Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrating the EGH Day Center Remodel with Pastor Ron Moe-Lobeda, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Ruth Herold and Bob Chamberlain
On March 5th 2016, Elizabeth Gregory Home opened its doors to the public for a joyous celebration and unveiling of the completed remodel project in our Day Center. After several years of planning, designing and raising the necessary funding, construction began in July 2015. We are excited to move into our new surroundings and launch essential and innovative programming aimed at best serving homeless and at risk women in Seattle.
We were delighted by community interest and response. We were thrilled to be joined by community partners from across the city, including the City of Seattle, Pride Foundation, Rental Housing Association of Washington Foundation, Employees Community Fund of Boeing, Adams Architecture, Fischer Plumbing, Mark’s Home Repairs and Remodeling, University Lutheran Church, University District Rotary Service Fund, WINS Group, Chamberlain Family Fund, Christ Episcopal Church and Richmond Beach Congregational Church, as well as a wide range of individual donors, friends and volunteers.
We were also grateful for media coverage of our event from FOX, KIRO, KOMO and KING. The following is a link to a feature by Debra Horne: KIRO Report on Showers for Homeless Women at EGH
Our preparations for the gathering were just winding up when we got the news that Mayor Ed Murray would join our grand opening. It’s an encouragement to all of us who serve people experiencing homelessness to know that our city’s leaders are supportive of our work.
“There isn’t one answer to solving the crisis of homelessness that this city faces,” said Mayor Murray. “But it is this project that we are about to cut the ribbon for today that symbolizes how we will eventually be able to address this crisis.”
Our expansion project was influenced by several factors. One, community need: the number of women served at EGH grew by 80% over the past four years. Two, service gaps: we listened carefully to women sharing their daily struggles with getting needs met in multiple locations, which thwarted their ability to find long-term solutions supporting their independence. With this awareness, we recognized that by adding showers, we would in fact be able to help fill that gap. And finally, the most influential factor of all was being true to Elizabeth Gregory Home’s mission: providing a welcoming and respectful refuge where homeless and at-risk women have access to compassionate care.
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