Uncategorised
Harbor Hope Center Sets Out to End Student Homelessness in the Peninsula
Three years ago Gino Grunberg, a Gig Harbor, Washington pastor, approached Jeff Katke, a local businessman, about expanding a growing community service program the church had started years earlier.
Road Trip, an annual community service program, had completed hundreds of charitable projects throughout the greater Gig Harbor area such as yard clean up and home repair for the infirm and elderly, food drives for those experiencing food insecurity, volunteer service to hospice patients, serving at rescue missions, construction and/or maintenance for local nonprofits in need of help, etc. Every year hundreds of volunteers from Harbor Christian Center would serve the community during the Thanksgiving to Christmas holiday season. Grunberg wanted to make Road Trip a year-round serving program.
Katke put together a “Care Team” of volunteers to evaluate the current need, and survey community leaders and service organizations that could provide services to the homeless in the greater Gig Harbor area. He was surprised to find a growing number of homeless middle school and high school students, as well as homeless single parents in Gig Harbor. 
The Care Team interviewed the public and private organizations serving the homeless in Pierce and Kitsap counties to solicit their help. They were sad to discover that these organizations did not have the resources or staff to serve the homeless of Gig Harbor due to the overwhelming need in the metropolitan areas of Tacoma and Bremerton.
“We offer people an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the life of student.”
Results of that investigation led to the formation of student-focused programs under the name, Harbor Hope Center. The organization is now a standalone (501c3) nonprofit serving Gig Harbor and the Kitsap Peninsula. Katke recruited an experienced and talented board and team of volunteers. Through private donations the Harbor Hope Center has developed and staffed programs including;
- A transitional home for homeless male students called the Care House
- A Host Home program to permanently house and parent homeless male and female students
- A Life Skills Mentoring program for at-risk students
- Psychological counseling services to homeless students and their families
- A food for the hungry program designed to fill the gaps in service
- A clothing program for those in need
- A transportation program to provide mobility to those without transportation
Meanwhile, Harbor Hope Center’s growing vision now includes a transitional home for homeless female students, a transitional home for homeless single parents, a healthy food bank designed as a no cost grocery store for any person or family in need of food, a low cost clothing boutique, low cost dental and vision clinic, financial classes, parenting classes and spiritual counseling.
Some of the Care Team Committee members after a recent meeting in Gig Harbor.
Harbor Hope Center requires funding for their resident advisors who provide 24-hour supervision at their Care Home, for their Director and for other expenses associated with operating a home, education and mentoring program for homeless students and their families.
To donate, text harborgive to 77977. Join their 365 Club to provide a monthly donation:
They need volunteers for mentoring, parenting classes and transportation. Call 844-841-1954 to volunteer.