PorchLight

Congregation Liaison: Outreach and Servant Ministries Committee

PorchLight (formerly Congregations for the Homeless [CFH]) is an organization whose mission is to end homelessness on the Eastside by helping men make the transition from life on the street to stable, independent living.

PorchLight operates a year-round rotating shelter program; comprehensive case management and life coaching for the men served; an emergency shelter that is an overnight refuge and can connect clients to needed resources; a day center that provides men with meals, showers, laundry facilities, computers, clothing, bus tickets, and hygiene products; and a subsidized housing program to help men transition to independent living.

The administrative offices of PorchLight (then CFH) were at Saint Andrew’s for ten years. They are now located on Eastgate Way in Bellevue.

Saint Andrew’s supports PorchLight with budgeted funds, collection of clothing and toiletries, and by hosting the men in the Rotating Shelter Program.
Some members provide meals for the men in the rotating shelter program when they are hosted at other churches.

Current Opportunities

God’s Work, Our Hands Service Project

Saturday, September 7, 2024 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm |  a Porchlight Group Home near Factoria

Join us Saturday, September 7, for the 2024 God’s Work, Our Hands service project! God’s Work, Our Hands is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America national service project day. The second Saturday is September is set aside by Lutheran churches to help our communities through service work.

We will do much-needed work for a Porchlight Group Home near Factoria. (Read more about the group homes below*.)

The work party runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Lunch will be provided. Carpool from church at 9:45 am.
Morning and afternoon shifts are available if you can’t stay the whole time.

The house we’ll work on needs some interior painting. The prep work will be done, and paint and brushes provided.
We will also be working outdoors: weeding, trimming, and spreading bark.
Bring gloves, your favorite gardening tools, and do wear painter/yardwork clothes.

Please sign up by contacting Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, 425-746-2529 or sherry@salc.church.

*Wait!  What is a “group home”?  Porchlight rents 10 homes in the area and houses 5-10 men in each house. They have a house manager who assigns chores, collects rent, and enforces rules. This is a great solution to find housing for men who have disabilities or are not ready to live independently.
Porchlight (formerly Congregations for the Homeless) runs the Emergency Shelter for men (EMS), has the Rotating Shelter which is housed at various churches, and subsidizes housing in apartments and group homes.

• Rotating Shelter Program

  Saint Andrew’s hosts the PorchLight Rotating Shelter Program for one month a year. This is a great program for the men to remain clean and sober while they earn money on their journey towards a home of their own!
  The men and a staff member arrive nightly at 6:00 pm and leave at 7:30 am.

  A team of Saint Andrew’s congregation Liaisons and volunteers help to oversee and coordinate hosting the program. They recruit volunteers, schedule dinners, and organize supplies, breakfasts, and lunches. Council members serve as key contacts and advisers to the Saint Andrew’s liaisons.

  Please contact Cheryl Jurrus with questions.

• Collections

  Donations Needed
  PorchLight is always in need of donations of warm jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, athletic shoes, jeans, long sleeve knit shirts, knit hats, and new underwear and socks for men. Please leave them in the “PorchLight” basket near the elevator in the narthex or contact Cheryl Jurrus to have them picked up. Thank you!
  Contact Cheryl Jurrus for more information or to arrange a donation and get a receipt.