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The Jean Kim Foundation is searching for a host site for its hygiene center, which is expected to close its doors in December.
The foundation is seeking a comparable building or site that is approximately 2,000 square feet with a minimum of two shower rooms and between four to five bathrooms. The property must be within South Snohomish County or the following ZIP codes: 98020, 98026, 98087, 98036, 98037, 98012, 98021 and 98043.
Earlier this week, the foundation announced that the hygiene center at 19726 64th Ave. W. in Lynnwood is closing due to circumstances beyond its control.
Executive Director Sandra Mears told the My Neighborhood News Group that the property owner plans to sell the land the hygiene center sits on.
The building the hygiene center sits on used to be an emissions testing facility. The property owner has allowed the foundation to use it rent free for the past five years.
“I’m very open to creative solutions that meet the needs of our guests in the community,” Mears said.
The Foundation would like the host site to be near public transit and have parking for at least 12 vehicles, including an accessible parking space. Plumbing for hot water heaters and hookups to allow for a commercial washer/dryer, refrigerator and cooking would also be ideal.
The Foundation can pay up to $3,800 a month in utilities or combination of rent. It can also provide and pay for onsite staffing.
Those who want to support the hygiene center during this time can donate care packages filled with items such as hand warmers, hygiene products, cup noodles and hot chocolate. Cold weather gear, backpacks, ponchos and blankets are also accepted.
The hygiene center has provided 51,543 showers to people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity from April 2020 to September 2025. The center is also expected to serve over 13,100 hot meals by the end of the year.
The hygiene center serves around 50 guests per day. Guests have access to clothing and essential needs, as well as case management services from agencies such as Snohomish County Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, the state Department of Social and Health Services, and MercyWatch.
The next closest facilities that offer similar services to the hygiene center are in Everett or Seattle. When asked what would happen if South Snohomish County’s only hygiene center is gone, Mears said it could push people back on their progress toward stability.
“It’s just one more barrier and difficulty in meeting basic, essential needs,” Mears said.
The Foundation is planning an event at the hygiene center from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 that will include a free raffle and thank you remarks for guests and community partners.
— By Angelica Relente
Angelica Relente is a Murrow News Fellow covering housing and related issues in South Snohomish County for the My Neighborhood News Network. Contact her at angelica@myedmondsnews.com.
This facility is such a blessing to our Community. In addition to showers, toiletries, warm clothes, underwear, and assistance to finding related Social services for the most vulnerable in our area, volunteers from two local churches provide and serve a hot lunch to approximately 50-60 guest each day.
If an alternate location or solution is not found, this will have a very negative impact on our community. I am prayerful there is an answer out there.
Where should I donate a care package?
Hoping smarter people than me can come up with a creative solution to this issue.
The City just built a BRAND NEW community center a block away. It is fully staffed and can provide the same services to all members of the community, right?
Mr. Brighton, your question is a good one. I am assuming the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center does not plan to provide hygiene services. Otherwise the Kim Foundation would have a path to relocating their crucial service, and there’d be no news story to write. I hope someone representing the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center replies to your comment. The existing hygiene center building is owned by Volunteers of America (see Mr. Zapora’s comment). And the new Lynnwood center is operated by Volunteers of America. Can’t VOA provide a continuity of services to some of our region’s most vulnerable people? Everyone deserves to take a shower a couple times a week for goodness sake.
I believe the hygiene center is operated by the Jean Kim Foundation. The other comment refers to ownership of the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center. — Teresa Wippel
The building housing the existing Hygiene Center is NOT owned by VOA. It is owned by a Private LLC and the owner is wishing to sell. And yes, the Jean Kim Foundation is who is running the Hygiene Center and its services.
The city of Lynnwood did not build the building (the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center). That building was built on land owned by Trinity Lutheran Church and the building itself was built by Volunteers of America Western Washington, a private nonprofit corporation.
The obvious solution is for the hygiene services to be folded into the work of the the nearby Lynnwood Neighborhood Center. Although I do wonder if the folks at the LNC are really intending their center to be for the care of the least amongst us…? The LNC appears to be focusing on child care, behaviorial health counseling, offices for nonprofits and an event center. And that’s all good and needed services. But the down and dirty work that the hygiene center provided doesn’t seem to be included in the goals of the LNC . The unhoused in our community need showers, laundry services, and storage lockers for their sleeping gear on a daily basis. I hope the fine folks at the new LNC can recognize this urgent need and incorporate these services into their program model. Thank you everyone for caring about those on the streets.