Homelessness Response Blog

Homelessness Response Blog

Homelessness Task Force progress reports

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Mayor Durkan to increase Seattle’s Bridge Housing and shelter capacity by 25 percent to bring more people inside

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To help people experiencing homelessness get into safer places where they are more likely to access services, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today announced a new plan to increase the number of bridge housing and shelter units in the next 90 days by 25% to serve an additional 522 people every night.

“People rightfully say: we are and must be a better city than this. Thousands of people are living outside of our system and unsheltered. We all see some of the worst imaginable conditions – people are living among rats, needles, human waste, and garbage. And every three days, someone without a home dies in this City. We must act to move people off the streets and into safer, more stable places where they can more easily access the services they need,” said Mayor Durkan.

“I support the Mayor’s efforts to provide more immediate shelter, and King County is working in partnership with its cities to add more shelter and housing capacity throughout the county so people experiencing homelessness have a safe and secure place to rebuild their lives. Providing alternatives to tents and RVs is an important step to tackling homelessness, and we must also continue to focus on root causes to truly make a difference in our communities,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Pending final approval by City Council, Mayor Durkan’s proposal would increase the number of bridge housing and shelter units in the next 90 days by 25%. Her plan would serve an additional 522 people every night by:

  • Expanding enhanced shelter capacity to serve an additional 180 people;
  • Creating bridge housing at Haddon Hall serve 100 people through a master lease;
  • Expanding City Hall’s basic shelter serving 120 people each night;
  • Supporting of Whittier Heights Women’s Village, a tiny home village serving 19 chronically homeless women; and
  • Opening 54 tiny homes in South Lake Union and 30 new tiny homes at 18th and Yesler following community engagement and site approval. These tiny homes would serve approximately 103 people.

In addition, Durkan’s plan will provide funding for 163 basic shelter beds set to close at the end of May. Currently, the City of Seattle operates 2,032 shelter beds. This includes 1,185 enhanced shelter beds, 259 units in tiny home villages, and 588 basic shelter beds. However, the City-funded shelters and sanctioned encampments are at or near capacity; they are at least 93% full every night.

In January 2018, Mayor Durkan proposed her “Building a Bridge to Housing for All” legislation to create additional bridge housing and shelter options as well as affordable housing. Passed unanimously by City Council in February and signed by the Mayor, it called for a Bridge Housing Investment Strategy to increase our capacity to quickly and cost-effectively move people experiencing homelessness to safety through new bridge housing and shelter.

Mayor Durkan is proposing to create new resources to bring people off the streets and into safer places through a variety of strategies. Because enhanced shelters are more successful at exiting more people to permanent housing, Mayor Durkan’s proposed investments are focused on building more capacity at enhanced shelters.  Mayor Durkan’s plan would also provide dedicated beds to serve individuals living unsheltered referred by the City’s Navigation team as well as approximately 120 families and children. Providing more capacity for people living unsheltered to move into safer places like enhanced shelters and tiny home villages will also make it easier for them to access services including substance use treatment, mental health care, food, employment support, and case management professionals.

“Mayor Durkan recognizes that ‘we’re all better off when we’re all better off,’” said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, District 7 – Pioneer Square to Magnolia. “I am grateful for her understanding of the desperate needs of our neighbors who we see every day sleeping in tents and cardboard on our City’s streets and knowing that there’s a better way to care for people and improve lives in our city. Today’s announcement responds both to the needs of people on the street as well as to demands of our housed neighbors. This is a big step toward the regional response we seek.”

“We must be unrelenting in our efforts to expand temporary and long-term housing options for individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” said Councilmember M. Lorena González, Pos. 9 – Citywide. “This expansion of shelter options is a demonstration of the City’s commitment to the need to invest across the spectrum of homeless services and housing that will make a measurable impact on reducing the amount of human suffering people experience on our streets every single day and night. This short-term strategy, coupled with investments in the creation of deeply subsidized affordable housing, is part of the solution to addressing homelessness. I continue to welcome a partnership with Mayor Durkan, my colleagues, regional leaders and service providers to effectively chart our path out of the current homelessness crisis in Seattle and the region.”

