Door of Hope Breaks Ground on $7.35 Million Shelter for Homeless Families in Pasadena

Pasadena nonprofit Door of Hope broke ground Friday on its fifth homeless shelter in Los Angeles County, marking a significant step in addressing the region’s growing family homelessness crisis.

The David and Katherine Lee Home, named after lead donors, will transform the former residence of Rev. Andy Bales into transitional housing for 20 unhoused families.

 The project, estimated to cost $7.35 million, is slated for completion by mid-2026, with construction expected to be finished by that time.

“86% of graduates from Door of Hope have never fallen into homelessness again,” said Megan Katerjian, Chief Executive Officer of Door of Hope, during the ceremony. “Behind every statistic is a precious human life and a sacred story. Those stories always involve pain because of the devastation caused by homelessness – but those stories can and do also include resilience and transformation as families find hope and healing and housing.”

The shelter will be Door of Hope’s largest, featuring 20 private family units with en suite bathrooms, independent cooking stations, and shared dining and living spaces. It aims to address a critical need, as family homelessness in Pasadena increased by 46% in 2024.

Rev. Andy Bales, who sold his home to Door of Hope after retiring as CEO of Union Rescue Mission in Skid Row, expressed his satisfaction with the project. 

“Coming back felt like coming home … it’s the best home I’ve ever had. We had many kids and foster kids here, and it’s surreal to me that we could make it affordable for Door of Hope to make it a home for 20 families,” Bales said. “I learned from my 20 years at Union Rescue Mission that people traumatized by homelessness need much more than a hotel room and food – families need a safe place, therapy, much more, and nobody does this life transforming work like Door of Hope.”

Funding for the project comes from both private and public sources, including a $1 million gift from San Gabriel Valley jewelry and watch retailer Commissioner David SK Lee and his wife Katherine, a $2 million grant from the City of Pasadena, and a $250,000 grant from Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Additional funding includes a $1 million gift from The Change Reaction, $100,000 grants from Pasadena Community Foundation and Ann Peppers Foundation, and $3 million from individual donors including Door of Hope’s Board.

Commissioner Lee shared his motivation for investing in the project: “Life is like a Monopoly game … you might make good decisions, good real estate buys … you accumulate a certain amount of wealth in the game. But then there’s the end of the game and you put the money back in the box. I see that as life here. We don’t take it with us … So what do you do with the wealth? What I do know as a Christian is God calls us to love our neighbors … and as a business man I want to invest – in the future and in heaven – that is why I give to Door of Hope.”

“When I first heard about Door of Hope and its mission to uplift families, it touched my heart,” Supervisor Barger said at the event. “Fighting our homelessness crisis requires all hands on deck—our County needs faith-based organizations now more than ever.”

The groundbreaking ceremony attracted various officials, including U.S. Representative Judy Chu, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, State Assemblymember Chris Holden, Pasadena City Manager Miguel Marquez, Pasadena Councilmember Jess Rivas, and Pasadena Department of Housing Director Bill Huang, underscoring broad support for the initiative.

Representative Chu commented, “With a housing affordability crisis in Pasadena and across Southern California, I’m grateful for organizations like Door of Hope and generous individuals like David and Katherine Lee whose efforts and financial contributions are helping address this crisis.”

Door of Hope, founded in 1985, is one of the few homeless service providers in Los Angeles County that shelters various family configurations together in private units, including single mothers, single fathers, and two-parent families with their children.

A former client of Door of Hope, identified only as Renee, shared her experience: “I am proud to say that I am one of the 86% that has never returned to homelessness … in 2017 I found myself in a dark place. My daughter and I were unhoused and we couldn’t find anywhere to go. When I found Door of Hope I knew there was a divine purpose for me to be there … Since graduating, I’ve started my own career in homeless services. I want to stay connected with Door of Hope for the rest of my life.”

As Los Angeles County grapples with over 75,000 people experiencing homelessness, the new shelter represents a crucial step in Door of Hope’s 39-year mission to combat family homelessness in the region. The organization is acknowledged as a leading provider of homeless services in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys, having facilitated the journey out of homelessness for more than 1,900 families since its inception.