Homelessness Response Blog

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.

The City’s South West Teen Life Center (SWTLC) will temporarily shelter up to 30 young adults from YouthCare’s Jackson Street overnight shelter. The move provides 24/7 shelter space, supportive services, and more space for social distancing per public health guidance. The program supports youth between the ages of 18 to 24. Youth will be provided access to showers and three meals per day. YouthCare will begin moving clients to this location on May 8.    

This new de-intensifying shelter builds on efforts the City and King County’s effort to reduce density in large, high capacity shelters to slow the spread of COVID-19.  While de-intensification efforts have focused on improving health conditions for existing shelter clients, these de-intensifying shelters also offer expanded services for many clients including the provision of meals, hygiene and cleaning services, and 24/7 access to a safe space that they are not required to leave every morning.

MAY 8 UPDATE: Since mid-April, the Navigation Team has referred 29 unsheltered individuals from the Ballard Commons area to recently opened tiny home villages and enhanced shelter beds at Lake Union Village, T.C. Spirit Village, and Lakefront Community House. Advanced outreach in the Ballard Commons area resulted in 21 individuals accepting shelter. 8 individuals accepted shelter on the day of 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.

Today, after weeks of extensive outreach that began in March — including the offer of shelter to all individuals—the City removed an unmanaged and unlawful encampment in the Ballard Commons area. The removal was completed due to immediate and ongoing risks to the public health and safety of the community, including Hepatitis A. Living structures also obstructed public rights-of-way, which created further public health risks. The team made repeated visits to this site, resulting in 19 accepted offers of shelter in the week leading up to the removal. The team made 29 site visits since March and provided 48-hours formal written notice at 9am Saturday May 2. Outreach — including offers of shelter—continued up to and during the removal of the unsafe and unlawful encampment on Monday.  

The removal follows weeks of ongoing outreach in the Ballard Commons area by the City of Seattle’s Navigation Team, leading to 19 acceptances of shelter since April 22—which demonstrates a high level of engagement and outreach success by the team. In mid-April, the City opened 95 new shelter beds that are exclusively available to the Navigation Team at tiny house villages and enhanced shelter. Individuals from the Ballard Commons encampments  have primarily been referred to these new shelter resources, and the City is focused on using these new resources to bring individuals living unsheltered into safer and healthier conditions.  

Navigation Team engagement in the area included collaboration with Public Health –Seattle King County (“Public Health”) to address the recent outbreak in Hepatitis A cases through the distribution of public health flyers, handing out of hygiene kits, and coordination of Hepatitis A vaccines.  The Navigation Team has also worked with Seattle Parks and Public Utilities to provide hygiene resources in the area including sanicans and a hygiene station. Prior to the removal, the team had made over 30 site visits to conduct outreach, remove garbage, and to distribute hygiene kits. As of April, Public Health has identified 17 cases of Hepatitis A among individuals who are living unsheltered in Ballard. 

Recently, the City of Seattle and The Seattle Public Library announced the re-opening of restrooms at five library locations including the Ballard Branch (5614 22nd Ave. N.W.), which opened in April. This reopening, done in coordination and under the guidance of Public Health, continues to provide additional hygiene resources to people living unsheltered in Ballard Commons. 

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis and across Seattle, the Navigation Team has distributed 2,233 hygiene kits, 1,837 Public Health—Seattle & King County (Public Health) COVID-19 and Hepatitis A flyers, 352 meals, and hygiene services maps.    

