The former home of Rev. Andy Bales (Photo – Kathryn Barger Office)
Smiles and cheer shone as brightly as the sun on the morning of Friday, Sept. 6, at Door of Hope’s groundbreaking ceremony for its fifth homelessness shelter, The David and Katherine Lee Home.
By News Desk
Community leaders and donors picked up shovels and broke ground on a project that is transforming the former home of Rev. Andy Bales into a transitional shelter for 20 unhoused families. Door of Hope shelters any kind of family together in their own private unit. Families include single moms, single dads, and two-parent families together with their children.
A heartfelt ceremony was kicked off by Door of Hope’s Chief Executive Officer, Megan Katerjian: “86% of graduates from Door of Hope have never fallen into homelessness again … but 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. Being part of more of those stories is why I am so excited to break ground on this home.”
Rev. Andy Bales, who sold his home to Door of Hope after deciding to retire as Chief Executive Officer of the Union Rescue Mission in Skid Row, shared that having his home become transitional housing for families is a dream come true. “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. 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.”
Rendering of the new shelter (Photo – Kathryn Barger Office)
Supervisor Kathryn Barger commented on her support of this project. “When I first heard about Door of Hope and its mission to uplift families, it touched my heart. I enthusiastically have placed my full support behind this project. Fighting our homelessness crisis requires all hands on deck—our County needs faith-based organizations now more than ever. The families that walk in may feel lost, but the safety and support that they’ll find here will help them regain their hope.”
There was also a special recognition of Lead Donors Commissioner David SK Lee and his wife Katherine Lee, and The Change Reaction President Wade Trimmer.
David SK Lee shared why he chose to invest in this 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.”
The David and Katherine Lee Home–financed by both private and public funds–was made possible by a $1 million lead gift from San Gabriel Valley jewelry and watch retailer Commissioner David SK Lee and his wife, Katherine, a $2 million grant by the City of Pasadena, a $250,000 grant from Los Angeles County, a $1 million gift by The Change Reaction, $100,000 grants by Pasadena Community Foundation and Ann Peppers Foundation, and $3 million from individual donors including contributions from Door of Hope’s Board.
Officials in attendance supporting the project included Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, U.S. Representative Judy Chu, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, Pasadena Councilmember Jess Rivas, State Assemblymember Chris Holden, Pasadena City Manager Miguel Marquez, and Pasadena Department of Housing Director Bill Huang.
Representative Judy Chu said, “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 by building a new transitional shelter for unhoused Angelenos.”
Tours of the Lee Home followed the groundbreaking, including renderings of the Craftsman home’s intended renovation. This will be the largest of Door of Hope’s shelters, and will include 20 private family units, each with an en suite bathroom, independent cooking station, and shared dining and living spaces.
The shelter’s construction is estimated to be completed by mid-2026.
(L-R) Rev. Megan Katerjian, Mayor Gordo, Rep. Judy Chu, Comm’r David Lee, Sup. Kathryn Barger, Asm. Chris Holden, Pasadena Councilwoman Jess Rivas, Bonnie and Rev. Andy Bales (Photo – Kathryn Barger Office)
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