Homelessness Response Blog

Homelessness Response Blog

Homelessness Task Force progress reports

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The Navigation Center Opens to Pets, Possessions & Partners

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On July 12, the City’s new Navigation Center, an enhanced shelter that accepts people with pets, partners, and possessions, as well as substance use disorders, opened its doors to clients. A dormitory-style living facility that provides shower, bathroom, and laundry facilities, as well as meals and a place to store personal belongings, Seattle’s Navigation Center model is important as our community moves to more “low-barrier,” 24/7 shelters.

DESC and Operation Sack Lunch staff with “late plates” for Navigation Center guests. Late plates are available between meals for guests when they return to the Navigation Center from appointments, jobs, etc.

While the Navigation Center has capacity for 75 people, the City and facility operator Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) have been intentional in welcoming guests into the shelter in small cohorts, which helps guests make the transition indoors and aids staff in establishing strong service relationships from day one. At the end of the first day of operation, July 12, DESC had welcomed eight people. On day 10 of operations, there were 41 guests moved into the Navigation Center.

Homelessness disproportionately affects people of color and the LGBTQ community when compared to their representation in Seattle’s overall population. In fact, African Americans are five times and Native Americans are seven times more likely to be homeless, according to a recent survey conducted by the Human Services Department. Recognizing these disparities, it is the City’s goal that the Navigation Center will serve people who most disproportionately experience homelessness. Early reports on the first 41 clients at the center 10 days after opening indicate 61% are from the program’s focus populations of African American/Black, Multiracial, or Native American; 15% are White; <1% are Asian or Pacific Islander; while race data is currently unknown among 24% at the Navigation Center (intake and data entry are in progress).

Additionally, the Navigation Center is welcoming those who may not have accessed other shelter because of their partners or pets – of the 41 guests, there are 12 chosen groups/partnerships (e.g., couples, mother/daughter, etc.) and five dogs living there.

Enrollment at the Navigation Center is only by referral the City’s Navigation Team, comprised of specially trained Seattle Police officers, outreach workers through REACH and field coordinators who engage with people living unsheltered in Seattle. In the days leading up to the opening, REACH and the Navigation Team Officers began working to reconnect with people who had received referrals during the Navigation Team’s intensive outreach efforts at unsanctioned encampments over the past several months.

The City has funded an additional “low-barrier” shelter in the First Hill neighborhood that is expected to open in August 2017.

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MDAR Advisory Committee to hold first meeting

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Since 2008, the City has had specific rules – Multi-Department Rules (MDARs) – for the removal of encampments that balance providing services and alternatives to people living in encampments with the health and safety benefits of removing encampments. In 2016, the increasing homelessness crisis affecting our community led the City to not only review our process for encampment removals, but to expand our broader response as we implement our comprehensive strategy to combat homelessness in Seattle, “Pathways Home.” Mayor Ed Murray formed a Task Force on Unsanctioned Encampment Cleanup Protocols to make recommendations on improving the encampment removal rules. Following the work of the task force and public feedback, new protocols were implemented on April 3, 2017.

To ensure continued improvements, Mayor Murray and Council Member Sally Bagshaw, Chair of the Human Services & Public Health Committee, are jointly convening the Advisory Committee on Unsanctioned Encampments to review and evaluate the implementation of the City’s new MDARs addressing unsheltered homeless individuals, and specifically to review current policies and practices by the City of Seattle related to removal of unsanctioned encampments, and associated outreach and services to the people living in them. The committee will pay particular sensitivity to race and social justice issues associated with these actions, the unsheltered people who are affected, and the communities surrounding the encampments.

The MDAR Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting on July 11, 2017, 6-8 p.m. in the Boards and Commissions Room (L280) in City Hall.

MDAR Committee Members

MDAR Committee Charter

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City releases assessment of first three permitted encampments

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Seattle is the first city in the country to offer public land and funding to support permitted encampments for people experiencing homelessness. All six of the existing permitted homeless encampment programs operate on public property with City funding to support services, security, and operations at the camps. Today, representatives of the Human Services Department (HSD) presented to City Council’s Human Services & Public Health Committee its assessment of the first three encampments to open — Interbay, Ballard and Othello.

