Local leaders cheer after a ribbon is cut at HopeWorks Station on Friday in Everett. The building will have 65 units for families, veterans and young adults. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Local leaders cheer after a ribbon is cut at HopeWorks Station on Friday in Everett. The building will have 65 units for families, veterans and young adults. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Hundreds gather for HopeWorks Station opening in Everett

Inside, housing and other resources are available for those who are homeless or living in poverty.

EVERETT — Once Stephen Biggs moves into his new apartment, he plans to find a job and begin a new chapter of his young life.

Biggs, 23, is soon going to live in the brand-new HopeWorks Station on Broadway in Everett.

He had nowhere to go before finding the apartment. At first he was couch-hopping, and later became homeless.

“This gives me a lot of stability I haven’t had in years,” Biggs said. “My life is going to change for the better.”

On Friday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered at HopeWorks Station for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The building at 3315 Broadway has been under construction for more than a year. The center provides housing, job training and social services for people who are homeless or live in poverty.

Biggs grew up in Monroe, but lately has been staying all over the place, he said. He heard about the new apartments through the Snohomish County human services department.

Biggs doesn’t have a stable income now, but hopes to find a permanent job once he moves in. He’s gone to trade school before and doesn’t plan to use the center’s job training.

HopeWorks Station has a few options for people to build work experience — at a landscaping business called GroundWorks, at a home and decor consignment store called ReNewWorks and at a restaurant now called Kindred Kitchen. It used to be CafeWorks.

Kindred Kitchen is on the ground floor of HopeWorks Station. It opens for business in a couple of weeks and will serve breakfast, lunch and coffee.

Behind the service counter are shiny stainless steel appliances and open shelves made of wood and metal. One wall is dark gray and the rest are white. Modern furnishings fill the seating area, and natural light spills in through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Upstairs, there are 65 apartment units with studios, and one- and two-bedrooms available. Most are reserved for veterans, families in drug court and young people ages 16 to 24 who don’t have stable housing.

Each unit has a gauge that displays in real time how much energy is being used, and every floor has a recycling center. There also are 532 solar panels on the roof to help power the building.

All of the apartment doors open to a central outdoor courtyard with greenery, wood beams and strings of lights.

Local leaders gave speeches during Friday’s event, including Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin.

“As I got a tour I was thinking of the residents, and the abuse and neglect and trauma they’ve experienced,” she said. “Then I started thinking about the support and compassion and training they are going to get in this building, and I did get teary. I’m teary now.”

After, everyone was invited to take a tour. Some were there to see their new apartments.

Andrew Pliss, 34, is moving onto the third floor. He’s looking forward to his view of the Cascade Range.

A while back, Pliss lost custody of his children. He’s now in Family Drug Treatment Court, which means he’s working to build a clean, stable, drug-free home for himself and his children.

Now, two of his kids, ages 7 and 4, are going to live with him in the new place. Since his children were born, the family has lived with Pliss’ mother.

He’s happy now they all get their own space.

“I’m just really thankful for this place,” he said. “It’s going to make a big change in my life. I can’t wait.”

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Vernon Streeter looks over the fence at the Skykomish Substation operated by Puget Sound Energy on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Skykomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Doesn’t make any sense’: Skykomish residents decry increased outages

Community members are frustrated about power outages and a lack of communication from Puget Sound Energy.

Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541 feet, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County, Washington. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald) 2019
2 years later, Glacier Peak seismometers delayed again

The U.S. Forest Service planned to install them in 2023. Now, officials are eyeing 2026.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at the Snohomish & Island County Labor Council champions dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Ferguson, WA Democrats prepare for new era of showdowns with Trump

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson and Attorney General-elect Nick Brown are readying their legal teams.

Benson Boone (Photo provided by AEG Presents)
Monroe’s Benson Boone snags Grammy nomination for Best New Artist

The Monroe High grad this year has opened for Taylor Swift and won an MTV Video Music Award.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood caregiver accused of $674K check fraud

Prosecutors allege Sheila Saluquen defrauded the elderly owner of a car dealership for over a year.

Deborah Rumbaugh
‘Very hostile work environment’: Stanwood-Camano school supe resigns

Superintendent Deborah Rumbaugh said Tuesday she’ll be gone at the end of the school year.

Snohomish County Superior Courthouse in Everett, Washington on February 8, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
WA court system outage means firearm sales on hold

Buyers must wait until the Washington State Patrol can access databases for background checks.

David Hope, a Everett AquaSox ticket holder since 1994, talks about the stadium proposal presented to the public during a community information session on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett residents voice support, concerns over AquaSox stadium

On Tuesday, the city presented potential plans for a new or renovated stadium and fielded questions.

A state Department of Transportation traffic camera from Highway 527 shows the aftermath of a school bus crash Wednesday afternoon on I-405. (Photo provided by the state Department of Transportation)
I-405 reopens after school bus crash blocked lanes in Bothell

The bus was carrying a girls soccer team from La Conner. No one on the bus was reported injured.

Flyers of support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson. (Laurel Demkovich / Washington State Standard)
Somers, Liias among Snohomish County leaders on Ferguson transition team

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Tuesday announced a 53-person team that will help with the transition from Gov. Jay Inslee.

The line for the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office extends around the Admin West building and onto Pacific Avenue Election Day as people wait for same-day registration, ballot issuance, and accessible voting services on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County voter turnout down from 2020

Meanwhile, local Republicans celebrated the national results. And Democrats applauded the local.

People board a bus at the Canyon Park Park & Ride Swift Green Line stop in Bothell, Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Big changes ahead as Community Transit mulls $254M budget

As ridership increases, Community Transit is planning for more service, security and a lower-emission fleet.

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.