“To simultaneously address the crises of rising rents, opioid addiction, and an underfunded mental health system, we need both short- and long-term solutions,” said Councilmember Mike O’Brien, District 6 – Northwest Seattle. “I believe that the Mayor’s effort is a step in the right direction towards the large-scale effort this City needs to meet the emergency shelter needs of community members. In addition to today’s steps, we will simultaneously need to increase our production of affordable housing units to permanently house people.”

“It’s immoral that in Seattle thousands of people are living outside. We must act with urgency and compassion to create the shelter and supportive housing needed now. Until we build significantly more affordable housing, expand shelters, and reduce the number of people entering homelessness, people will continue to suffer needlessly and die on Seattle’s streets,” said Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Pos. 8 – Citywide. “Today is a small but important piece of the puzzle to provide shelter to those without homes in our city.”

Under Mayor Durkan, the City of Seattle is also continuing their investments in preventing homelessness. Earlier this year, Mayor Durkan launched the Seattle Rental Housing Assistance Pilot Program, which will serve approximately 1,000 low-income households to provide a range of critical resources, including rental assistance and utility discounts as applicable.

“Helping people experiencing homelessness takes a full range of options—from keeping people in the housing they have to helping people living on the streets get the support and services they need to move back in to housing,” said Jason Johnson, Interim Director of the City’s Human Services Department. “I am thankful that through Mayor Durkan’s leadership we can focus on increasing access to safer spaces that match people with the best support options for their individual needs.”

 
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Update: Northlake sanctioned encampment

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The City of Seattle has announced that the permitted encampment currently in Ballard will begin to move residents to its new location at 3814 Fourth Ave. NE in the Northlake neighborhood over the first weekend in March 2018. City funded encampments play a key role in Seattle’s response to the homelessness crisis by providing safe, enhanced shelter coupled with case management and support to help people experiencing homelessness find a path to housing.

The move-in announcement follow’s Mayor Jenny Durkan’s recent pledge to increase investments in tiny home construction, sanctioned encampments, and rental support for people on the verge of homelessness. The Northlake sanctioned encampment has a one-to-two year permit and will be continue to be operated by the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), and managed by Nickelsville. The move-in announcement comes after months of community engagement, site preparation, and a temporary extension of stay of the current location in Ballard while the new site was prepared. The former Ballard site will be phased out and de-camped during the month of March, before being handed back over to Seattle City Light , which owns the property.

Northlake site

The Northlake property is owned by Seattle City Light, which offered the site to be used as a temporary encampment until future development begins. The Northlake site meets land use code requirements and is approximately 20 percent larger than the existing Ballard Nickelsville encampment. In total, the Northlake site will accommodate 22 tiny structures, a common kitchen area, showers and onsite case management services. The site is conveniently located near King County Metro routes and will have electricity, sewer, and water services.

The encampment will remain clean-and-sober with 24/7 restricted access. LIHI will provide case management, and will oversee subcontractor Nickelsville’s management of the day-to-day management of the site. This includes security and the organization of a resident self-governance model. Additionally, the City will work with the operator to convene a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to review camp operations, needs, and ensure operators and residents are adequately addressing concerns and complaints. The first Northlake Community Advisory Committee meeting will be scheduled during the month of April.

Volunteers from the community and LIHI already begun constructing the tiny home structures for residents over the course of February.

To get involved in supporting the village, contact Josh Castle, LIHI Advocacy and Community Engagement Director (JCastle@lihi.org).

Background

Seattle is the first city in the country to offer public land and funding to support permitted encampments for people experiencing homelessness. All six of the City’s permitted homeless encampment programs receive City funding to provide support services, security, and operations at the camps. The current City ordinance permits these encampments to operate for one-year with an option for a second-year renewal. To date, finding suitable locations that meet land use codes and needs of residents, operators, and surrounding community has been difficult during Seattle’s real estate and population boom.

In June 2017, the City released an assessment of the first three permitted encampments that found sanctioned encampments were effective in helping people living unsheltered find safer shelter and case management-supported living situations. The report also found neighboring communities and businesses responded positively to encampments and their residents.

