Compassion That Saves Lives
Jewels Helping Hands provides essential care, dignity, and connection for people experiencing homelessness in Spokane. Through kindness, respect, and community partnership, we help our neighbors meet their basic needs and find pathways to stability and hope.
Our Mission
Compassion in Action
Through kindness, compassion, and respect, we ensure people who are houseless have their basic needs met – to survive, thrive, and connect to community resources.
35,900
Nights of safe shelter provided in 2025
80+
Volunteers engaged community-wide
4
Scattered site shelters within the community
Our Vision
A Community Built on Dignity and Respect
At our Jewels Helping Hands, we uphold the organization’s values of dignity, compassion, and respect in every interaction. We are dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed environment that empowers guests to make their own choices and take important steps toward stability and recovery. By working with community partners, we offer comprehensive support while maintaining strong relationships with neighbors and stakeholders. Guided by accountability, integrity, and empathy, we aim to create consistent pathways from crisis to independence, building a community where every person feels valued, supported, and acknowledged.
Scattered Site Shelters
Housing Navigation Center
Community Outreach
Medical Respite Shelter
Our Services
Essential Services That Save Lives
We provide a wide variety of services including a warming center, street medical teams, mobile outreach, food, mobile showers, hygiene supplies, and connection to community resources and services. Our programs are designed to enable people to survive their journey through homelessness.
Our Core Values
Dignity, Respect, and Accountability in All We Do
We are dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed environment that empowers guests to make their own choices and take important steps toward stability and recovery. By working with community partners, we offer comprehensive support while maintaining strong relationships with neighbors and stakeholders. Guided by accountability, integrity, and empathy, we aim to create consistent pathways from crisis to independence, building a community where every person feels valued, supported, and acknowledged.
Our Board
Guided by Compassionate Leadership
The Board of Directors at Jewels Helping Hands provides compassionate, community-centered leadership that guides our mission and supports the individuals we serve. Each member brings a unique blend of professional expertise, lived experience, and deep commitment to dignity, respect, and equity for all. Together, they help ensure our programs remain responsive, effective, and grounded in humanity.
Mark Kartchner
Secretary
Mark Kartchner serves as Secretary on the Board of Jewels Helping Hands. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and Principal Mechanical Engineer at Kartchner Engineering, bringing more than 25 years of experience designing complex mechanical and plumbing systems for diverse facilities across the Pacific Northwest. Mark’s expertise spans healthcare, housing, education, and community infrastructure projects, with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and practical design. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah and is licensed in multiple states. Mark is passionate about applying his technical knowledge and leadership skills to support Jewels Helping Hands’ mission of providing shelter, dignity, and opportunity to Spokane’s most vulnerable residents.
Matthew Stephens
Board Member
Matthew Stephens is a compassionate professional dedicated to serving others. He works in a senior care facility and also owns and operates a successful photography and media business. Stephens holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and brings over two decades of experience in photography and media production. A lifelong community volunteer, he is passionate about enriching the lives of both people and animals through service and creativity. As a newly appointed board member for Jewels Helping Hands, Stephens brings strong leadership and a deep commitment to helping vulnerable individuals find stability and hope. His work reflects a belief in walking beside others—empowering them to heal, grow, and build better futures.
Barry Barfield
Board Chair
Barry Barfield has dedicated his life to faith-based service, social justice, and community compassion. For more than three decades, he has served at Gonzaga Preparatory School as a campus minister, theology teacher, and spiritual director, guiding students toward lives of service. Barry also administers the Spokane Homeless Coalition, facilitates Urban Plunge immersion experiences, and volunteers as a hospice chaplain. His leadership includes service as chair of Spokane’s Community, Housing & Human Services Board. A former real-estate attorney, Barry brings organizational skill and advocacy experience to every effort. He holds a B.A. in Theology from the University of San Francisco and a J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, Barry finds joy and purpose walking alongside people on the margins — the homeless, the addicted, and the dying.
