Copyright Everett Herald
EVERETT — Homage Senior Services unveiled its new facility and its new CEO during a ribbon cutting Tuesday in Everett. The nonprofit provided essential services to older adults and people with disabilities in Lynnwood for seven years before moving to its new location at 1715 100th Place SW. Jay Kang, a former pastor, steps into the role as Homage CEO during the move to the new location. This relocation coincides with the organization’s hopes of extending its reach beyond Snohomish County, according to a Homage Senior Services press release. “This new facility, this new chapter here, allows us to serve more communities across our region,” Kang said at the ribbon cutting Tuesday. “It allows us to meet people where they are, culturally, geographically and personally, because every community deserves respect, every senior deserves dignity and every family deserves peace of mind. Homage is growing, not for the sake of growth, but because the need is real.” Homage opened its door just over five decades ago and serves more than 25,000 individuals each year with its programs, such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, in-home care, mental health counseling and social connection programs, the release said. “You just know that you’re really helping people,” said Cheryl Cadden, an employee of six years and the director of minor home repair and facilities, in an interview Tuesday. Despite the drop from 36,000 square feet to 9,000 square feet in physical space, Homage is expanding its outreach. The new location better positions them between north and south Snohomish County, Kang said in an interview Tuesday. Kang was a pastor for around 17 years before making the switch to social services, where he has worked throughout Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. “I worked in social services organizations serving seniors for a really long time. I always had a hard-to-serve senior population because they’re a very vulnerable population,” Kang said. “This is a great opportunity for me to dedicate myself to serving that vulnerable population through Homage.” When Kang joined the Homage team in September, he had three goals: enhancing what the organization does, extending its reach and expanding to more communities. Homage is also looking to expand its partnerships and support to smaller organizations, Kang said. “We need partners,” he said. “I am a collaborator, and I want to collaborate with other organizations and communities that we serve.”
