HomeAid Puget Sound sponsors an expansion at Jacob's Well in Shoreline

Jacob's Well at the ribbon cutting

HomeAid Puget Sound, helping homeless people get back on their feet through partnerships with homebuilders and building and trade supporters, has announced volunteer “Builder Captains” for three projects set to begin in 2016.

HomeAid Puget Sound’s private-sector “Builder Captains” manage the construction or renovation of the project and assist in securing trade partners to provide in-kind labor, materials or services.

“Builder Captains” leading HomeAid Puget Sound’s role in new projects include Derek Straight, president of Polygon Homes in Bellevue, who will lead HomeAid’s role in the expansion of Vision House’s Jacob’s Well community in Shoreline.

The project will include construction of 10 additional two and three bedroom units serving homeless parents and their children. Renton-based Vision House provides safe and confidential transitional housing and services for homeless children and their families. Groundbreaking is set for late summer.

Ron Boscula of Bellevue-based Murray Franklyn Companies is the “Builder Captain” for major renovations of four townhomes serving homeless families at Attain Housing’s Petter Court in Kirkland.

HomeAid “Builder Captains” Malone’s Landscape Design | Build (Kent) and TE Briggs Construction (Edmonds) will spearhead the creation of the Season of Miracles Foundation’s therapeutic healing garden at Seattle Children’s, scheduled to start late summer of 2016. Located on the hospital grounds on Sand Point Way in Seattle, the garden will incorporate therapies such as acupressure pathways and healing scents such as mint, lavender and more for children, families, visitors and staff.

“The leadership, compassion, hard work and commitment by our ‘Builder Captains’ and other subcontractor and trades volunteers is critical to support our mission--creating housing to help residents regain strength and purpose in a safe environment. Our ‘Builder Captains’ are helping us rebuild lives,” said HomeAid Executive Director Leanne Woodland.

Once the projects are completed, nonprofit social service partners own and operate the housing and provide additional programs and services ranging from counseling, job skills training, substance abuse recovery, childcare and more.

HomeAid Puget Sound, one of 17 chapters of HomeAid America across the United States, was established in late 2014 to continue and expand the work of the Care Foundation, a former non-profit organization affiliated with Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The combined entities have built 14 family housing projects offering over 63,000 bed nights, representing more than $10 million of in-kind contributions of labor and materials from the building industry to serve the region’s homeless.