Homeless services agency $4 million closer to new Rainier Valley home

Note: This story has been altered. An earlier version of the accompanying map misidentified the purpose of the facility Family Services plans to build in south Seattle.

Family Services has helped put a roof over the heads of thousands of homeless families in its 115 years in Seattle, but the diverse organization has never had a home of its own.

But it could soon.

The Seattle Rotary announced Wednesday that it has raised $4.16 million toward building a headquarters for the agency. Construction is expected to begin next spring on the Rotary Support Center for Families, with plans to open in the spring of 2009.

"The impact of this donation will be seen for generations to come," said Ruthann Howell, president of Family Services.

The new center will consolidate all the programs and administrative offices of Family Services at 1924 Rainier Ave. S.

The organization offers homeless families services to help them regain stability, including child care, parenting classes, eviction prevention, counseling, domestic violence intervention and housing support.

The Rotary donation brings the total amount raised by Family Services for the project to $7 million. The agency hopes to raise a total of $10.5 million.

Howell said that along with the money, Rotary members also raised community awareness of the organization, which works to help families move out of homelessness.

"We are above the radar now, and people know who we are," Howell told Rotary members at a celebratory lunch meeting Wednesday complete with cabaret singers and Broadway tunes. She said she senses a more optimistic attitude toward the effort to end homelessness.

"There has to be the will to make changes, and the will to make it happen," Howell said.

The agency focuses on families that fall into homelessness for a variety of reasons, but most commonly because of domestic violence or mental health issues.

With the new building comes a new goal: to end homelessness for 5,000 families in the first 10 years in its new building.

Howell said that on any given day, about 600 Seattle and King County children don't know where they will be sleeping. "It has to stop," Howell said.

Seattle Rotarians apparently agreed. The $4.16 million was raised in less than a year, and is among the most raised by Rotary for a single project.

"The cause really resonated with the club," said Seattle Rotary President Bill Center. "Family Services has solutions that work."

Last year, Seattle Rotary invited 41 non-profit agencies to apply for the Rotary Centennial Award, and selected Family Service.

Family Services started in 1892 as the Bureau of Associated Charities of Seattle.

The agency has helped families through the Great Depression, wars and changing cultural fabric of the city.