Earlier this year, the Interfaith Family Shelter was proactively selected by the Puget Sound Energy Foundation(PSEF) as the recipient of a trust-based philanthropy program.
Among a handful of other regional nonprofits, Interfaith was recognized as an “exceptional nonprofit organization leading the way in the prevention and elimination of homelessness throughout PSE’s 10-county service area.”
This unique philanthropic approach focuses on an organization’s core aspirations, principles, and best practices. It reflects PSE’s commitment to help local communities and support programs that benefit those experiencing homelessness by providing pathways to home ownership.
Unlike competitive grants, trust-based philanthropy involves an in-depth examination of carefully pre-selected candidates: a detailed analysis of their history, reputation, governance and leadership, vision and strategy, communications with community stakeholders, resiliency, and social equity all factor into this thorough assessment.
“We hope this trust-based philanthropy model inspires nonprofit organizations who are working diligently in this sector to know that they have the trust and confidence of funders like the PSE Foundation to continue their great work. We view this as the beginning of a fruitful partnership,” says Karlee Deatherage, Senior Community Engagement Representative at Puget Sound Energy.
“On behalf of PSE and the PSE Foundation, I look forward to supporting the vital work Interfaith Family Shelter does for our community members in Snohomish County without stable housing.”
The $25,000 unrestricted grant has been allocated to Interfaith Family Shelter’s ongoing Capital Campaign to purchase the Family Shelter, and enable us to continue serving families in our community in the years ahead.
We are deeply grateful to PSEF for their confidence in our programs and track record.
And we applaud PSE’s commitment to support programs that help families break the cycle of homelessness!
Families Together 2021 was on Wed, October 20, 2021!
Our annual fundraiser showcasing the Interfaith Family Shelter’s recent accomplishments – including our expansion into Homeless Prevention – was online again this year.
A BIG thank you to everyone who attended and supported us with a gift!
Attendees
Total number of registrants: 128 (39% increase from 2020)
Total number of attendees:111 (25% increase from 2020)
on 96unique devices (8% increase from 2020)
Funds Raised: $28,311
Your support helps our programs serve families in our community!
Are you or someone you know a restaurant / bar worker who was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020?
Help is available!
The Problem: The restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Many workers had to make a difficult choice between staying home for safety, and the risk of continuing to work.
The Solution: Now these restaurant and bar workers have a valuable opportunity to apply for financial help!
What is available: Georgetown Brewing, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest, and United Way of Snohomish County are partnering to create a relief fund specifically for bar or restaurant employees in 2020.
How it works:This fund provides direct financial support to individuals who were bar or restaurant workers in 2020. Options include prepaid credit cards, rent, or utility payments for individuals or families.
The Interfaith Family Shelter looked quite different until a few years ago. Although there was a playroom where the children of our clients could do arts and crafts, there were no regular staff assigned to oversee this space, and volunteer programs were generally uncoordinated and short-lived.
That all changed when Julie Brenaman took over as the Child & Family Advocate in August 2017. Today, children at the shelter thrive – yes, even during the pandemic – under a structured learning and recreation schedule that helps them keep up with schoolwork, and also promotes healthy behavioral and socioemotional development. As Julie prepares to retire, we look back on how she has transformed the Children’s Program during her time at Interfaith.
About 60% of people who enroll in our programs each year are children. And the negative impact of temporary homelessness can wreak havoc on a child’s development, self-esteem, and motivation to succeed – apart from the devastating toll that this experience also takes on academic performance. “I had previously volunteered for Interfaith. And I always wanted to work with children and support their resiliency,” shares Julie, who is a longtime supporter of the shelter. “So when this job became available, I applied.”
She had recently completed an MSW at the University of Washington and was excited to play an active role in developing and running the Children’s Program. Visitors and volunteers at the shelter are always impressed by the bright and cheery Children’s Room, the neatly organized library and art materials, and the excited faces of kids ready to put their active young minds to work.