Removal  

Despite these daily services and efforts to get people into shelter and reduce public health impacts, the unauthorized encampment continued to grow with deteriorating conditions that posed significant, immediate, and ongoing risks to the health and safety of both the housed and unsheltered community. The team determined the encampment posed an extreme circumstance given these conditions. The most significant risks at this location were:  

• The growing number of people living unsheltered and in close/dense proximity  increases risk for both COVID-19 and Hepatitis A exposure and spread  
• Despite providing hygiene and medical services , the accumulation of human and biowaste continued to grow, compounding potential Hepatitis A exposure and other communicable disease risks 
• Living structures and stored materials obstructed safe access to sidewalks, the Ballard Commons Park and Ballard Library, and rights-of-ways, especially along the perimeter of the park. 
• This removal was conducted under the City’s obstruction and hazard guidelines. However, the City provided advance written notice, ongoing outreach and services, and offered shelter and storage leading up to and during the removal. Understanding the current COVID-19 crisis and the prevalence of Hepatitis A, this was done to help get as many people into shelter as possible, where individuals would have access to 24/7 services, hygiene, and storage of belongings.  

There were 15 individuals living unsheltered within the encampment at the start of the removal on Monday. Every individual was offered shelter. The team had shelter available for every person interested in shelter, including enhanced and tiny house village spaces. Specifically, there were two beds available at the Navigation Center, one tiny house at Lake Union Village, and nine spaces available at Lakefront Community House. The team also had access to shelter beds at other City-funded shelter programs operated by DESC, Salvation Army, and Compass Housing. Note that under City protocols, offers of shelter and bed availability are not required for an obstruction removal. However, shelter space was set aside in advance of this removal to build on the outreach leading up to today’s events. Final outreach data will be included in an update to this post.  

Public Health and Safety Considerations 

Beginning in early March, the City has limited its unsanctioned encampment removals to areas that pose public health and public safety risks. Weeks of ongoing outreach and focused efforts to bring public health resources to the area ultimately did not reduce the public health and safety concerns. The City focused nearly all outreach efforts citywide to the Ballard Commons area to move people out of unsafe outdoor living conditions into safer indoor spaces that allow for better social distancing, 24/7 access to showers, restrooms, and supportive services.  

The City has a responsibility to protect public health and safety for all residents of Seattle. Removing unsafe and unlawful encampments—such as the Ballard Commons area —was done only after ongoing outreach with offers to shelter.  

The City will monitor the area following the removal to ensure the area is not immediately re-camped.  Note–outreach data included may change slightly as information is finalized and verified.

The Navigation Team continues to do critical outreach in the field to people living unsheltered during the COVID-19 outbreak.  

In addition to connecting individuals to essential services and making referrals to shelter, the Team has stepped up its public health efforts in response to the pandemic. Through April 26, the Navigation Team has distributed 2,171 hygiene kits, 1,777 Public Health—Seattle & King County (Public Health) COVID-19 and hepatitis A flyers, and hygiene services maps.   

This is especially true for the Ballard Commons area where the Navigation Team has been conducting outreach at the location multiple times a week. Since March 1, the Navigation Team has made 29 site visits to this area. This outreach, in addition to trash and debris mitigation, has resulted in 19 referrals to shelter from the Ballard Commons area in the past week alone.  The City recently opened 95 new shelter beds that are exclusively available to the Navigation Team at tiny house villages and enhanced shelter and individuals from the Ballard Commons have been referred to these new shelter resources.  

Navigation Team engagement in the area is ongoing and includes coordination with Public Health to address the recent increase in hepatitis A cases through the distribution of public health flyers, handing out of hygiene kits, and coordination of hepatitis A vaccines.  The Navigation Team has also worked with Seattle Parks and Public Utilities to provide hygiene resources in the area.   

Just last week, the City of Seattle and The Seattle Public Library announced the re-opening of restrooms at five library locations including the Ballard Branch (5614 22nd Ave. N.W.). This reopening, done in coordination and under the guidance of Public Health, is providing additional vital hygiene resources to people living unsheltered in Ballard Commons. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and based on public health recommendations, City encampment removal operations have been suspended except for extreme circumstances. The Navigation Team is aware of the increases of unmanaged encampments and will continue to do critical outreach in the field to people living unsheltered during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Facing an unprecedented public health crisis, the City of Seattle is working to slow the spread of COVID-19 for individuals experiencing homelessness. Working with Public Health – Seattle & King County and King County, shelter resources are being deployed to:   

