Interfaith Council seeks help to keep Vashon housed

“People are really hurting.”

By Alex Bruell • December 13, 2023 1:30 am
Hilary Emmer (left), of the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness, and Mike Ivaska, pastor of Vashon Island Community Church, surveyed a nearly sold-out benefit concert for IFCH performed by Portage Fill at Vashon Theatre (Elizabeth Shepherd Photo).
Hilary Emmer (left), of the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness, and Mike Ivaska, pastor of Vashon Island Community Church, surveyed a nearly sold-out benefit concert for IFCH performed by Portage Fill at Vashon Theatre (Elizabeth Shepherd Photo).

The Vashon Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (IFCH) will begin the new year with openings on its board, and it is looking for islanders’ help to continue its mission of keeping people on Vashon housed.

“We need people who are willing to work and volunteer, and have empathy for all the people in our community and especially people in need,” IFCH President Hilary Emmer said.

The IFCH works with islanders who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. It helps Vashon residents with rent and utilities, coordinates 17 teams cooking hot meals five days a week at the Presbyterian Church, helps repair vehicles and secure sleeping bags or tents for people without a steady home, helps seniors get dental care through a grant from Granny’s Attic, and provides a sounding board for those in need.

“I personally think that we are a safety net for so many people,” Emmer said.

In Vashon’s squeezed rental market, it’s no small feat to afford a place to live. IFCH’s mission is to give families breathing room to survive the bumps and challenges and remain capable of supporting themselves.

An IFCH program granting $500 per month to help households with rent and utilities started in 2022 and ended this summer after distributing more than $300,000 to 41 households. IFCH still aids islanders facing temporary financial hardships in a separate program, and has already disbursed about $15,000 more by October 2023 for this year than it had for the entirety of 2022.

“People are really hurting,” Emmer said.

The program requires recipients to demonstrate their need and IFCH sends the money directly to homeowners or utility companies.

“Our goal is to keep people housed — not enable them — and to get them over humps,” Emmer said.

As IFCH enters the new year, it is looking for a new volunteer president and board members who can bring skills to further the efforts of the housing assistance organization. Specifically, the organization is looking for people with experience managing finances, running meetings and managing technology.

Emmer, as president of IFCH, ends her term this year. The organization’s board will nominate and vote for a new president during their January 2024 meeting.

To learn more about IFCH, or to donate, visit ifchvashon.org. You can call (206) 643-5169 for assistance. Those interested in joining the board or volunteering can also contact Emmer at 206-463-7277.