(509) 624-7821

The House of Charity was founded in early 1958 at 526 N. Washington Street on Havermale Island (located in what is now Riverfront Park).  Brother Martin Groll, a Brother of Charity from Minneapolis and one of the founders of the original House of Charity in that city, was asked by Bishop Bernard Topel to come to Spokane to establish a shelter for and work among the abandoned poor men here.  Spokane’s House of Charity remained at its first location until 1972, when it was sold to the City of Spokane to make way for Expo ‘74.  The House of Charity’s next location was on Spokane Falls Blvd. at Division.  In 1975, it moved into what was supposed to be temporary quarters in the old Volunteers of America building at 9 W. Main.  These “temporary” quarters turned out to be the House of Charity’s home for the next 25 years, because it wasn’t until September 2000 that the House of Charity moved into its current home, a new, beautiful, and spacious building at Pacific and Browne.

With the move to the Main Street location in 1975, the House of Charity began a service that has remained one of the keystones of the facility’s mission: the meal program.  Now based in a beautiful, state-of-the-art industrial kitchen, the program serves approximately 72,000 full hot lunches and a similar number of continental breakfasts annually.  It is a vital resource for the homeless of the region.

Another invaluable service offered by the House of Charity is the medical clinic.  An outreach of Sacred Heart Medical Center, it was founded in 1976 and is both the oldest free clinic in Washington and the only completely free clinic in Spokane (the clinic does not even accept medical coupons for its services).  The clinic is staffed by volunteer doctors and RNs, many of whom are retired after long careers in health care. 

In 1979 the House of Charity inaugurated a service as badly needed today as it was then - the winter sleeping program.  This program provides warm beds to 108 men every night during the coldest months of the year.  Without this program, many homeless men living in Spokane during the winter would face extreme discomfort and illness, if not death.  It is one of the House of Charity’s most important offerings. In 2006 this valuable service expanded to offer a year-round sleeping program for men.

The House of Charity is home to two national volunteer service programs: the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) and AmeriCorps.  JVs first came to the House of Charity in 1981, and at least two have served here every year since.  The House of Charity’s JVs live in community with the other JVs in Spokane, all of whom serve within Catholic Charities.  In 2002, the JVs were joined by AmeriCorps volunteers provided by the Washington Service Corps.  Two to four have served here each year since.  The JVs and AmeriCorps are the backbone of House of Charity operations, manning the front desk and managing the sleeping program.  They are truly invaluable.

In 1996 the House of Charity expanded its professional services when it hired its first case manager.  The case managers (there are now three) provide a variety of social services to the House of Charity population, either directly or by referral to other agencies and resources.  In 1998, a master’s level mental health counselor was added.  This specialist in substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mental health counseling provides services not just to the homeless community, but also to the uninsured and underinsured throughout Spokane.  Together, the counselor and case managers provide to the homeless and marginal people coming through the House of Charity’s doors critical support and advocacy that would not otherwise be available to them.

In a small way, the House of Charity made history in 2001 when it became the first agency in Eastern Washington to put the homeless in HUD-sponsored housing directly from the street.  The House of Charity began its housing program, known as Hanson House, at the request of the Human Services Department of the City of Spokane.  Hanson House has grown steadily since its inception, adding more grant programs, apartments and residents.  The program has housed over 60 people and its success rate has been truly remarkable: approximately 70% of those housed have gone on to appropriate forms of housing or necessary treatment.  Such success in anything having to do with the population served by the House of Charity is virtually unheard of.  Two of the case managers are dedicated to running Hanson House.

Now in its 51st year, the House of Charity continues to provide a unique and valuable service to the Spokane region in general and the downtown community in particular by providing critical services to the area’s homeless and transient population.  The House of Charity serves any individual in any condition, including the intoxicated and actively substance abusing (as long as a basic level of respect is maintained), and offers its services free of charge based upon need, not creed or ability to contribute.  The services are the basic necessities for physical survival and include food, medical care, mental health counseling and case management, housing, shower and toilet facilities, laundry, clothing, personal effects storage, and more. 

The staff of the House of Charity consists of ten full-time employees -- the director, program coordinator, operations coordinator, counselor, case manager, two Jesuit Volunteers, two AmeriCorps volunteers, and a janitor.  The part-time staff consists of two case managers, a cook, two assistant cooks, and a counselor.  The Sleeping Program has the equivalent of two full-time employees (FTE) to assist with the running and security of this program.  The staff is augmented by approximately 90 regular volunteers and 200 occasional volunteers who contribute over 18,000 hours per year.

