Homelessness Response Blog

As we enter this year’s winter season, the City of Seattle is in the midst of multiple crises including the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic downturn. Maintaining COVID-19 health recommendations as part of the City and King County’s shelter system remains a challenge facing our homelessness response system.

In the event of a major snowstorm or cold weather event, the City is capable of activating hundreds of short-term, temporary emergency shelter beds across Seattle for people experiencing homelessness. The City’s winter emergency response is coordinated by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), which partners with City departments like HSD to make preparations and ensure City programs and services are maintained during disruptive weather events.

As in years past, HSD has identified shelter spaces for an emergency response based on different scenarios, including a short-term weather event or a longer-term weather event. A short-term winter weather emergency response is activated when there is a snow accumulation in excess of 1-inch and/or forecasted temperatures of 25 degrees or below for multiple days. A long-term response is activated when the weather conditions significantly impact people living homeless, including snow accumulation of over 6-inches, 25 degrees or below for multiple days and/or a State of Emergency declaration. Both weather event scenarios may include other health and safety considerations such as a wind advisory or ice.

The temporary emergency shelters identified by HSD for use may include, City Hall, the Seattle Municipal Tower (SMT), and Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion. If needed, the response could be expanded to community centers and other City-owned facilities that would otherwise be closed during a snowstorm and therefore are available to use as temporary shelter. The City Hall and Fisher Pavilion spaces will be available for winter emergency response in mid-November once the Salvation Army relocates those shelter programs to the new SODO facility. Further, the Seattle Center’s Exhibition Hall will be available as an emergency shelter when the current de-intensifying shelter relocates. HSD has also identified several other currently occupied temporary shelter spaces that could be used depending on the timing of the vacancy.

These temporary emergency shelter spaces will meet COVID-19 safety protocols recommended by Public Health-Seattle & King County and the Centers for Disease Control. The protocols call for additional COVID-19 screening for those experiencing homelessness, expanded space to allow physical distancing, hygiene access, and increased sanitation guidelines.

Past Winter Events

Over the first 11 days of February 2019, the Seattle area received over 20 inches of snow over multiple weather systems and experienced sustained temperatures nearly 10 degrees below normal. During this winter weather event, the Navigation Team was the City’s frontline response working extended hours to get those living unsheltered into shelter and providing transportation. Shelter and assistance were offered to over 715 individuals living unsheltered and some 162 individuals were transported to emergency shelters by the Navigation Team. The Navigation Team also distributed essential food and clothing that were donated by Costco, Nordstrom, Amazon and Starbucks.

During the cold weather and storms in January of this year,  the team made 196 site visits during the severe weather event, making over 550 contacts with people living unsheltered. The team transported 44 people to shelter and made 77 referrals to emergency shelters during the course of the week. Despite the recent Council action to disband the Navigation Team, HSD staff will be available to help coordinate emergency sheltering efforts on the ground during a weather emergency. The Mayor’s 2021 proposed budget would reinstate these emergency functions, previously done by the Navigation Team, with a new outreach team, but that would need to be passed by City Council.

Blog post translations: Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog

The City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) and King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) announce a new 24/7, enhanced deintensification shelter opening in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. This new shelter will offer supportive services, housing navigation, and meets public health standards to protect clients and workers against the spread of COVID-19.  

The shelter will begin operations in early November with the goal of achieving full occupancy by the first quarter of 2021. The shelter is projected to accommodate 275 shelter beds. The Salvation Army will move four existing programs—some of which were basic/overnight only shelters—into a new 24/7 shelter with supportive services and hygiene access.  Programs being moved are the existing City of Seattle shelter programs at City Hall and Fisher Pavilion (which was a de-intensifying site for the City Hall program), and King County funded programs at 4^th and Jefferson Street and the King County Administration Building. These moves also allows for Fisher Pavilion and City Hall to be available as severe winter weather shelters. 

DCHS plans to relocate its sobering and recovery support program from its temporary location nearby at the Recovery Café into a section of the SODO site at some point in 2021.   

The building, leased by King County, was originally designed as a quarantine, isolation, and recovery center for COVID-19 to help prevent the region’s medical centers from being overwhelmed. To date, the facility has not been needed for COVID-19 response.  