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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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Mayor Durkan proposes “Building a Bridge to Housing for All”

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In her first major legislation, Mayor Durkan proposed “Building a Bridge to Housing for All,” a plan to sale an underutilized City property to address Seattle’s affordability and homelessness crisis. Her plan would leverage $11 million from the sale of an underutilized City property to create urgently needed bridge housing for those in our community experiencing homelessness and to support households on the verge of homelessness, while also reinvesting in essential City services.

“With too many families pushed out the city and too many people living on our streets, we need to take urgent action to help those unsheltered and on the verge of homelessness. Leveraging one City property, we can provide essential services and attack our affordability crisis,” said Mayor Durkan. “There’s no quick or simple solution to solving this urgent challenge, but we can focus our efforts to rapidly deploy cost effective shelters to move people out of doorways and tents and into safer spaces.”

Mayor Durkan’s legislation is co-sponsored by four Councilmembers including Council President Bruce Harrell (District 2, South Seattle, Georgetown), Councilmember Rob Johnson (District 4, Northeast Seattle), Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5, North Seattle) and Councilmember Sally Bagshaw (District 7, Pioneer Square to Magnolia).

“For years, I’ve been committed to creating more emergency housing options, and this investment will make significant progress to build more bridge housing for people on our streets or for those who are struggling on the edge of homelessness. Mayor Durkan’s proposal has strong support from the City Council because it will do what we’ve been trying to do for years: address the affordability crisis from many angles, moving people into and through managed shelter into respectful permanent housing,” said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw (District 7, Pioneer Square to Magnolia).

“Leveraging the proceeds of this sale to help solve our homelessness crisis is a good and necessary investment. By funding new shelter and housing options and also including a payment to Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA), I am happy to see that these dollars would address both short and long term housing needs.  I look forward to learning more about how the proceeds of this sale will help house our unsheltered neighbors and keep people in safe and stable housing,” said Councilmember Rob Johnson (District 4, Northeast Seattle).

“I’m proud Mayor Durkan has chosen housing – one of our city’s most obvious and dire needs – as one of her first initiatives as Executive.  I look forward to collaborating with my Council colleagues to further develop this legislation and other bills intended to address our affordability crisis head on, and to meet the needs for women and others who are more exposed and face greater threats than most others when living without shelter,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5, North Seattle).

This one-time investment would leverage $3.5 million for essential City services and $10.7 million for affordable housing, safer spaces for those without shelter, and provide housing stability for households on the verge of homelessness. The sale of the property located at 1933 Minor Ave. is expected to close in summer 2018. Mayor Durkan’s proposal includes:

  • Investing $5.5 million in a Bridge Housing Investment Strategy to increase our capacity to quickly and cost-effectively move people experiencing homelessness to safety through new bridge housing and shelter. Several options of bridge shelter or bridge housing will be examined including but not limited to mass shelter tents, hard sided tents, wood-frame sheds, portable modular bunkhouses or cabins, backyard cottages, and the master leasing of existing apartments. This strategy will kick off with a project to serve chronically homeless women in our community by the end of spring 2018 with additional solutions to be deployed later this year;
  • Investing $2 million to maximize housing options for those on the verge of homelessness by piloting a Seattle Rental Housing Assistance Pilot Program;
  • Reinvesting $2.5 million into our City’s communications capabilities including the relocation of the Seattle IT’s Communication Shop and a new lease;
  • Investing $1 million for design and pre-planning costs for a new Seattle Fire Department facility; and,
  • An upfront Mandatory Housing Affordability payment of $2 million, for affordable housing. The City will be able to leverage the full payment of approximately $7.7 million several times over through other funding sources.

You can view the full “Building a Bridge to Housing for All” Fact Sheet here.

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One stop care: consolidating hygiene with other services to reduce door-to-door-to-door burden

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Imagine traveling with all your belongings piled in bags, and carrying them to one agency for a shower, to another for laundry, and still another for a mat to sleep on. This is what many people experiencing homelessness must do on a daily basis to get these and other needs met.

In 2018, the Human Services Department (HSD) has increased funding for enhanced shelters which offer hygiene services for their clients, plus support like case management, onsite amenities, and extended hours to help consolidate some of the services being offered to people experiencing homelessness.

Of the 1,464 City-funded shelter beds in 2018, 85% are enhanced shelter beds, an increase of 561 over 2017, and 15% are mats-only shelter beds. While some mats-only shelters offer additional services to clients, most do not, which means that many people experiencing homelessness are forced to go door-to-door to tend to basic needs.