• Create more emergency shelter for unsheltered individuals  
• Create more social distancing for clients of existing high-use shelters  
• Create isolation (for confirmed cases) or quarantine spaces (for possible/suspected cases)  
• Create space for recovery for people who do not require emergent care  

Public Health – Seattle & King County and City officials determined early in the COVID-19 crisis that reducing density in large, high-capacity shelters was a priority to slow the spread of COVID-19 as well as opening spaces for individuals without homes to isolate, quarantine, and recover. While de-intensification efforts have focused on improving health conditions for existing shelter clients, these de-intensifying shelters also offer expanded services for many clients: from basic shelter (mats on floors) to now include meals, hygiene and cleaning services, and 24/7 access to a safe space that they are not required to leave every morning. 

Service provider staffing remains one of the largest obstacles to standing up, operating, and staffing shelters during the COVID-19 emergency. The City will continue to work with service providers to identify emerging shelter needs in the weeks ahead for both individuals who are currently connected to the City’s shelters or living unsheltered.   

New Capacity for Unsheltered Individuals Experiencing Homelessness 

The City of Seattle has created 95 new spaces for people experiencing homelessness. These units will be exclusively for unsheltered individuals referred by the Navigation Team’s continued outreach or other outreach providers in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19.   

Last week, the City announced the opening of 45 new spaces for unsheltered individuals with the expansion of Lake Union Village by 20 spaces and the opening of Cherry Hill – Spirit Village (T.C. Spirit Village) in the Central District , which includes 25 units for people currently living unsheltered. The Cherry Hill – Spirit Village (T.C. Spirit Village) will provide safe shelter spaces, access to hygiene services and case management throughout and beyond the COVID-19 crisis for individuals experiencing homelessness. Lake Union Village was established in 2018. With the addition of 20 new spaces, staffing, services, and case management will also be expanded to meet the increased need. Referrals to these villages—and all City-funded villages—are coordinated by the Navigation Team.   

This week, the City announced the opening of Lakefront Community House in the Bitter Lake community. Beginning on Wednesday, the shelter will open. The facility can provide up to 50 spaces as some rooms can be double occupancy. The former treatment facility is owned by LIHI—which will operate, manage, and staff the shelter. Clients will have 24/7 access, with services, case management, and housing connections. Referrals to this shelter will be coordinated by the Navigation Team.   

De-Intensifying Shelters for Individuals Currently in Shelter 

The City of Seattle is working closely with higher capacity shelter providers to create more social distancing between individuals, which can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The City’s highest capacity shelters were typically overnight only shelters. The City has led efforts to open four new 24/7 shelters to create more physical distancing space for current clients and access to meals, hygiene and services all day. King County has moved  hundreds of shelter clients from Seattle’s high-capacity shelters to hotels across the region in response to COVID-19 and  the City has partnered by maintaining funding and resources for service providers to continue serving clients in these new locations.   

A total of 358 new 24/7 spaces have been opened for shelter clients from the City of Seattle:   

• Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center (79 spaces) operated by the City of Seattle in partnership with the Salvation Army  
• Garfield Community Center (50 spaces) operated by the City of Seattle in partnership with Catholic Community Services, YWCA, and WHEEL  
• Miller Community Center (50 spaces) operated by the City of Seattle in partnership with Compass  
• Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center (179 spaces), open and operated by DESC 

In addition, the City of Seattle funds operations of DESC and Catholic Community Services (CCS), which have used 200 hotel rooms funded by King County for DESC clients and 80 beds created for CCS in the King County International Airport to de-intensify shelters that serve some of the most vulnerable in the homeless population.  The City funds services for 638 clients that are now served by 24/7 operations, and which were previously served primarily by overnight operations.   

Currently, staff from the Human Services Department, Seattle Parks & Recreation, and the Seattle Center are providing staff at the City’s sites. These sites are maintaining an effective staff to resident ratio, private security, professional cleaning services, and provide meals. You can view a short video of the shelter options the City has created here. 