In 2016, the City adopted a strategic plan known as the Pathways Home plan as a framework or actions to address homelessness. The person-centered plan includes key data-driven policies and actions that will transform the current system into one that more fully addresses the complex needs of people experiencing homelessness. While the priority actions within Pathways Home are underway, permitted encampment programs that include access to services and case management provide immediate options for people without shelter.

With its assessment, HSD intends to determine the extent that City of Seattle temporary sanctioned encampments are an effective homelessness response strategy and, identify successes, challenges and areas of future study. The report reflects the experiences and results of the Ballard, Interbay and Othello encampments Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2016.

Download report: http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/HumanServices/AboutUs/Final%202017%20Permitted%20Encampment%20Evaluation.pdf

  • The City permitted encampments have met and exceeded the contracted performance measures.
  • The model is serving people who have been living outside in greenbelts, on the streets, in cars and in hazardous situations.
  • Overall, the neighboring communities have responded positively and, there is no significant increase in crime due to a permitted encampment.
  • The encampment self-managed governance structure offers residents a way to positively contribute to day-to-day operations and community engagement efforts while building individual confidence and leadership skills.
  • The movement of encampment clients through the program and in to housing validates adding case management and services to the self-managed permitted encampments.
  • More research is needed in these areas:
    • What detrimental racial equity practices or program barriers may exist for Black/African American, American Indian or Alaska Native and Hispanic Latino people experiencing homelessness.
    • Possible changes in the level of services offered as the make-up of the permitted encampment shifts to serve more people with higher mental health, physical and addiction treatment needs.
    • Community perception and best practices in engagement around the permitted encampments.
    • The demographics and programmatic needs of people who leave before engaging with a case manager and people who exit without providing a destination. 
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Seattle Channel Spotlight: The Navigation Team

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Today, coinciding with the #SeaHomeless media blitz, the Seattle Channel released a short video highlighting the work of the City’s Navigation Team, which is comprised of outreach workers paired with specially trained Seattle Police Department (SPD) personnel. The team works to connect unsheltered people to housing and critical resources, while helping address pervasive challenges around the issue of homelessness in Seattle.

If the video does not display above, try:

Navigation Team outreach results

From Feb. 20 through June 23, 2017, the Navigation Team has made more than 2,800 contacts with a total of 842 individuals. Through repeated contacts, the team members are building relationships with individuals and working with them on solutions that fit their needs. These efforts are producing amazing results, with 66 percent (557) of all individuals contacted accepting some type of service. Of the 842 individuals engaged, 296 have exited encampments to alternate living arrangements, which includes reconnecting with family or other support system (18), a motel voucher (13) or relocating to a shelter or authorized encampment (265). The Navigation Team has referred 173 people to the three new sanctioned encampments – Georgetown, Camp Second Chance and Licton Springs Village – opened this spring.

This summer the Navigation Team will have additional safer alternatives to which they can refer individuals based on their needs – the City’s Navigation Center is scheduled to open July 12, while a new 100-bed, enhanced 24/7 shelter will open at First Hill’s First Presbyterian Church in August.

Additional services accepted include case management support/referral; mental health support/referral; substance use disorder treatment referral; state ID acquisition assistance; medical support/referral; coordinated entry housing assessment (VISPDAT); King County Housing Authority lottery registration; employment support; benefits activation support; vehicle repairs; and basic needs.

About the Navigation Team

Navigation Team officers and outreach workers talk with an individual to determine what services she may need.

The Navigation Team is comprised of eight specially trained SPD officers, one SPD sergeant and seven REACH outreach workers who work together in the field to offer individualized services and alternative living spaces to homeless individuals. Additionally, a City outreach coordinator tracks and compiles outreach contacts and services provided; he is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and serves as the point person for issues related to mental health. In cases where the team contacts someone who is dealing with mental health challenges, the outreach coordinator assumes the outreach lead with that individual, making an assessment, engaging and making the appropriate referral to support the individual’s needs. When appropriate, the outreach coordinator requests assistance from specialty outreach workers from partner agencies, including MID – Outreach, Case Management & Mental Health Staff; UGM – Outreach team; UGM Community Mental Health Program; Harborview – Mental Health; LEAD; Mary’s Place; UGM – Hope Place; DESC – HOST Program; YouthCare, etc.

