MARYSVILLE — The road to recovery from homelessness and dependency is never easy, but Marysville has teamed with its faith-based community and the Everett Gospel Mission to extend a hand up to those who have made progress.
March 26 saw city officials and volunteers working on the Marysville Extended Shelter House to prepare for its April 1 opening. It represents the city’s first transitional housing for the homeless, and it’s received the support of organizations ranging from the Marysville Police Officers Association to local churches, including Allen Creek Community Church.
AC3 Executive Pastor Dan Hazen was joined by members of his congregation, including those enrolled in its recovery programs, in stocking the suburban house with furniture and supplies for as many as three formerly homeless individuals at a time, after they’ve successfully completed various rehabilitation programs and are ready to live independently.
“They’re poised to take the next step, but they wouldn’t have a place otherwise,” Hazen said. “We’ve got local churches fixing up the house, furnishing bedrooms and providing cleaning supplies. We’ll be there as neighbors too, paying them regular visits, and giving them rides for errands and appointments as needed. We call it ‘re-family-ing.’”
Cole Rarden, one of Hazen’s parishioners, installed a rod for shower curtains. Rarden works on houses for a living, and has coped with narcotics dependency himself, so he wants to help others recover as well.
“It’s part of our fellowship,” said Rarden, whose phone number is among dozens that volunteers left behind for the house’s residents to contact. “It’s great to see the community supporting folks in recovery. When Dan asked us in the church if we could help, I was all for it. If they need to call us, for any reason, we’ll be there.”
Mike and Trina Perry are also members of AC3, and have agreed to stop by on a regular basis, since they remember when they were nearly homeless.
“It’s providing them with the presence of people who have been there and done that, so we can share our experience, our strength and our help,” Mike Perry said. “We want to surround them with people who are doing all right, rather than their old playmates. It’s a positive influence, and I’m excited to serve.”
Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring touted the value of the partnerships between the city and community groups in changing people’s lives.
“It was a city-owned property,” Nehring said. “We provided the capital, which is a need that government can serve, but it really took the whole community coming together to make this happen, by donating their time, money and resources.”
Nehring cited a common desire to do more than just find short-term solutions for a long-term issue. By providing a safe place for people to live, and offering them vocational and life-skills training, he hopes these individuals can transition back into the community.
People eligible to live in the house will have completed programs offered through the Everett Gospel Mission, will have an income and pay rent, and will have the opportunity to join in various volunteer and community activities that will connect them with neighbors and local faith-based groups.
It also allows the Everett Gospel Mission to free up beds for those who are currently homeless in Marysville.
If successful, the city and its partner agencies hope to expand the program by opening more homes in the city to serve more participants.
