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Partner Agencies
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Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, Christ Our Hope partners with various organizations to support programs of compassionate outreach. These partner agencies provide important services to our brothers and sisters in need throughout the community.
We support our partner agencies include our Immersion Program, fiscal support, parishioner volunteers, in-kind donations, and more. -
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Other Partner AgenciesCatholic Relief Services for over 75 years has carried out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas and has reached over 130 million people. Within the United States, CRS engages Catholics to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering people of the world.The organization works in the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person through responding to major emergencies, health, microfinance, education, agriculture, and more.
Locally, through the Missions Office of the Seattle Archdiocese, we participate in the Rice Bowl program during Lent. Collecting funds to support the mission of CRS and providing education around countries CRS serves overseas. Our diocese has helped to develop and pilot the CRS Parish Ambassador Corps program. Parishioners participating in this program are passionate around global solidarity and coordinate yearly solidarity events such as our annual Advent Ethical Trade Sale and Rice Bowl Dinners. Become an ambassador to help our community respond to the Gospel call to care for those in need around the world.
Downtown Urban Rest Stop
The Downtown Urban Rest Stop (URS) is a hygiene center run by the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI). It provides free restrooms, showers and laundry facilities to homeless men, women and children within a clean, safe and dignified environment. Individuals who utilize URS receive free toiletries, referrals to services, and assistance in applying for housing. The URS has extended service hours designed to assist homeless persons who are working or seeking a job.Heritage House
Providence Heritage House is an assisted living facility in the heart of the Pike Place Market. This facility provides apartments that are staffed 24 hours a day including nurses onsite 16 hours a day. Heritage House is part of Providence Health & Services and shares the mission of providing assisted living services in a compassionate, residential environment in a manner that promotes individuals’ choice, independence, privacy, and dignity. This partner has a current need for volunteers who can provide a ministry of presence to residents on a recurring basis.
St. Vincent de Paul
Frederic Ozanam founded The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in 1833. An organization guided on the idea of serving the poor with dignity and respect. Today, St. Vincent de Paul is worldwide and in the United States has almost 150,000 members including approximately 1,200 members in the Seattle region. SVdP has been in Seattle since 1920 and has 53 local Catholic Church conferences including one here at Christ Our Hope.
Our conference operates with financial independence from SVdP, but with a programmatic connection. As a conference volunteer, members go directly into our downtown community to help provide basic needs after a referral from the SVdP Helpline. The Helpline is the largest referral agency for the 211 Crisis Line and in 2018 answered over 40,000 phone calls. St. Vincent de Paul and our conference helps our neighbors in need with dignity and respect.
We have a current need for conference members and financial support. Parishioners also support the work of the larger St. Vincent de Paul agency in our community by donating to their thrift stores and volunteering at the Georgetown food bank.
Market Commons
The Market Commons is a neighborhood center run by the Pike Place Market Foundation and connects many community members to services. Various programs that Commons host include walking groups, tech help courses, cooking classes, and Pike Bucks distribution amongst others. The Market Commons opened in 2017 as a welcoming and inclusive neighborhood center established by the Pike Place Market Foundation. It is hosts community programs, activities, and provides a space for people to access information about services that are provided in and around the Market. The Market Commons is located inside the new Western Avenue Senior Housing building which features 40 studio apartments, at 100% tax credit.Mary's Place
Mary’s Place helps families to find stable housing and empowers and equips them with the tools to be successful. They start by meeting people where they are and providing those basic needs such as shelter, safety, meals, showers laundry, services connection, and clean clothing. Mary’s Place was originally established as just a day center for homeless women about eight blocks east of the Josephinum. That original day center is now just one of many programs the organization runs.
Many Christ Our Hope parishioners support this organization with ongoing volunteering and donation drives. If you are interested in cooking a monthly lunch at Mary’s Place or other volunteering, contact the parish office and we will assist you in connecting to these opportunities.New Horizons
New Horizons is located in downtown Seattle several blocks away from Christ Our Hope. The organization connects youth experiencing homelessness to needed resources. New Horizons provides not only basic services such as food, shelter, clothes, a hot shower, but accompanies youth on their journey with job training, case management, and permanent housing. The organization serves around 200 unique clients per month.
Christ Our Hope has a monthly group that serves breakfast. The organization has a need for groups to serve breakfast and dinner in addition to donations of new socks and underwear.Operation Nightwatch
Operation Nightwatch started over 50 years ago as a street outreach ministry and continues as a grass-roots, volunteer-led group dedicated to loving all our neighbors, especially those without housing. Services include providing a hot meal each night at 9:00 p.m. and partners with other organizations to provide overnight shelter for men and women. Operation Nightwatch provides education, resource connection, and other services including operating a senior apartment building for formerly-homeless seniors.
Parishioners currently volunteer by going out on the streets to hand out food and listen to stories.
Pike Market Food Bank
The Pike Market Food Bank has been a fixture of the Market since 1979 and its mission is to help ensure that all residents of downtown Seattle have access to quality and nutritious food. This Food Bank is open on Tuesday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and Thursday mornings in partnership with several community sponsors including the Pike Place Market Foundation. In September 2018, over 89,000 pounds of food were distributed. This food bank facilitates a full grocery and check out model for shoppers to provide a dignified setting to any resident of the 98101, 98104, or 98121 zip codes as well as anyone who does not have housing (without an address) living in downtown Seattle.
Many Josephinum residents utilize this resource and parishioners are committed volunteers stocking and sorting food.
Plymouth Housing
Plymouth is one of the largest low-income housing providers in downtown Seattle and provides safe and supportive housing for all of its residents through the housing first philosophy. Plymouth works to eliminate homelessness and address the root causes of the issue. They provide safe and supportive housing as well as opportunities for individuals to stabilize and improve their lives.
Real Change
Real Change provides opportunities and a voice for low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic, social and racial justice. The organization runs an award-winning weekly newspaper that provides immediate employment opportunity for individuals it serves to sell the paper. We often partner with Real Change to help bring speakers into talk at events or with students through their Homeless Speakers Bureau.
Recovery Café
Recovery Café provides a safe space for community members who have struggled with or who are struggling with homelessness, addiction, and other mental health challenges to gather. Recovery Café provides a safe community space for those who have been traumatized by homelessness, addiction, and other mental health challenges to come together and share their gifts, stories, and know they are loved. This is a safe, warm, drug and alcohol-free space that anchors members in their sustained recovery. It provides free nutritious meals to members, access to a computer lab, a free full-service coffee bar, recovery circles offering peer support, 12-step meetings, referral services, and much more. Recovery Café helps individuals recognize that they are a person worthy of giving and receiving love while also allowing mental health and addiction support professionals focus on health maintenance and addiction prevention.
Christ Our Hope parishioners volunteer at the Cafe on a weekly basis and we are happy to help facilitate a connection if you are interested in providing a ministry of presence or other volunteer support to the Cafe.Union Gospel Mission
Seattle's Union Gospel Mission serves, rescues, and transforms those in greatest need through the grace of Jesus Christ. The organization provides 24/7 support services for homeless people in King County as they walk alongside folks and aim to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Services provided include emergency care, meals, shelter, and recovery programs.
A group of parishioners currently volunteer to serve dinner once a month at the Pioneer Square location. Interested in learning more? Contact the parish office.