The Learning Hour is very popular with volunteers, who help children with schoolwork and activities to maintain their academic progress while at the shelter. “The main goal is to help them avoid falling behind,” says Julie, “because kids dealing with homelessness can begin to think it’s their fault, or that there’s something wrong with them. So we focus on building a relationship with them, to make them feel valued and supported.” But the Children’s Program includes so much more than Learning Hour.
Over the years, Julie has worked equally hard with parents, motivating and helping them sign their children up for school, daycare, dental and medical appointments, and also teaching them how to advocate for their kids. She ensures that families and children have access to all the resources provided by schools, while at the shelter.
This was particularly tough during the COVID-19 pandemic. Imagine trying to engage kids in hybrid learning in a shelter environment across five school districts and more than a dozen schools! “It has been challenging, making sure that parents know where to get Chromebooks, food, and other resources, when they’re already preoccupied enough with trying to find housing,” says Julie.
Julie has often taken children and the families on local field trips.
Over the years, many children have returned to the shelter – even after their families move on to permanent housing – to visit or drop in on Learning Hour. Some kids even carry the structure of those sessions into their new lives. Julie mentions a third grader who stayed at the shelter three years ago, who continues to say “I have to do Learning Hour” when she gets home from school.
“These kids and their parents work so hard,” says Julie. “I remember one family, where both parents struggled to find a school for their child because they were living in their car. So the daughter had terrible attendance.” But that all changed once they entered the Family Shelter. “She soon had perfect attendance again, her grades improved, and now she is almost a straight-A middle school student,” says Julie with pride.
Now, as she prepares to hand over the program that she built and coordinated for the past few years, Julie has mixed feelings. “I will definitely miss the kids and families,” she admits. “I remember each and every one of them. They have given more to me than I have ever given them. It’s an honor to get to work with people and their children, and I feel very privileged that they let me into their lives.”
But she is also excited to see the Children’s Program thrive under its new coordinator, Lynn Barashkoff. “I’m looking forward to seeing what Lynn brings to the program, especially with her background in teaching and education.” And Julie still looks forward to helping out as a volunteer because, “I’ve always loved and supported Interfaith.”
Frank Busichio, Interfaith’s Board President says, “Julie has done so much to grow and develop this program over the years. We will definitely miss her!” Julie will officially hand over the Children’s Program on June 30, 2021. She has brought so much joy to many lives over the past four years, and will be fondly missed.
And we are glad that she will still be around – and we know the children and their families feel the same!
Would you like to volunteer or help support the Children’s Program?
The Interfaith Family Shelter is hiring a Homeless Prevention Specialist.
Join our team! You could play an important role at Interfaith Family Shelter.
If you, or someone you know, has: (a) excellent organizational and conflict-management skills, (b) enjoy motivating and guiding others to improve, and (c) has a passion for helping others succeed, this could be the right fit for you.
We empower families, and communities to break the cycle of homelessness through outreach, housing and prevention. Through our programs, we serve hundreds of families throughout Snohomish County.
Title: Homeless Prevention Specialist
Pay: $19.00 to $21.00 per hour DOE
Benefits: Eligible for benefits after 60 days
Reports To: Executive Director
Status: Full Time/Non-Exempt
Date: December 15, 2020
Job Purpose: The Homeless Prevention Specialist works in the Interfaith Homeless Prevention Program exclusively with families that are in danger of becoming homeless, and is responsible for intervening with 10 – 15 families per month, using a strength-based approach to help families avoid homelessness.
This will involve determining with the family, which skills they need to develop of seven key areas: education, employment, housing, health/wellness, life skills, relationships, and community connectedness.
The Homeless Prevention Specialist provides regular virtual and onsite support to ensure families remain housed and are compliant with their lease agreements and are able to find/increase employment. Community and property owner/manager collaboration is also a key function of this job.
GENERAL FUNCTION:
Using an empowerment approach based on conflict theory to bolster the clients’ own ability to think for themselves, develop a plan based on their strengths. Ultimately, clients will implement that plan for themselves.
