The City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) released the final performance results of its homeless services programs for 2018.

City-funded programs both saw an increase of households who were served (25,420 in 2018 vs. 23,768 in 2017) and in the number of exits to permanent housing (5,627) or households who maintained their housing (1,801) through permanent supportive housing programs. There were 5,627 household exits to permanent housing alone — an increase of 30% (1,321) over the same time in 2017, and there were a total 7,428 household exits from homeless programs to permanent housing and who maintained their permanent supportive housing.

“HSD began 2018 with clear goals – invest in programs that work, connect people to housing from all points in the homeless services system, and address racial disparities, particularly for Native American/Alaskan Native and Black/African American households,” said HSD Interim Director Jason Johnson. “I am pleased that we are seeing significant progress in all three areas compared to 2017, and that HSD is managing the public’s money for improved results for people experiencing homelessness.”

Through HSD’s 2017 Homeless Investments Request for Proposals (RFP), providers estimated that they could exit 7,400 households to or maintain them in permanent supportive housing in 2018.

Highlights from 2018:

• Enhanced shelters alone showed a 78% increase (1,520) in exits to permanent housing over 2017 (854), which aligns with the City’s shift towards enhanced shelters with housing-focused services. Enhanced shelters are safe spaces that prioritize services for permanent housing solutions and include amenities such as 24-hour support, housing navigation, showers, laundry, storage, and the availability of shelter for more than one night. The primary goal of enhanced shelter is to move people from homelessness to housing. 

 

• Increased investments for supportive services in villages are exiting households to permanent housing at a rate that is 10% higher than 2017 (33% in 2018 vs 23% in 2017).
• Investments showed an 87% increase in the number of Native American/Alaska Native households exiting homeless services programs over 2017 and a 27% increase in Black/African American households exiting homeless services programs over 2017.

Housing Programs are Moving More People to Permanent Housing In 2018

All housing programs increased the rate at which they are moving households into housing or helping them maintain housing over 2017. For a list of terms, see here.

• Diversion: Diversion primarily helps people avoid the emergency shelter system by offering one-time financial assistance and case management. HSD saw a 5% increase in the rate of moving households out of the homeless system over 2017. (72% in 2018 vs. 67% in 2017). More than 300 service providers are being trained in offering diversion services in 2019 to consistently help prevent more people from entering the homeless system.

• Rapid Rehousing: This is a national best-practice which combines temporary rental assistance and case management to help people eventually assume their own housing costs. RRH investments have consistently met performance standards for rate of exit to permanent housing, showing 30% more exits to permanent housing than 2017 (618 in 2018, over 476 in 2017). HSD increased investment in Rapid Rehousing programs from $4.2 million in 2017 to $7.5 million in 2018.

• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): The most effective housing program for high-needs people experiencing homelessness, PSH offers ongoing housing and support services for people who need long-term assistance. Nationally, the number of people who are able to maintain their housing through PSH is counted in the “exits to permanent housing” category. PSH has a success rate of 93% in helping people maintain their housing or leave supportive housing to move to other kinds of permanent housing. HSD increased investment in permanent supportive housing from $9.3 million to $12.7 million in 2018.

More Native American/Alaska Native and Black/African American Households Connect to Housing in 2018

Native American/Alaska Native (NA/AN) and Black/African American (B/AA) households experience homelessness disproportionately to their representation in the population of King County. These households are seven times and five times more likely to experience homelessness, respectively.

In 2018, a total of 431 Native American/Alaska Native households exited homeless services programs, an increase of 87% over 2017 (230 household exits), and 2,979 Black/African American households exited homeless services programs, an increase of 27% over 2017 (2,343 household exits).

“During the 2018 funding process, HSD made addressing racial disparities a priority because Black/African American and Native American/Alaska Native communities are disproportionately likely to experience homelessness in our region. We invested in partners who could help these communities and are really pleased with this first year of results. We look forward to building on this in 2019,” said Jason Johnson.

Enhanced Supportive Services Help Drive Improved Housing Results

Following Mayor Durkan’s announcement to increase the City of Seattle’s bridge housing and shelter units by 25 percent by creating 500 safer spaces, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department has worked with partners to bring resources online and available to people experiencing homelessness. With Seattle’s shelters operating at or near capacity on a nightly basis, new shelter meets a critical need to create more safe spaces for people sleeping unsheltered throughout the city.

