A Sweet Way to Support Homeless Kids

We live in a time of economic insecurity, with thousands of Americans losing their jobs every month and many families buried in debt or struggling with foreclosure. For single mothers, the struggle is often twice as hard.

Vision House, a regional organization providing shelter and services to homeless mothers and their children, is trying to help. It is hosting a benefit on Oct. 15 in Edmonds, the Building Hope Dessert, to help raise money for a .

“Vision House provides transitional housing, child care and support services to homeless mothers and children, and separately to men recovering from drug or alcohol addiction,” explained Mary Burton, the communications director at Vision House. “Our main goal is to help homeless families rebuild their lives so they can move to permanent housing and remain self-sufficient in the future.”

Founded in 1990, the organization now has four facilities in the Renton area that house about 115 people a year. The Children’s Village Child Care Center serves 120 children from both Vision House programs and the community at large.

In March 2010, Vision House broke ground in Shoreline for Jacob’s Well, a housing complex with 20 living units, child care center, counseling offices and a community center for homeless mothers and children. The facility is being built debt-free by hundreds of volunteers, and the Oct. 15 fundraiser at the  will raise money to help finish and fund the project.

The evening will begin with desserts and refreshments, followed by a performance by the Seattle Children’s Chorus, a testimony by a formerly homeless mother and videos and presentations about Vision House and the new Jacob’s Well center.

The host of the free event is Spirit 105.3 (KCMS) radio personality Matt Case. Guests can learn about options for supporting the homeless in their community as well as the Jacob’s Well project.

According to Burton, an anonymous donor has offered a $30,000 challenge matching gift. That means every dollar raised at the Edmonds fundraiser will be matched up to $30,000.

Burton said the Jacob's Well project began a few years ago when a group of north King County business leaders and clergy members met to discuss the needs of the community. “Their goal was to bring the local churches together to serve the community in a way that no one church could do alone. They invited Vision House into the community and pledged their support to help build a complex to provide housing and support services for homeless families.”

And while monetary donations are always accepted, not everyone has extra money to give. Since the Jacob’s Well housing complex is being erected solely by volunteers, there is always room for an extra pair of hands.

“For a homeless child, Jacob’s Well represents safety, security, love, a warm bed, a full tummy and a hopeful future,” said Burton. “After her family successfully completed the Vision House program and were moving to a new apartment, one Vision House child said, ‘Everyone at Vision House is so nice. My counselor helped me to not be so angry and sad and I’m doing a lot better in school. I feel happy.’ ”

For more information about Jacob’s Well, the Dessert Fundraiser and ways you can help support the Vision House organization, visit www.NoHomelessKids.org, e-mail info@vision-house.org or call 425-228-6356.