The City has increased its investment in enhanced shelters to provide places to rest and tend to daily survival needs. In fact, 21 of 22 shelter programs funded in 2018 will include hygiene services. Across all homeless services programs, 88% of programs provide hygiene support – a 6% increase over 2017.

Helping people find and maintain stable housing is the key to addressing the crisis of homelessness. Because enhanced shelters with services are much more effective than mats-only shelters in helping people find housing, HSD encouraged overnight shelter and day center providers that applied for City funding to work together to provide extended-hours and services to people experiencing homelessness. We are pleased with the providers’ response and creativity to offer these one-stop care locations.

HSD is also supporting the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) Urban Rest Stop program with $540,000 to provide standalone hygiene services, such as showers, toilets and laundry services. These funds support Urban Rest Stop locations in Ballard, the University District, and downtown Seattle.

The City of Seattle is supporting a homeless services system that focuses on helping people find and maintain stable housing. With finite resources, the City is investing in programs, like enhanced shelters, that provide connections to housing for people experiencing homelessness. Programs that do not provide an intentional connection to housing were not prioritized for City funding this year. To help clients transition to other services, HSD has created a bridge funding plan to assist programs that were not awarded 2018 City funding. Two standalone hygiene programs will receive support through March 18, 2018. Because the City is not the sole funder for homelessness programs, agencies may choose to look for funding from an alternate sources to continue providing standalone hygiene services.

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City opens severe weather shelter at Seattle Center

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The City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) is opening a cold weather shelter from Friday, Dec. 22 through Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, in light of the extended forecast for overnight temperatures around freezing. The Salvation Army will run the shelter, open to all genders, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98109). This shelter will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day and has room for 100 people. No referral is necessary to access the emergency shelter.

“I want to thank the Salvation Army and Seattle Center for their ongoing partnership in operating emergency shelters in very cold weather,” said HSD Deputy Director Jason Johnson, who oversees such services for the department, “and ask that all shelters ensure that all available space is used to help bring people out of the cold.”

The City has notified homeless services providers in the area so they can direct people to the Seattle Center shelter. Download flier for distribution.

The forecast currently calls for below freezing temperatures throughout the week, creating extremely cold conditions in Seattle. For the most current forecast, please visit the National Weather Service website. For more information on how to prepare for winter weather, please visit Take Winter By Storm. Additionally, for up-to-date information pertaining to impacts in the City of Seattle please sign up for AlertSeattle at Alert.Seattle.gov

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City of Seattle announces $100 million in affordable housing investments

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Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced more than $100 million in investments to build and preserve 1,450 affordable homes in neighborhoods across Seattle, including the construction of 896 new homes in nine new buildings. These Office of Housing investments represent a spectrum of different housing types for low-income residents, including permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, apartments for low-income individuals and families, transit-oriented development, and homes for first-time homebuyers.

“Too many long-time residents are getting locked out and pushed out of Seattle. We need to urgently increase the amount of affordable housing to stop the huge displacement of people and provide permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness,” said Mayor Durkan. “With this investment, our City is delivering on our commitment to create more affordable housing, including building 900 new homes and keeping 550 homes affordable for the next 50 years.”

In addition to utilizing the first year of funding from the 2016 voter-passed Seattle Housing Levy, the Office of Housing’s 2017 investments also include funding from incentive zoning payments, proceeds from the sale of surplus properties, and $29 million in bonds approved by the Seattle City Council. Using additional local and federal resources, the City’s awards for rental housing will support more than $260 million in investments.

“Today’s exciting announcement builds on a 36-year commitment to investing in affordable homes in our city,” said Steve Walker, director of the Office of Housing. “Funding different housing approaches to meet the diverse needs of low-income community members enables working people, families, and those experiencing homelessness to live in and contribute to our city. These are durable investments, offering stability and opportunity not only now, but for at least 50 years into the future.”

The 2017 funding awards will support the construction of nine new buildings (896 apartments), two affordable homeownership sites (26 homes), and the preservation of four buildings (535 apartments) throughout Seattle. A full list of buildings is included below.

