A Home for the Holidays

Facing Homelessness Low-income families Bellevue LifeSpring helped last year reported spending more than half their monthly income on rent. Many live squeezed together in cramped quarters or rent rooms in shared apartments to make ends meet. Rising housing costs put low-income families at risk of ending up on the streets. “Transitioning out of homelessness is … Read Now

Nicole’s Giving Story

Guest Blog Post by Nicole Griswold “Uh oh,” I answered dramatically. Lance looked over at me and dropped another ball to see if I would respond once more. It was an early December morning in 2013, with Christmas just around the corner. I had been caring for him for nearly a year, and he was … Read Now

No Turkey Required – Four Ways to Give Families a Full Thanksgiving

We all love to eat ’til we’re stuffed at the Thanksgiving dinner table – but families living in poverty need more than just food during the holiday. Often, they can’t afford other basic needs like hygiene and household items that can’t be purchased with food stamps. Find out four ways (in addition to donating food) … Read Now

A Special Season: The Impact of Holiday Adopt-A-Family

“Holiday Adopt-A-Family is something I look forward to every year. Shopping for a family that would otherwise go without, seeing the expressions on the faces of the families when they come to pick up their gifts – both make the season a special one each year.” – Joan, Holiday Adopt-A-Family Sponsor The Strain of the … Read Now

Summer Signups: A Look at the Year Ahead

Summers at Bellevue LifeSpring are a busy time. Families in need are looking ahead to the coming school year and holiday season when their tight budgets will be stretched for new jackets and backpacks, holiday meals and gifts under the tree. During the summer, these families meet with Bellevue LifeSpring staff to sign up for … Read Now

A Place to Call Home

Your support of Bellevue LifeSpring's eviction prevention program kept Lwin's family safe, stable and sheltered through crisis.

A Growing Need “For us in Bellevue, students experiencing homelessness is a growing population. Last year, we ended the school year with 257 students who were homeless and this year we’re on track to hit about 300. We’ve seen that number increase by about 20% every year over the last decade.” – Melissa Slater, McKinney-Vento … Read Now

Parenting the Second Time Around

Daryl and Kate are good grandparents. They spend time with their grandkids, make sure they have access to the resources they need and ensure that they do well in school. They’re also not your typical grandparents. Instead of spoiling the grandkids and then returning them to their parents, they’ve got full-time custody. It started with … Read Now

New Country, New Community, New Start

New Country Maya’s year has been a stressful one, emigrating from her native Syria, navigating the U.S. immigration system and trying to establish a home for her family. She took a job working part time at a local department store as she waited to be reunited with her family. For the first part of the … Read Now

More Than Gifts – Holiday Adopt-A-Family 2016

The energy in the lobby of First United Methodist Church is palpable – even at 7 a.m. on the Tuesday before Christmas. Volunteers armed with carts wait expectantly for sponsors to arrive so they can help unload their cars and deliver gifts to one of 283 folding chairs marked with a name and a number. … Read Now

Because of You, He Has a Home

high school graduation

Henry was only three months away from high school graduation when he suddenly found himself homeless. After couch-surfing for a couple of weeks, he found a friend whose parents would let him rent their basement for $300 a month. He was able to stretch his savings to cover the first month’s rent but wasn’t sure … Read Now