For about a decade now, Emmanuel Church has partnered with Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission to host a small, high-commitment men’s homeless shelter in our church facility. This program has grown a bit more refined and impactful each year, and has overwhelmingly been embraced by the neighborhood.
Quick facts:
- Unlike some other shelter models, this one does not operate on a drop-in basis, and it is limited to a committed group of 20 men.
- Each guest registers and completes a background check at the start of the season, and receives a reserved bed and personal space.
- The men are required to stay with us every night from November 1 – April 1, or until they achieve independent housing.
- Staffed by professional service providers from UGM at all times (from 7:30pm to 6:30am), this is a supervised dry shelter with zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol.
We recognize this particular model is not the answer for everyone experiencing homelessness, but our goal is that it can be a launching pad for those who are looking for greater stability and deeper community connection.
Would you like to make a financial contribution to help us purchase needed supplies for the shelter? Visit the Emmanuel Giving site to make a one-time or recurring gift, and use the ‘notes’ section to indicate men’s shelter when completing your transaction.