Nativity House joins Catholic Community Services

Connie Brown, chair of the board of Nativity House, and Denny Hunthausen, southwest agency director of Catholic Community Services (CCS) of Western Washington, have completed negotiations that bring Nativity House in as a program of CCS.

Both are excited about the move because of the opportunities for improved and new services for homeless individuals.

“Joining forces means we can support one another and a common mission and vision: serving the poor, the homeless, the addicted, the mentally ill, the most vulnerable and hardest to serve in the most compassionate, effectual and respectful manner possible,” Hunthausen said. “As a result of this change, every dollar benefactors choose to invest in our work going forward will be utilized more efficiently and effectively to care for the people we serve, and move us closer to ending homelessness for an increasing number of people.”

“Four years ago we conducted a strategic planning conversation with local leaders and the Nativity House Board, and we concluded that in the future we should provide direct access to housing, health care, training and jobs for our clients, to help them gain stability in their lives,” Brown said. “Although there are many potential paths to providing this connective tissue for those in need, in the current economy it makes the most sense to collaborate closely with other nonprofit organizations that provide services our clients need.”

“While our ministry of presence continues to compel us to serve all who come to us in need, we have always recognized the challenge to do more to help people move out of homelessness toward great stability and ultimately into permanent housing,” said Nick Leider, former executive director of Nativity House. “Increasingly, government and foundations are focusing more of their resources accordingly. We want to be sure we are doing all we can to help people become as independent as possible. This will require a significant commitment to expanding affordable housing and services to this population and we are excited to work with community partners to make this happen.”

Nativity House will become part of a new operating unit with two existing CCS facilities, Hospitality Kitchen and Tacoma Avenue Shelter. Jim Anderson, the head of the other programs, will lead the new unit with Leider.

“Our volunteer leaders, staff, donors and guests can be confident that the manner, tone and values of our operations under this new arrangement will be consistent with the way Nativity House has functioned for the past 30 years because CCS clearly demonstrates these same values,” Leider said. “While there will be some administrative changes, these will not affect the essential principles that have been the hallmark of Nativity House’s ministry of presence.”

“This merger represents the best of what strategic restructuring can be: two strong organizations with similar missions, working together to both increase fiscal sustainability and create higher quality services for clients in need,” said Brian Boyd, executive director of Forest Foundation and Sequoia Foundation. “Far from a knee-jerk decision or emergency response, Nativity House and Catholic Community Services have worked for many months, scrutinizing the fiscal, programmatic, administrative and governance implications of this relationship. Our hope is that the process continues to be transparent to allow funding providers, the local nonprofit sector and the broader community the opportunity to learn from this important strategic effort.”

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