Homelessness Response Blog

Homelessness Response Blog

Homelessness Task Force progress reports

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City of Seattle invests in emergency services and programs to help homeless women

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The City of Seattle is nearly doubling its funding for homeless services in 2018 to help women find and maintain stable housing. Women are most often served in homelessness prevention, diversion and rapid rehousing programs. Over 65% of the households served by these programs are led by women.

The City of Seattle also supports emergency services for women experiencing homelessness. Seattle and Catholic Housing Services have partnered in funding the Women’s Referral Center which connects over 850 women to shelter and supportive services every year. In our city-funded emergency shelters, of which over 60% serve women and their partners or families, the Human Services Department is working to ensure that 100% of shelter beds are filled every night.

Investments in women’s emergency services

  • The Women’s Referral Center – serving 867 women in 2018 – helps homeless women connect to shelter and resources throughout Seattle. It is fully funded through 2018.
  • Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Building a Bridge to Housing for All commits to opening a new bridge housing village for chronically homeless women by May 31, 2018.
  • 68% of city-funded emergency shelters serve women.
  • HSD is partnering with women’s shelter providers to ensure that 100% of shelter beds are filled every night.
  • Seattle invests $1.4 million in transitional and permanent housing programs for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
  • SHARE/WHEEL – a shelter provider – will receive City-funding through June and has indicated they will raise private funds to remain open to provide overnight shelter to people experiencing homelessness.

Investments in services that benefit women

  • Increased funding for programs that prevent or divert people from becoming homeless. and programs that rapidly re-house women who have become homeless.
  • Seattle has more than doubled funding to homelessness prevention and diversion programs
  • Seattle has increased rapid rehousing services by more than $1 million
Service Percentage of Female Households of Total Served 2017 Funding 2018 Funding
Homelessness Prevention 65% $1.2 million $2.5 million
Homelessness Diversion 68% $737,000 $1.9 million
Rapid Rehousing 72% $2.9 million $4.3 million

 

 

 

 

 

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Hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness

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2018 City-funded Hygiene Services

In 2018, Seattle is investing in homeless services that help people find and maintain stable housing. More emergency shelters are including basic hygiene services like showers and laundry to reduce the burden of people experiencing homelessness having to go door-to-door to meet basic needs.

21 of 22 shelter programs include hygiene services in 2018

  • Seattle increased its investment in 21/22 shelters that provide hygiene services like showers, restrooms, and laundry as well as other amenities like extended stay hours, storage, and case workers.
  • These shelters will serve over 1,400 people per night in 2018.
  • Enhanced shelters provide more of a “one-stop shop” approach to reduce the door-to-door burden for people already in crisis to meet their basic needs like eating breakfast, taking a shower, doing laundry, and sleeping.
  • 6 managed encampments provide hygiene services for up to 300 people per night.

Seattle supports standalone restrooms, showers, and laundry for people experiencing homelessness

  • 11 Day Centers offer hygiene services for drop-in clients in Seattle
    • All populations are served by these day centers. (Youth/Young Adults, Single Males/Females, Couples, Families with Children)
  • 3 Low Income Housing Institute Urban Rest Stop locations offer hygiene services in Ballard, downtown Seattle and the University District
  • 4 Community Centers offer showers and restrooms (Delridge, Green Lake, Miller, Rainier) to people experiencing homelessness
  • 7 Community Pools offer showers and restrooms for Seattle Public School children and their families experiencing homelessness
  • These 11 Community Centers and Community Pools are located throughout Seattle, in every district

Seattle supports 117 restrooms available to all members of the public

  • 5 portable toilets placed near public transportation stops in neighborhoods throughout the city
  • 27 public libraries throughout Seattle
  • 85 city parks throughout Seattle

We applaud our partners that help provide these necessary services for people experiencing homelessness in Seattle. People need emergency services to help them recover from homelessness and find permanent housing. Seattle supports co-locating these services so that people can focus on their next step – finding a home.

