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Our mission is to help homeless women find home, health and hope.
Hope Found
Since we first opened our doors in 2000, Hospitality House has helped hundreds of homeless women get their groove back. Most years, we graduate about 70 women from our program, successfully moving them on to stable housing of their own. More than that, we give them the hope they need to take positive steps towards independence. |
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“I was so depressed when I became homeless and I saw no future or hope for myself. I now have a future because of your care.” –S.M.
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| “My case manager counseled me with personal problems, encouraged me with my sobriety and helped me to look at my life much more positively.” –Unnamed |
| “I was cold, tired, afraid and homeless. Hospitality House took away the feelings of uncertainty and replaced them with a new sense of security and hope – hope that maybe I would survive after all and hope there is a future for me” -Cathie |
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Founded in Faith
Hospitality House was founded in September 2000 by twelve sponsoring churches as an ecumenical outreach to the homeless community in South King County.
Nine years ago, during a hearing with the City of Burien, Charles Koethe (then pastor of Lake Burien Presbyterian Church and Chair of the Steering Committee for Hospitality House) dispelled the anxieties of nervous neighbors and a skeptical Burien City Council with these words:
“Though we are here this evening to win your positive recommendation that the City of Burien permit homeless women to sleep in our facility at Lake Burien, I must confess, people already sleep in our church. Unfortunately, it usually happens during the sermon.”
Rev. Koethe then went on to explain, “…establishing a shelter for homeless women is not our idea. We are simply following the One who has told us very clearly:
“…feed the hungry,
clothe the naked,
welcome the stranger,
show hospitality.”
In summary, Koethe stated, “If we don’t do it, who will?”
Long story short: The Burien City Council voted 4-2 on June 5, 2000 to approve the shelter. And a celebratory Service of Dedication was held on September 17, 2000.
Our sponsoring churches and organizations are the lifeblood of Hospitality House. Most are represented on our Board of Directors and all work tirelessly as faithful volunteers, providing evening meals, serving on fundraising committees, producing newsletters – and this website! Last year, Hospitality House benefited from over 400 volunteers, saving us thousands of dollars in goods and services.
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Home for a time
Stop by Hospitality House on any given day and you’ll experience a warm, welcoming place where residents go about daily life. Freely, easily. Here, a resident presses an outfit for work tomorrow. There, several others gather for popcorn and a movie. Across the hall, a resident emails a friend, puts the finishing touches on her resumé. Just like home.
- A dormitory for nine women
- Great Room with kitchen, dining and living areas
- Bathrooms with showers, soaps and shampoos
- Home-cooked dinners catered each evening by volunteer meal providers; a refrigerator stocked with the makings for healthy breakfasts and lunches
- A safe, relaxed place to call home for up to three months
- And as residents prepare to leave the shelter, referrals to affordable transitional or permanent housing – and a ”starter kit” of kitchen and bathroom essentials to celebrate the day
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Our Staff
Natalie Reber, Executive Director
natalie.hospitalityhouse@gmail.com
206.242.1860
Terra Straight, Case Manager
terra.hospitalityhouse@gmail.com
Judyith C. Allman, Case Manager
judy.hospitalityhouse@gmail.com
Danielle Hillis, Night Staff
danielle.hospitalityhouse@gmail.com
206.227.4194
Stephen Lamphear, Bookkeeper
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