Updated, Jan. 20–Shelter will also be open this evening, Fri., Jan. 20.

Because of the snowstorm and its accompanying cold temperatures, the City of Kent is opening the Kent Severe Weather Shelter at the Kent Lutheran Church tonight, Jan. 18 through Fri., Jan. 20. Here are the details:

Location:  Kent Lutheran Church, 336 2nd Ave. S., Kent, WA  98032

Check-in and registration:  9 p.m.  (all guests must register)

Shelter closes, guests must leave:  7 a.m.

The shelter is giving priority to homeless families with children who are living on the streets or in their vehicles. Men and women without children are also welcome. There is separate sleeping space available for families, men and women.

The Severe Weather Shelter is operated by Catholic Community Services staff and volunteers from the Kent Lutheran Church and Kent community.

To locate shelters in Renton, Federal Way, Bellevue and Seattle, dial 2-1-1.

If you know of a homeless person or family who needs shelter, please share this information with them.

Vision House of Renton is looking for local businesses, churches and other organizations to host Giving Trees to help make Christmas brighter for homeless kids and families. Here’s how it works:

1. Contact Kristi at Vision House to adopt a 3-foot, artificial tree. She’ll have it delivered to you by the end of November.
2. People will take tags off the tree as a reminder and then purchase a gift card or make a donation.
3. Kristi will pick up trees, gift cards and donations before Christmas.
4. The donations will be used to support homeless children and families in the Vision House program. In addition to gifts, the donations will be used to buy food, clothing and household and school supplies.

Please help make the holidays brighter for a homeless family. Visit Vision House online for more info. or call Kristi at 425-228-6356.

For more details, download this flyer.

Vision House of Renton is hosting its annual No Homeless Kids Benefit Luncheon on Wed., May 18 at the Bellevue Hilton Hotel. Check-in begins at 11:30 am and the program lasts from noon to 1 p.m. The event will be emceed by Tony Ventrella, local TV personality and Seahawks.com digital media host. The event is free, but RSVPs are required, so register now.

Started in 1990, Vision House has been serving homeless families for 20 years. The nonprofit organization provides transitional housing and support services to homeless mothers and their children. Its latest project is Jacob’s Well, a three-phrase housing development project in Shoreline, Washington. Click here to read more.

The City of Kent is activating the Severe Weather Shelter (SWS) tonight at Kent Lutheran Church for the evenings of Monday January 10, Tuesday January 11, and Wednesday January 12 due to predicted dangerously low temperatures and snow.

Kent Lutheran Church
336 2nd Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032-5849

9 P.M. – Check-in and registration

7 A.M. – shelter closes, clients must vacate

Priority is given to homeless families with children who are living on the streets or in vehicles, but the SWS is also available for single women and men. The SWS will be operated by Catholic Community Services staff, and volunteers from Kent Lutheran Church and the Kent community.

The SWS will open at 9 P.M. Clients must register at the door. As with all shelters, rules for the health and safety of all clients and staff and the broader community will apply.

Please help distribute this announcement.

City of Kent, Housing and Human Services
253-856-5070

Vision House, a Renton-based nonprofit serving homeless families and children, is looking for businesses and other organizations to host its Giving Trees during the holiday season. If you’d like to host a tree at your location, contact Kristi Slattery at 425-228-6356 or via email.

Download the flyer for more details.

For more information about Vision House, view their brief holiday video here.

Support Vision House and homeless families and children this holiday season.

Vision House needs your gently-used, SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS to help the nonprofit raise funds during its summer garage sale.  Donations are requested by July 31, except for large furniture in good condition which can be accepted only on August 19 and 20. Proceeds of the garage sale will benefit Vision House, a Renton-based nonprofit that serves homeless families and children. If you have items to donate, please contact volunteer coordinator Kristi Slattery via email or by phone at 425-228-6356.

Note:  Vision House cannot accept broken or damaged items or items with missing pieces; car radios; adult clothing; computers, software & peripherals; or baby equipment with safety issues.)

The Vision House Garage Sale is scheduled for August 21 – 22 at the Children’s Village Child Care Center, 450 Bremerton Ave. NE, Renton, WA.

Our resident “store,” where Vision House families shop for free, is in need of gently-used little boy’s clothing. We currently have enough in adults and little girls, but little boys seem to be tougher on their clothes so our supply is pretty low. For more information, please visit Vision House online or on Facebook.

Since 1990, Renton based Vision House has helped to break the cycle of homelessness in men, women and children in Washington State. With homes and facilities throughout Western Washington, Vision House has helped the homeless by providing shelter, services and support to help them become self-sufficient again. To learn more about how you can help, please visit the Vision House website or watch this powerful video.