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Friendship House reports 546 people served at First Step tiny‑house site; nonprofit seeks $270,000 to close shortfall
Summary
Jonathan Klein, director of Friendship House, told the council the Skagit First Step Center housed about 546 people last year using 45 tiny homes, served 66,000 meals countywide and faces a roughly $270,000 shortfall in operating funds.
Jonathan Klein, director of Friendship House, described the nonprofit’s shelter network and the Skagit First Step Center during the council meeting, and outlined recent program metrics and funding needs.
Friendship House operates emergency shelter, two sober‑living houses (one women and children), a transitional housing program with 12 rooms, and the 45‑unit Skagit First Step Center in Burlington. Klein said the center uses tiny homes to provide individually keyed, low‑density shelter and that last year 546 people came through the coordinated‑entry pathway into the First Step program. Klein said the center’s average length of stay has increased from 80 to 110 days in recent years because of health and elderly vulnerabilities among the population served.
Klein reported program outcomes and services: 64 people who entered First Step moved directly into housing last year that staff could verify; staff helped 69 people complete housing applications and linked 98 people with new mental‑health providers. Friendship House also provides community services at its Mount Vernon campus: a 24/7 meal program that served about 66,000 free meals last year, free showers and laundry, a donation room and transportation for medical appointments.
Klein discussed funding: the First Step Center budget shows an operational gap he estimated near $270,000 after the latest grant cycle; the group is adding three additional tiny units with city support and is seeking other operational funding. He said a new tiny home unit typically costs about $15,000 and that Friendship House’s operating cost per bed (meals, transport, case work) is under about $70 per person per day.
Council members asked about connections to youth services, pets in shelters and senior clients; Klein said First Step allows pets, will coordinate youth with youth‑specific shelters, and has seen rising numbers of seniors displaced by rent increases.
Klein also described police drop‑off referrals: in addition to the 546 coordinated‑entry placements, Friendship House accepted roughly 230 police drop‑offs from across the county and ran a cold‑weather shelter that served 175 distinct people during the winter months.