The City opened a total of 516 safer spaces in 2018, including shelter spaces and tiny house villages, serving approximately 540 people experiencing homelessness through this initiative. This increase in capacity is the largest expansion of City-funded shelter and village resources in Seattle’s history.

In 2018, enhanced shelters supported nearly twice as many household exits to permanent housing (1,520 in 2018, up from 854 in 2017) as in 2017, and increased the rate of exit to permanent housing from 13% up to 21%. HSD supported 749 enhanced shelter beds in 2017 and ended 2018 with 1411 enhanced shelter beds, and in 2017 supported 964 basic shelter beds, which are just overnight mats-on-floors with minimal connection to housing, and 668 at the end of 2018.

“City-funded homeless services programs are serving about 1,600 more households in 2018 than last year, and we are consistently seeing that shelters with enhanced services are able to move households into permanent housing at a rate that is five times higher than basic shelters,” said Johnson. “The support really makes a difference helping people leave the shelter system, which also opens up space for others to come inside.”

HSD increased investment in tiny house villages in 2018 by over $2.5M, which both brought on new village locations and increased supportive services and case management at existing villages. City-permitted villages demonstrated an increase in both the rate at which households exit the program to housing (33% in 2018 vs. 23% in 2017) and the number of household exits (135 in 2018 vs. 102 in 2017).

City Implements New Accountability and Performance Measures

In 2018, HSD implemented Pay-for-Performance (PFP) on 46 programs funded through HSD’s 2017 Homeless Investments Request for Proposals (RFP) process in the areas of Enhanced Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing. Basic Shelters, Day/Hygiene Centers, Outreach and Villages do not include pay-for-performance. Performance pay in City-funded homelessness contracts is a tool the department uses to help monitor and drive improvements at the individual provider level by analyzing data and working with those providers on how to improve services.

Programs are eligible to receive performance pay if they either meet the performance standard set in the 2017 RFP or finalized a performance improvement plan (PIP) agreement they reached with the department. If a program has not completed a PIP and does not meet the performance standard, they do not receive performance pay.

Methodology for Reporting:

When HSD competitively bid the City’s homeless services dollars for 2018, the Department made a commitment to invest in programs that are focused on connecting clients to permanent housing. To track program accountability – to ensure that City-funded programs are improving in their ability to connect clients to housing – HSD reports on the number of exits to permanent housing from City-funded programs.

HSD tracks City-funded programs to actively work toward increasing the percentage of their clients that enter permanent housing. The homeless system, which is comprised of homeless services programs funded by the City, County, and other sources, is designed for individual households (regardless of number of people) to engage with one or more programs while they are on their pathway to housing. For example, one client may stay in a shelter and work with a rapid rehousing program before leaving both programs to enter permanent housing. Each of those program exits count as an exit to permanent housing, specifically because they are two different strategies that work together to achieve permanent housing. This is the metric that we base performance pay on. This is same methodology that we’ve used to measure the effectiveness of City-funded programs for the past two years.

All Home currently reports system-wide effectiveness which includes reporting the number of unduplicated households that move to permanent housing from all programs in the homeless services system, as well as the number of exits by homeless program type (shelter, rapid rehousing, etc.). All Home looks at the results from all programs within the homeless services system, not only those funded by the City of Seattle.

In the wake of severe and historic winter weather, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) is extending its emergency shelter availability for people experiencing homelessness in collaboration with service providers and King County.

As part of the City’s response to the most snow and accompanying freezing temperatures in the last 50 years, HSD expanded emergency resources, opening over 550 emergency shelter beds, for people experiencing homelessness. As a result, people who have been living unsheltered, have come inside, creating an opportunity for case workers to connect them with support and services. Providing these ongoing spaces for people allows the City and King County to continue to deploy staff to the emergency shelters to assess people for needed resources, including housing. Additionally, it keeps emergency shelter operations going through predicted cold temperatures for the week of February 18-22.

