MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Everett homeless center allowed to stay open past winter, city says

Feb 17, 2025, 9:33 AM | Updated: 12:09 pm

Jasmine Donahue poses with a client in front of Everett's Hope N’ Wellness, January 8, 2025. (Pho...

Jasmine Donahue poses with a client in front of Everett's Hope N’ Wellness, January 8, 2025. (Photo: Sam Campbell, MyNorthwest)

(Photo: Sam Campbell, MyNorthwest)

The City of Everett has pushed back a deadline requiring a homeless day center to close.

Hope N’ Wellness had been ordered to shut down by February 28, with the city accusing it of violating a land-use law that prohibits homeless services from being run out of downtown storefronts.

But now, the day center has been given an extra two months. Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin has given the center until April 30 to close up shop, Hope ‘N Wellness It’s well past the winter, but doubtfully enough time for its owner, Jasmine Donahue, to find a replacement spot.

“We are very grateful for this extension and it is the original date we asked for over 2 months ago, that the city declined at that time,” Donahue said.

She added that she has “no concrete idea” why the city made the decision.

“We are grateful for it and hope that it shows some good faith on their intentions to work in resolving this with us on permitting us to stay permanently and continue the essential work we do,” she told Xվ Newsradio over email. “ Not closing the doors during the coldest part of the year without an alternative place to send folks means a lot, potentially life or death for the folks utilizing our services, so we remain grateful.”

Donahue previously told Xվ Newsradio she could not relocate the cafe-turned-services-center.

“Unfortunately, many of our services will be shutting down,” she said in January. “Trying to regroup and keep it going as much as we can. Ultimately, the people that it’s hurting is the people out here needing the services.”

Everett homeless center blamed for crime

Some in Everett have blamed Hope N’ Wellness for attracting crime along Rucker Avenue, but the Seattle Times reports only three 911 calls were associated with the day center in 2024.

For weeks, Donahue and supporters of Hope N’ Wellness have petitioned the city to reconsider its order, including in public comments at city council meetings. It’s not clear why Franklin and the City of Everett have recently delayed the day center’s deadline to close.

Adam Rice, a social services worker, told Xվ Newsradio in January that Donahue’s day center has proven a reliable meeting spot for finding people in need of help. He criticized the city’s decision to close it down.

Crime: Six years later police continue efforts to solve a homicide in Marysville

“To shut a place [down] that’s been serving the community for free,” he said. “It’s incredibly fiscally irresponsible.”

He asserted that the city’s action would only serve to worsen tensions between those with and without homes.

“Instead of using this opportunity in a place like this, to help people come in, get treatment, be safe, the city has instead pushed them from the downtown core into peoples’ neighborhoods and backyards,” Rice said.

Xվ Newsradio has reached out to Franklin to ask about the delayed deadline.

Sam Campbell is a reporter, anchor and editor at Xվ Newsradio. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Sam on , or email him here.

MyNorthwest News

Dolly Parton Imagination Library...

Sofia Silvia

‘A heartbreaking loss’: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library loses funding in WA

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will no longer have funding in the state of Washington.

2 hours ago

tax proposals...

Heather Bosch and Frank Lenzi

Poll shows voters feel Seattle is ‘making progress’ in reducing crime

A new poll shows Seattle voters believe their city is making progress when it comes to reducing crime and the number of homeless encampments.

5 hours ago

Image: An Auburn Police Department vehicle is seen on a city street....

Xվ 7 News Staff

12-year-old dies in rollover crash, mother investigated for DUI and booked for vehicular homicide

An Auburn mother has been charged with vehicular homicide after investigators say she allegedly drove under the influence and flipped her car.

5 hours ago

Seattle Children's Hospital. (Courtesy of Xվ 7)...

Xվ 7 News Staff

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Seattle Children’s expand pediatric, neonatal partnership

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) and Seattle Children’s announced Tuesday they have expanded their longstanding partnership to enhance pediatric and mother-baby health care services across the Puget Sound region. The new strategic affiliation builds on nearly 15 years of collaboration between the two organizations and aims to improve access to expert physicians, specialized care teams, […]

6 hours ago

Virginia Inn (Photo Courtesy of Xվ 7)...

Sofia Silvia

Seattle staple will keep its doors open, overturning eviction notice

The Historic Virginia Inn will continue to welcome guests in Seattle.

6 hours ago

franklin county jail sheriff...

Frank Sumrall

Standoff between Franklin County sheriff, commissioners escalates over control of county jail

Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond declared he would openly defy a court order after county commissioners voted to establish the Franklin County Department of Corrections, which would remove control of the jail and courthouse from the county's sheriff's office, last week.

6 hours ago

Everett homeless center allowed to stay open past winter, city says