About Town: Andrew's Glen Brings Shelter and Hope to Families and Veterans

Twenty homeless veterans have a great reason to smile. Imagine Housing held a grand opening celebration earlier today Friday, September 23, 2011, at Andrew’s Glen, its newest facility for homeless and low income families in the Factoria area of Bellevue. Each veteran will have a furnished 450 to 500 square foot furnished apartment.

Another 10 apartments in the 40-unit building are reserved for formerly homeless families and another 10 for low income families.

“Andrew’s Glen is designed to provide housing, supportive services and stability to the people most in need in our community, including men and women who have served our country in the armed forces but have fallen on tough times,” said Ann Levine, Imagine Housing’s Executive Director, in prepared statements.

Andrew’s Glen is the eleventh facility operated by the nonprofit . Imagine Housing owns other apartments in Bellevue plus units in Issaquah, Redmond, Kirkland and Mercer Island. Two of the buildings, Kirkland Plaza in Kirkland and the Ellsworth House on Mercer Island, are senior-only facilities.

When Andrew’s Glen is filled, Imagine Housing will provide homes for about 1,000 individuals.

in Bellevue provided the land for Andrew’s Glen. Developing the site was a challenge. The building is located on Factoria Boulevard, just across the street from one of the main entrances to .

Some of the funding came through the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy, which was originally approved in 2005 and which voters reapproved this year.

“We recommended funding the Andrew’s Glen project because of the impact it will have for veterans in King County,” said Doug Hoople, Chair of the King County Veterans Citizens Levy Oversight Board. “This project is the first of its kind in on the Eastside.”

The veterans, like the other formerly homeless residents in Andrew’s Glen and at other Imagine Housing sites, will receive extensive support services and counseling. The goal is to help all residents develop the skills needed to become self-sufficient.

King County Councilman Bob Ferguson, who represents Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, North Seattle, Shoreline, and Woodinville, and who was a sponsor of the veteran's services levy, attended Friday's unveiling.

“We owe it to our veterans to see that they receive the services and support they’ve earned,” Ferguson said. “Andrew’s Glen is another success story for how the Veterans and Human Services Levy is helping veterans in King County.”

Kate Frew, director of fund development for Imagine Housing, led a group tour a few weeks ago. She praised the church, the City of Bellevue staff and the architects and builders for coming up with a creative traffic solution. One exit was built to match the entrance to Newport High School and make use of a traffic light.

Thoughtful design features include a bank of washers and dryers in the laundry room on the first floor that can be used by a debit card system. These aren’t bank debit cards but specific laundry debit cards available onsite as part of the resident services programs.

The apartments themselves are modern and attractive. Features included stained concrete floors, wood cabinets, black appliances, large closets, beautiful wood trim, and warm colors throughout the complex. Judy Gowdy, a volunteer with Imagine Housing and the vice president of the board of directors, owns JC Gowdy Interiors in Bellevue. It is Gowdy’s touch that turns the units, some small studio apartments, into seemingly spacious spaces through judicious use of color and tiles on the floor designating various areas.

There will be a computer room for residents on the third floor and a community room for meetings and resident gatherings. There is a bike rack and two lawn areas landscaped with artificial turf for ease of maintenance. Several units were built to ADA specifications which mean they are wheel chair accessible.

A number of groups have already volunteered to help furnish each apartment. When homeless or formerly homeless people move in, they’ll find completely furnished kitchens, bathrooms with towels and beds with linens.

For information on how to volunteer to help furnish an apartment or get involved in Imagine Housing’s projects to provide affordable housing throughout the Eastside, go to www.imaginehousing.org.