“Our City staff, agencies, and County staff have come together and rolled up their sleeves in an unprecedented manner to help people in the longer term,” said Jason Johnson, Interim Director of the Human Services Department. “I am so proud of the City staff who have worked tirelessly for the past few weeks and over the weekend to ensure continuity of beds and the resources to connect with people we might not otherwise reach.”

As the City continues its assessments of individuals, the City and County are continuing to keep open emergency shelters as well as expanding capacity at existing shelters. The Garfield Community Center, the King County Administration building shelter, the added capacity at the City Hall shelters, the Frye Building, the shelter at 4th & Jefferson, and Ernestine Anderson will have available emergency shelter beds through at least Friday, February 22. As HSD has continually done in recent weeks, the department will continue to evaluate its capacity at emergency shelters as well as the progress being made to assess individuals before fully closing its emergency shelters.

Salvation Army, who has been operating the Seattle Center shelter since February 7 will no longer be able to do so because of staffing availability. Clients from there and from the Bitter Lake Community Center, which must open its before and after school programs, will be transported with their belongings to the other available shelters by the Navigation Team and the Parks and Recreation Department.  Youth and family service providers such as Mary’s Place and PSKS are continuing create all necessary capacity for families of young people who may visit the City’s emergency shelters.  The City currently has 2,079 shelter beds and 328 tiny homes in the City’s ongoing emergency response system.

King County and the City have asked all staff who regularly assess people experiencing homelessness for their housing and service needs to set up at the emergency shelters to register as many as possible.

Severe Weather Resource Fair

HSD, in partnership with more than 20 community partners, and more than 113 volunteers, hosted a three-day resource fair from Friday, February 15 through Sunday, February 17, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.  The resource fair was designed to connect people who are staying in our severe weather shelters with available services to support relationship development, service connection, and as much as possible, connections to housing.  The Resource Fair was developed and launched in less than a week, as a rapid response to the intense weather situation. Approximately 200 people seeking services attended the fair, accessing over 700 services, including housing assessments, diversion from the shelter system altogether, and even opportunities to apply for jobs.

The City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) has expanded emergency resources in response to the winter weather event that is impacting the Seattle region, opening over 550 emergency beds during the snowstorms.

HSD and King County Department of Community and Health services are coordinating with human services providers to deploy housing and supportive services at emergency shelters and warming centers this week. Services may include housing assessments, medical services and diversion funding. More details on resources and events to connect shelter clients to resources are developing.

The City strongly encourages all individuals living unsheltered to utilize these shelter resources during these storms. HSD has activated the following resources for people living unsheltered:

Shelter and Warming Resources:

• Ernestine Anderson Place (2010 S Jackson), which is operated by Low Income Housing Institute, has opened its lobby as an overflow emergency shelter. This resource will remain open through Monday, February 18.
• Bitter Lake Community Center (13035 Linden Ave N) opened Monday, February 11 at 3pm and will operate as a shelter and warming center through Monday morning, February 18. This shelter will have space for 120 people.
• Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer St) severe weather shelter has been extended through Monday morning, February 18. No one will be turned away from this shelter. Medical services are available at the nearby Seattle Center Armory, which is serving as day-time warming shelter.
• Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry St) has been opened as a warming and overnight emergency shelter for all populations including families with children, and people living in vehicles. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Monday, February 18. People may access shelter at any time.  Referral forms are NOT required. Medical and case management services are being provided throughout the week.
• Mary’s Place Family Shelter (312 Dexter Ave N) Open 24 hours. Call the King County Coordinated Family Intake Line at 206-245-1026 or drop in at 312 Dexter Ave N. 
• King County Administrative Building (500 4^th Ave) is open for emergency overnight and daytime shelter for adults 18+ through the week. Please check here for updates on King County emergency resources.

Additional warming centers and emergency centers are open throughout the City. Please see the list for more detailed information on locations and contact information. If you are concerned about an individual living unsheltered, or in need, call 2-1-1 a resource line that can help connect an individual to resources. When the 2-1-1 line isn’t open, the 24-hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747 can provide information that the City provides on warming shelters.