The shelter has a high quality air filtration system, physical space, and hygiene access to handle both wildfire smoke and COVID-19. In September, the facility was temporarily used as a wildfire smoke shelter and served between 80-100 people 24 hours a day during that time.  

This new shelter was funded through a combination of Federal and local emergency resources. King County’s lease on the building is for three years.  

Additional Shelter Resources Coming Online 

As part of the Mayor’s 2021 budget, the City plans to invest $34 million in new shelter resources in the coming months. These new resources will fund 300 temporary hotel rooms and 125 new units of enhanced 24/7 shelter. The Mayor’s proposal also includes an increase in funding for Rapid Rehousing and Diversion.  

More information can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page 

Update on September 2, 2020 at 6 p.m.

Today, the Navigation Team removed a safety hazard on and around the former Marion Street pedestrian walkway after, last week, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) declared the bridge to be structurally unsound and a danger to those living in an encampment on and below the structure. 

There were ten tents and one structure inside the affected area at the start of today’s action. Navigation Team System Navigator outreach specialists engaged with all nine individuals living within the affected zone and others in the area experiencing homelessness. Systemwide, there were at least 24 shelter beds available and, based on preliminary data, one referral to shelter was accepted. Navigation Team Field Coordinators identified and documented four bins of personal items for storage. 

The outreach conducted today by the Navigation Team and its partners, including REACH, was the culmination of a weeklong effort to address the needs of the individuals living in the area to ensure continuity of services after relocation. Over the past two days, ten people voluntarily relocated before today’s activities.  

An inspection by SDOT following today’s removal revealed that the western edge of the structure was becoming unseated from the weight-bearing timber beam, exemplifying the danger to the persons in  the encampments had they remained in place. 

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Early last week, the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) Roadway Structures Division observed shear cracks developing around the lower structural supports on the remnants of a former pedestrian walkway near the Waterfront. The obsolete structure once connected Marion Street to the ferry terminal, but was partially demolished in 2019 along with the Alaskan Viaduct, leaving a small dead-end section attached to the Commuter Building, which is slated for demolition in the near future. The cracks indicate that the former walkway is structurally unsound putting those in an encampment on and below the structure in danger. 

SDOT has also recently identified fire damage caused by the encampment near the west end of the structure on the timber decking, posing the risk of deck failure. The structure still has remnants of the original creosote coated timber stringers and floor beams which are an added health hazard for those living on or near the structure. 

On Friday, August 28, SDOT posted Notice of Construction signs in the area of the former pedestrian walkway. This construction includes the removal of the structure and is set to begin on September 2 and continue through the end of the year. 

As a result of the safety concerns for persons in the encampment, created by the impaired structural integrity of the former pedestrian walkway and the impending construction, on Monday, August 31, the City of Seattle posted a 48-hour advance notice for all personal property to be removed from the structure and the area directly surrounding it. 

As of Tuesday, September 1, there were 11 tents total on and around the pedestrian bridge  in the impacted area. 

The City’s Navigation Team, along with outreach partners including REACH, DESC, and Public Health – Seattle & King County, have been conducting ongoing outreach in the area to address the needs of those living unsheltered, including offers of shelter and services. Outreach teams are coordinating to ensure continuity of services. As with every encampment removal, the Navigation Team will offer storage and continued referrals to shelter and services to those living in the impacted area during and after the encampment move.  

From May through mid-August, the Navigation Team has engaged the area nine times for outreach and 25 times for litter and debris mitigation. Outreach during that time resulted in six referrals to shelter. 

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, removals of unauthorized encampments and obstructions by the City of Seattle have been suspended, with exceptions for extreme public health and public safety circumstances. Since this directive was implemented, seven encampments have met this strict criteria through July. Since March, citywide the Navigation Team has made over 600 site visits for outreach, conducted over 1,000 litter and debris mitigation operations, and made over 520 referrals to shelter. 

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The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) has announced the temporary de-intensifying shelters at Garfield, Miller, and Southwest Teen Life (SWTLC) community centers have relocated to new spaces. These moves follow months of planning, community outreach, and partnership with service providers to ensure new and existing shelter programs are compliant with public health requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Seattle’s shelter system.  

