimberly first got involved with the Interfaith Family Shelter about 18 years ago, when her mom Jackie Rasco (our Shelter Case Manager) started working at the shelter. “We have been consistent volunteers ever since, including decorating cookies for holidays, preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner, assisting my niece in hosting a baby shower for new moms, and donating various needed items over the years,” shares Kim.

But about seven years ago, Kim became aware of a distinct need for kids at the shelter around this time of year. “In 2017, I received a letter from Interfaith requesting backpacks and school supplies for children currently living in the shelter,” she says. “So my oldest daughter and I bought a backpack filled with supplies. But when we dropped it off, we noticed that the backpacks donated by government organizations were quite basic—thin, small, and lacking quality supplies like Crayola crayons and markers.”

Kimberly Jones has been organizing backpacks and school supplies for families at our shelters since 2017.

We decided to donate both backpacks and school supplies ourselves. For the first two years, my daughter and I personally funded all the donations.

And that was the beginning of what has now become an August tradition in the Jones household!

“Starting that year, we decided to donate both backpacks and school supplies ourselves,” shares Kim. “For the first two years, my daughter and I personally funded all the donations. By Year 3, we wanted to expand our efforts and reached out to the community for help. Thanks to donations from family, various community members, friends, nonprofits like Hub-n-Spoke, coworkers, and families at Zion Lutheran School, we have been able to provide high-quality supplies, name-brand backpacks, graphing calculators, and Crayola crayons and markers.”

The back-to-school Backpack Drive is now a family tradition in the Jones household!

The Back-to-School Backpack Drive has become a true labor of love for Kim and her family. “Our primary goal is to give these children the tools that they need for success, and to get them excited about using their new supplies in the classroom.”

More importantly, Kim know that this effort helps alleviate the burden on families at our shelter, and helps them not worry about having to purchase school supplies. “We are so thankful we are able to do this, and have the support of our amazing community!”

Support Kim’s back-to-school Backpack Drive for families at our shelter by purchasing items on her Amazon Wishlist!

Supporter Spotlight: County Councilmember, Megan Dunn

Supporter Spotlight: County Councilmember, Megan Dunn

Megan Dunn remembers a volunteer outreach event on the hottest day of 2022. “We came across an unhoused pregnant woman who didn’t want to leave her boyfriend. It was heart-breaking not to have enough health and preventive services available to her, that we couldn’t do more than offer her a popsicle and water.”

Dunn, who has been the Snohomish County Council District 2 representative since 2020, adds that homeless shelters for families are rare because most shelters either accept only men or single women. Over the past two years, she has championed sustainable solutions to address housing, including passing HB 1590 – a business plan to fund affordable housing and behavioral health facilities – and promoting the County to purchase and operate two hotels as homeless shelters. “So far, we have largely allowed nonprofits and the faith community to be the safety net for our unhoused neighbors,” she says. “But the need is so great that we need to take a more active role in addressing this issue.”

Family homelessness is deeply personal for Dunn. “My grandpa’s family of eight was homeless in Ohio during the Depression, and they lived in the basement of the church. But they later found an apartment and he joined the military. This support allowed us to rebuild ourselves, get housing for the next couple of generations,” she pauses, and adds, “and be in the position to help others.”

Interfaith really meets the need and provides a warm, community space for families to rebuild their lives.

Megan Dunn

Snohomish County Council District 2 representative

Dunn believes that honest conversations about the economics of homelessness are crucial. “We need to be doing more on prevention, rent relief, tenant protection, and landlord dispute resolution, because the housing crisis is fueling homelessness,” she states. “Senior housing is also important. Many seniors sleep in their cars because they don’t feel safe in shelters, and we need to consider this medically fragile group.”

Challenging social myths about homelessness is also important. “We don’t often see families because they opt for transitional housing, sleeping on couches, or in their cars,” she says. “You can’t tell that they are your kid’s friends at school, or that they slept in their car last night. People need to hear these stories more.”

Although she was aware of Interfaith, Dunn became more involved as multiple agencies and organizations tried to coordinate human services for homeless populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Interfaith’s involvement in decision making has been really important, to provide the perspective and value of families’ needs, now and into the future through transformational sustainable change,” she observes. “Interfaith really meets the need and provides a warm, community space for families to rebuild their lives. And we need to protect that.”

Faith Family Village to Open Soon

Faith Family Village to Open Soon

We are committed to working with partners to provide low-cost yet effective solutions in the effort to minimize family homelessness in our communities. And Faith Family Village – a Pallet Shelter project for families with children in Everett – is just the latest example of an innovative and collaborative partnership to move families off the streets and into homes.

In partnership with Faith Lutheran Church, Faith Food Bank, the City of Everett, Snohomish County, and Pallet Shelter, the Interfaith Family Shelter will operate an additional eight emergency shelter units for families at this new location in Everett.

A diverse group of partners came together to break ground for Faith Family Village on August 21, 2023, including: US Representative Rick Larsen, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Everett City Councilmember Paula Rhyne, WA Representative Mary Fosse, Bishop Shelley Wee, and Roxana Boroujerdi.

