Squinting at my phone, I check the address again. Is this the right place? It is.
Today I’ll be officially introduced to Vision House and its staff, learning about their mission, their work, their passion and process, with my youngest child tagging along for the ride.
This post is sponsored by Vision House.
But for a minute, I’m in the shoes of a woman arriving with her daughter, having set up an appointment based on the recommendation from a friend or another shelter. Maybe she’s heard that this place is a good one, and she’s quietly hoping that this could be the turning point for the seemingly unscalable obstacles of this season.
Nervous butterflies gather in her stomach. She doesn’t know what to expect here. She doesn’t know the people who will be waiting for her inside. All she knows is that she needs this opportunity. She loads her toddler into a stroller, grabs her belongings, and walks up to the door.
The grown-ups and children approaching this door for the first time might have had their last full meal more than a day ago. They might be stretching and sore, joints cracking after weeks of sleeping in a car. They might be new to the area, maybe speaking a language other than English. They might be escaping domestic violence, or avoiding a call from a debt collector for a bill they can’t pay.
These circumstances could so easily be part of my story. They could easily be part of yours.
It’s no surprise that housing costs are rising in an already expensive area. Inflation affects every bill and grocery trip. The income from a single minimum-wage job won’t cover the cost of an apartment. There could be any number of ways a family could find themselves without a home.
Vision House is a ministry and non-profit organization that provides resources and solutions for families with children to provide stable housing and meet basic needs.
This is a unique and crucially important offering, because most shelters cannot accommodate the entire family. Families with two parents, single parents, grandparents, and teenagers are all welcome. Families from outside the United States are welcome but must hold a work permit.
Vision House takes care of their families in the very ways Jesus would–with personal care, warmth and humility, meeting immediate needs, and providing long-term support. The goal is to set up the family for stability and security as they take their next steps.
There are two avenues for support through Vision House: one-year transitional housing and diversion centers by appointment.
In transitional housing, families move into fully-furnished apartments for a one-year rental. They are met with care, community and a plan for support that is tailored to their needs.
Before moving in, adults sign two agreements: an apartment rental (which builds rental history), and a commitment to working at least 20 hours a week toward their future. This could mean employment or education–job training, community meetings, financial advising, counseling, or other classes, all of which are provided in-house, along with childcare, therapy, and more.
After the rental period, families typically move on to stable housing, jobs and school, and are able to take linens, towels, and even mattresses with them.
There are 42 apartments in total between two locations in Shoreline and Renton, with a goal of expansion on the horizon.
Diversion centers offer a short-term safe space with care for immediate needs and social work assistance.
The staff here shows the same compassion and personalized attention that families receive in transitional housing. The atmosphere of the diversion center is one of peace and warmth as you step over the threshold.
Colorful play spaces have toys for the children; there are hot beverages and cozy chairs for the adults. Showers and washers and dryers are set up for the family’s personal use. Meals and snacks are available. Only one family is scheduled at a time for a two-hour session, for privacy and comfort.
In the diversion center, my daughter makes herself at home, while staff members show me around. Again, I’m in the shoes of someone coming here for a reprieve from sleeping on a friend’s couch or in a car. I can understand the anxiety of figuring out next steps, and how that would settle for a while in this safe place, a reprieve with kind people and much-needed resources.
Whether in a two-hour session or over the course of a year, the trained social workers and staff become familiar with the families and their stories, strategically help solve problems, and most of all, offer compassion and dignity in difficult circumstances.
Assumptions are checked at the door. Each family is looked after thoughtfully and personally. Grace abounds in this place. It stands out to me that families are not just rushed through a system, but loved through the process, leaving with a plan and forward motion toward their next steps.
Along the lines of the varied circumstances of their clients, executive director Derek Sciba said, “this could happen to anyone, but it doesn’t have to define who you are. It’s a chapter, a traumatic one.” Vision House’s goal is “to continue the story to stability.”
And they have a wonderful success rate. About 90% of families who receive transitional housing move into permanent housing at the end of their term. So far this year, 35 families who received assistance through the diversion center have also found permanent housing.
There’s so much work left to do. Already this year, Vision House is seeing numbers of families that they normally see during wintertime, their busiest time of year. They are gearing up for a fuller season than ever.
God is doing amazing work in the lives of the families that visit Vision House, and their goal is to serve many more in the same way Jesus would. If you are moved to help this incredible ministry, please consider donating funds so that the staff can keep providing excellent care and helping families find a way forward to their next chapter. You can find more information on their website, visionhouse.org.
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Read more of Jenn’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
