Shelter – Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness Blog

Take Action! Support the Proposed Bellevue Shelter!

November 23, 2016 by Alison Eisinger

The City of Bellevue and King County are working in partnership with Congregations for the Homeless and Imagine Housing to create a permanent men’s shelter which would include 100 emergency beds, a day center and cafeteria, as well as 50 units of permanent housing. We fully support the proposed shelter, but not all community members do. Read this Seattle Times article for more information about the proposed shelter and discussions it has sparked. We encourage you to express your support to the City of Bellevue and King County! Monday, Nov. 28th at 6pm at Bellevue City Hall (450 110th Ave NE, Bellevue): The Bellevue City Council will receive an update on the proposed shelter and permanent supportive housing project at an extended study session. The meeting will begin with a 30-minute period for oral comments to the council. We encourage you to show up to this meeting and publicly express your support! If you can’t show up on the 28th, send advocacy postcards to the Bellevue City Council and King County Council (note that you need to put it in an envelope to send, it’s too big to be mailed on it’s own)! (Click here for a pdf of the postcard). Or email your comments directly to the Bellevue City Council at eastsidemensshelter@bellevuewa.gov or to key King County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci (claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov) and Reagan Dunn (reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov). For more information on the shelter including facts on homelessness in Bellevue, community outreach efforts and FAQs, visit the city’s webpage here.

Severe Weather Shelter 2016: October 13 – October 18 information

October 13, 2016 by Alison Eisinger

Major rain and windstorms expected to hit Western Washington October 13 – 16, 2016 Two strong Pacific storm systems are expected to affect the area. Please circulate and share this information with your clients, guests, and people you know who are staying outside and want to find temporary shelter inside from the high winds and major rain. Severe weather shelters tend to be opened in King County when the temperature is below 32*, this weekend the following shelters will be open due to the rain and wind storms. If these resources don’t work, encourage people to call 211 for other possible options. Click here for more shelter information from 211. This post will be frequently updated with the most recent information. If you know of new or updated information please contact hillary[at]homelessinfo[dot]org. _________________________________________________________________________ SEVERE WEATHER SHELTERS – Updated 10/17/2016 at 10am Please share information about severe weather shelters with your clients and the community. Check back for frequent updates about openings. SEATTLE: King County Administration Building Shelter & 420 4th Ave Shelter – expanded capacity (50 additional spots in Admin Building) Location: 500 & 420 4th Avenue Downtown Seattle (Between Jefferson and James) Line up for the shelter in front of the loading dock garage door at the corner of 4th and Jefferson. Dates open (with expanded capacity): Thursday, 10/13 – Tuesday, 10/18, (Both Admin Shelter & 420 4th Ave open regularly every other night with 50 beds each) Time: 7pm to 6am Capacity: 100 beds in Admin, 50 beds at 420 4th Ave Population: men (pets welcome at 420 shelter) Seattle City Hall Shelter Location: 600 4th Ave Dates open (with expanded capacity): Thursday, 10/13 – Tuesday, 10/18, (Open regularly with 75 beds every other night) Time: 7pm to 6am Capacity: 81 beds Population: men & women Seattle Severe Weather Shelter – PRINT & POST THIS FLYER Location: Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion, …

One Response to the Proposed White Center Shelter

September 20, 2016 by Alison Eisinger

King County is considering opening a new shelter at the former Public Health Clinic in White Center. This shelter will provide space for 70 people – single adults and couples – as well as pets. It’s hours will be from 5pm – 8am, including dinner and breakfast. The shelter will also have case management services. Learn more about it at this link. A community meeting was hosted on September 15th, 2016, the minutes for the meeting can be found here, a video of the meeting is on the White Center Now Blog. After the meeting community member, Stephanie Endres wrote the following friendly letter to her fellow White Center community members, which she agreed to let us share (You can print and sign a postcard in support of the shelter, share with your community and mail signed postcards to Coalition on Homelessness, 77 S. Washington Street, Seattle, WA 98104 – we’ll take them to King County Executive Dow Constantine and Council Chair Joe McDermott). Here’s Stephanie’s message: My name is Stephanie and I am a Homeless Outreach Case Manager in Seattle. I grew up in White Center. I’ve gone to Mt. View Presbyterian Church since I was a child, where I also attended youth group. I’ve been involved and volunteered for nonprofits founded in White Center; I attend and support events in the neighborhood year round I volunteer within the White Center community. I also run a nonprofit that I founded in 2011 that does outreach to homeless individuals in King County. As I heard in the community meeting last night, most of you are concerned about a new shelter in your neighborhood. You are clearly concerned about the children in the neighborhood. You’re afraid of sex offenders or drug users being a danger to you in your homes, schools, and …

Recap: Families with Children Meeting – KidsPlus Training and Coordinated Entry for All – June 22, 2016