Moving the temporary shelters out of community centers allows for Seattle Parks and Recreation to operate childcare and teen learning programming at these sites across. This programming provides childcare, recreation activities, and wifi to provide access to online learning. All programming will follow public health guidance, including wellness screenings, temperatures checks, face coverings, and sanitization.  

New Locations 

Garfield, Miller, and SWTLC de-intensifying shelters are managed by Catholic Community Services (CCS), Compass Housing, and YouthCare, respectively. These services providers moved existing programs into the community centers at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak and are now moving these programs to either new sites or improved existing spaces.  

All new or improved sites align with Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) COVID-19 health and safety requirements and are configured to maintain the same number of people served. PHSKC staff assisted in assessing and planning the new spaces, and the Seattle Fire Department inspected locations for code compliance. New sleeping spaces are configured to maintain at least 6’ between beds, meal delivery is coordinated to reduce contact between guests, and ventilation is improved to meet the guidelines set by PHSKC.  

Garfield Community Center temporary women’s shelter, which was managed by Catholic Community Services (CCS), moved to a new 24/7 enhanced shelter that will permanently replace seven small faith-based overnight only sites. The new shelter, located at the CCS owned MLK Day Home site in the Central District, will host up to 40 beds and will operate under PHSKC COVID-19 safety requirements. The new site has private sleeping areas, showers, laundry, and meals. Professional case management will be offered to help clients find permanent homes. CCS and HSD worked with community members to hold several meetings to discuss the impact of the shelter on the neighborhood and ensure accountability and partnership.   

Miller Community Center temporary men’s shelter, which was managed by Compass Housing, will ultimately move 45 clients to a new space at Compass Housing’s 210 Building. In the interim, clients will stay at the Queen Anne Shelter while Compass completes construction and improvements at the new location. These new and repurposed spaces are being stood-up under PHSKC COVID-19 safety requirements and will offer the men private spaces with storage for belongings, meals, hygiene, and access to housing case management.  

SWTLC temporary youth and young adult shelter, which was managed by YouthCare, will temporarily move to The Christ Spirit Church in Beacon Hill through the end of the year while YouthCare’s new permanent facility in South Seattle is completed. YouthCare’s shelter program serves up to 15 young adults. Both the temporary space and the future home of YouthCare will meet PHSCK COVID-19 safety requirements and will continue to offer housing search supports to help clients address barriers to permanent housing.  

Background 

HSD and service providers began preemptively moving shelter clients and programs out of traditional congregate shelter spaces earlier this year into de-intensifying shelters that would allow for social distancing, offer enhanced services, and provide better hygiene access. These redistribution efforts were done under the guidance of PHSKC and have helped limit the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations that use emergency shelters. 

The City opened de-intensifying shelters at Exhibition Hall, Fischer Pavilion, Garfield Community Center, Miller Community Center, and SW Teen Life Center. Loyal Heights Community Center was made available as de-intensifying shelter but was not been utilized by a shelter provider during the pandemic. Through these three community center de-intensifying shelters, the City created up to 150 safer shelter beds to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The de-intensifying shelters offered improvements for some clients, including 24/7 access, meals, and hygiene services. These efforts—coupled with HSD’s opening of new shelter space at tiny house villages and enhanced shelter—helped the City provide safer shelter to vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, there has not been a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 at these de-intensifying sites. 

The de-intensifying shelters at Fisher Pavilion and Exhibition Hall will continue to operate at Seattle Center and are not impacted by this announcement. 

Garfield, Miller, and SWTLC served 256 unique individuals total between March 1 and late August 2020, according to preliminary program data available to the City.  

The City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) has released the fourth quarter (Q4) performance data for programs that receive City funding to serve people experiencing homelessness. Mid-year data for 2019 was last published in September 2019. The finalization and release of Q4 data was significantly delayed due to the onset of COVID-19, which required HSD staffing resources to be diverted to pandemic response. 

The Q4 data affirms that the 2017 Homelessness Investments RFP, which realigned HSD’s homelessness response portfolio to focus more on throughput and permanent housing outcomes, continues to achieve these outcomes, with more unsheltered people served and moved into housing. After reviewing three full years of data performance, HSD believes the metrics have stabilized and remains steady with programs such as tiny house villages and enhanced shelters continuing to show success in moving people into housing.  