Aging and Disability Services:

• HSD staff members and community partners are calling approximately 700 “high-risk” Aging and Disability case management program clients and their caregivers to ensure that they are safe, have access to a 5-day food supply and a back-up plan if their caregiver is unable to get there.
• All scheduled Meals on Wheels are being delivered to clients.
• Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank is open normal operating hours and serving meals at 8:20 a.m. and noon every day.
• Please contact Community Living Connections (1-844-348-5464) if you are an older adult, adult with a disability, caregiver, or concerned about an older adult in need of assistance.

Food Bank & Meal Service Status:

Below are food banks and meal services that are open today (Wednesday, February 13):

 

If it is an emergency, contact Seattle Police by calling 9-1-1. SPD has transport vans to take people to warming centers and shelters.

The City of Seattle’s Navigation Team and Seattle Police are contacting individuals living in unmanaged encampments throughout Seattle, connecting people to shelter. SPD has two large transportation vans and can bring people to shelter. On Tuesday, February 12, Navigation Team members and SPD helped 11 people travel to shelter and made 44 contacts people living unsheltered.

HSD will provide additional updates regarding Aging and Disability Services and food bank programs as information becomes available.

 

The City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) has expanded emergency resources in response to the winter weather event that is impacting the Seattle region, opening over 550 emergency beds during the snowstorms. The City strongly encourages all individuals living unsheltered to utilize these shelter resources during these storms. HSD has activated the following resources for people living unsheltered:

 

Shelter and Warming Resources:

• Ernestine Anderson Place (2010 S Jackson), which is operated by Low Income Housing Institute, has opened its lobby as an overflow emergency shelter. This resource will remain open through Monday, February 18.
• Bitter Lake Community Center (13035 Linden Ave N) opened Monday, February 11 at 3pm and will operate as a shelter and warming center through Monday morning, February 18. This shelter has space for 120 people.
• Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer St) severe weather shelter has been extended through Monday morning, February 18. No one will be turned away from this shelter. Medical services are available at the nearby Seattle Center Armory, which is serving as day-time warming shelter.
• Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry St) has been opened as a warming and overnight emergency shelter for all populations including families with children, and people living in vehicles. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Monday, February 18. People may access shelter at any time.  Referral forms are NOT required. Medical and case management services are being provided throughout the week.
• Mary’s Place Family Shelter (312 Dexter Ave N) Open 24 hours. Call the King County Coordinated Family Intake Line at 206-245-1026 or drop in at 312 Dexter Ave N. 
• King County Administrative Building (500 4^th Ave) is open for emergency overnight and daytime shelter for adults 18+ through the week. Please check here for updates on King County emergency resources.

HSD and King County Department of Community and Health Services are coordinating with human services providers to provide housing and supportive services at emergency shelters and warming centers this week. Services include housing assessments, flexible funds to help people connect to housing and medical services.

Additional warming centers and emergency centers are open throughout the City. Please see the list for more detailed information on locations and contact information. If you are concerned about an individual living unsheltered, or in need, call 2-1-1 a resource line that can help connect an individual to resources. When the 2-1-1 line isn’t open, the 24-hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747 can provide information that the City provides on warming shelters.

 

Aging and Disability Services:

• HSD staff members and community partners are calling approximately 200 “high-risk” Aging and Disability case management program clients and their caregivers to ensure that they are safe, have access to a 5-day food supply and a back-up plan if their caregiver is unable to get there.
• All scheduled Meals on Wheels are being delivered to clients.
• Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank is open normal operating hours and serving meals at 8:20 a.m. and noon every day.

 

If it is an emergency, contact Seattle Police by calling 9-1-1. SPD has transport vans to take people to warming centers and shelters.

• The City of Seattle’s Navigation Team and Seattle Police are contacting individuals living in unmanaged encampments throughout Seattle, connecting people to shelter. SPD has two large transportation vans and can bring people to shelter.  Over the last four days, the Navigation Team has helped 137 people come inside.