The Interfaith Family Shelter is running the emergency-shelter-and rehousing program for families at Faith Family Village, based on the same proven and successful model at the Family Shelter and scattered shelter sites.

This latest project increases our program capacity by 38% and house about 32 people—including 19 children—at a time. More importantly, Faith Family Village provides even more families with the tools to overcome homelessness, achieve permanent housing, and become financially self-sufficient.

 

Construction underway at the Faith Family Village site in September, 2023.

At this location, each 100 sq. ft. individual unit will contain four beds and a lock on the door. Families will have access to our emergency shelter program, food from the Faith Food Bank, secure bathrooms with showers, a kitchen, a play structure, the Children’s Program, and the range of other resources that we provide to help families develop healthy living dynamics and financial independence.

Learn more about how Pallet Shelter Villages offer families facing a temporary setback the dignity of personal space and community.
Making Birthday Dreams come true

Making Birthday Dreams come true

Interfaith was proud to commemorate one of our long-time partner’s milestones in June: Birthday Dreams celebrated its 13,000th birthday celebration right here at the Family Shelter, delivering birthday goodies to make one young resident’s birthday extra special!

As AJ and his mom, Merina, watched in glee, several gift bags and a large chocolate cake were carefully unloaded and stacked on a table beside the Family Shelter play structure. The excited birthday boy exercised admirable restraint as his mom smiled and thanked the Birthday Dreams crew, and Interfaith’s Child & Family Advocate, Lynn Barashkoff, for organizing this special celebration.

“Birthday Dreams is based in Renton, and we work with over 70 shelter partners in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties,” says Development Director, Jarod Drozdowski. “It’s a wonderful feeling to have a positive impact on the people who need help in the community.”

AJ and his mom, Merina

Thank you to Jim, everyone at Interfaith, and Birthday Dreams. We really appreciate it!”

– Merina, AJ’s mom

AJ is all smiles, surrounded by his birthday surprise

Little AJ – who turned 5 years old in mid-June – and his family moved out of the Family Shelter a couple of weeks earlier, and now live in a nearby apartment. AJ is the middle child of three children and attends preschool. He likes books, counting numbers, and playing with blocks.

Birthday Dreams and its army of volunteers are dedicated to bringing smiles to kids on their birthdays. Volunteers like Jim Waugh, who has been helping out at Birthday Dreams for four-and-a-half years now. To date, he has made over 2,000 deliveries, and drives all over the tri-county region from his home base in Kent, WA.

Volunteer Jim Waugh greets the birthday boy with gifts and cake.

Jim Waugh has made over 2,000 deliveries for Birthday Dreams- many of them to the Interfaith Family Shelter!

“I was looking for something to do to support nonprofits, and decided to get involved with Birthday Dreams,” says Waugh. “I like coming to Interfaith a lot – seeing the kids and their families, as I deliver and drop off gifts.” He pauses and adds, “I enjoy seeing their smiling faces and making a bit of a difference in their lives.”

“Jim is our resident rock star!” says Drozdowski. “And it’s such a pleasure to work with Lynn and the crew at the Family Shelter. The more we can do here, the better!”

 

Hospitality House opens its doors

Hospitality House opens its doors

The Interfaith Family Shelter opens its second scattered-site shelter location in Everett!

There’s no place like home for the holidays! And now at least three families have a cozy and welcoming space for the cold wintry days ahead: the Interfaith Family Shelter launched its second scattered-site shelter location, Hospitality House, in Everett on December 18, 2022.

In partnership with Cascade View Presbyterian Church, this new shelter location will apply our proven and successful emergency-shelter-and rehousing program, and  also increase our current capacity by 23 percent. Hospitality House serves up to three families at any time, i.e., at least 12 families per year (approx. 40 individuals, including 24 children) which allows us to serve even more families in our community.

Rev. Luke Hyder (Pastor, Cascade View Presbyterian Church) & Don Whitfield (Interfaith Board Member).

Rev. Luke Hyder & Jim Dean (Executive Director, Interfaith Family Shelter)

The overarching goal is to help families achieve long-term housing upon exiting the 90-day program: our other similar scattered-site Miracle House (operated in partnership with Marysville United Methodist Church) has served more than 15 families since its launch in February, 2020, and enabled 80% of them to achieve stable housing.

Located at 1010 Casino Road, Hospitality House will offer families: up to 90 days of emergency shelter, Rapid Rehousing case management, the Children’s program, employment and healthy living guidance, mental health and/or substance use counseling, and other resources to help them achieve independence and stable housing.

Does your family or someone you know need emergency shelter at Hospitality House?

Leave a message on our Intake Line (425) 200-5121, and fill out this form. Our staff will contact you soon:

Shelter Intake Request

Thank you for your interest in our program. Please fill out this form and our staff will get back to you soon.
Your Name(Required)
Include area code. This is the number we will use to contact you, so please provide a current working phone number.
Relationship to Client(Required)

Current Address or Location
How many adults will need assistance through our shelter programs?
How many children will need assistance through our shelter programs? (Includes pregnant and pre-natal children)
Do the following apply to anyone in your household? (check all that apply)(Required)