The full report is available here: Homeless Investment 2019 Q4 Performance Outcomes

Given the ongoing response and recovery to COVID-19, HSD has waived performance metrics for services providers in 2020 and has continued to deploy staffing resources to virus response. HSD does not have a timetable for releasing 2020 data performance and anticipates data sets will likely vary when compared to previous years due to the extraordinary challenges COVID-19 presents to service providers and clients.  

Today, the Navigation Team submitted its latest report to City Council providing a snapshot of the team’s significant outreach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Q2 (April – June). 

In response to COVID-19, the Navigation Team has focused its efforts to outreach and litter/debris removal. This refocusing in Q2 resulted in 373 site visits for outreach, 624 litter and debris mitigation operations, and 408 referrals to shelter citywide. 

Since the beginning of the outbreak in March through Q2, the team has had over 4,700 conversations with people experiencing homelessness  about COVID-19, provided over 2,500 hygiene kits, distributed over 2,300 COVID-19 and hepatitis A related public health flyers, handed out over 1,100 boxed meals, and supplied 400 masks to individuals living unsheltered. 

Engagements by the team’s System Navigators (which are the team’s outreach workers) in Q2 led to an 82.8% quarter over quarter increase in the number of unduplicated referrals to shelter and a 239% increase in the number of unduplicated enrollments into shelter, at an enrollment rate of 41.16%¹.  That compares to an enrollment rate of 22.22% last quarter. The 149 identified unduplicated enrollments in Q2 were the most in a quarter since the Navigation Team started tracking enrollments² with the previous high for enrollments being 76 in Q1 2019.  

Of all referrals into shelter in Q2, 49% were into Tiny Homes, 44% were into Enhanced Shelter, and 7% were into Basic Shelter. This compares to Q1 2020 when 8% of referrals were into Tiny Homes, 54% were into Enhanced Shelter, and 38% were into Basic Shelter. These numbers reflect the addition of 95-new Enhanced Shelter and Tiny Home units in mid-April and the expansion of Enhanced Shelter options in response to COVID-19. 

Benefiting from the addition of a third System Navigator outreach specialist in March, and a result of focused outreach in response to COVID-19, System Navigators made 1,502 duplicated and 1,155 unduplicated engagements. A significant increase compared to Q1 2020 which included 847 duplicated and 635 unduplicated System Navigator engagements. 

The team’s Field Coordinators, front line workers who assess the needs of hundreds of encampment sites citywide, completed 1,061 site inspections in Q2, a 92% quarter over quarter increase. These site inspections provide “eyes on the ground” and are essential for the Navigation Team to effectively allocate outreach and encampment mitigation resources. 

NavApp 2.0 launched in April, the latest update to the Navigation Team’s data management system. Enhancements to the NavApp were built on the significant upgrades made throughout last year and based on user feedback from the Navigation Team to better serve the community by streamlining data collection processes, and improving data accuracy and reporting. 

The full report, can be found here. Last quarter’s report can be found on the City Clerk’s webpage.

¹   Referrals to shelter by the Navigation Team in the NavApp can be matched with HMIS data to identify enrollments into shelter but there are numerous caveats which makes tracking this information difficult including, but not limited to, if an individual: 
– Provided different personally identifying information (such as a name) in either the NavApp or HMIS;
– Opted to not share their personal information with other parties (24% of all HMIS shelter enrollments did not include a name, making it impossible to connect them to any Navigation Team data);
– Enrolled at a shelter other than the one they were referred to.

²  A change in method to identify enrollments was used in Q2 to be more accurate and may account for part of the increase.

Below is a schedule of upcoming public meetings for the Governing Committee & Implementation Board for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). These meetings are open to the public. If you are interested in attending, please sign up here to receive the online meeting invitations.

• July 16, 2020 (10am to 12pm)
• August 20, 2020 (Time, TBD)
• September 17, 2020 (Time, TBD)
• October 15, 2020 (Time, TBD)
• November 19, 2020 (Time, TBD)
• December 17, 2020 (Time, TBD)

Dates and times are subject to change. Please visit and explore the KCRHA for the most up-to-date information, including agenda items, meeting minutes, and recordings of previous meetings.

