We organize and utilize a network of churches and community referral agencies to expedite and accommodate the real needs that are referred to Love INC daily. Our clearinghouse receives about 50 phone calls each day from churches, community agencies and individuals. These referred needs are screened and verified for authenticity. Once verified, church ministry and community agency resources are utilized to meet those needs.

Our volunteers are constantly picking up quality donated furniture and household items, storing it in our warehouse and then delivering it when a need arises. Our furniture ministry is a well-known resource in our area and is utilized frequently to accommodate the needs of the elderly and sick. It also helps those recently out of homelessness, set up their home.

Love INC of Skagit County owns a residential duplex for the purpose of housing our Homes of Hope Transitional Housing Program. This program uses the proven resource of our Loving Hope Mentoring Program, while providing clients with housing for 6-12 months, for very little rent. As clients begin to “get on their feet” financially, they are surrounded by volunteers from local churches who help them with mentoring and life skills. As this need increases locally, Love INC hopes to continue to add additional homes to this program to accommodate more clients, and continue to impact the lives of those with needs.

Women that are seeking employment and trying to get on their feet financially often do not have the money to purchase clothing for interviews. Sometime they don't have appropriate work attire once they get that new job. Having the proper clothing can make all the difference in maintaining a job. We have created a boutique and have new and gently used professional clothing that our clients can choose from and take home. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way.

This program has proven to be a huge success in eliminating “repeat” clients. This program was built on the same concept as the old adage, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat forever.” As the needs of families are assessed by our clearinghouse, many are encouraged to enroll in the Loving Hope Mentoring Program. The LHMP is a 25 week course that helps clients to determine a plan for responsibly managing their own finances, and reducing their personal debt.

Clients attend the class once each week. Dinner and childcare are provided by volunteers. A one hour lesson is taught through small group discussion on topics such as debt reduction, budgeting, saving and other matters of biblical stewardship. Following the classroom training, clients then sit down with a trained volunteer budget mentor for one-on-one budget counseling. Clients provide counselors with all of their financial information in order to give an accurate picture of their current status, and to determine the best strategy for financial self-sufficiency.

Clients are rewarded with incentives for regular attendance and homework completion. Incentives include vouchers for food from local church and community food banks, gasoline vouchers, haircut vouchers and oil changes. This allows those who have committed to succeeding in the program to take funds that would typically go toward these necessities, and reallocate them toward the elimination of debt.