Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Sophia Way provides life-saving services and programs, supporting women experiencing homelessness in King County. In 2006, our founder, Helen Luezzi, saw a need and responded by working with others in the community to initially open Angeline's Day Center, a place of shelter for homeless women during the day on weekdays. In 2008, The Sophia Way was founded, providing overnight shelter for women in need, case management, rent subsidies, and services to support them on their path to housing. We are committed to making homelessness rare, one-time, and brief. As we undertake these efforts, new approaches to solving homelessness emerge, with a greater emphasis on prevention, rapid rehousing, and housing first approach.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Day Center
At the Day Center, we provide immediate and much-needed services, every day of the week. Women can do laundry and take a shower. They also have access to phones and computers.
Every day we provide a nourishing lunch prepared by generous volunteers. Many of the women have diabetes or other health challenges, and our emphasis on is giving them healthy meals.
The women also benefit from the different resource referrals and service providers including counseling, health checkups, legal assistance, resume help and job opportunities.
Extended-Stay Shelter
Our program provides 21 women six months of stability. They are given semi-private cubicle furnished with a bed and a lockers, and served healthy meals every day.
Woven throughout all our programs are supportive wrap around services including housing case management, financial coaching, and employment services. Our goal is to provide a continuum of care and services which guide women from homelessness into housing.
Emergency Shelter
The shelter provides women a warm, safe place to sleep and hot dinner. The shelter is hosted by the faith communities.
Housing Programs
Our overall goal is to help women move from temporary shelter to transitional & permanent housing as quickly as possible.
Where we work
External reviews

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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Sophia Way is committed to supporting women experiencing homelessness and moving them into housing, making homelessness rare, one-time, and brief.
We also are committed to working with other organizations to raise awareness of homelessness in King County in by promoting legislative measures to end homelessness in the community we serve.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Increase capacity
2. Increase awareness of the Emergency and Day Center services
3. Conduct mobile outreach so staff connect and deliver life-saving services to women surviving on the streets.
4. Increase accessibility to the Emergency Shelter and Day Center.
5. Provide targeted case management services.
6. Equip and incentivize clients to collaborate with us in transitioning to housing.
7. Educate clients on the support and resources available when they move into independent housing.
8. Decrease length of stays across our programs
9. Find more affordable housing (low-income or market rate)
10. Increase move-on strategy (moving current shelter clients into permanent housing)
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Trained and professional staff
Supportive donors and funders
Dedicated volunteers
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2017
• 125 women moving into their own home
• 77 women found a place in our Night Shelter program
• 232 women found shelter at our Emergency Shelter
• 490 women served at our Day Center
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The Sophia Way
Board of directorsas of 11/9/2019