Edmonds CC's Project Home to raise funds for students facing homelessness

Edmonds Community College’s Project Home Ambassadors (PHA) student club has one goal –– to help students who are facing homelessness with housing expenses, which can sometimes seem insurmountable.

Across the U.S., about one-third of community college students go hungry and 14% are homeless, according to 2017 national survey by the University of Wisconsin of more than 33,000 students at 70 community colleges.

Over the past year, PHA was able to award $16,000 in scholarships to assist 24 Edmonds CC students with housing expenses, including monthly rent, move-in fees/deposits, and hotel costs.

“We were able to keep these students in a home and make sure they continued their education and career dreams,” said Luke Botzheim, director of Edmonds CC Housing. To meet the increasing need for scholarships, PHA will be hosting a benefit concert.

Benefit concert to help Edmonds CC students in need: 

• 6 p.m. Thursday, May 30 | Edmonds CC Black Box Theatre
• Swizzle with the Skid Rogues, emceed by comedian Vince Valenzuela, and sponsored by HomeStreet Bank
• Silent auction featuring artwork from local artists

The club has set a fundraising goal of $20,000, and HomeStreet Bank has already stepped up to help the club meet its goal. HomeStreet will be awarding a $5,000 charitable donation to PHA’s mission of ending homelessness on the Edmonds CC campus.

”HomeStreet Bank is committed to being an active member in the communities we serve," said Marilla Sargent, vice president and branch manager of the local Mountlake Terrace office. "In 2018, HomeStreet Bank donated $1.25 million to local non-profit organizations and our employees donated 15,300 hours of volunteer time to communities across our footprint. This is the Heart of HomeStreet."

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. To purchase tickets or make a donation, go to Black Box Theatre web page.

Sponsors include: HomeStreet Bank, Bridges International, Edmonds CC Athletics, Edmonds CC Foundation, Edmonds CC Housing Office. Donors to the silent auction include: OBED Galleries and Allan Carandang.