Also part of the team are several field coordinators – City staff who inspect reported encampment sites, inform cleanup scheduling, work with individuals to store personal belongings and later return those items upon request, document and ensure the City’s protocols are followed at every cleanup, and supervise the cleanup crews, which can include City staff and/or contractors. Finally, an SPD lieutenant and a program manager oversee coordination and scheduling of the entire team.

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City to remove encampment from under Magnolia Bridge

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The encampment is located under the Magnolia Bridge in the shaded area.

On Thursday, June 15, the City’s Navigation Team visited an encampment under the Magnolia Bridge (see area on map) to post and provide verbal notice to those living there that the encampment will be removed on Tuesday, June 20. As with all encampment removals, the Navigation Team of specially trained police officers and outreach workers offered individuals on site alternative shelter and other services.

The Navigation Team will return to conduct outreach again on Tuesday morning before crews will cleanup trash and debris left behind. City field coordinators will offer to store personal belongings for up to 70 days; the City delivers stored belongings upon request.

 

Photos taken during a site inspection:

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New count provides City with additional tool to address homelessness

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Count Us In – a new and more comprehensive point-in-time homelessness report was released May 31, providing critical new baseline on homelessness in Seattle and King County. This year’s Count Us In used a nationally-recognized count methodology, a countywide canvas of 99.5 percent of King County census tracts, and a person-to-person survey of people experiencing homelessness to gain a clearer picture of the people and not just the numbers.

The 2017 Count Us In tally counted a total of 11,643 people experiencing homelessness throughout King County. This total includes 6,158 people sheltered in transitional housing or emergency shelters, and 5,485 people on the streets, sleeping in vehicles, tents or encampments (both sanctioned and unsanctioned). Obtaining reliable, accurate and actionable data through the annual point-in-time count is a requirement for federal funding, and imperative to informing local strategies to address homelessness. This year, the count was held on Jan. 27.

“We set out to do a more rigorous, comprehensive, and thorough count than ever this year so we could assess the specifics of this crisis and develop concrete solutions to it,” said Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. “Since this count was taken, we’ve aggressively implemented a hands-on approach to addressing this crisis. Our Navigation Team of social workers, health professionals, and police officers have successfully engaged with more 600 people and connected services and housing to more than 250. This is how individualized services can help and how having a complete picture of this crisis helps us better service those experiencing it.”

For Seattle, there were 8,476 people experiencing homelessness in Seattle.  Of those, 4,619 were sheltered and 3,857 were living on the streets, in tents, in vehicles or in sanctioned and unsanctioned encampments.

Additionally, this year All Home, who coordinated the count, also commissioned a person-to-person survey completed by 1,158 people reflecting a representative sample of the sheltered and unsheltered population across the county. The results of the survey can be generalized to the entire population of people experiencing homelessness with 95% confidence. Key findings include:

– People experiencing homelessness in King County are our neighbors, and overwhelmingly local. Ninety-one percent are from Washington state, including 77 percent who said they were last housed in King County. Only 9 percent reported a last home address out of state.

– History of domestic violence or partner abuse is prevalent; 40 percent said they had experienced abuse and 7 percent said it was the current cause for their homelessness.

– Homelessness disproportionately impacts people of color. In all, about 55 percent of the local homeless population are people of color.

– Half of all people surveyed reported a disabling condition, and more than a third have two or more conditions. Most mentioned were mental illness, substance use, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

– Nearly a third are maintaining employment.

– Loss of job (30%), drug/alcohol problems (20%), or eviction (11%) were the leading causes of homelessness.

– Homelessness is not a choice. Ninety-two percent said they would take safe and affordable housing today if it was available.

