Your Voice is Needed:
Act Now to Help Replace and Expand Critical Shelter for Snohomish & Island Counties
Local legislators have asked the state to include $3.75 million in this year’s budget to replace lost shelter space and expand egm’s Smith Campus.
You can help today, here’s how:
Washington State’s Capital Budget is shaped by legislators and by the constituents they hear from. A brief, straightforward message from a community member often carries more weight than any briefing packet.
By contacting your state Senator and Representatives, you’re helping ensure our region doesn’t lose essential emergency shelter beds at a time when need is rising. Every message matters. Truly.
Take 3 simple steps right now:
Step 1 — Find your lawmakers here.
Step 2 — Email your Senator and both Representatives.
Use this short message (or write your own):
Subject: Please support $3.75M for Everett Gospel Mission’s Smith Campus Expansion
Message: Hello [Sen./Rep. Last Name],
I live in [City] and I’m asking you to support a $3.75M direct capital appropriation for Everett Gospel Mission’s Smith Campus Expansion. EGM is the only walk in emergency shelter for single adults across Snohomish County and much of Island County, and the community is losing 40 year-round and 40 emergency beds with the closure of the 2020 shelter. This project replaces that capacity, adding 108 secure beds, and strengthens stabilization and pathways to housing and treatment.
Thank you for your support.
[Name]
[City / ZIP]
Step 3 — (Optional but powerful) Ask 3 friends to do the same.
A ripple of local voices becomes a wave very quickly.
Why the Smith Campus Expansion Matters:
Snohomish & Island County’s 2020 emergency shelter operated by egm—one of the region’s most essential lifelines—is closing due to the sale of the building.
When it closes, our community will immediately lose:
- 40 year-round emergency shelter beds.
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- Another 40 climate emergency beds during extreme weather
egm is the only emergency shelter where single adults can walk in without a referral across Snohomish County and much of Island County. The loss of anticipated funding from the recent Washington State Housing Trust is jeopardizing this project.
egm’s Smith Campus Expansion
- Replaces the closing 2020 emergency shelter and increases capacity
- Adds 108 additional secure beds for men and women
- Creates a dedicated shelter for addiction recovery and emergency stabilization
- Provides community partner service spaces, improved safety, and trauma-informed design for life transformation
- Advances a national best-practice shelter model invented by egm, focused on safe, dignity-centered design that supports health and change
Why a direct appropriation:
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- An “appropriation” is money designated in the state budget for a specific project. Public support helps leaders know it matters to our community.
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- The expansion is shovel-ready; construction was scheduled to begin in June. Unfortunately, due to the gap left by the recent Washington State Housing Trust Fund cycle, our community needs this direct capital appropriation to prevent further delays and minimize the gap in shelter services.
Local partners have already committed significant funding, including:
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- $4M from the city of Everett
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- $5.8M from Snohomish County
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- $3M federal home loan bank award
A direct appropriation from the state would help make the most of these existing commitments by reducing the risk of delays and cost increases.
Helpful to know:
Who is sponsoring this request:
egm is deeply grateful to Representative Mary Fosse in the House and Senator June Robinson in the Senate for sponsoring this request. Representative Julio Cortez is also supporting the request. Please take a moment to thank them. You can email them from their linked pages above. It’s critical they know that their work matters to you and you appreciate their support of egm.
egm’s approach and partnerships:
egm is a faith-based organization, but we do not require religious participation as a condition of receiving shelter or services. We serve people without discrimination and are a long-standing critical partner with city/county systems and community providers.
Operational sustainability:
egm has the funding and support model to operate the facility after construction. Our ongoing operations are supported through a long-standing base of private philanthropy and ongoing contracts with Snohomish County.
Here is a letter of support from the Human Services director of Snohomish County sharing their intention to support operations and maintenance of the expanded shelter project.
Additional Information:
EGMission.org/AtAGlance – egm overview