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City Opens Up New 100-Bed Shelter for Men & Women, Pets & Possessions

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Mayor Ed Murray welcomed community members to Compass at First Presbyterian, Seattle’s second 24-hour, enhanced shelter that opened today on First Hill.
The shelter has the capacity to serve 100 people, offering them a safe place to stay, meals, access to laundry and shower facilities and intensive case management. Many people living unsheltered are not willing to let go of their possessions, pets and partners to come inside for shelter. These “barriers” prevent them from coming inside. Compass at First Presbyterian provides space for guests’ belongings, and can accommodate pets and companions. In addition to providing services and staff for guests, Compass Housing Alliance has hired an on-site manager to work with community members in First Hill and ensure that the church grounds are well-maintained.

Compass Housing Alliance was awarded a $1.3 million grant through a competitive process from the City of Seattle to expand access to 24-hour shelters in Seattle. Compass, with over 100 years of experience serving vulnerable populations, found an eager partner in the Seattle First Presbyterian Church which is providing the space for this innovative shelter at 1013 8th Ave. in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood.

Compass at First Presbyterian is an “enhanced” shelter designed to provide not only basic necessities, but also the time and resources needed for a full assessment of each individual’s needs and to create a plan to find each person a permanent home. Compass will have on-site “navigators” to help connect people to housing. Shelters that only provide beds overnight may require people to return to the street each day and spend time looking for another bed the following night. The 24-hour model removes this uncertainty and allows guests to create stability while looking for housing. The model aligns with the City of Seattle’s Pathways Home Initiative to address the crisis of homelessness.

Compass at First Presbyterian will welcome 10 guests per day beginning on September 1. Starting small allows staff members and guests time to acclimate to the new community and time to learn about one another and build supportive relationships. The first 50 guests will be former residents from Operation Nightwatch, an overnight men’s shelter, and after that, guests will be welcomed by referral only from Seattle’s Navigation Team, comprised of specially trained Seattle Police officers, outreach workers through REACH at Evergreen Treatment Services and field coordinators who engage with people living unsheltered in Seattle.

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Outreach at WSDOT property

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The Navigation Team, a group of outreach workers and specially-trained police officers, has been out at 7312 2nd Ave. SW., a WSDOT parcel of property that will be used for staging I-5 construction work this summer. On May 18, Navigation Team members began talking with campers living in their RVs at the site about moving to alternatives that would help them on a path toward housing. Working in close contact with WSDOT, the City’s outreach team posted notification on May 24 that the site would be closed on Thursday, June 1. Each day, Navigation Team members went to the site to talk to the people gathered there.

It often takes more than one contact for people living homeless to talk with the Navigation Team. In this case, there were 87 contacts beginning in mid-May with 26 individuals. After repeated visits by outreach team members, there were only a few remaining at the time of closure, more than two weeks later. Six individuals moved to alternative living arrangements (primarily spaces at City-sanctioned encampments) offered through the Navigation Team, 10 accepted services such as medical support, case management services, or assistance with their RV, and nine people declined services all together. In addition, the Navigation Team remains in contact with one person who left the site and is considering an alternative living situation. 

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Georgetown Tiny House Village Volunteer Work Parties – March 18 & 25

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The City of Seattle has set up Georgetown Village, a new tiny house and encampment community site located at 1000 S Myrtle St, which will ultimately host up to 80 residents. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is partnering with Nickelsville and SHARE to assist in developing this village.

The tiny house villages and encampments make a major difference in the lives of people and families experiencing homelessness. Through these communities in Othello, Central District, Ballard, and Interbay, we’ve been able to transition 161 people into permanent housing, 106 have gained employment, and 34 have been reunited with family or friends.

Join us Saturday, March 18 and Saturday, March 25 to build Georgetown Village!

Georgetown Village, is located at 1000 S. Myrtle St., Seattle WA 98108

RSVP REQUIRED: If you wish to volunteer either or both days, organize or lead a group, donate funding or materials, or help in any other way, please fill out this simple form (it will take just 1-2 minutes!)

If you are having any trouble with the form, please RSVP by emailing Josh Castle, Volunteer and Advocacy Coordinator, Low Income Housing Institute, at jcastle@lihi.org.

