Despite the loss, staff immediately resumed services for more than 200 local families, meeting clients at their homes, in parks or virtually.

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — The Center for Human Services in Lynnwood is working to recover after a fire destroyed its building over the weekend, leaving the nonprofit without a permanent home as investigators continue to search for the cause.

The fire broke out around 7 p.m. Sunday and quickly swept through the 6,000-square-foot facility located off 204th Street Southwest. South County Fire officials said the cause is still under investigation, but there are no indications of suspicious activity.

Executive Director Beratta Gomillion described the scene as she and her staff watched the building burn.

“We were just kind of standing amazed at the blaze. And realizing after every second that there was nothing to be salvaged,” Gomillion said.

The Center for Human Services has provided mental health and substance use support to thousands in western Washington for 55 years, focusing on low-income families, Medicaid recipients, and children in foster care.

“We serve the neediest of the needy in the community. Just about all of the people are Medicaid recipients, so people with lower incomes or kids in foster care,” Gomillion said.

Despite the loss, Gomillion said staff immediately resumed services for more than 200 local families, meeting clients at their homes, in parks, or virtually.

“We began work the day after the fire and we did not stop seeing clients. We worked without interruption,” she said.

As the nonprofit searches for a new facility, Gomillion emphasized the organization’s commitment to taking care of their community. “We’re hoping that we’re teaching them to be more resilient and we are resilient too and we will bounce back from this,” she said.

The organization has five other locations in western Washington, two in Shoreline, two in Everett and one in Edmonds. 

Community members who wish to support the Center for Human Services can donate through its GoFundMe page or reach out via the organization’s website.