Jason Green
Treasurer
Jason Green serves as the Treasurer of Jewels Helping Hands. He holds both a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Jason is an accomplished leader in financial and operational management, with a proven track record of driving change and delivering results across diverse industries. With expertise in strategic planning, process improvement, and consensus building, Jason excels at identifying business gaps and implementing effective solutions for growth. He has held key leadership roles in major organizations, successfully managing teams, optimizing budgets, and leading continuous improvement initiatives. Jason’s strong sales acumen, persuasive communication skills, and hands-on approach have contributed to sustained operational excellence. Jason utilizes his business background to help Jewels Helping Hands run efficiently and effectively, maximizing its resources.
Angela Chapman
Board Member
Angela Chapman is a community advocate and organizer dedicated to creating inclusive, supportive spaces for underserved populations. As Community Manager at the Community Building, she collaborates with grassroots organizations, campaigns, and coalitions that are driving social change throughout the region. Her work centers on fostering connection, compassion, and empowerment by cultivating environments where people feel welcomed, safe, and valued.
Angela brings a powerful combination of lived experience and professional commitment to her role. Having personally overcome homelessness, addiction, and involvement with the criminal justice system, she carries a deep understanding of the barriers faced by many community members. This perspective fuels her passion for social justice and strengthens her ability to advocate effectively for equity and systemic change.
She believes strongly in the power of community organizing to amplify individual voices, build collective strength, and shape a more just future. Through her leadership and unwavering dedication, Angela works to uplift those who have been marginalized and ensure that every person has the opportunity to belong, thrive, and be heard.
Becky Dickerhoof
Board Member
Becky Dickerhoof brings a wealth of education, experience, and dedication to her role on the Jewels Helping Hands board. Becky earned her BS from The Ohio State University and a M.Ed. from Ashland University. Her career spans diverse roles in public service and science. Becky has collaborated with non-profits across several Ohio counties. She was deeply involved in local advocacy, contributing to initiatives like the Funk Bottoms Landowners Board and the Ashland County Landfill Reclamation Advisory Group. In Spokane County, Becky is active in the LWVSA Affordable Housing and Homelessness Solutions committee, Citizen Action for Latah Valley, Latah/Hangman Valley Neighborhood Council, Spokane Urban Ministries, Spokane Homeless Coalition, and the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium. She works tirelessly to support the homeless and promote affordable housing, demonstrating her lifelong dedication to helping others.
Terrance Nixon
Board Member
Terrance Nixon is an educator, program director, and faith leader dedicated to building equitable pathways for youth and families across Eastern Washington. As Director of the Center for Future Pathways at NEWESD 101, he oversees YouthBuild Spokane, AmeriCorps Spokane Service Team, the Open Doors Youth Re-engagement program, and the Homeless Student Support program, aligning education, workforce, and housing systems to better serve at-promise youth. Terrance also serves as assistant pastor at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, where his ministry centers on service, leadership, and community restoration. He contributes his expertise through SBE Future Ready, the Open Doors, and the Safe Communities Partnership Steering Committees. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Educational Leadership, Terrance’s research explores how leadership practices can repair and integrate fragmented youth-serving systems. Grounded in faith, family, and service, he believes transformation begins when communities walk with—not ahead of—those they serve.
Sophia Nixon
Board Member
Sophia Nixon is an Engineering Technician for Spokane County and a dedicated community leader committed to service, equity, and faith-based outreach. She is the co-owner of Revive Community Services, a nonprofit hosted by Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, where she also serves as an Administrative Faith Leader and active member of the worship community. Through Revive, Sophia organizes programs such as the Season of Hope, which brings together families from diverse backgrounds to provide essential support during the holiday season and beyond.
With a bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Sophia combines technical expertise, organizational leadership, and a deep commitment to community well-being. Her work bridges public service, nonprofit outreach, and ministry, allowing her to support individuals and families in multiple capacities.
