We’re honored to share that egm was recently featured in Snohomish City Lifestyle, in an article titled “Everett Gospel Mission: Standing in the Gap for Men and Families.” Written by Courtney Evans, the piece takes readers inside the work egm has been doing across Snohomish County since 1961 — and where that work is headed next.
A Legacy of Standing in the Gap
The article traces egm’s history from a simple response to urgent need into what has become the county’s largest faith-based poverty relief organization, and its only emergency shelter for single men. Each night, an average of 300 men, women, and children find safety, meals, and a bed at egm’s shelters.
Nathan “Chivo” Hawkins, egm’s Director of Advancement, spoke with City Lifestyle about what that looks like in practice — including how low barrier shelter gives neighbors room to stabilize without the pressure of leaving each morning, as long as they stay engaged in services. Hawkins also touched on a shift the mission has watched unfold over time: more and more older neighbors finding that a lifetime of work and social security no longer covers the cost of housing.
As Hawkins put it in the piece, poverty isn’t a reflection of someone’s character — life can converge in ways that leave a person without a place to live.
Relief, Rehabilitation, Development
The article walks through egm’s three part approach — relief, rehabilitation, and development — and highlights the full scope of the mission’s work beyond the men’s shelter, including support for women and families and its role as the county’s distribution hub for housing and essential needs.
Looking Ahead
The feature also looks forward. A temporary downtown shelter site opened during the pandemic will close this year due to redevelopment, meaning a season without up to eighty emergency beds. At the same time, egm’s Smith Avenue campus expansion is underway, with two additional buildings being renovated to add 108 new year-round beds and boost family shelter capacity by 25 percent. Once finished, the expanded campus will also serve as a community resource center with room for health providers and partner organizations.
As Hawkins shared, egm can’t meet these moments alone — it takes donors, volunteers, churches, and businesses standing alongside the mission.
Read the full feature here: Everett Gospel Mission: Standing in the Gap for Men and Families →
To learn more about egm or get involved, visit egmission.org or call (425) 740-2500.
