Friendship House

Friendship House was organized in 1986 to address an urgent need for our community to help homeless people in a constructive and compassionate manner.

Today, Friendship House provides shelter and food for more than 1,500 people each year. Most of these people are residents of the Skagit Valley; they are truly our neighbors.

At Friendship House we provide support in the form of clean shelter, clothing, and other immediate needs from donations; a caring space and support structure; and an alliance with the area’s network of social service agencies in order that each guest can develop a personalized action plan to regain self-worth, self-sufficiency, and their place as a contributing member of the community.

Our services consist of the following:

Men’s House: The Men’s House was our first building. Each night it provides shelter and services for up to 24 (clean & sober) men. It is the only men’s shelter in the area.              

Women’s House: The Women’s House was opened in 1990 and provides shelter and services for up to 20 (clean & sober) women and children.              

To enter housing: Those wishing to enter Friendship House shelters need to speak with either Kristi (Men’s House manager) or Carly (Women’s house manager). They will need to go through an interview process, be clean upon entering, and abide by all house rules. 

Transitional Housing: One large, five bedroom, three bathroom is located in Burlington to provide low-income housing for up to five occupants who are transition from the Friendship House emergency shelters. 

Barbara’s House: Friendship House has longer term transitional, low income housing dedicated as Barbara’s House with five bedrooms that can house five individuals on fixed incomes and includes two ADA accessible rooms.

Skagit First Step Center  Friendship House is contracted to run for the city of Burlington.  This shelter consists of 45 individual cabins.  It is a low barrier facility.  To apply for housing for this facility you must apply through Community Action.

Basic Services:

Café: The Café serves 3 meals per day to house residents and dinner every day (5:30-6:30pm) of the year to anyone in the community in need of a meal. It also houses our Hunger to Hope program, which teaches apprentices basic culinary skills and helps them in job search. 

Sack Lunch Van:  A van hands out sack lunches from 11:30 - 12noon every day of the week at the empty lot west to the railroad tracks across the street from Mount Vernon Carpet One, 400 W. Fir Street, Mount Vernon,  WA 98273

Love & Laundry

• Open 1-4pm Wednesday & Thursday  There is a signup sheet on the Laundry door behind the Friendship House Men's House 

Donation Room: The donation room, located behind the Women's House is open to the community Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Showers : for women: Monday-Friday 1-3pm   S. 3922rd St, Mount Vernon,  WA      individuals allotted 20 min                                       for men:  Tues, Thurs & Sun  9:45-11am      individuals allotted 15min

Towels and toiletries are provided

SUPPORT:

Hunger to Hope: 12-week culinary apprenticeship (Employment Training)

• The goal is to teach people how to deal with real life work environments and gain basic job skills
• Nonresidents can apply
• Time commitment: Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (may be able to work with other schedules)
• If interested speak to Tom Hoffman: 360-854-8718 or tom@skagitfriendshiphouse.org

Donations:

• We can accept most donations
• Biggest needs: Socks, underwear and clothing. Always needing smaller sized men's clothing (sizes 32-36). Personal hygiene products (smaller sizes preferred).
• We welcome non-perishable food that is not past expired date. Please drop at our Cafe between 8-4 Mon-Fri
• Large items like furniture/vehicles cannot be accepted because we lack storage