July 11, 2016 by Alison Eisinger

Big thanks to all who were able to join us for last month’s Families with Children committee meeting. As always, it was great to see a room full of familiar and new faces! We were joined by Mary Dunbar from Kids Plus (Public Health – Seattle & King County), who offered a training on working with guests to address their mental health needs. Danielle Winslow (All Home) provided timely Coordinated Entry for All updates with the group. Highlights and resources from these two folks are below: A list of mental health services available for children can be found here. The YMCA also operates the Children’s Crisis Outreach Response System (CCORS), which offers urgent crisis outreach as well as short-term stabilization resources to children and youth in King County, as well as their families. King County Mental Health’s wraparound services offer additional supports to children to help stabilize them in the community. More information and application processes for this program can be found on the King County website. Adults and folks of all ages can access mental health services at the locations listed on this document. The Crisis Clinic is an excellent resource for folks to call if in need of immediate crisis help, and they also provide information about suicide warning signs and crisis intervention strategies. King County Crisis and Commitment Services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide initial outreach services to folks not already accessing outpatient care in King County as well as evaluation of people with mental disorders for possible involuntary detention in psychiatric facilities according to the mental illness law in the State of Washington. Throughout King County and the state of Washington, low-cost and free clinics are available for folks to access mental and physical healthcare needs. Mary suggests looking into Consejo, Cornerstone, and Project Access Northwest …

King County 2016 Men’s Winter Shelters for 150 Beds – Extended Until Further Notice

June 9, 2016 by Alison Eisinger

King County Winter Response Shelters 2016 Men’s Winter Shelters for 150 Beds – Extended Until Further Notice Every year we advocate for more shelter and expanded shelter hours. Your advocacy in the fall helped open the 420 4th ave shelter (Zombie Building) for 50 beds, now spread the word that these 150 beds are open until further notice! See details below, PRINT & POST THIS PDF, and contact Janice Hougen with any questions. King County Men’s Winter Shelter – 500 4th Avenue Open Every Until Further Notice Location: King County Administration Building – 500 4th Avenue Downtown Seattle (Between Jefferson and James) Operator: The Salvation Army Capacity: 100 men Hours: 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM Access: Line up for the shelter in front of the loading dock garage door at the corner of 4th and Jefferson. King County Men’s Winter Shelter – 420 4th Avenue (Pets Welcomed) Open Every Night Until Further Notice Location: 420 4th Avenue, Seattle (Between Jefferson and James) Operator: The Salvation Army Capacity: 50 Men Hours: 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM Access: Line up for the shelter in front of the loading dock garage door at the corner of 4th and Jefferson. Contact: Please contact Janice Hougen with King County Community Services Division at 206-263-9089 or janice.hougen@kingcounty.gov for further information. PDF Version of Flyer

Thank you for helping us win $2.265 million investment to #BringPeopleInsideNOW: 902 signatures on petition!

December 2, 2015 by Alison Eisinger

The following message was shared with 902 people who signed our Change.org petition calling on Seattle City Council to invest $2.265 to Bring People Inside Thank you as well to everyone who sent emails, made calls and signed postcards. Together we won! We’ll continue to need your help to make sure the money is used to bring people inside as soon as possible. Thank You! $2.265M invested to #BringPeopleInsideNOW Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH) Dec 2, 2015 — Dear advocates who signed our petition to #BringPeopleInsideNOW, Thank you for your signature and support of the Seattle/King County on Homelessness’ and Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata’s proposal to allocate an additional $2.265 million for shelter and emergency services for people experiencing homelessness. On 11/16/2015, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to do just that; $2.265 million from General Funds has been allocated and was part of the 2016 City of Seattle budget signed yesterday by the Mayor! You helped show the support of the community, and councilmembers in City Hall heard the message loud and clear: we need to bring more people inside now. The Coalition on Homelessness will continue to work closely with City Council and member organizations to make sure that we get people inside as quickly as possible. The success of the $2.265 million depends on your continued support and help in encouraging City Council and the City of Seattle to bring people inside now by using funds for shelter and services as recommended by the Coalition on Homelessness. We hope you’ll continue to take action with the Coalition. If you haven’t already, please sign up for the Coalition’s Action Alerts and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@Homeless2Housed). Thanks again and keep up the great advocacy! -The Coalition team P.S. We sent Thank You Postcards to Seattle City …

How to Take Action in an Emergency: Bring People Inside Now, Open Community Centers

November 13, 2015 by Alison Eisinger

We call on Seattle & King County leaders to #BringPeopleInsideNOW! Sign our petition urging Seattle City Councilmembers to expand shelter, extend day center hours, and open community centers in the 2016 Budget, and urging Mayor Murray to open community centers as he would in any other emergency Dear Coalition Members and Friends: You only get to declare a state of emergency once, so it had better count. In declaring a state of emergency, Mayor Murray and Executive Constantine have created a crucial opportunity to bring additional focus to the all-too-obvious crisis for thousands of people each day and night. They have proposed investments that, while important, do not match the urgency or scope of the crisis before us. We need to work together to change that. Please join us in contacting Seattle City Councilmembers, and insisting that declarations be backed with actions that will bring many more people inside safely and with dignity. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Women in Black document how many people who are homeless have died outside or by violence. As of Veterans’ Day, the names of 57 women and men are listed this year. We have much work to do. Please join us next Thursday, Nov. 19, to learn more about the States of Emergency declared in our community and in Portland, L.A., and Hawaii, and to develop additional actions. General Membership Meeting Thursday, November 19, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at E. Cherry YWCA – See Agenda below. Sign & Share petition to Seattle City Council & Mayor Ed Murray calling for an emergency response to #BringPeopleInsideNOW Seattle City Councilmembers are making final budget decisions now, and voting on Monday. Please join the Coalition, and 300+ people who have signed our petiton. Urge Council to re-direct the Mayor’s proposed $2.3M for the Rainy Day Fund to bring Seattle …

