Vern Van Winkle was one of the first residents of Clare’s Place, a supportive housing building which opened in July. (Lizz Giordano / The Herald)

Vern Van Winkle was one of the first residents of Clare’s Place, a supportive housing building which opened in July. (Lizz Giordano / The Herald)

Clare’s Place: A refuge for healing for one Everett resident

The supportive housing building opened 65 units for the chronically homeless in July.

EVERETT — When the hospital released Vern Van Winkle after his left leg was amputated just below the knee, he had no home to return to.

So he was sent to the Everett Gospel Mission.

“I was pissed. I was told I wasn’t going to be kicked to the street — the Mission is the streets,” Van Winkle said. “I would have healed faster if I hadn’t gone to the men’s mission.”

He returned to the hospital when an infection in his wound flared up. When discharged the second time, there was a new housing option available to Van Winkle, who had been living in his car prior to his surgery. A place that would have on-site medical care and a staff that could check on him daily, just what Van Winkle needed as he adjusted to his new life.

Clare’s Place, located on Berkshire Drive in the Glacier View neighborhood in the central part of the city, opened in July.

It is one of three supportive housing buildings coming to Everett in 2019. Cocoon House, which helps teens and young adults, moved to an expanded location in April and Housing Hope is opening HopeWorks Station II on Broadway later this year.

Supportive housing combines housing with services to assist residents as they move out of homelessness.

Where Van Winkle now calls home, Clare’s Place, is managed by Catholic Community Services. It provides 65 units for chronically homeless people, operating on the Housing First model which prioritizes permanent housing with low barriers for entry. Once housed, residents are connected to treatment and other assistance programs.

All rooms have been assigned, according to Catholic Community Services. Once fully operational, the building will host a medical suite staffed by the Community Health Center of Snohomish County.

Neighbors worried the building would increase criminal activity in the area. But so far, police contact has been minimal, according to Everett police officer Aaron Snell.

A few years ago, Van Winkle’s life had begun to collapse around him. The Everett resident and Cascade High School graduate was his mother’s full-time caretaker, fixing meals and taking her to doctors’ appointments. As her health declined from complications related to diabetes, he ignored his own medical needs, Van Winkle said.

Her death came quickly.

“I wasn’t prepared for it,” Van Winkle said, tearing up.

After she died, her house was sold, leaving him homeless. Van Winkle moved into his car, which made it difficult to manage his diabetes and hold down a job. He struggled with thoughts of suicide.

“I didn’t want to be around anymore,” Van Winkle said.

He was sent to Fairfax Behavioral Health Hospital.

As his diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage, worsened, he stepped on a piece of glass leading to the massive infection in his leg, he said.

At Clare’s Place he is able to heal from his amputation and learn a new routine. His new home is sparse and tidy. A brown leather chair sits in front of a television. A handmade blue and yellow quilt, donated by the Everett Quilting Guild, lays atop his small bed.

“I don’t know where I would be without Clare’s Place — rolling down Broadway in my wheelchair,” he said.

Van Winkle helps tend the garden beds out back and keep outside areas clean.

“He really wants to participate and give back,” said Sarah Jayne Barrett, Catholic Community Services’s director of housing services for the northwest region.

Van Winkle rolls around the property and picks up litter, she said.

“A lot of people have the assumption that homeless people are coming from Seattle or out of state,” Barrett said. “This is a local guy that’s fallen on hard times.”

Lizz Giordano: 425-374-4165; egiordano@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @lizzgior.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.