About Us

The logo for the friendship house is a red heart with a house on it.

Our History

Friendship House opened in 1986, founded by ten ecumenical organizations committed to assisting the growing homeless population in Skagit Valley. After two years of planning inspired by the Catholic Worker Movement and Central American base Christian communities, they launched a valley-wide initiative.


The first residence at 1008 S. Third Street in Mount Vernon housed men downstairs and women upstairs. In 1992, a second house at 922 S. Third Street was dedicated to women and families, providing meals, clothing, and referrals. The founders rejected the institutional shelter model, which forced residents out early, believing it hindered their stability. Instead, Friendship House embraces a "community model," relying on the solidarity and participations of residents for cooking, cleaning, and house maintenance.

In the mid-1990s, Friendship House opened several transitional houses for former residents, run collaboratively with staff support. Residents participated fully, gaining life skills in a nurturing setting. At one point, five transitional houses operated, but currently, there is only one, highlighting the urgent need for more. Friendship House actively seeks suitable properties in Mount Vernon and has acquired “Barbara’s House,” which offers long-term, affordable rentals for low-income program graduates.


With over 35 years of service, Friendship House upholds its founders' vision as a nonprofit organization dedicated to community building among those in crisis. Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, it operates with a nine-member staff and a team of 21 managing the Skagit First Step Center in Burlington, WA. This new low-barrier shelter provides 45 cabins for temporary shelter and access to services. Friendship House collaborates with regional agencies to support individuals in its programs.

A black and white drawing of a house on a white background.

Our Mission

We believe all people deserve to thrive.


Friendship House serves unhoused people by providing shelter, housing, and support services that lead to stable housing and self-sufficiency.

Our Staff

A man in a blue shirt is standing in front of a tree.
A woman in a pink jacket and glasses is standing in front of a tree with pink flowers.
A woman wearing glasses is standing next to a tree branch and smiling.
A woman in a plaid shirt is standing in front of a tree with red flowers.
A bald man with a beard is standing in front of a tree with red flowers.
A man with a beard and glasses is wearing a blue sweater.
A man with a beard and glasses is smiling for the camera.
A woman wearing glasses and a black shirt is standing in front of a tree.
A woman wearing a scarf and a sweater is standing in front of a tree.
A woman in a striped sweater is standing in front of a tree.
The logo for the friendship house is a red heart with a house on it.

Board of Directors

A woman wearing glasses and a headband is smiling for the camera.
A young man wearing a black jacket is standing in front of a tree.
A man wearing a gray navy sweatshirt is smiling for the camera.
A woman wearing glasses and a red sweater is standing in front of a tree.
A dollar sign in a circle on a white background.

Net Assets 2020: $1,904,877​

Net Assets 2021: $2,455,287​

A dollar sign in a circle on a white background.

Actual Income: $2,307,491​
Budgeted Income: $1,141,483​

A dollar sign in a circle on a white background.

Actual Expenses: $1,722,765​
Budgeted Expenses: $1,084,883

A black and white drawing of a stick figure with a sad face.

Men Housed: 300​
Women Housed: 188​
LGBTQ+ : 21​
Children Housed: 19​

A black and white drawing of a bottle with waves on it.

Total Bed Nights: 17,537​
Meals Served: 66,100
Showers provided: 560

People sheltered - 1,267

Financials:
By the Numbers​

Friendship House is committed to using donor money wisely. Our Executive Director works closely with our Board of Directors to ensure due diligence in ethical fundraising and fiduciary responsibility.

View 990 for 2022 Here
A pie chart showing ytd income sources for the year 2021

Thank you.

​​This listing honors those who have supported us throughout 2023:

LEADING PARTNERS

$10,000 or more

Washington Commerce
Skagit County Public Health

City of Mount Vernon

City of Burlington

Puget Sound Energy Foundation
Skagit Community Foundation
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Vicki Soderberg Parry
Marathon Community Investment
Martin Family Foundation

Peace Health

Boeing​

Judd & Black

SUSTAINING PARTNERS

$5,000-$10,000

Hazel Wheeler
Ruth Heft
Haggen
Jerry H. Walton Foundation
North Puget Sound Assoc. of Realtors
Carol Johnson
Martin Family Living Trust
William & Jerri Crawford
Sam Largent
Claudette Gubrud
Banner Bank
Draper Valley Farms
Dwayne Lanes Subaru
Friends of Trevor Smith
Harold and Sue Brown
Julia Phillip Real Estate & Design
Skagit Farmer Supply
Swinomish Tribal Community
Walnut Tree Thrift Shop

CONNECTING PARTNERS

$2,500-$5,000

Steven Uppendahl
Carol Fiske
Washington Dept. Labor and Industries
IBEW Local #191
Jon & Linda Peterson
SICBA
Susan Youngsman
Quil Ceda Village, Tulalip Tribe

The Knoke Fund of Thrivent Charitable 
Anacortes Lutheran Church
First United Methodist Church Mt. Vernon
Edison Lutheran Church
Anne Wells
Stanley & Marie Bryant
Bethany Covenant Church
Valley Cabinets & More
William Youngsman
First Christian Reformed Church
Daniel & Eva Greenwald
Soroptimist Intl of Anacortes
Larry and Pat Edwards

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

$1,000-$2,500

Evan Ackermann
Juanita Sroka
Harold and Hella Lee
Paul Jurenka
Michael and Melissa Belisle
North Cascade Seventh Day Adventist
SWAN Foundation
Mark Kolner
Charles and Charlotte Ambrose
Craig & Lyne Olson
Dennis and Linda Jones
Elaine & John Wright
Jerry Sells & Linda Larson
Jonathan & Erin Yousling
Betty J Collings
Roger & Mary Ann Mercer
William and Cherryl Dennis
Hub City Church
Boeing Employees Community Fund
Mike and Lisa Janicki
Patricia Seaman
Barbara Carson
David Adams & Greta Movassaghi
Kathryn Smith
Kenneth & Suzanne Christianson
Kurtis Ackermann
Sierra Pacific Foundation
Tim and Jane Nelson

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Tommy A & Jacquelynn Karsh
Barbara J Cheyney
Carolyn Whalen & Staci Stratton
Cynthia Hosick
Lucas Winters
Charles Roberts
His Place Community Church

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

$1,000-$2,500 continued

Greg & Katie Pulley
Jack & Anne Middleton
Jeff & Ann May
Keith & Catherine Wyman
Kevin & Mary McGoffin
Vickie Mackenzie
Martha & John Peterson
Susan and Richard Vignos
Washington Federal Foundation
Coastal Farm & Home Supply
Fredric Bergstrom
Katherine Olson
Pam and Lorrie Clifford
Scott and Martha Rhodes
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union
Baker Community Church
Brian & Rose Sweeney
Burlington-Edison Kiwanis
John and Marie Erbstoeszer
Hexcel Employees
Janna Longlet
Joan and Keith Magee
Kyle Ozechowski
Lisser & Associates
Michael & Samantha Cabaluna
Daren Joseph Carstens
Joshua Richard Smith
Jerilyn Hander
Peter Verge
Richard and Britt-Mari Wisniewski
Sandy Curtis
Simone Spiess
Susan Uker
Tim and Beth Wallace
Vicki Wesen
Kenneth and Anne Winkes

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

$500- $1,000

A combined total of over $9,000 has
been raised at this level.

​FRIENDS OF FH

Under $500

Nearly $63,500 combined was donated at this level!

​ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTORS

Another $23,000 was donated by our anonymous supporters.