EVERETT — The homeless and hungry came four days a week to a back door in a century-old brick building.
In the basement of 2914 Hewitt Ave., they found a hot breakfast at A Ray of Hope Mission — until last week.
That’s when city officials asked the building owner to shut down the operation, citing concerns the kitchen would be difficult to get out of if there were a fire.
The building’s basement doesn’t meet code for operating a kitchen, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said. Only one door leads in and out and that’s not adequate for an operation that serves hundreds daily.
“Obviously, they are a great benefit to the community,” she said. “It comes down to safety.”
A contracting business in the basement was asked to leave for the same reason.
The issue came to the city’s attention after emergency services personnel visited the building on calls and reported what they thought might be fire and building code violations, she said.
Officials, including the fire marshal, inspected the building twice last week. They haven’t yet determined if there are other code violations. They also haven’t sorted out what needs to be done to make the building safe for the mission.
“I understand they’re doing their job,” said Kila Leapaga Sr., a pastor who runs the mission with his wife, Irene. “I really didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to be there.”
The mission may just find another building.
Leapaga said he’s searching for a new home, either downtown or in south Everett. The mission staff is hoping someone else in the community will step forward with a suitable space.
So is the city, which sent a small group to talk with the mission staff about their options Monday, Reardon said.
The mission has been operating since 2008. A Ray of Hope served 300 meals a day. Leapaga said he was nervous talking about what happened, because he’s afraid stores will stop sending him donations.
Leapaga continues to receive food and now brings it to some of the people he used to feed at the mission.
“A Ray of Hope Mission is still giving out boxes of food to families,” he said.
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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