Interfaith Works: A holistic approach to support and justice

There are many misconceptions about the circumstances of people without housing. Many think it’s a choice, that an unhoused person must be from out of town or lazy, or that simply putting a roof over someone’s head will solve all their problems.

Interfaith Works argues against these mistaken beliefs in their everyday work by promoting social justice and peace through interfaith understanding and cooperation.

“We have a long history of social justice work that is based on the needs of the community at the time,” explains Ivy Ayers, MPA, director of administration at Interfaith Works. “We always take our approach through a lens of justice as opposed to charity. You’re doing something because it’s what everybody deserves — like access to a bed, water and a sense of belonging — simply because we are all people.”

When we shift our mindset to one of ensuring everyone can live with dignity, the community can better meet the needs of its residents, she adds.

Interfaith Works is a coalition of more than 30 faith and spiritual communities that work under a shared leadership structure to provide a range of services, including:

• Supportive shelter at Unity Commons: Fifty-eight-bed mixed-use shelter and permanent housing center
• Sergio’s: Daytime resource center providing access to hygiene, medical and mental health care
• Restorative Experience for a Safer Transition (REST): Medical respite program providing support and housing for individuals recovering from medical and mental health treatments
• Sandy’s Flats: Twenty-six-unit permanent supportive housing with on-site support services
• Interfaith relations: Events and opportunities to celebrate and honor religious and spiritual diversity in Thurston County

With roots dating back to 1969, Interfaith Works has grown to include Christian, Buddhist, Baha’i, Unitarian and Muslim faith organizations that come together to address the immediate and long-term needs of people experiencing homelessness in the surrounding area.

In the spirit of creating a judgment-free environment, Interfaith Works does not discriminate based on religion, the refusal to hold a religious belief or participate in a religious practice, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, race, or physical ability. Additionally, Interfaith Works ensures their shelter remains low barrier by allowing pets, keeping couples together as much as possible and not requiring identification if not available — and the organization is open and affirming to everyone.

A holistic approach to local needs

A key aspect of Interfaith Works’ approach is to provide comprehensive services in centralized locations, making it easier for people who may have mobility challenges or lack transportation, Ayers says.

“The way we design our services is to be as vertically integrated as possible,” she adds. “Sergio’s is often our first point of connection, and we can build up that trust and rapport there to get them into those other services they need.”

Sergio’s sees 300-500 guests, provides approximately 60 showers and runs an average of 30 loads of laundry each week. In addition to a safe, welcoming space to escape the elements, Sergio’s is a resource-rich location with medical and mental health providers, as well as Interfaith Works navigation team members.

Medical providers from Valley View Health Center staff a clinic twice a week to provide basic exams and connect people with a primary care provider or specialists as needed, explains Ti’eri Lino, director of homeless services at Interfaith Works. A mental health provider will also soon provide counseling and medication management.

Interfaith Works partners with other local organizations, such as the YMCA and libraries, to bring on-site resources and outreach, Lino adds. Libraries have been a safe space for people experiencing homelessness for decades, and this partnership allows them to extend beyond their own walls.

There’s a big misconception that people are moving into the Thurston County community to access its robust resources, but the data shows otherwise — about 80-90 percent of people experiencing homelessness in the area have lived here for years, Lino says.

The problem isn’t solely a lack of affordable housing, though, she explains. Affordable housing is limited, but more important, homelessness disproportionately impacts people who are uniquely vulnerable — such as those living with mental illness or substance use disorders that make it challenging to maintain employment, as well as those who have a prior eviction or grew up in an environment that didn’t promote prosocial behaviors.

And for individuals experiencing major medical or mental health episodes, there’s a huge gap in support during such a challenging period.

Support in times of transition

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Interfaith Works struggled with a sudden influx of people coming directly from the hospital, Ayers explains.

In partnership with MultiCare Capital Medical Center and Providence St. Peter Hospital, Interfaith Works launched the REST program, which provides six dedicated shelter beds with direct discharge from the hospital and a 90-day maximum stay.

REST participants receive intensive case management, 24/7 support and access to primary care providers who visit the shelter weekly to maintain medical supervision during recovery, all directly within the shelter, Ayers says.

“Some people haven’t had their own space in decades, and it’s nothing special, but having your own space with a locking door is so completely fundamental. It’s a stabilizing force for people.”

“One of our first discharges was someone who had broken their neck and who would have otherwise been recovering in their car,” she says.

Looking at how many discharges they’re forced to turn away, though, Ayers says Interfaith Works could easily fill a 30-bed REST program.

That number highlights the need for a balance between emergency services and long-term affordable housing to support people during each stage of their journey, Lino adds. It shouldn’t be so hard for people to find support when an emergency arises, or for services to move forward when they’re ready.

Interfaith Works starts from a housing-first model, but also recognizes that’s not enough, Lino says. When housing is addressed first, people can stabilize their life in a way that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible — but many people need help staying successful in that.

The solutions the nonprofit strives for require a holistic approach, Ayers says.

“A lot of people don’t realize how difficult the transition can be for people living in deeply embedded street communities into often-isolated housing with limited guest hours,” she explains. “It’s important to have that social aspect, especially if a person has mobility limitations.”

That’s why Interfaith Works leans into the supportive housing approach, like at Sandy’s Flats, Lino says. The units, which opened in August, are leased at 30 percent of the resident’s income — no matter the income.

Support services, including the navigation team, are embedded within the building to help residents with the transition, connect with other assistance programs and maintain the changes they’re making.

“People are starting to settle in and it’s so cool to see,” Ayers says. “Some people haven’t had their own space in decades, and it’s nothing special, but having your own space with a locking door is so completely fundamental. It’s a stabilizing force for people.”

“Partnering for healing and a healthy future” is MultiCare’s mission, and it inspires us to form connections that help improve the quality of life for our communities. Community organizations all around us are doing amazing work, and we’re inspired and excited to support that work.

Stories from our Community is an ongoing series conceived to dive into some of these organizations*, bring their stories to life and spread the word about how they are making our communities better.

*Some of the organizations profiled in this series are recipients of MultiCare’s Community Partnership Fund, which awards funds to nonprofit organizations working on initiatives, programs and projects that improve our community.