 To see a complete House of Charity Informational Brochure please click on the following link:

/images/upload/HoC PR Newsletter Feb 07.pdf

For the Homeless, for the Hungry, for the Hurting, for the Weary

Whom do we serve? 

We care for those no one else will care for: those who would otherwise be found on loading docks, in back alleys, department stores, public libraries, in our neighborhoods.  Over 80% of our patrons would have been institutionalized prior to 1970. Our patrons often are mentally ill. They have personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and are developmentally delayed. Many self-medicate through drugs and/or alcohol, which often leads to addiction. Our patrons are “the toughest of the tough.” Our only requirement of our patrons is that they treat our staff and others with respect.

What services does the House of Charity provide?

Meals (coffee Monday - Saturday at 7:30 a.m.), and a hot lunch Monday - Saturday from 11 - 11:30 a.m., clothing, counseling, mental health services, laundry facilities, mail delivery, and showers.

Medical care for transient, homeless, very low-income, and senior populations are offered through Sacred Heart Medical Center Outreach Clinic, staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses.  A part of the House of Charity since 1976, the clinic is open Tuesday and Friday, Noon to 2 p.m., and is the oldest free clinic in Washington state.

• $$ - Operation costs are $1,016 per day (see our Ways to Give page)
• Fresh meat and produce
• Coffee
• Men’s clothing, socks and underwear
• Toiletries and towels

How did the House of Charity begin? 

The House of Charity began in 1958 at 526 N. Washington. To make room for Expo ‘74, the program moved to 35 W. Trent and then to 9 W. Main Avenue in 1975. Sacred Heart Medical Center Outreach Clinic opened in 1976. The new facility at 32 W. Pacific was built from capital donations made to Catholic Charities’ Shelter 2000 campaign. Construction cost of the House of Charity was $3M in 2000. Prior to construction the land was a contaminated railroad fueling station site and Catholic Charities spent over $200,000 to clean the land.

What is the value of having a homeless shelter in downtown Spokane?

Spokane is a regional hub for business, education, agriculture, tourism, healthcare and social services. Services for the homeless and mentally ill are located in the downtown area of Spokane. The House of Charity is near low-income housing complexes, hospitals, clinics, Spokane Mental Health, and the regional transportation center. The right to accessibility is even more important for homeless, transient, and vulnerable people. Aside from the new America West Building, the House of Charity is the most expensive development within a three-block radius. The building has received Merit Awards from the AIA (American Institute of Architects), Spokane and Idaho, and a Commendation Award from AIA, Seattle.

At the request of the City of Spokane’s Human Services Department, we began a HUD-sponsored transitional and permanent housing program in 2001, the first in Eastern Washington that took chronic homeless directly from the street and put them in housing. Since then, the program has grown steadily and we have housed over 60 people, 70% of whom have graduated to either more stable housing or appropriate treatment.

Why should the Spokane community support the House of Charity?  What value do you add? 

As a community, we will all be judged on how we treat the most vulnerable among us.  Christ has called us to care for those who cannot care for themselves. Supporting the House of Charity is less expensive, more humane, and more dignified than outlawing or criminalizing homelessness. Spokane streets are safer because of our facility, as it reduces the number of people who are hanging out downtown in business entryways, inside stores, on street corners, in alleys or parks. Each night we give up to 108 men a warm, safe place to sleep which, on the coldest of nights, can mean the difference between life and death.  In 2007 the House of Charity Sleeping Program will be open year round.

We strive to be good neighbors by encouraging our participants to remain in the House of Charity and not on neighboring property. We pick up trash in the neighborhood several times a day. We respond immediately to any difficulties our neighbors have with our clientele.

How will the problem of homelessness be solved once and for all? 

“The poor will always be with us.” City, State, and Federal government must properly address mental health issues. Homelessness is a symptom of social service cuts over the past 40 years. Catholic Charities seeks collaboration, not confrontation. We ask elected officials, public safety officers, and community business leaders to join us on the front lines to help solve the problem of homelessness.

What are the House of Charity's plans for the future? 

We hope to expand our permanent housing program so that more of the chronically homeless can have safe and secure housing while learning to care for themselves.