Mission: In order to help people to attain their highest level of self-reliance, Operation Nightwatch provides: -spiritual care and hope for the community at night -compassionate relief and shelter placement for homeless women, men and families -low-cost housing and support services for seniors and the disabled -education and encouragement for others to respond to these needs
Geographic areas served: Seattle, WA
Programs: Street Ministry - Ordained ministers serve as the presence of Jesus Christ on the streets and in the bars and cafes of the city. These clergy members provide an invaluable service on a volunteer basis.Emergency Shelter Placement - Late in the evening, at the Operation Nightwatch Dispatch Center, clients seeking shelter are offered a simple meal while staff locates available shelter space. The Dispatch Center is open 365 days of the year. Each night, 2 paid staff members are assisted by community volunteers to serve 100-130 homeless clients. Donated blankets, socks, hats, clothing and hygiene products are distributed.Mens Shelter - Operation Nightwatch funds an off-site shelter for 70 men nightly.Family shelter - Homeless families receive a voucher for modest hotel room so that they can secure more lasting solutions the following day.Low-Income Senior Housing - Operation Nightwatch operates 23 SRO apartments for low-income seniors and/or the disabled.
Operation Nightwatch provides for those in need by providing stable housing and shelter referrals to the homeless in Seattle. They do a great job and my money is well spent in donating to them.
I was homeless due to domestic violence and having no family living to turn to. This was in 1998 and I was in a very psychologically fragile state when two of the workers in Operation Nightwatch saw me in the night time walking alone cautiously downtown looking for somewhere safe to go for the night.
They could see how vulnerable I was and while no shelter had a bed for me they called a women's shelter downtown, explained my situation & got me ok'd to sleep for the night on a chair
They were wonderful in helping me when I had no where to go.
I have no doubt if they didn't step in and help me then I would have become eventually a victim of assault somewhere either on the streets or wherever I ended up to sleep that night.
They are a wonderful group to help when usually no one else is there to reach out.
I am thankful for what they did to help me!
Operation Nightwatch is a terrific organization that provides meals every night of the year and access to a shelter bed for the night, but most of all hope and encouragement to those in difficult situations. They also provide permanent housing and community to disabled seniors. Thanks for all you do !!
I've been volunteering for Nightwatch since 1982. They started out in a rat hole downtown, bought a building on the edge of the International District in the late 90s, and keep expanding their ability to respond to the needs of homeless people.
Every night they serve up food, starting at 9:00 pm and send people off to various shelters that they fund around downtown Seattle. The shelters are bare bones, but better than sleeping in an alley. Recently they've been helping over 150 men & women. Not currently helping families on a regular basis.