 

The City of Seattle Human Services Department has expanded emergency resources in response to the winter weather event that is impacting the Seattle region. The City strongly encourages all individuals living unsheltered to go inside during this event. HSD has activated the following resources for people living unsheltered:

Shelter and Warming Resources:

• Bitter Lake Community Center (13035 Linden Ave N) will open Monday, February 11 at 3pm and operate as a shelter and warming center through Wednesday morning, February 13^th. This shelter will have space for 120 people.
• Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer Street) severe weather shelter has been extended through Sunday February 17^th. No one will be turned away from this shelter. Medical services are available at the Seattle Center Armory, which is serving as a warming shelter until 9:00 pm, on Monday, February 11th.
• Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry Street) has been opened as a warming and overnight emergency shelter for all populations including families with children, and people living in vehicles. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Wednesday, February 13. People may access shelter at any time.  Referral forms are NOT required. Medical services are available on Monday, February 11th.
• Mary’s Place Family Shelter (312 Dexter Ave N). Open 24 hours. Call the King County Coordinated Family Intake Line at 206-245-1026 or drop in at 312 Dexter Ave N. 
• King County Administrative Building (500 4^th Ave.) is open for emergency overnight and daytime shelter for adults 18+ through the week. Please check here for updates on King County emergency resources.

Additionally, warming centers and other emergency centers are open throughout the City. Please see the list for more detailed information on locations and contact information.

If you are concerned about an individual living unsheltered, or in need,call 2-1-1 a resource line that can help connect an individual to resources. When the 2-1-1 line isn’t open, the 24-hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747 can provide information that the City provides on warming shelters.

Human Services Department Updates:

Aging and Disability Services

• HSD staff members and community partners are calling approximately 200 “high-risk” Aging and Disability case management program clients and their caregivers to ensure that they are safe, have access to a 5-day food supply and a back-up plan if their caregiver is unable to get there.
• All scheduled Meals on Wheels are being delivered to clients.
• South Park Senior Program and Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank are open Monday, February 11^th.
• Lifelong/Chicken Soup Brigade home-delivered meals program is open and staff are working to get as many meals out as they can to serve people through Tuesday, February 12^th.

Food Banks 
The following is the status of food banks that would typically be open for distribution today.

• Pike Market Food Bank (Open)
• U-District Food Bank (Open)
• Ballard Food Bank (Closed)
• Cherry Street Food Bank (Closed)
• Epic Life Church (Unconfirmed)
• Immanuel Community Services (Closed)
• White Center Food Bank (Closed)

“Our staff, agencies, and the Navigation Team are reaching out to as many people as possible during these cold days and nights to help them have a warm place to stay,” said Jason Johnson, Director of the Human Services Department.  “We are asking you to check on neighbors, particularly those who are elderly and/or sick and to call 2-1-1 if there are services they need.” If you are experiencing homelessness, HSD urges you to head to the Bitter Lake Community Center, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall or Garfield Community Center. All are welcome. Families with children are encouraged to access Mary’s Place using the above contact information.

If it is an emergency, contact Seattle Police by calling 9-1-1. SPD has transport vans to take people to warming centers and shelters.

•  The City of Seattle’s Navigation Team and Seattle Police are contacting individuals living in unmanaged encampments throughout Seattle, connecting people to shelter. SPD has two large transportation vans and can bring people to shelter. On Sunday, February 10^th, Navigation Team members and SPD helped 67 people travel to shelter and made 148 contacts people living unsheltered.

Seattle (February 11, 2019) – The City continues to work to limit the impact of winter weather on residents and ensure access to critical services. The City is closely monitoring National Weather Service forecasts and preparing for additional snow during the day. The City re-activated its Emergency Operations Center today at 5 a.m.

 

Residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertSeattle for updates and emergency notifications.

 

Seattle Department of Transportation: SDOT crews continue to plow, working back to back 12-hour shifts. SDOT currently has 35 snow and ice fighting trucks roving Seattle’s major streets and roadways. Plow crews continue to prioritize keeping Gold and Emerald routes clear. A flusher truck is covering city-wide elevated structure and frost prone areas.  Smaller, more mobile trucks are addressing trouble spots, and streets near schools. In addition, two SDOT tree crews are on duty and available within the City for calls related to downed or hazardous trees through the night shift. No outstanding tree calls currently. Street closure inspection and reporting teams are also on a 12-hour shift and continue checking the status of street closure signs.  Check out the City’s Winter Weather Response Map to locate SDOT’s snow and ice routes. And be sure to take a peek at the interactive Winter Weather Snow and Ice Service Map to monitor treatment status of snow routes and lanes. 