Shifts – The work parties will be 9 am – 6 pm both days and in four shifts – 9 am – 12 pm, 11 am – 2 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, and 3 pm – 6 pm (volunteer huddle at the start of each shift). Feel free to give as much or as little time as you have.

Tasks – The tasks will include setting up tiny houses, painting the houses, laying tile, setting up large community tents, building stairs and platforms, setting up garden planters, beautifying the village, and more.

What to bring – No experience required. Make sure to wear clothes you are willing to get paint and dirt on. If you have them, we recommend bringing any of these items – work gloves, safety goggles, hammers, measuring tapes, a table saw, circular saw, electric drill, ladder, or extension cord.

What’s provided – Food, coffee, and water will be provided, including a hot lunch!

Please bring family and friends and help us spread the word.

Thank you!

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Gaining a better understanding of those experiencing homelessness and what they need

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The complex and emotional nature of the homelessness crisis often leads to misconception and myth, which can hinder efforts to pursue effective solutions.

In an effort to better understand the area’s homeless population and their needs, and better inform the City’s response, the Seattle Department of Human Services recently contracted with Applied Survey Research to conduct a large-scale homeless needs assessment. With the assistance of interviewers who had experienced homelessness themselves, 1,050 unsheltered individuals were contacted and multiple focus groups were held with 80 attendees in late November.

The survey results released March 3 served to dispel several commonly-held myths about the City’s homelessness crisis by revealing that:

1. Most of Seattle’s homeless population is from here, with nearly 70 percent living in Seattle/King County when they most recently became homeless. This counters the notion of “Freattle” — the oft-repeated claim that Seattle draws other states’ homeless people with the promise of free services. In fact, most of those living unsheltered say they fell into homelessness while already here, which is “consistent with other communities who solicit this information,” according to the report.

homeless graphic - where they come from

2. Family and jobs, not handouts, are the reason most people come to Seattle. More than 35 percent of those surveyed who were not from Seattle said they came here to be with friends and family, and more than 33 percent they came seeking work. Only 15 percent said they came to access homeless services. According to the report, “the survey suggests that the length of time of local residence is probably not too different from the general population and people come to the area to access their personal safety nets, job opportunities, and for other common reasons.”

homeless graphic - why they came to seattle

3. For the vast majority of those surveyed, living outside is not their first choice. They want housing. From the report:

Ninety-three percent (93%) of survey respondents reported that they would move inside if safe, affordable housing were available. This is commonly referred to as the “homeless by choice” question and suggests that the “traveler” or “nomadic” sojourner does not represent a significant group.

Rental assistance (68 percent) and housing affordability (65 percent) were the top two answers given by respondents when asked what they needed to obtain housing.

4. Employment and education alone are no safeguard against homelessness, and many of those living unsheltered do work. While more than half of respondents said they were unemployed or unable to work, 41 percent said they are currently working in some capacity (full-time, part-time, temporarily, or seasonally), and 35 percent reported completing some college or attaining a college degree.

homeless graphic - do they work

“This survey was an opportunity to hear directly from people experiencing homelessness in Seattle about who they are, how they became homeless and how we can best offer help,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “In taking this in-depth look, the City confirmed known needs like more affordable housing, as well as treatment and support for mental health and substance abuse disorders. It also showed the significant racial disparities and that homelessness disproportionately impacts the LGBTQ community. Because little help has come, particularly from the federal government, this assessment clearly shows Seattle must expand its investment in what is most needed, including mental health and substance abuse treatment, if we are going to address the crisis of homelessness.

“The City’s work under Pathways Home emphasizes the need for this individualized approach to offering services,” said Mayor Murray, “and this assessment offers a better understanding of the complex set of needs that can inform that work.”

“It’s very important that we talk to the people affected by homelessness so we can direct our city resources more precisely, but also look system-wide to make sure our “safety-net” has the support that homeless individuals say they need to move into housing successfully,” said Catherine Lester, Director of the City’s HSD. “While the results may not be all-together surprising, they are important touch points to inform our community’s work to provide a more efficient and effective system to move people out of homelessness.”

To read the full survey, click here.