The Homeless Prevention Specialist will also provide coaching and conflict resolution services to assist clients in resolving conflicts that maybe be endangering current or future housing; including but not limited to negotiating, mediating and conciliating between clients and property owners/managers and/or friends, family and neighbors. This employee is a member of a larger team of Rapid Rehousing and Shelter Case Managers at the Interfaith Family Shelter.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, communications, education, or human services Appropriate experiences and skills also considered.
Demonstrated conflict resolution, communication and negotiation
Ability to stay neutral and unbiased when conciliating and working with
Comfortable helping others in high stress, conflict
Commitment and ability to engage in an empathetic, non-judgmental way with people in
Cultural competency.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of clients experiencing and at risk of
Self-directed and motivated to set own Ability to work from home (at times) and complete all work in a timely manner.
Computer literacy – Word, Outlook, and Excel Facility with other software programs desired.
Knowledge of human services in Snohomish County preferred but not
Prior experience in property management is a plus.
Veterans and bilingual applicants highly encouraged to
Principal Activities
Accept referrals of clients from Interfaith’s Intake Line / Form.
Accept referrals from property owners/managers.
Accept referrals from faith groups and community partners.
Determine client need by assessing household for financial impact and inability to pay Diagnose barriers to continued housing in current housing.
Contact referred clients to prepare a strengths-based plan to stabilize current housing. If necessary, plan for obtaining new housing.
Model problem solving for
Use conflict resolution skills to gather information from client and property owner/manager to determine amount owed how it is paid and to conciliate to maintain
Make referrals to a customized array of services available in the
Maintain strict confidentiality of client information in conformance with related policies and procedures.
Collect all data needed for payments to property owners/managers.
Perform proper collection of data, documentation, and compliance with reporting requirements
Ensure all data entry requirements are met in Interfaith Family Shelter’s internal database and HMIS
Comply with grant defined program standards and expectations
Participate in Shelter Circle meetings and other Interfaith Family Shelter meetings as requested by
Perform related duties as
Working conditions:
Staff may work with challenging clients and must have the ability to de-escalate caregivers, families &
Physical requirements:
Must have the ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of emergency
Communicate effectively with clients, staff, other programs, vendors and the public, both orally and in writing
Hear voice conversations and alarms
Possess close vision, far vision, side vision, depth perception, visual ability to read a variety of materials
Dexterity of hands and fingers to reach, handle and operate telephone, computer keyboard, record information in appropriate files and logs
The Interfaith Family Shelter will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities if requested.
Interfaith Family Shelter is strongly committed to removing barriers and supporting inclusion and diversity in all its forms. We strive to create a safe and open atmosphere for families, staff, board members, community partners and funders. We learn from the diverse individuals we work with and embrace their unique attributes to ensure we fulfill our agency mission and core values. Interfaith Family Shelter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek to provide equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, national origin, or any other characteristic protected under the law.
People of color and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic workforce, committed to working in a multicultural environment and we strongly encourage applications from veterans, and marginalized populations; including people of color, women and those in the LGBTQ community. We encourage those with personal experience with homelessness to apply.
If you’re interested in any of these positions, please email a resume and cover letter to Jim Dean.
No phone calls accepted.
Only candidates under consideration will be contacted.
Evening Shelter Monitor
Join our team! You could play an important role at Interfaith Family Shelter.
We empower families, and communities to break the cycle of homelessness through outreach, housing and prevention. Through our programs, we serve families in Snohomish County.
SALARY: $38,480 – $41,600 per year, depending on education and experience
REPORTS TO: Interfaith Family Shelter Executive Director
BENEFITS: Employer supported Medical and Dental Benefits available after 60 days
FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt
OVERVIEW:
Monitors The Family Shelter in the evening hours; supports the cooking and clean-up for evening meals; ensures that daily house chores are completed.
Essential Job Duties:
Maintain confidentiality of information about children and their families.
Ensure the safety and well-being of The Family Shelter children and adults.
