Assistance from Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.
Helping struggling residents in the northwest part of the nation is a focus of Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. The charity provides qualified applicants with various services, referrals and support. While most of the resources resolve on combating homelessness, basic needs can be addressed as well.
Operating across the nation and Pacific Northwest, Volunteers of America helps low income families and individuals who are in crisis. There are programs for the homeless, disabled, veterans and others. The Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho branch may offer basic needs like assistance with paying utility bills, personal hygiene items, free bus passes for an interview, and so on. Any available assistance depends on contributions from generous community members and government grants as well. For VOA Emergency Services in Spokane, please call 509-624-2378, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
VOA operates as one of the largest nonprofit housing providers in the Inland Northwest. The charity makes it a priority to assist those who are among the most vulnerable and underserved, especially those who are homeless or people from the region that may become homeless in the near future.
Case managers help with finding low income apartments or homes where clients can feel safe, warm, and secure. The housing and shelter programs in Northern Idaho as well as Eastern Washington serve many different types of people, including veterans overcoming chronic homelessness, youth leaving foster care, or low income adults with physical or mental disabilities. It is also their mission to assist all who are at risk, including single parents, chronic substance abusers, the mentally ill, the disabled, and those fleeing domestic abuse.
Various assistance programs are offered by VOA. In addition to providing for a client’s most basic needs such as shelter, free nutritious meals, clean clothing, and warm beds, they also take it several steps further. This is done when VOA offers support, and practical job training in real-life skills. This will hopefully lead to independence.
Examples of the shelter and low income housing programs are listed below.
- Crosswalk Teen Shelter – The location operates as a multi-service center for homeless and high-risk teens.
- Crosswalk North Idaho – Offers homeless prevention and outreach for at-risk youth in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane Washington.
- Hope House – VOA operates this site as an emergency shelter and on-site permanent housing for single women.
- Alexandria's House is a home for pregnant, single moms and parenting teen moms and their babies.
- Flaherty House – Housing for young men aged 18 through 21 transitioning out of homelessness.
- Applewood, Aston-Bleck, Country Heights, and Trent Terrace Apartments.
Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Community-Based Housing provides low income housing and support services for chronically homeless and/or disabled adults. The program has over 100 apartments across Spokane.
In addition to the housing, as part of this resource, staff from VOA collaborate with a number of non-profit community partners. They often refer clients to the program and/or provide support services to program residents. Other social services for clients of the Community-Based Housing are Educational Opportunities, Medical Services and Care, direct Financial Assistance, and even Nutritional Guidance.
Disability programs from VOA in Washington and also in nearby Idaho help hundreds of people across the Inland Northwest. The non-profit will offer them supportive housing, youth action teams, and education for families and caregivers. They strive to empower those with disabilities to experience independence and community involvement by providing them with a safe place to call home and other aid.
The transitional living program for veterans provides housing in a newly refurbished single-family unit in a residential community. The shelter or low income housing is accompanied by case management and support services as necessary. The agency will also offer shelter for chronically homeless single men at the Eagles’ Rest House or Rest and Recoup House.
Most veterans are also referred to the program by Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), and are dealing with co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness. It is the goal of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho VOA to guide veterans through the process of assessing and identifying needs.
Some of the other programs for veterans include education and job training, such as job placement and transportation if needed. There are also other basic needs assisted with, such as Clothing, Food or Personal Hygiene Items. Other resources include free Legal Assistance, Mental Health Care, and Life Skills Training.
Employment and education changes lives for the better. The agency works with teenagers and others in the region. They provide scholarship opportunities for formerly homeless GED recipients or high school graduates. Or get information on job training in Washington or the region.
The goal is to build emotional, financial, social confidence and increase security by providing both encouragement and support. The success of this program demonstrates to all Crosswalk kids that a college education is within their reach. Working with VOA staff in Idaho and Washington, they will set and achieve personal goals, learn time-management strategies, develop new educational skills and get other support
Volunteers of America Thrift Stores in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington offer reasonably priced household items, clothing, Christmas toys and other used goods to the general public. Items sold in the various stores are largely donations that come from both Idaho as well as Spokane-area households. Thrift Store sales and money raised is used to benefit Volunteers of America clients throughout the region of Eastern Washington and counties and towns in Northern Idaho. Some household items and clothes also goes to clients of the VOA Emergency Assistance Program free of charge.
There are a few main offices of the non-profit. However Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho provides coverage across the region. The centers are at 525 W. Second Ave., Spokane, Washington 99201, call 509-624-2378 as well as 6206 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99216, dial 509-327-4112.
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