“After ten years of work in cooperation with local neighbors, we are thrilled to have the support from the City of Seattle to build Filipino Community Village,” said Velma Veloria, Co-Chair of the Filipino Community Village project and a former state legislator. “The community wanted to create housing to support our elders and we look forward to the village becoming a hub for cultural events like dance and cooking classes and offering an innovative learning center for youth.”

Every year, the Office of Housing provides a notice of funding availability for the Rental Housing Program. Affordable housing developers submit proposals that respond to City priorities. This year’s awards support 12 of the proposals. The Office of Housing’s 2017 investments also include a commitment for two affordable homeownership projects as well as an award for transit oriented development at Roosevelt Station, a partnership with Sound Transit.

Over the last 36 years, the Office of Housing has invested nearly $450 million in the creation and preservation of over 14,000 affordable rental homes. These homes are located in high-quality, sustainable buildings located throughout the City of Seattle. They remain affordable to people with incomes ranging from zero to 60% of the area median income for a minimum of 50 years and provide stability for homeless adults, families, and youth; seniors and people with disabilities; and low-wage working families.

 

More information on the Rental Housing Program and the Seattle Housing Levy can be found at www.seattle.gov/housing.

 

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Mayor Durkan and City Councilmembers announce $1 million to ensure a continuation of homeless services

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Following the completion of the RFP process to focus on longer term housing strategies, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, City Councilmembers, and Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) announced $1 million available to ensure a continuation of homeless services for current providers to ensure no shelters close this winter. With up to six months of funding for all operating shelters in 2017, the City is working with agencies to ensure no current shelter programs serving people experiencing homelessness will close in the upcoming months, including those offering overnight-only programs like those run by SHARE/WHEEL.

“As we double the number of people moving into permanent housing and create more 24/7 enhanced shelter beds and services, we must ensure a compassionate transition for those who depend on current providers,” said Mayor Durkan. “Our City must work relentlessly to move people out of encampments and off our streets into permanent and affordable housing. I’m committed to creating additional short-term shelter, including micro-homes, to provide safer, healthier alternatives to living outside for those experiencing homelessness.”

“I am pleased that all shelters currently funded will remain open this winter. I have heard many fears expressed that under the City’s new investment approach people will be pushed outside into the cold. That is not the case. Rather, the goal is to invest wisely in programs that care for people first – such as enhanced 24/7 shelters and more housing units. The City’s thoughtful bridge funding will get us to summer, and I applaud the work of Mayor Durkan and the Human Services Department in creating a regional system that will house more people respectfully. After all, everyone deserves more than a mat on the floor or a tent on the sidewalk,” said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw (District 7, Pioneer Square to Magnolia).

“This critical funding will ensure that current emergency shelter beds for our neighbors experiencing homelessness will continue to be available, while at the same time we transition funding priorities toward 24/7 enhanced shelters for immediate needs. Ultimately, this is a step in the direction of funding permanent housing for those in need, with the support services necessary to keep that housing sustainable,” said Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, Citywide).

In November, HSD recently awarded $34 million in homeless investments for 2018 to move more people into housing, and to address racial disparities among Black/African American and Native American/Alaska Native communities. In the funded proposals, providers outlined their strategies to move more than 7,000 households experiencing homelessness into permanent housing in 2018.

For programs that have seen funding changes for 2018, HSD will be allocating resources and transition funds to ensure providers are eligible for short-term assistance while adjusting their operations. The department has assembled $1 million in funding, primarily from savings from projects in other divisions within HSD, staff savings, and other departmental administrative savings. There are 33 programs at 12 agencies who are eligible for transition funds to seamlessly continue operations from 2017 into the new year and for up to six months of 2018, which includes investments to DESC to enhance their shelter program.

“HSD is prioritizing service continuity in the response system even as there are changes resulting from the funding awards,” said Catherine Lester, Director of the Human Services Department. “We are working hand-in-hand with agencies to track each client, and to make sure there are adequate resources for them through this shift. Planning with agencies is beginning this week to determine how much time and funding each program needs to transition their programs to other funding sources or alternate services.”

