At Vision House, we don’t make flashy New Year’s resolutions. We do set a lot of goals though. Each year at Vision House, we look back over what we’ve accomplished in the last year and we renew our commitment to the families we serve. It’s something we’ve done for the past 35 years: help families flourish. In 2025, that meant pushing harder in three powerful areas: fundraising, community building, and expansion.

We Raised $760,000 at Our Annual Luncheon

Over 700 people helped raise $760,000 at our annual luncheon, gathering to hear author Kevin F. Adler, award-winning social entrepreneur and the author of the new book When We Walk By, a must-read guide for ending homelessness in America. Kevin spoke about his uncle, who lived on the streets for 30 years while dealing with mental illness. Kevin’s story hit hard because it was both unique and painfully familiar to stories we witness in Vision House diversion centers of families living in their car, or tents, or friends’ couches.

Luncheon guests left understanding that families in need aren’t statistics. The $760,000 that they raised can provide nearly 13,000 nights of safety for families in our community caught in the homelessness crisis.

A New Partnership Builds for the Future

Vision House was selected as one of 100 recipients nationwide for a Lowe’s Hometowns grant. The $200,000 funded a kitchen remodel, deck replacements, the repainting of the building exteriors, and repairs that keep our facilities safe, warm, and inviting.

But Lowe’s also sent a team to provide a day of service at our facility. Actual employees in their red vests spent hours rebuilding playground walls, installing exterior lighting to make evening walks safer, planting bulbs that will bloom next spring for families we haven’t even met yet. They rebuilt a pedestrian bridge connecting family units to common areas, so parents can safely push strollers, and kids can run across without risk.

More Services for More Families

The hardest conversations happen when families call desperate for help and we’re at capacity. Our Diversion Centers are places of resource and support. They have computers, WiFi, and printers available for housing and job searches. They are staffed by our team, which provides one-on-one, in-person assistance by appointment. Diversion Centers offer direction and help in searching for housing and employment, provide shelter referrals, and offer guidance in navigating community resources. The Diversion Center model allows for dignity and pride of self-reliance, offering tools and partnership.

That’s why we opened a new Diversion Center in Shoreline and expanded services in Renton. While we had been offering some diversion services in Shoreline for a while, with this new building we have been able to expand our services offered there. These centers provide a place to shower, do laundry, and let kids play while parents meet with our specialists. Last year through diversion, 61 families moved directly into permanent housing. You can help our diversion centers directly through their Amazon wish lists!

Expansion means we can say yes more often.

That’s a wrap on 2025 for Vision House. If you were part of it, thank you for helping us keep our promises. Interested in partnering with us in 2026?  We’re already looking forward to our Annual Luncheon, happening this year on Tuesday, May 5, from 12:00-1:00 pm at the Meydenbauer Center, in Bellevue, Washington!  Join us for lunch and to hear from award-winning author Rev. Eugene Cho about how children are impacted by homelessness, as well as what else Vision House is doing in 2026, and how you can help. We hope to see you there!