June 22 Update:

City Hall shelter will reopen for nightly service starting tonight, Monday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. 

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June 15 Update:

City Hall shelter will be closed for an additional week and is scheduled to reopen the evening of June 22.

People seeking shelter are still encouraged to go to Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center (305 Harrison St., Seattle), which is being used as a de-intensifying shelter space operated by Salvation Army.

Exhibition Hall de-intensifying shelter  (301 Mercer St., Seattle) can take additional people in if Fisher Pavilion is at capacity. Salvation Army will refer people from Fisher Pavilion to Exhibition Hall, which is operated by DESC. No one seeking shelter will be turned away. 

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The release below was originally published on June 8, 2020:

The closure of City Hall shelter has been extended for an additional week due to damage sustained during demonstrations on May 30. The resulting damage makes the space unsuitable as an overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness. 

The shelter, which is operated by the Salvation Army and located inside City Hall on the lobby and lower level floors, will be closed through Sunday, June 14. City Hall shelter typically hosts 70 to 80 people on a nightly basis.  

People seeking shelter are encouraged to head to Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center (305 Harrison St., Seattle). Fisher Pavilion, which is being used as a de-intensifying shelter space operated by Salvation Army, has capacity for people over the age of 18 and serves all genders. If Fisher Pavilion is at capacity and unable to accommodate people in need, Exhibition Hall de-intensifying shelter  (301 Mercer St., Seattle) can take additional people in. Salvation Army will refer people from Fisher Pavilion to Exhibition Hall, which is operated by DESC. No one seeking shelter will be turned away.   

Since the closure, Salvation Army and DESC have been able to shelter all who arrived at these shelters that were displaced from City Hall.  

These shelter resources have been made available as part of the City’s efforts to de-intensify Seattle’s high-capacity shelters. By opening these spaces, shelter clients have more room to socially distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, all de-intensifying shelters—including Fisher Pavilion and Exhibition Hall—offer enhanced services by operating 24/7, providing hygiene access, and meals throughout the day.   

Salvation Army has access to additional shelter spaces and can transport individuals to these overflow shelters when needed. 

5/21/2020 Update:

Prior to the encampment removals at S. Weller St. and King St. under I-5, the Navigation Team made 63 referrals into shelter through extensive outreach since April 1. Of those shelter referrals, 26 were to recently opened tiny home villages and enhanced shelter beds at Lake Union Village, T.C. Spirit Village, and Lakefront Community House. Preliminary data from early May shows approximately 70% of all referrals the Navigation Team has made citywide since mid-April arrived and enrolled at these new shelter resources. Understanding these three  new locations were solely for Navigation Team referrals, the City can confirm referrals to these shelter programs during this time period. 

In total, between advanced outreach and outreach done during the removals, the team made 88 referrals to shelter from these locations since April 1.  

South King Street Unauthorized Encampment May 20 Removal Update: On the day of removal, there were 33 enhanced shelter beds available for the 19 unsheltered individuals on site. All those engaged were offered shelter and 9 individuals accepted. The Navigation Team identified 10 tents and 1 structure at the beginning of the operation. Storage was provided to individuals onsite and resulted in 2 bins being stored along with 4 bikes. Outreach was conducted by three System Navigator outreach specialists during this action. South Weller Street Unauthorized Encampment May 21 Removal Update: The Navigation Team had 34 enhanced shelter beds available for the 26 people identified on site during the removal. Two System Navigators referred 16 unsheltered individuals into shelter during the operation. A survey by the Navigation Team identified 45 tents and 1 structure, many of which appeared abandoned. Storage was once again provided and 8 bins of storage were collected from 7 different abandoned tents. Transportation was provided by the Navigation Team for 2 individuals to shelter. 

Many community based organizations including International Community Health Services, Seattle Indian Health Board, Chong Wa Benevolent Association, and Friends of Little Saigon had been seeing the escalating public safety and public health issues at these locations. These longtime community organizations, who are serving vulnerable populations, urged the City to act at these locations while connecting individuals with safe shelter, which was offered at both locations.