With the additional 24/7 spaces that have been added, the City is working with service providers to evaluate if additional de-intensification spaces can be added, including the staffing that is necessary for these 24/7 facilities. This includes evaluating the SW Teen Life Community Center, Loyal Heights Community Center, hotels, or mass tent shelters that could be used for either serving current shelter clients or individuals living unsheltered.   

Creating Isolation, Quarantine and Recovery Centers  

King County has identified locations for isolation, quarantine, assessment and recovery care for individuals who are not able to recover in their own homes, or do not have a home. These centers will also provide space for isolation and quarantine and hospitals to discharge non-emergency COVID-19 cases, freeing up hospital space for those with acute needs. In addition to an open isolation site in North Seattle, King County is expected to open sites in Interbay and SoDo.  

Shelter Provider Engagement  

Staff with Seattle Human Services Department are working closely with all shelter and day service providers to ensure their ability to follow social distancing guidelines and assist with access to hygiene and sanitation supplies. The City asks the City’s service providers to report daily on individuals who have COVID-19 like symptoms to ensure rapid connection to testing that is being done in partnership with Public Health – Seattle & King County and many mobile health care facilities.   

Through its City donation program, the City has also provided PPE to a series of service providers.   
  
 

In response to a situation that posed a significant public safety and health risk, the City of Seattle’s Navigation Team removed an unmanaged encampment in the area behind the Navigation Center on a public stairwell. Prior to today’s action, the Navigation Team engaged with those living in the encampment area 12 times, resulting in 80 engagements and 12 referrals to shelter, since March 1. The Navigation Team has distributed 148 hygiene kits in the area.   

There were nine individuals on site this morning before the removal started. System Navigators offered shelter to each individual on site, which included shelter within the 95 shelter spaces that opened up this week at three shelters across Seattle. Preliminary numbers show three individuals accepted shelter at these shelters from this encampment today. System Navigators arranged for transportation of both people and possessions to these locations.  

Up until today’s encampment removal, the Navigation Team and partner City agencies engaged this site multiple times a week. In addition to essential outreach services, the Team provided Public Health – Seattle & King County COVID-19 and hepatitis A flyers, shelter referrals, and mitigation efforts included trash bag distribution and collection, debris removal, and sharps collection. 

This action took place for the following public safety reasons: 

• The encampment was on the staircase immediately to the south of the Navigation Center and created growing public safety concerns as documented by the Seattle Police Department (SPD), including violent crimes. Please contact SPD for details.   
   
• Due to the steep and narrow terrain of the area, SPD is unable to effectively patrol the staircase, which is a contributing factor to the documented criminal activity in the area. 

• As the area became more densely populated, the blocked staircase and fire hydrant prevented outreach, waste removal crews, SPD and SFD from safely accessing the encampment, furthering public safety and public health concerns. 

Additionally, the high density of tents and structures in the confined area had the potential for the spread of COVID-19 and hepatitis A. Per public health guidance, de-intensifying congregate spaces to help mitigate spread of the COVID-19 illness and other communicable diseases has been a priority for HSD. With new enhanced shelter beds available over the past week – reported as the most highly sought shelter spaces by people experiencing homelessness  -the City as more enhanced shelter resources to offer people living unsheltered at this time.   

Navigation Team members  have continued outreach throughout Seattle and distributed 1,663 hygiene kits, Public Health—Seattle & King County COVID-19 and hepatitis A flyers, and hygiene services maps through April 12, 2020.  

Except for extreme circumstances, during the COVID-19 crisis, the Navigation Team’s focus is on outreach, referrals to shelter, distribution of information about COVID-19, and hygiene kits.  The removal of the encampment on the Navigation Center stairs aligns with the Navigation Team’s COVID-19 operational plan — and was the first removal under these guidelines — which calls for encampment removals in response to a significant public safety danger to occupants or the greater community.  

The Navigation Team will continue to monitor the area to discourage the return of unsafe living conditions. The team will continue engaging individuals living in the area—many of which the team has interacted with for a number of years—to connect them to services and shelter.