King County Council passes legislation in support of expanding King County Homeless Winter Shelter by 100 beds

November 12, 2015 by Alison Eisinger

Every year Coalition advocates speak up in support of the most possible hours and beds for the King County Winter Shelter (currently operating in the King County Administration Building). Your postcards helped influence the following motion passed on Monday, November 9, 2015. Thanks for speaking up! We encourage you to read the motion below. King County Council passed a motion expressing support for an expansion of the King County Homeless Winter Shelter for winter 2015-2016 and for a continued partnership with the city of Seattle for joint funding of an expansion of the shelter. READ the full approved motion here. Highlights of what the motion says: A. The King County council supports efforts to expand the capacity of the King County Homeless Winter Shelter from fifty to up to one hundred fifty beds for winter 2015-2016. B. The King County council supports providing a location for an expanded King County Homeless Winter Shelter for winter 2015-2016, either at the current location of the King County administration building or at another King County-owned facility in downtown Seattle, or at both, and identifying new funding partnerships sufficient to cover any combination of rent, utilities, security and facility improvements as needed. C. The King County council, as part of its continuing partnership with the city of Seattle in addressing the crisis of homelessness, encourages the city to renew its support for the King County Homeless Winter Shelter by appropriating funding sufficient to cover the costs of shelter management for up to an additional one hundred beds for winter 2015-2016.

Join us in calling on the Seattle City Council and Mayor Murray to make a $10 million emergency investment in shelter & homeless services

October 28, 2015 by Alison Eisinger

The Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness is calling on the Seattle City Council to respond to the urgent unmet needs of homeless people with a new emergency investment of $10 million in shelter and services in the 2016 budget. This figure represents a realistic assessment of how our city can significantly reduce how many people are homeless outside in our city, starting this winter. These are not intended to be comprehensive recommendations – they are serious proposals that will help more people get their fundamental needs met through a strengthened and expanded network of emergency survival services. More information about how we recommend $10 million be used most effectively is below. YOUR voice is crucial: if you live, work, or spend time in Seattle, Mayor Murray and City Council Members need to hear from you today. Simple instructions for how to Take Action are at the bottom of this post! We recommend that Council use the current budget process to allocate new resources to: Bring 750-1000 people indoors beginning this winter: Increase overnight shelter capacity and expand daytime services that meet people’s needs Keep homeless people safer and healthier while they are outside: Take a public health/harm reduction approach to assisting people outside Build on and reinforce our existing network of shelters and survival services: Extend hours and enhance staffing and programming where possible; find and fill in gaps between what people need and what is available Estimated costs and specific opportunities: I. Open additional overnight shelter for 1000 people: $6.5 million* This conservative cost estimate presumes that Seattle will work to maximize capacity at existing programs (offer longer service hours or enhanced services or increased staffing support) and open additional shelters by working with local non-profit organizations, leveraging publicly-held properties, and calling on the private sector to join faith communities …

Coalition letter to King County Council asking for immediate creation of shelter in empty, County owned, 420 4th Ave building

October 27, 2015 by Alison Eisinger

Many Coalition Members and Friends received Alison’s Action Alert in your email last week calling on the King County Council to create more shelter, and calling on the Seattle City Council to make a new emergency investment of $10 million in shelter and services. You are taking action and it’s being heard! Please keep sending postcards and emails (see great example from Coalition Board Member Ben Miksch) to your elected officials. Read the Coalition’s letter to King County Councilmembers and Executive Dow Constantine on behalf of the Coalition here. We are calling on the County to open shelter at the vacant County-owned building at 420 4th Ave as soon as possible, and to expedite the process to ensure more people can have a safe place indoors to sleep at night. TAKE ACTION!!! When we speak up together, we can make important changes to our community! You can influence what happens for real people who are homeless in our community right now by using your voice in one (or more) quick ways using the message below: E-mail: Look up your King County Councilmember here, and cc Executive Constantine (kcexec@kingcounty.gov) Phone Call: Call the office of your King County Councilmember Postcard: Write a message, sign, and mail a postcard in an envelope with a 1st class stamp. In-person: Attend & give public comment at a King County Council Committee of the Whole meeting or a Health, Housing and Human Services Committee meeting. Stay tuned to Coalition Action Alerts for extra important meetings. Sample message: “I urge you to respond to the growing crisis of homelessness by creating more indoor shelter and services (day and night) immediately. Thousands of people are outside, struggling to survive, while public buildings stand empty. Funding for human services is not enough to meet the needs in our community. Local leaders must respond more strongly. …