Named for our visionary retired Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen, the Hunthausen Fund first began awarding no interest loans and grants to help house the working poor in October 2001.  It’s a unique “hands-up” approach to reducing homelessness.  Since that time, a total amount of more than $1,000,000 has been distributed to nearly 1,000 families and special-needs adults. This past year, $62,500 was distributed to 56 families in need.
 
But more important than the facts and figures are the stories of people helped thanks to your generosity. A grant from the Hunthausen Fund is more than a check: arriving at the right time, it can truly be life-changing.

• Dan Smith (not his real name), a 59-year-old disabled man, came to Catholic Community Services in 2017 where he stayed in the St. Martin de Porres overnight men’s shelter. Mr. Smith applied for housing with Seattle Housing Authority in 2019. In early 2020 when COVID hit, the St. Martin de Porres shelter moved many of their overnight residents to a hotel, and later into a new 24-hour shelter. This move allowed Mr. Smith daytime stability where he was able to work on getting his needed documents for the Housing Authority. In early 2022 Mr. Smith was finally able to move into his own apartment with move-in assistance provided by the Hunthausen Fund. Mr. Smith has maintained his housing for nearly a year and thankful to have his own place finally.
•  Anna James (not her real name), a 40-year-old single mother, was living in an apartment with a housing voucher for formerly homeless parents who have had DSHS interventions. Ms. James had some safety concerns at her apartment and felt the need to move, to keep herself and her child safe. Ms. James did not have the funds needed to make that move, so her case manager reached out to Hunthausen Fund for assistance. The Hunthausen Fund was able to provide assistance for Ms. James, who is now living in a new apartment, where she feels she is providing a safer home for her child.

If you would like to make a gift to the Hunthausen Fund,  click here to make your gift online now.  Be sure to designate your gift to the Hunthausen Fund. Contact Maria Laughlin, Director of Stewardship and Development, 206-382-4284, for  more information.

If you are a caseworker who has a client who might benefit by help from the Hunthausen Fund, contact Whitley Tucker, Director of Program Support at Catholic Community Services, 206-328-5641.