Work cooperatively with staff and volunteers to ensure the peaceful and orderly operation of the shelter in evenings.
Perform housekeeping duties as needed and directed.
Assist with accurate and complete documentation of evening meal menu and participation.
Participate in program, department and agency staff meetings when appropriate.
Attend and participate in required training sessions.
Maintain a composure and attitude that is positive and sensitive to children and their families.
Maintain records of disruptions and inappropriate resident behaviors.
Communicate with appropriate authorities and agency leadership when events require their involvement.
Non-Essential Job Duties: Other tasks or responsibilities as assigned to keep The Family Shelter safe, clean and healthy.
Job Requirements:
Ability to relate to and work with ill, disabled, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people
Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action
Reliable transportation
Demonstrated ability to deescalate confrontational situations and communicate effectively in emotionally charged circumstances
Clear Communications skills
CPR and First Aid certification for infants, children and adults
Food Handler Card
Able to follow written and verbal directions
Working conditions: Staff may work with challenging clients and must have the ability to de-escalate caregivers, parents and youth.
Physical requirements:
Must have the ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of emergency.
Communicate effectively with clients, staff, other programs, vendors and the public, both orally and in writing.
Hear voice conversations and alarms.
Possess close vision, far vision, side vision, depth perception, visual ability to read a variety of materials.
Dexterity of hands and fingers to reach, handle and operate telephone, computer keyboard, record information in appropriate youth files and logs.
Interfaith Family Shelter will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities if requested.
Interfaith Family Shelter is strongly committed to removing barriers and supporting inclusion and diversity in all its forms. We strive to create a safe and open atmosphere for families, individuals, staff, board members, community partners and funders. We learn from the diverse individuals we work with and embrace their unique attributes to ensure we fulfill our agency mission and core values. The Interfaith Association of Northwest Washington is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek to provide equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, national origin, or any other characteristic protected under the law.
People of color and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic workforce, committed to working in a multicultural environment and we strongly encourage applications from veterans, and marginalized populations; including people of color, women and those in the LGBTQ community. We encourage those with personal experience with homelessness to apply.
If you are interested in this position, please email a resume and cover letter to jdean@interfaithwa.org No phone calls accepted. Only those candidates being considered will be contacted.
The policy and intent of The Interfaith Association of Northwest Washington is to provide equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex, age, status in regard to public assistance, or any other basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.
Families Together 2020 was a virtual event this year.
We were admittedly worried about how this would affect the scope of this event, its impact, and fundraising capacity.
Well, the numbers are finally in, and they are truly wonderful:
Total amount raised: $38,600 (61% increase from 2019)
Total number of donors: 138 (24% increase from 2019)
No. of devices logged in on 10/21 (for the event): 89
We could not have achieved these amazing milestones without YOUR support and generosity.
From everyone at Interfaith, a heartfelt thank you!
We are now halfway toward our estimated program costs for the upcoming year.
If you have not already made a gift, there’s still time to support our valuable programs, and also claim temporary tax benefits through the CARES Act (Click here to learn more).
Help us meet our end-of-year goal of: $40,000
To support the following in 2021:
Program expansion
Homelessness prevention
Covid-19 impact on shelter programs & increased expenses for family clients
This year has been challenging for so many.
Your gift today will help families overcome homelessness, stay together, and keep healthy & housed.
It’s been a long time coming – but the Interfaith Family Shelter finally has a beautiful brand-new play structure for the children!
The previous play structure was removed in May 2019, after it became rickety and unsafe for the children. Since then, the playground has sat empty while we worked hard to find funding for new equipment.
However, in May of this year, an anonymous donor reached out to Interfaith’s Jim Dean with an astonishingly generous offer: “I want to pay for the shelter’s new playground.”
Executive Director, Jim Dean, unpacks the slide.
Young volunteers donate their time and muscle!
Jim Dean and the delivery representative pause to celebrate.
We soon received a check for $20,000, and three months later, volunteers from the City of Everett devoted a summer Saturday in August to begin installing the gorgeous new structure.