Rooted in faith, love, and a belief in collective uplift, Sophia is passionate about helping people build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging. She brings to Jewels Helping Hands a steadfast dedication to strengthening communities and empowering individuals to become the best versions of themselves.
Megan Curran
Board Member
Megan works as Resident Services Lead at Community Frameworks, where she supports a portfolio of 500 residents living in affordable housing to maintain stable housing and access services to prevent returns to homelessness. She has worked with several nonprofit organizations through the years, including local programs serving women and children experiencing homelessness, individuals seeking recovery from substance use disorders, and adults with disabilities seeking community-based employment. Drawing from her own lived experience with homelessness and long-term recovery, Megan is deeply committed to the belief that all unhoused individuals deserve access to safe shelter and permanent, affordable housing. She supports Housing First as an effective solution to homelessness, which emphasizes the importance of immediate access to safe, permanent housing.
As a way of giving back to the organizations that helped her, Megan has volunteered for more than a decade on local boards and committees dedicated to ending homelessness, as well as volunteered in many front-line roles. She currently serves on the Washington State Permanent Supportive Housing Committee. She strongly supports the mission of Jewels Helping Hands to ensure that individuals and families who are houseless have their basic needs met through kindness, compassion, and respect—so they can survive, thrive, and connect to community resources.
Our Services
Compassionate Support for Every Stage of the Journey
Jewels Helping Hands provides a comprehensive network of low-barrier services designed to meet the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness while supporting their path toward stability and independence. From 24-hour scattered site shelters and safe overnight programs, to our Navigation Center offering daytime access to resources, hygiene, meals, and supportive services, we create spaces where guests are welcomed with dignity and respect. Our community outreach teams and medical respite program extend this care beyond our walls, delivering essential support, healing, and connection to those who need it most. Through partnerships, dedicated staff, and trauma-informed care, we work every day to ensure our neighbors have the safety, compassion, and resources necessary to survive, heal, and move forward.
Scattered Site Shelters
Cedar & Morning Star 24-Hour Shelters
Low-barrier co-ed shelters open 24/7, providing safety, meals, showers, and connection to housing, employment, and community partner services. Guests may bring pets.
Hours: 24/7 – 365
Pets: Welcome!
Contact: 509-723-6201
Women’s Program
Safe overnight shelter for women experiencing homelessness, offering warmth, stability, and support. Guests may leave belongings if returning that night.
Hours: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Housing Navigation Center
Jewels Helping Hands Navigation Center
The Jewels Helping Hands Navigation Center is a low-barrier, daytime access hub dedicated to helping individuals experiencing homelessness find safety, stability, and connection. Open seven days a week, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, the center provides a welcoming space for guests to rest, access vital resources, and take steps toward long-term stability.
Address: 527 S. Cannon St., Spokane, WA 99204
Phone: 509-507-4624
Security (After 7:00 PM): 509-507-4623
What we offer:
• Safe, supportive space for guests to rest and
recharge
• Hygiene supplies, showers, and sack lunches
• Transportation assistance
• Laundry services
• Access to mail
• Pet-friendly environment
On-Site and Partnered Services
The Navigation Center collaborates with a wide range of service providers, offering on-site access and referrals to:
• Housing and Employment Specialists
• Medical Providers
• MAT Providers
• Behavioral Health Professionals
• Legal Aid and Benefit Access
• Peer Support Specialists
• Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Community Outreach
Jewels Helping Hands Outreach Program
The Jewels Helping Hands Outreach Program brings compassionate, low-barrier support directly to individuals living unsheltered across Spokane. Our teams meet people where they are—on the streets, in encampments, and in isolated areas—providing essential supplies, food, hygiene items, and connection to services. With a focus on trust, dignity, and harm reduction, outreach staff help guests navigate housing resources, medical care, behavioral health support, and community partnerships. By offering consistent engagement and practical assistance, the Outreach Program creates a vital lifeline for those who may otherwise have limited access to care, helping individuals take meaningful steps toward safety, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
Medical Respite Shelter
Healing Hearts Medical Respite
In partnership with Providence, Healing Hearts offers compassionate short-term medical respite for unhoused individuals who need a safe, caring place to heal and recover with dignity. Guests receive rest, nutritious meals, and support connecting to ongoing care and housing resources.