– Rental assistance and affordable housing were the top two supports needed to end the experience of homelessness.

The Count Us In results are a reminder that homelessness will only be solved with the commitment and resources of the entire Seattle and King County community. This support must address the immediate needs of those currently experiencing homelessness, as well as skyrocketing rent, stagnant wages and limited access to behavioral health resources which were all identified as contributing factors to the rising homelessness population. Permanent housing is the best solution to resolve a person’s homeless crisis—but there’s still not enough for everyone who needs it. In Seattle, there are more than 60,000 households who are paying more than 30 percent of their income on housing. More than 46,000 are paying more than 50 percent. The City remains committed in leveraging the resources of partners such as the faith based community, philanthropy and the private sector to help transition people out of homelessness.

“This new count is the most comprehensive to date, and confirms that homelessness is prevalent throughout the county,” said Mark Putnam, Director of All Home. “People who are homeless want housing, and we are housing more people than ever. Yet the count confirms that more people are becoming homeless here. This is true wherever there is a severe lack of affordable housing.”

All Home, the City of Seattle and King County together with their partners are moving more people from homelessness to permanent housing – and doing so faster than ever. Guided by the Pathway’s Home framework for addressing homelessness, the City of Seattle has been intentional in taking bold steps to help those experiencing homelessness.

SPD’s Sgt. Zerr and REACH outreach workers, all members of the City’s Navigation Team, get ready to begin offering services and alternative shelter to people living under the Spokane Street Viaduct on Friday, April 7.

– The Emergency Operations Center has been activated since February and has focused all departments on helping people living unsheltered to move to safer alternatives.

– The Navigation Team of outreach social workers and specially trained police officers has offered services to 630 unique individuals, and 252 of them relocated to safer living arrangements, including 162 to sanctioned City encampments.

– Two of the City’s enhanced-model shelters are under construction that will house 175 people at a time or about 700 people a year. Both will open this summer.

– Three new sanctioned encampments opened in March and April, bringing 162 new spaces for Navigation Team to refer people to. Capacity is 225 for all three new camps, and well over 400 spaces available.

– Partnering with King County, the City is supporting the work of the Opioid Task Force.

– Funding for diversion services has increased by 40% to help people avoid episodes of homelessness. The City has also increased investments in rapid rehousing programs and other permanent housing options.

The full Count Us In 2017 Report is available on the All Home website.

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More than half of individuals living unsheltered in encampments near Poplar & Dean / Dearborn accept alternative living arrangements offered by City’s Navigation Team

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The Navigation Team officers and outreach, City field coordinators and UGM outreach huddle up before beginning engagement with individuals still on site.

Following several weeks of intensive, repeated outreach to individuals camping near South Dean Street/Poplar Place South and along South Dearborn Street to 10th Avenue South, the City’s Navigation Team facilitated 19 of 34 people living unsheltered moving to alternative living arrangements during yesterday’s final push before the area is closed to camping. Ten of those individuals moved to City sanctioned encampments, three reconnected with family support systems, while the rest accepted spaces in other shelters.

This outreach success follow’s last week’s closure and cleanup of the I-90 Cloverleaf, where 26 of 56 individuals contacted accepted alternative living arrangements.

Since May 1, the City’s Navigation Team of specially trained Seattle Police officers and outreach workers has been conducting repeated, intensive outreach to individuals camping in the area that stretches from the I-90 on/off-ramps at Rainier Avenue South (the “Cloverleaf”) north to South Dearborn Street. Union Gospel Mission and the Mental Health Outreach Team have provided essential support to these efforts. Additionally, City field coordinators assisted people with temporary storage of belongings.

The Navigation Team officers offer services to individuals while City field coordinators offer storage of personal belongings.

Neighbors and other community members who have been generously supporting individuals living unsheltered in these locations with trash collection, meals and other supplies, again provided to-go bags of food and water to campers leaving the area. The City welcomes these types of offers in advance, and can coordinate a space safely outside the work zone where volunteers can engage with people.

