KentHOPE Information

KentHOPE is a partnership in Kent, Washington of faith-based groups, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation, businesses, local community service agencies and concerned individuals who are dedicated to reducing homelessness in our community. Our Mission is to build community by providing stable pathways out of homelessness while caring for body, mind, and spirit. We are the congregations and individuals who provide meals for the homeless and low income members of our communities. (see community meals tab above for a list of free community meals). We also meet emergency needs of community members through the distribution of benevolence funds donated by our congregations. On December 16, 2013, KentHOPE and Seattle's Union Gospel Mission (SUGM) established the KentHOPE Day Center for Women and Children at 9009 Canyon Drive. We serve an average of 30 women and 3 children a day, meeting their immediate needs and linking them to community resources to find jobs and housing. In March of 2014, KentHOPE and SUGM initiated the KentHOPE Women's Overnight Shelter, a rotating shelter hosted by Kent churches, April through October. (Holy Spirit Parish hosts the Catholic Community Services Women's Winter Shelter, November through March.) In 2015, we were able to expand the number of overnight beds to 30, thanks to funding by the City of Seattle Human Services Department. Eleven generous Kent churches now provide year 'round overnight shelter, in addition to Holy Spirit/Catholic Community Services' 15 bed Women's Winter Shelter. Thank you Kent United Methodist, First Evangelical Presbyterian, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Kent Lutheran, First Presbyterian, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Kent Covenant, New Heights, First Christian, Valley View Christian, and Zion Lutheran! We have also established a local safe parking site for families and individuals living in their car. A social services case manager visits the site weekly to offer assistance. Search and Rescue volunteers deliver ...