Volunteers installing the new commercial-grade Monkey Maze play structure.
Interfaith’s Board President, Frank Busichio, is ecstatic: “The children have long needed a safe, healthy environment that allows them to have fun, play and grow,” he beamed. “We are so grateful to the anonymous donor for their generous support.”
Our younger residents – who have been cooped up in the shelter for much too long during this prolonged pandemic – are thrilled. Outdoor play is essential for children’s physical health and socioemotional wellbeing. And now they finally have a sturdy and entertaining outlet for all their pent-up energy!
Under the vigilant eyes of shelter staff, who make sure to sanitize the equipment frequently and ensure health protocols are followed during playtime, they are now busy ’monkeying’ around on the brand-new Monkey Maze play structure.
Featuring one of our clients on their amazing journey to overcome homelessness, the documentary crew followed Stevie’s family from homelessness, through our Cars to Housing program, then to the Family Shelter, and finally into a home of their own.
Stevie and Chance battled homelessness during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now join Director, Rose Arce, and Field Producer, Riley Morton, for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes virtual Q&A on the making of this episode, public health, the ongoing pandemic, and homelessness in America.
Director Rose Arce
A Pulitzer prize winner and three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, Rose is based in New York City. She has produced 13 documentaries, including Her Name Was Steven and The War Comes Home. Her work with Soledad O’Brien spans 16 years, and includes co-authoring two books and producing nine documentaries.
Field Producer Riley Morton
Specializing in non-fiction films and remote-location production, Riley’s portfolio spans adventure sports and travel documentaries. He is based in Seattle, and his clients include the Discovery Channel, PBS, Netflix, National Geographic Channel, ITV, and the Food Network.
Have you seen Outbreak: The First Response yet? Click this image to watch it.
Mark your calendar: Wednesday, October 21, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
(L to R) Heather, Joyce & Heidi at Barb’s Auto License Agency on July, 09, 2020.
Heather has been through a lot. The single mom of two young children was woken up by her ex-husband one morning to find out that they were suddenly homeless. “He had a substance addiction problem that he hid from us, and he had secretly drained our savings. And suddenly, we had no home.”
She has been struggling to make ends meet ever since. After a brief stint at the Interfaith Family Shelter, Heather found housing. She and her kids have now been housed for over a year.
But it hasn’t been easy, and recurring car issues were making it difficult for Heather to get to work, and for the family to get around.
Enter Heidi (a longtime Interfaith supporter) and her mom, Joyce, who were looking to donate Joyce’s 2009 Chevy to a family who could use it.
Interfaith’s Rapid Rehousing Program Manager, Sabrie Taylor, immediately thought of Heather. “I know a new car will make a huge difference to her family, right now,” she said.
And she was right! Five days later, Heidi and Joyce donated their car to Heather at Barb’s Auto License Agency in Snohomish.
Despite the face masks and social distancing, Heather was all smiles and so thankful for this very kind gesture. “You have no idea how much easier this will make my life!” she shared.
Ever since her old car broke down, the family has had to rely on public transportation. Especially with safety concerns and restricted bus service because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new car “will make all the difference!” smiled Heather. “Now I won’t have to get the kids ready four hours before we need to be somewhere. And I don’t need to depend on my friend for rides to and from work.”
Joyce and Heidi were very happy that the 2009 Chevy has found a new home. “It’s a good car,” said Joyce, “and I am happy to help Heather’s family with this gift.”
Heidi agreed, “My mom likes this option, because she prefers the more personal benefit to someone.” She added, “We were hoping to find someone directly who needed the car, because donating and selling a car reduces its value relative to someone who needs to buy it.”
Thank you so much, Heidi and Joyce. And congratulations on your new ride, Heather!
Beep beep, beep beep, yeah!
Would you like to donate your old vehicle to one of our client families? Contact us to make it happen.
We offer families non-discriminatory low-barrier access to shelter and resources, regardless of age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, income, or faith affiliation.