The first priority is being given to shelter programs that are needed during the winter months. This includes those offering mats-on-the-floor, overnight-only programs like those run by SHARE/WHEEL, who did not receive ongoing funding in the RFP process. This transition time also allows for those shelters that were awarded funds through the RFP process to operate more 24/7-and/or-enhanced-shelters to come into full operation. These enhanced shelters include a place for people to stay inside longer, with fewer restrictions, and with more case workers and support, ultimately leading to moving more people into housing.

Secondly, HSD is providing some funds for programs that provide housing stability services such as rental vouchers for transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and/or permanent supportive housing. HSD is working with agencies offering these services to ensure these clients can remain housed and to identify staff impacts.

Finally, HSD is providing some funding to continue outreach and engagement as the city’s new outreach continuum that the department is organizing comes together. This funding will extend the work of providers such as the Downtown Seattle Association’s outreach team that currently canvases downtown and surrounding areas. Additionally, HSD will continue providing technical assistance as well as work on transition plans with providers such as Women’s Referral Service – Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services to ensure a seamless transition.

Through the RFP process, HSD funded 30 agencies and 98 high-performing programs that will double the number of people moving into permanent housing to more than 7,000 in 2018, up from the 3,026 projected households expected in 2017.

Appeals were made by 15 of the 57 agencies who applied for the Human Services Department’s competitive funding process, which prioritized programs that moved people into housing and focused on the disproportionately-affected Black/African American and Native American/Alaska Native populations. No appeals were upheld.

All applicants for the funding were notified of the award decisions on Nov. 27. Agencies were then able to file an appeal to the HSD Director on technical merits within five business days. The City then had five business days to respond to the appeal. For an appeal to “have merit,” the appellant must have demonstrated that there was either bias, discrimination, or conflict of interest; or that there was a violation of policies, or failure to adhere to guidelines or published criteria and/or procedures. All decisions were finalized within the timeframe established in the submission guidelines.

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Ravenna Woods encampment cleanup recap

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Following multiple outreach visits, the City’s Navigation Team, a group of outreach workers and specially trained police officers, removed an unsanctioned encampment from the Ravenna Woods yesterday. A previous encampment in the same area was removed in July.

Before and after cleanup in the Ravenna Woods.

During inspection and outreach, the Navigation Team observed several large structures, excessive amounts of uncollected garbage and used hypodermic needles, human waste, rats and fire risks. Additionally, the encampment’s placement on a steep slope and near trees was causing damage to the physical environment, as well as risk to the campers themselves, who could be injured by falling limbs. These conditions, which pose risks to the public health and safety of the campers and the surrounding community led to remediation of the encampment. During encampment clean-up, team members found an extension cord spliced into the power-grid of a nearby apartment building, which further raises fire and safety concerns, and is illegal.

Camping is prohibited in City parks, and per City rules governing unsanctioned encampment removals, an unsanctioned encampment in a City park is considered an obstruction that interferes with the use of public property (See FAS Encampment Rule 17-01, Section 3.4.) and can be removed immediately without notice or offers of shelter and storage. However, even with the authority to remove the encampment immediately, the City chose to conduct outreach to campers in hopes of connecting people living unsheltered to services and shelter and provided notice a week in advance of yesterday’s activities.

In addition to verbal notice during outreach, written notice of the impending removal was posted around the site on Nov. 29.

City personnel will work with people to safely store or move personal belongings; abandoned items unsuitable for storage will be removed. During the engagement in the Ravenna Woods, two campers told field coordinators they had collected all they wanted and everything left behind could be discarded. One bike found in the debris was stored.

Unrelated to the Navigation Team’s engagement with the individuals in the encampment, on Monday, Dec. 4, SPD officers from the North Precinct made an arrest in the nearby Ravenna Park. The bike patrol officers were on proactive patrol for the North Precinct and were not present by request of the Navigation Team. Officers did not make arrests in the encampment nor run background checks on individuals, but later recognized an individual in Ravenna Park suspected in felony burglary incidents and made an arrest. For more details on this incident, please contact SPD’s Public Affairs Office at 206-684-5520 or spdnews@seattle.gov.

To learn more about why an unsanctioned encampment is removed, please visit the City’s Homelessness Response Blog. You can also read recent media coverage on the Navigation Team’s approach to outreach here.

Before and after cleanup in the Ravenna Woods.