Note—the outreach figures are preliminary. Shelter enrollment occurs after service providers input client intake into HMIS. HMIS data is then compared to Navigation Team data.  Also, shelter bed availability changes daily following shelter vacancy reporting to the Navigation Team.

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The release below was originally published on 5/19/2020:

Background

Since refocusing in March to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the Navigation Team has focused primarily on outreach across Seattle, making 122 site visits for outreach, conducting 379 litter and debris mitigation operations, and referring 270 people to shelter. The team has also provided 2,550 hygiene kits, 2,225 COVID-19 and hepatitis A related public health flyers and provided 706 boxed meals to individuals living unsheltered.  

During this outreach-focused period, the team limited encampment removal operations to only extreme circumstances where unauthorized encampments presented obstructions and hazards that threatened public health and safety to individuals within the encampment and surrounding community. To date, two encampment removals have occurred to preserve public health and safety.  

Public Safety Concerns in Chinatown-International District & Little Saigon 

After extensive and prolonged outreach, including the offer of available shelter to all individuals engaged, the Navigation Team will remove two additional unauthorized encampments this week in response to growing public health and safety concerns in the Chinatown-International District and Little Saigon. The encampments are located along S. Weller St. and King St. under I-5. 

The significant public safety concerns posed by these encampments present an extreme circumstance, threatening the safety and well-being of people living unsheltered in the area and the surrounding community. A number of community organizations, including Friends of Little Saigon and the Chong Wa Benevolent Association, had raised concerns about numerous negative impacts the unauthorized encampments were having on the community. Navigation Team outreach will continue with offers of services and shelter through the unauthorized encampment removal process.  

Following the same protocols of addressing obstructions and hazards, including advanced written notice, the Navigation Team also provided advance notice of the removal to people living unsheltered and to outreach providers to allow more time for them to engage clients in the area.  

These unauthorized encampments are set for removal based on recent public safety issues and the ongoing obstructions to sidewalks and public rights of way. Many of these obstructions are blocking access for members of the community—many who are older people living in the Chinatown-ID and Little Saigon communities—impeding their ability to walk safely to essential services. 

In addition, the deteriorating conditions within these unauthorized encampments, including human biowaste, needles, garbage and public safety concerns all pose an extreme risk to people living unsheltered, housed residents, and surrounding businesses. The Navigation Team and City partners have created outreach and garbage removal routes across the City, which includes these encampments, and are providing services 7-days a week. Despite these efforts, conditions at both sites have worsened. Additionally, the Seattle Fire Department has reported 23 fires in the area of the two encampments related to homelessness since March 1, presenting an immediate fire and safety hazard to infrastructure and the public. 

Currently, Navigation Team outreach specialists are visiting these sites daily, encouraging individuals to accept referrals to services, shelter and move indoors. The team is working with  shelter providers to ensure shelter is available for people interested in moving inside on the day of the removals.  In addition to enhanced shelter and tiny house village spaces, the Navigation Team has access to shelter beds at other City-funded shelter programs operated by DESC, Salvation Army, and Compass Housing. While offers of shelter and bed availability are not required for an obstruction and hazard removal, the City is committed to ensuring every person living in these unauthorized encampments is offered an available shelter bed. 

South King Street Unauthorized Encampment Outreach 

One unauthorized encampment, located in the area of South King Street under I-5 and part of the International District and I-5 Emphasis Area, has approximately 20 structures*. The unauthorized encampment will be removed on Wednesday, May 20. Advanced verbal and written notice were provided to people living within the encampment. South King Street will be closed between 8^th Avenue South and 10^th Avenue South from 8 a.m. until the operation is complete. 

Since April 1, the Navigation Team has visited this site at 13 times, making 47 engagements (duplicated) and 1 referral to shelter. The team has provided 44 hygiene kits, 28 COVID-19 related public health flyers, and 20 boxed meals at the South King Street unauthorized encampment. While this encampment is not as large as the Weller site, conditions within the encampment are a threat to public health and safety and pose an extreme circumstance.  

