Quick answer: Housing Hope is Everett’s largest affordable-housing nonprofit. For Everett residents, it offers three direct points of access: affordable rental housing across more than 650 units at 24 sites in Snohomish County (income-eligible, sliding-scale rent), the Team HomeBuilding sweat-equity homeownership program (328 households served, hundreds of hours of construction labor in exchange for deeply discounted ownership), and Tomorrow’s Hope childcare for kids aged four weeks through twelve years (sliding-scale fees, currently expanding to a new 26,700-square-foot center at 4526 Federal Avenue).

For Everett Residents: A 2026 Guide to Getting Housing, Childcare, or Homeownership Help From Housing Hope

If you live in Everett and you have ever wondered whether there is a local nonprofit that can actually help with the three biggest household pressures in this city — rent, childcare, and homeownership — the answer is yes. It is called Housing Hope. It manages more than 650 affordable rental units across 24 sites in Snohomish County. It has helped 328 households become first-time homeowners. And it operates a child development center that is about to triple in size at 4526 Federal Avenue.

This is the resident’s guide. What Housing Hope does, who it serves, how the eligibility works, and how to actually get help in 2026.

Who Housing Hope Serves

Housing Hope serves residents of Snohomish County and Camano Island. The programs are tailored — sliding-scale rents, sliding-scale childcare fees, sweat-equity homeownership — meaning eligibility depends on household income, family size, and current housing situation. Households exiting homelessness, working families struggling with rent burden, families needing childcare to stay employed, and first-time homebuyers who can commit construction hours all map to specific programs.

The point of Housing Hope’s integrated structure is that residents do not have to leave the system as their circumstances change. A family that starts in transitional housing can move to permanent supportive housing, then to workforce housing, then potentially to Team HomeBuilding ownership — all within the same nonprofit’s portfolio.

Affordable Rental Housing: The 650-Unit Portfolio

Housing Hope’s largest program is its 650+ affordable rental units across 24 sites. Rent is set on a sliding scale based on household income and family size, not market rate. That is the structural difference from a regular Everett apartment search.

The portfolio is intentionally diverse:

Transitional housing for households exiting homelessness
Permanent supportive housing with on-site case management for residents needing ongoing support
Family workforce housing for working households earning below market rates
Senior housing for older residents on fixed incomes

What that means practically: if you are an Everett resident facing rent stress, the right next step is to contact Housing Hope directly to find out which program you would qualify for and what waitlist looks like. The organization does not advertise availability on Craigslist or Zillow because affordable units do not work that way — placement is income-verified and program-matched.

Team HomeBuilding: The Sweat-Equity Path to Ownership

Team HomeBuilding is the program that has produced 328 first-time homeowners. The structure is unusual and worth understanding carefully:

Working families are accepted into the program based on income and ability to commit construction labor hours. Once accepted, they help build their own home and the homes of other participating families — framing, siding, finishing, the whole process. In exchange for hundreds of hours of construction labor, participants receive a deeply discounted mortgage on the home they helped build.

The numbers behind this matter. A family that contributes hundreds of hours of construction labor effectively replaces tens of thousands of dollars of contractor cost. That cost reduction shows up as a lower mortgage. Families who would not qualify for a market-rate mortgage in Everett often do qualify for the Team HomeBuilding mortgage because the underlying loan is smaller.

The 328-household track record means this is not a theoretical program. It is one of the more effective first-time-homeowner pipelines in Snohomish County for families that can commit the hours.

Tomorrow’s Hope Childcare: The 4526 Federal Avenue Expansion

Tomorrow’s Hope is Housing Hope’s child development center. It serves kids aged four weeks through twelve years. The fee structure is sliding-scale and prioritizes families currently living in Housing Hope properties or recently exited from homelessness.

The current facility has operated for more than 30 years. It is being replaced by a new 26,700-square-foot purpose-built center at 4526 Federal Avenue on the Compass Health campus. That is a roughly threefold capacity increase. Site-prep is active in 2026; the new facility will significantly expand the number of Everett families who can access Tomorrow’s Hope childcare.

For Everett families: childcare cost is one of the largest household expenses, and licensed-quality childcare slots in Snohomish County are routinely waitlisted. A Housing Hope-affiliated family with a Tomorrow’s Hope slot is paying a fraction of market rates for licensed care. That is meaningful household-budget math.

How to Actually Apply

Housing Hope is a single-point-of-entry organization for residents seeking help. The standard path is:

Contact Housing Hope directly to describe your household situation
An intake conversation determines which program(s) match your needs
Income and household documentation is verified
You are placed on the appropriate waitlist or matched directly with a current opening
If services are time-sensitive (immediate housing need, active homelessness), the conversation prioritizes accordingly

Waitlists are real. Affordable housing in Everett has demand that outruns supply. The 1,000-unit Housing Hope expansion goal by 2030 exists because the current 650 units do not meet the need. That said, getting on the right waitlist matters — many residents do not realize Housing Hope exists, which means the waitlists are shorter than they would be if every income-qualified Everett resident applied.

What Else Housing Hope Connects To

Housing Hope sits inside a larger Snohomish County safety net that includes Volunteers of America Western Washington, Cocoon House (youth homelessness), Compass Health (behavioral health, partnering on the new Tomorrow’s Hope), and the Snohomish County Council’s recently approved $23 million in housing-and-behavioral-health funding. Residents in crisis often need more than one of these organizations. Housing Hope’s case management is structured to make those handoffs work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for Housing Hope rental housing in Everett?

Contact Housing Hope directly. The organization’s intake process determines which of its 24 sites and program types you qualify for, then places you on the appropriate waitlist. Affordable housing is income-verified and program-matched, not advertised through standard rental listings.

Who qualifies for Team HomeBuilding?

Working families with incomes that meet program guidelines and the ability to commit hundreds of hours of construction labor on their own and other participants’ homes. The program has produced 328 first-time homeowner households across its history.

How much does Tomorrow’s Hope childcare cost?

Tomorrow’s Hope uses a sliding-scale fee structure based on household income and family size. Priority is given to families currently in Housing Hope properties or recently exited from homelessness. Residents should contact Housing Hope directly for current fee information and availability.

Where is Housing Hope’s office in Everett?

Housing Hope is headquartered in Everett. Specific office addresses, including the new 26,700-square-foot Tomorrow’s Hope facility at 4526 Federal Avenue, are listed on the organization’s official site.

Can I volunteer with Housing Hope without being a program participant?

Yes. Housing Hope accepts volunteer construction labor on Team HomeBuilding projects, financial contributions, in-kind donations, and other support roles. Construction-skilled volunteers can directly accelerate move-in dates for participating families.

How is Housing Hope different from Volunteers of America Western Washington?

Both are Snohomish County nonprofits, but Housing Hope is primarily a housing developer and operator, while VOAWW operates a broader portfolio that includes food banks, crisis services, and family services across Western Washington. Many residents end up working with both.

Does Housing Hope only serve people experiencing homelessness?

No. Housing Hope serves a wide spectrum: households exiting homelessness, working families needing affordable rent, families seeking childcare, and aspiring first-time homeowners. The program structure spans the full range from crisis to homeownership.

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