HopeSource

Looking for ways to give back this winter? Join our volunteer team! We need caring volunteers daily to assist with check-in and out at the Ellensburg Cold Weather Shelter. To volunteer, sign up today at https://buff.ly/3AQERE4

In October, we had the privilege of welcoming Governor Jay Inslee to meet with our HopeSource team here in Ellensburg. The support provided by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act has been instrumental in improving our transportation programs here in Kittitas County, enabling us to better serve our community’s needs and move toward a more sustainable future. We’re grateful for this vital investment in our region’s growth and resilience.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you can help make it special for families in our Upper County community! 🧡 Every item on our Amazon Wishlist goes directly to our food bank shelves. It’s a simple way to give back and make a big impact. Let’s fill our shelves for the holiday! https://buff.ly/3AeTy3m

We are so proud of former HopeSource employee Ryan Domitz for publishing their research on homelessness here in Kittitas County! Check out the study below:

Jennifer Caloia is the proud owner of a manufactured home in Kittitas. At 65, she lives on a fixed income and never wants to leave her tidy neighborhood and nearby friends. But the winter of 2022-23 was rough. Her 25-year-old heat pump was starting to fail. It no longer efficiently heated her home, instead relying on the “emergency” backup heat, which is more expensive. Her utility bills doubled, even though she was trying to keep the thermostat low. She couldn’t afford to pay those bills, much less handle the massive cost of replacing the non-repairable heat pump. “I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was scared. I was still paying on my house. I’d been there eight years, and it would have broken my heart if I had to sell my house and move somewhere else.” Not to mention, where would she go? Any place else would be more expensive than her mortgage. Jennifer called HopeSource to see if she qualified for help with her furnace and utility bills. After working through the income verification process and wait list for a home visit, she was approved for a new heat pump through the Washington state Energy Assistance Program’s Other Emergency Services and Puget Sound Energy’s program to help low-income households reduce their energy bills. “When you said you could replace it, I started crying,” Jennifer said. The combination of funding sources paid the full cost of the heat pump and electrical work, totaling more than $16,000. Jennifer said her electric bills are now 30% less. She, along with her three cats, are staying warmer in the home in winter and cooler in the summer. “We have big rigs going down the street all the time. Between that and the dust, I can’t open my windows. The air conditioning was a godsend this summer,” Jennifer said. “Everybody at HopeSource was wonderful, including Katie and Jeremy,” Jennifer said. She now looks forward to staying in place in her affordable home, thanks to a partnership between the Energy Assistance Program, Puget Sound Energy, and HopeSource.

The Moses Lake Open Doors Sleep Center has struggled to accommodate guests with pets in the past several years. Dogs are allowed in the shelter but require up-to-date vaccinations and city registration. Both of these are cost-prohibitive for our clients experiencing homelessness. The Sleep Center staff teamed up with Hands and Paws who generously donated to cover the cost of rabies vaccinations at a local veterinarian. The City of Moses Lake staff also stepped in and created a voucher system for those experiencing homelessness to register their pets at no cost.  Thanks to these measures, our guests with dogs no longer have to be turned away. We are so grateful for the collaboration and effort by everyone involved to make this happen!

The Moses Lake Open Doors Sleep Center has struggled to accommodate guests with pets in the past several years. Dogs are allowed in the shelter but require up-to-date vaccinations and city registration. Both of these are cost-prohibitive for our clients experiencing homelessness. The Sleep Center staff teamed up with Hands and Paws who generously donated to cover the cost of rabies vaccinations at a local veterinarian. The City of Moses Lake staff also stepped in and created a voucher system for those experiencing homelessness to register their pets at no cost.  Thanks to these measures, our guests with dogs no longer have to be turned away. We are so grateful for the collaboration and effort by everyone involved to make this happen!

Today we'd like to thank our partners at Soup on Saturdays who provide a warm meal for our Moses Lake Open Doors Sleep Center each Saturday night. These weekly soup nights bring a sense of comfort and community to our guests. It’s more than just food – it’s a reminder that people care!

Don't forget to take the 5-Year Homelessness Plan Survey for Kittitas County!

Last week we had the fantastic opportunity to get our entire staff from across Central Washington together for our annual all-staff retreat. The day was spent learning and engaging in our teams to highlight everyone's strengths! Thanks to our fantastic Director of Development, Brooke Richards, for leading us in training and to our friends at The Red Pickle for keeping us well fed!