Hours: 24/7 care
Pets: Not permitted
Healing Hearts Team: 509-368-1509
Referrals: Accepted through Providence Community Clinic at 509-626-9825
See Our Work in Action
Every day, our team is out in the community providing life-saving support, connection, and compassion to our houseless neighbors. Follow along to see the programs, partnerships, and real stories that make our work possible.
Jewels Helping Hands
We are a community based organization that focuses on providing basic needs for the houseless and housing insecure, These basic needs include but are not limited to food, clothing, hygiene, and blankets.
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A Letter from our Executive Director
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we come to the end of 2025, I want to pause and personally thank you for standing with us this year. Jewels Helping Hands exists because of people like you, and this year reminded me repeatedly how powerful community can be when we show up for one another.
Together, we navigated a year filled with both challenges and meaningful progress. With your support, we operated four scattered-site shelters that offered more than a safe place to sleep. These centers became places of dignity, connection, and stability for individuals working to rebuild their lives.
Through our scattered-site programs this year:
• 52 individuals moved into permanent housing
• 10 secured housing vouchers and used them successfully
• 14 transitioned into transitional housing
• 132 were reunited with family and returned home permanently
• 29 entered detox or rehabilitation programs
• 7 received long-term psychiatric treatment
• 25 moved into Safe Haven housing
We also experienced loss, with two guests passing away. Their lives matter, and their stories continue to remind us why this work is urgent and deeply human.
Over the course of the year, we supported 751 guests through our scattered-site shelters, with 649 total exits. As of today, 102 individuals remain actively enrolled in Jewels Helping Hands services as they continue working toward stability and independence.
One of our most significant milestones this year was opening the Housing Navigation Center in October.
In just the first three months, the impact has been extraordinary:
• 905 unique individuals enrolled in CMIS
• 297 accessed shelter or inclement weather beds
• 30 entered detox or treatment programs
• 10 received bus tickets for transportation
• 32 requested SPD pickups and 19 SPD drop-offs
• 8,120 visits through our doors
• Over 6,000 sack lunches served
• More than 2,520 showers were provided
And in 2026, we’re excited to expand services at the HNC to include laundry access, another simple but essential step toward dignity and stability.
The Housing Navigation Center represents a new way forward—meeting people where they are and walking alongside them as they work toward long-term solutions. Its success is rooted in collaboration. We truly are better together, and we are grateful for the many partners who help make this work possible.
A few moments from this year that made us especially proud:
• 131,040 meals were served with the help of our donors and community
• 160 families received holiday meals through partnerships with local organizations
• Our mobile shower program provided 44,560 free showers before the unit was donated to another organization to continue this vital service
• Over 4,500 basic needs bags were assembled and distributed through outreach and community support
• We partnered with 74 organizations across Spokane and Spokane County to serve our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are continuing to grow thoughtfully and intentionally:
• In January, our inclement weather beds came online, offering overnight shelter to 15 women during extreme weather
• Later in January, we will open the Aurora Center, a new scattered-site program serving the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
• In 2026, we will also partner with Compassionate Addiction Treatment in the opening of a tiny home community.
None of this work happens alone. It happens because donors give generously, volunteers show up consistently, partners collaborate openly, and advocates continue to speak up. Your trust and belief in this mission mean more than words can say.
Thank you for being part of this community and for walking alongside us.
As we move into 2026, we remain committed to expanding access, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to meet people with compassion, respect, and hope to create a community where everyone has a place to call home.
With deep gratitude,
Julie Garcia
Executive Director
Jewels Helping Hands
