Creating a community of hope

Housing Hope has a lot on the agenda for 2015, including three new communities in Monroe.

Dedicated to combating homelessness in Snohomish County, Housing Hope takes a holistic approach by working with families to solve the issue of poverty. In addition to providing low-income families with short- and long-term affordable housing, Housing Hope's College of Hope program offers life skills classes, employment counseling, job readiness training and more. -á

The Monroe Family Village (17428 W. Main St.), which is currently under construction, is the largest of the three communities. In addition to housing, the Monroe Family Village will feature an all-inclusive family service center designed to serve Housing Hope residents throughout east Snohomish County. The development is expected to be completed sometime this summer. -á

"We'll be able to put 47 families into Monroe Family Village,GÇ¥ said Housing Hope Philanthropy Manager Alex Lark. "It's our largest to date.GÇ¥

Monroe Family Village will include a combination of two and three-bedroom units, all oriented toward low-income families with children. The common areas will include office space and rooms designated for classes and program delivery. The complex will feature onsite property management and in-home case management to assist families transitioning out of homelessness.

"It's going to be kind of our eastern county regional service hub,GÇ¥ Lark said, "to give our clients more access to our College of Hope classes.GÇ¥-á

Housing Hope supporters interesting in contributing to the Monroe Family Village can donate $100 and obtain a paving stone that will be inlayed near the front entrance of the complex.

Also in Monroe, two Team Homebuilding projects are being constructed. A 10-home development on West Main Street near Dennis Way is about a year away from completion, while an additional 10-home development northwest of town, called French Creek Manor, will be ready for occupancy this summer. Team Homebuilding projects allow future homeowners to take on the task of building their own homes. Through "sweat equity,GÇ¥ families are able to earn the down payments for their new residence.-á

The future homeowners work to construct the homes on top of their regular jobs. The Team Homebuilding projects culminate with a key ceremony once all the homes have been completed.-á

"No one can move in until everyone's house is done, and everyone works together to build these homes,GÇ¥ Lark said. "There's a lot of pride that goes into it. You can see it in their faces, and it's a wonderful sight.GÇ¥

A 501C3 nonprofit, Housing Hope operations are dependent on community-based donations. These donations help Housing Hope secure grants and other funding through private and corporate sources. A yearly fundraising event, called the Community of Hope dinner, gives the organization the opportunity to share its mission and highlight its success stories. This year's event, held in March, was attended by more than 150 guests who helped bring in more than $41,000.-á

Housing Hope works to keep a very low overhead: 88 percent of the organization's expenses are dedicated to programming, while 12 percent is dedicated to administrative and fundraising costs.-á

Housing Hope is encouraging supporters to take advantage of the Seattle Foundation's online giveBIG campaign, on Tuesday, May 5. Throughout the day, donations to Housing Hope will be stretched via boosting funds based on the percentage of donations they receive. Donations up to $2,500 are eligible for a boost.-á

In addition to supporting housing services, donations to Housing Hope also help support both the College of Hope programming and the Child Hope program.-á

Through a recent affiliation with Snohomish County, families who are experiencing homelessness are being encouraged to call 2-1-1, a service line operated by the Volunteers of America Western Washington. The goal is to have a single point of entry for families and individuals in need.