Since opening its doors in 1961, Everett Gospel Mission has served as a refuge for men in Snohomish County. What began as a simple response to urgent need has grown into the largest faith-based poverty relief organization in the county. It remains the only emergency shelter for single men in Snohomish County.
Every night, an average of 300 men, women, and children find safety, meals, and a bed at the Mission’s various shelters across Snohomish County. But the Mission offers far more than a place to sleep; it provides a pathway forward.
“We want the people who come to the Mission to feel respected and supported,” says Nathan ‘Chivo’ Hawkins, Director of Advancement. “We see a person who has value.”
Through a basic intake process and background check, guests can access what is known as low barrier shelter. If space is available, they are given a safe place to stay. Unlike many shelters, guests are not required to leave each morning. As long as they engage in services, they can remain and begin rebuilding their lives. That stability creates space to address deeper challenges.
“We have many guests who are working,” Hawkins explains. “If you visit during the middle of the day, many are at their jobs or in training programs. Some are waiting years for affordable housing.”
The median age at the shelters has steadily increased. Many older people who worked their entire lives now find that social security does not cover today’s housing costs. A medical emergency can drain savings. Without close family or strong support networks, they can quickly lose housing.
“Poverty is not a character flaw,” Hawkins says. “Being economically poor is not always the result of bad decisions. Life can converge in ways that leave someone without housing.”
Everett Gospel Mission addresses these realities through a three part approach: relief, rehabilitation, and development.
“When people understand the depth of what we do, they do not just see a shelter,” Hawkins says. “They see innovation, dignity, and hope in action.”
While EGM is known for their men’s shelter, the Mission also serves women and families. It is the largest shelter provider for women in Snohomish County, serving as the county’s distribution center for housing and essential needs, supplying hygiene items, cleaning products, and transportation assistance to qualifying residents.
The Mission does not require religious participation for services. “We do not discriminate,” Hawkins says. “We serve people of any faith background or none at all. Religious participation is never required.”
This year brings both challenges and opportunities. A temporary, downtown shelter site that opened during the pandemic will close due to redevelopment of the building. That closure will result in the loss of up to eighty emergency beds for a season.
At the same time, Everett Gospel Mission is expanding its Smith Avenue campus. Two additional buildings are being renovated and connected to the existing facility. When complete, the expansion will add one hundred eight new year round beds and increase family shelter capacity by twenty five percent. The goal is not just more shelter, but more comprehensive care. The expanded campus will serve as a community resource center with space for health providers, partner organizations, and neighborhood engagement.
There will be a temporary gap before the expansion is finished. That gap makes community partnership more important than ever.
“We exist for our community,” Hawkins says. “When our community asks us to step up, we want to say yes. But we cannot do it alone.”
Donors, volunteers, churches, and businesses provide stability that public funding cannot always guarantee. Their support ensures that when a man reaches the end of his options, a door is still open. At Everett Gospel Mission, guests find more than a bed. They find safety, support, and the chance to begin again.
For more information, to get involved, or to connect someone with services, visit egmission.org or call (425) 740-2500.
At Everett Gospel Mission, guests find more than a bed. They find safety, support, and the chance to begin again.