With Steve Curry, a coordinator at Compass Housing Alliance
The new Christ Our Hope Catholic Parish hosted the First Annual Downtown Volunteer Fair this past Sunday. The parish is actively engaged in promoting social justice efforts and ministry to low-income and vulnerable people in the downtown Seattle neighborhood, and they opened their doors on Sunday with an event meant to introduce the general public to experts, advocates and current volunteers from 25 agencies serving the poor, homeless and needy.
Compass Housing Alliance was one of the organizations on hand. They provide a range of services and housing options to people struggling with homelessness and poverty in the Seattle area. Their focus is on three primary points: services, shelter, and transitional housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, permanent low-income housing for individuals or families who do not make a living wage or are formerly homeless, and development of affordable housing units for low-income tenants.
Co-sponsored by Church Council of Greater Seattle, Downtown Seattle Association and Pike Place Market Foundation, Sunday’s fair featured representatives from nonprofit agencies serving the downtown area and beyond. Each group had a table and attendees had the opportunity to learn about the various programs and explore ways to assist them in their respective missions by donating their time, talent and resources.
Agencies represented include:
- Big Brothers Big sisters
- Bread of Life Mission
- Cabrini Ministry
- Catholic Community Services – Catholic Housing Services
- Church Council of Greater Seattle
- Compass Housing Alliance
- Downtown Emergency Service Center
- First United Methodist Urban Outreach
- Gethsemane Lutheran Church
- Gethsemane Community Services
- Mary’s Place
- Millionair Club
- New Horizon Ministries
- Operation Nightwatch
- Pike Place Market Foundation – Senior Center and Food Bank
- Plymouth Housing
- Poverty Action Network
- Providence Health Services
- Real Change
- Recovery Café
- Salvation Army
- Seattle Archdiocese Criminal Justice Ministry
- Senior Services of Seattle & King County
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Union Gospel Mission
- YouthCare – Orion Center
- YWCA
Visit the link above to read more about the fair, and use the links provided on the site if you’re interested in learning more about any of the 25 organizations who are looking for your time and talent.