The most significant risks at this location are: 

• There was a firearm homicide involving encampment residents on April 10th.  
• SPD has reported a doubling of “on-view” incidents, (where officers come across an event on their own without being dispatched), with a primary uptick in April, creating an unsafe environment for occupants in the unauthorized encampment and the surrounding community. 
• The growing number of people living unsheltered and in close/dense proximity increases the risk for both COVID-19 and hepatitis A exposure and spread and other communicable diseases. 
• The prevalence of solid waste, biowaste, food waste, and loose sharps posed a significant public health risk despite continued Navigation Team outreach and litter/debris mitigation. 
• Living structures and stored materials obstructed safe access to sidewalks, rights-of-ways, and also present a fire hazard to freeway infrastructure.  

South Weller Street Unauthorized Encampment Outreach 

The unauthorized encampment that stretches on South Weller Street from 12^th Avenue South to Rainer Avenue South currently includes approximately 45 tents and structures*. It is  scheduled for removal on Thursday, May 21. Weller Street will be closed to traffic during the removal. People living on site were provided advanced verbal and written notice of the obstruction removal.   

The Navigation Team has been visiting the S. Weller St. unauthorized encampment at least three times per week. Overall, since April 1, the Navigation Team has made 40 referrals to shelter, over 29 site visits, 378 engagements (duplicated) and provided 204 hygiene kits, 206 COVID-19 related public health flyers, and 222 boxed lunches to occupants of this unauthorized encampment. 

Since just April 21, the Navigation Team has referred 26 individuals from the unauthorized South Weller Street encampment vicinity to recently opened tiny home villages and enhanced shelter beds at Lake Union Village, T.C. Spirit Village, and Lakefront Community House. Shelter will be offered to all individuals living on site leading up to and during the removal. Preliminary data shows approximately 70% of all referrals the Navigation Team has made citywide since mid-April arrived and enrolled at these new shelter resources. 

The most significant risks at this location are: 

• SPD officers investigated a shooting in the encampment on May 10 and found a woman with a gunshot wound to the chest. SFD transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center. Homicide unit is investigating the incident. 
• There have been three reports of shots fired since April, one as recently as April 26^th.  SPD data shows reports of rape, aggravated assault, robbery, and burglaries on this block in the past 28 days alone. Recently there was a stabbing in the area. 
• Data shows that year-to-date there has been a 65% increase in Seattle Police Department “on-view” incidents in the vicinity with the primary uptick in April, creating an unsafe environment for occupants in the unauthorized encampment and the surrounding community. 
• The growing number of people living unsheltered and in close/dense proximity without safe social distancing increases the risk for individuals to contract both COVID-19, Hepatitis A, and other communicable diseases.   
• The prevalence of solid waste, hazardous materials, biowaste, chemical waste, food waste, and loose sharps posed a significant public health risk despite continued Navigation Team outreach and litter/debris mitigation.  
• Living structures and stored materials obstructed safe access to sidewalks and rights-of-ways. 

As with all encampment removals, suitable items found or requested to be stored at these locations will be placed into storage by the Navigation Team. The team will also leave notice for how individuals can retrieve their belongings.  

This post will be updated with outreach and shelter referral information as it becomes available.  Data is preliminary and subject to change as data entry is completed and finalized.

*Note-the number of tents is not an accurate representation of the number of people at the encampment. Some tents and structures are used for storage, have multiple individuals living in them, or may be abandoned. Additionally, there are a number of people who are present within the encampment but do not stay overnight in the area. 

In March, the City of Seattle and King County announced a number of publicly owned facilities were being made available for homeless shelter providers to move clients to in order to allow for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The de-intensifying shelters provide meals, access to hygiene services, and operate 24/7. Miller Community Center, Garfield Community Center, Exhibition Hall, and Fisher Pavilion all have been made available by the City and utilized by service providers during the crisis. Last week, YouthCare selected to move their program to the Southwest Teen Life Center in West Seattle, which had also been made available by the City in April.

Loyal Heights Community Center is North Ballard has been available since April for a service provider to use for de-intensifying efforts. To date, no service provider has requested use of this site. The City will keep this facility available in the event a service provider needs space to move clients to. The Seattle Human Services Department is in frequent contact with shelter providers and has made known this facility remains available to providers.

These shelters are part of the City’s overall effort to create more safe spaces for people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. De-intesfying efforts alone have created nearly 400 safer 24/7 spaces for shelter clients.