As areas were cleared of people and their belongings they planned to take or store, cleanup crews began removing trash and debris. Most of yesterday’s area of focus will be fenced for its next use – on June 1, per an agreement with WSDOT, Sound Transit will begin utilizing the area roughly between South Dearborn Street and I-90, from 10th Avenue South on the west to South Dean Street on the east, as a staging area for construction of the East Link Light Rail extension.

 

 

The hillside below the Dr. Jose P Rizal Bridge along Dearborn Street, last month (on the left, looking toward Dearborn) and yesterday (on the right, from Dearborn looking toward the bridge).

 

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Community rallies around new enhanced shelter in First Hill

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About 60 people attended the community meeting last night for the new shelter at the First Presbyterian Church in First Hill. Janet Pope, Executive Director of Compass Housing who will operate the shelter, thanked the community for being so supportive and welcoming.

This program is funded through the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department, and is a partnership between Compass Housing Alliance and First Presbyterian Church – two organizations with deep roots in the community, and with strong commitment to missions of service to those in need.

Rev. Dr. Heidi Husted Armstrong of First Presbyterian addresses the attendees.

There were questions regarding the program, underlying program principles, accountability and metrics. Many people attending wanted information about how the community could support the program, including volunteer opportunities.

Compass and First Presbyterian addressed their longer-term plan for gathering feedback from and providing updates to the community.

George Scarola, the City’s Director of the Office of Homelessness, provided the City’s greetings and ended by saying, “We often say the City can’t solve the problem by itself. Here’s another way this shelter helps show the way. This is a great example how a welcoming neighborhood, a deeply committed church and a great nonprofit group can partner to meet the need for 24/7 shelter.”

This enhanced shelter model is part of the City’s Pathways Home Plan, which is guiding the actions the City and its partners are taking to address homelessness.

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After I-90 Cloverleaf closure, City’s Navigation Team and cleanup crews move north to Poplar & Dean, Dearborn Street

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Crews will remove trash and debris from this area and close it to camping.

Following the closure and cleanup of camping at the I-90 Cloverleaf this week, City efforts will move north to South Dean Street and Poplar Place South, and along South Dearborn Street to 10th Avenue South, beginning on Tuesday, May 23.

Since May 1, the City’s Navigation Team of specially trained Seattle Police officers and outreach workers has been conducting repeated, intensive outreach to individuals camping in both the Cloverleaf area and up through the areas that will be addressed next week. Monday will be another day of concentrated outreach, with the Navigation Team offering alternative shelter, individualized services and storage of personal belongings.

On Tuesday morning, the Navigation Team will return to work with anyone still on site. City field coordinators will assist people with storage of belongings. If an owner is not present, trained staff will sort through items and collect personal belongings for storage, unless items are clearly refuse, hazardous or evidence of a crime. Once areas are clear of people and their belongings they plan to take or store, cleanup crews will move in to remove trash and debris.

Side streets will be temporarily closed to parking to make room for City equipment.

With support from REACH, Union Gospel Mission and the Mental Health Outreach Team, the Navigation Team’s outreach at the Cloverleaf resulted in 26 of 56 people moving to alternate living arrangements, in addition to a number of others accepting various other services such as securing state ID, mental health evaluation and assistance, medical assistance, coordinated entry housing assessments, case management services and employment referrals. Similar services will be offered during next week’s cleanup.

Neighbors and other community members who have been generously supporting individuals living unsheltered in these locations with trash collection, meals and other supplies, plan to provide assistance to campers on Tuesday, just as they did during the Cloverleaf cleanup this week. The City welcomes these types of offers in advance, and can coordinate a space safely outside the work zone where volunteers can engage with people.

The Cloverleaf was closed on Tuesday, May 16. The areas along Dearborn shown above will be closed beginning on Tuesday, May 23.

On June 1, per an agreement with WSDOT, Sound Transit will begin utilizing the area roughly between South Dearborn Street and I-90, from 10th Avenue South on the west to South Dean Street on the east, as a staging area for construction of the East Link Light Rail extension.

These areas will be designated emphasis areas, which means that they will be posted with signs and regularly monitored. The removal of tents and belongings from posted emphasis areas does not require notice as with other encampments, though personal belongings will be stored when found.

This area will be cleaned next week and then closed to camping.

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Nearly half of individuals contacted move to alternate living situations as City closes the Cloverleaf to camping

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On Friday, May 12, City crews posted notices of the impending closure in both English and Spanish around the site and on individuals tents, as shown here.

Yesterday, the City took the next step to close the area that stretches from the I-90 on/off-ramps at Rainier Avenue South (the “Cloverleaf”) north to South Dearborn Street to unauthorized camping. The area has experienced increasing public safety and health concerns impacting homeless individuals and the surrounding community, and some of the land will soon be put to use by Sound Transit for the East Link Light Rail extension project (see previous post for more).

Since May 1, the City’s Navigation Team of specially trained Seattle Police officers and outreach workers has been conducting repeated, intensive outreach to individuals camping in this location, offering alternative shelter, individualized services and storage of personal belongings. Over the last two weeks, the Navigation Team made more than 300 documented contacts to a total of 56 people in the Cloverleaf area. Prior to yesterday’s effort, many individuals had accepted and were moved to alternate living situations, with most moving to the City-sanctioned encampments where they will receive case management to get the support needed to move onto a more permanent living situation.

 

Navigation Team officers and UGM outreach workers talk with an individual to determine what services she may need.

By the time the Cloverleaf was closed to camping yesterday, 26 people had moved to alternate living arrangements, including 21 who moved to sanctioned encampments. As with other encampment removals, services beyond alternative shelter were offered, resulting in the following:

— Seven people assisted in securing state ID.
— Three people provided with medical assistance at the encampment site.
— Four people received coordinated entry housing assessments.
— 11 people connected to case management services.
— Six people referred to MID employment coordinator for assistance with housing.
— 32 total mental health outreach contacts provided on May 11, 15-16.

Neighbors served breakfast and coffee under the I-90 overpass on Rainier Avenue. They also organized an effort to pack “to-go” bags with food and water, and worked with the Navigation Team to have them distributed to campers.

Nine individuals declined any options offered. Another eight disclosed they would look for another place to camp. Still, the Navigation Team is seeing positive outcomes through offers of a comprehensive service package along with significant assertive and mental health outreach. This particular effort included essential support from REACH, Union Gospel Mission and the Mental Health Outreach Team.

A group of neighbors and other community members have been generously supporting individuals living unsheltered in these locations, including providing a weekly meal service, delivery of supplies and assistance with trash cleanup. Once the area was scheduled for closure, these neighbors reached out to the City to see how they could support the individuals during the cleanup. The City welcomed their assistance, happy to collaborate with these neighbors and provide a space where they served coffee and breakfast and could engage with individuals exiting the camp. This model could be replicated at future encampment removals, as long as it is coordinated in advance.

A member of the Navigation Team checks to see if anyone is in this tent and is interested in a to-go bag of food and water provided by neighbors.

Next steps

In addition to the Navigation Team and outreach working with individuals, City field coordinators assisted people with storage of belongings. Cleanup crews were on standby until people had moved. Today, City crews are continuing cleanup and SDOT has begun fencing work around the Cloverleaf. Parks and SDOT crews will begin vegetation removal and tree pruning tomorrow.

Next Tuesday, May 23, cleanup and closure efforts will move north to South Dean Street and Poplar Place South, and along South Dearborn Street to 10th Avenue South. On June 1, per an agreement with WSDOT, Sound Transit will begin utilizing the area roughly between South Dearborn Street and I-90, from 10th Avenue South on the west to South Dean Street on the east, as a staging area for construction of the East Link Light Rail extension.

Crews collected trash and debris identified as garbage by campers or abandoned. If an owner is not present, trained staff will sort through items and collect personal belongings for storage, unless items are clearly refuse, hazardous or evidence of a crime.

These areas will be designated emphasis areas, which means that they will be posted with signs and regularly monitored. The removal of tents and belongings from posted emphasis areas does not require notice as with other encampments, though personal belongings will be stored when found.