Human Services Department: The City of Seattle has extended the Severe Weather Shelter at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall through Sunday night, February 17. 160 people stayed at the shelter overnight on Sunday, February 10th. HSD and Mary’s Place partnered to open a downtown emergency shelter for families which will remain open through the storms this week. Please call the King County Coordinated Family Intake Line at 206-245-1026 for access or drop in at 312 Dexter Ave N. This space is open for 24 hours per day. The Department of Parks and Recreation and HSD have also opened a 24-hour warming shelter for families with children and others at Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry Street) through Wednesday morning, February 13th. 120 individuals stayed at the Garfield Community Center Sunday evening. This space is open 24 hours a day.  Seattle’s City Hall shelter (600 4th Ave) hosted 100 people on Sunday, February 10th.  King County’s Department of Community and Human Services served 108 people last night at the King County Administration Building (500 4th Ave) and the Day Center at 4th and Jefferson downtown. Both facilities are open all day to act as warming centers.  The Navigation Team was out overnight checking on people living unsheltered and helped over 67 people travel to shelter last night and made 147 contacts. They also distributed gloves, hats, socks and food to those not wanting to come inside. In addition, staff are checking in with high-risk Aging and Disability Services clients through the weekend to ensure their safety.

Seattle Center: Seattle Center Armory will operate on a normal schedule today, 7am-9pm. Seattle Center Monorail has a delayed service start of 10:30am/11am. Museum of Popular Culture (MoPOP) is opening at 12 noon . Seattle. Children’s Theatre has canceled drama classes for today. Pacific Science Center has canceled all Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center programs. Otherwise, PSC will maintain normal hours.

 

Customer Service Centers: All customer service centers will open today. The University Customer Service Center will close for lunch.

 

Seattle Public Libraries: Please visit www.spl.org for operating hours at your nearby branch.

 

Seattle Public Utilities: Due to significant remaining snow and ice on residential streets, residential solid waste services are not running today, Monday, February 11. Contractors will attempt to run expanded commercial and multi-family routes today if arterial access and roads allow. Contractors were able to service some urgent large accounts, like hospitals, on Sunday, as well as downtown alleys with bagged waste.  If conditions improve, crews will attempt to pick up Monday customers’ garbage, recycling and yard/food waste on Tuesday. If conditions are not safe on Tuesday, with another storm coming, then Monday customers, missed last week, will be prioritized later in the week. Both SPU transfer stations will be open at 10am today and staff are ready to receive drop-offs of garbage, recyclables and yard/food waste. For more information, please visit: https://atyourservice.seattle.gov/2019/02/06/solid-waste-collection-resumes-feb-6/. 

 

Seattle City Light: Crews are standing by to respond to outages. There are only two customers outages at this time. Please be patient as our crews may be impacted by adverse road conditions. If you see a downed line, keep your distance and report it at 206-684-3000 or 911. You can learn more information about how to stay safe and warm here and also track system outages with this map. Follow Seattle City Light on twitter for tips and updates @SEACityLight.

Seattle Parks and Recreation: Seattle Parks & Recreation programs and school age programs are canceled. The Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry Street) has been opened as a warming and overnight emergency shelter for families with children, and people living in vehicles. Adults are welcome at this facility as well. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through Tuesday morning, February 12th. Click here for more information and other severe weather resources from the Seattle Human Services Department. Parks are open; however, we encourage visitors to use caution. Snow and ice can cause tree branches to snap. Please stay out from under trees and avoid forested park areas during the current weather conditions.

Office of Housing: The Public Meeting on the Draft Ft. Lawton Redevelopment Plan scheduled for Monday, February 11, 2019, at the Catherine Blaine School at 2550 34th Ave W in Magnolia from 5:30 to 8:30 PM is cancelled. The meeting will be rescheduled. Details of the date, time and location of the rescheduled Draft Ft. Lawton Redevelopment Plan Public Meeting will be posted on the Office of Housing Website, Facebook and Twitter. Send an email with subject “Ft. Lawton” to Housing@Seattle.gov to receive email updates.

 

Office for Civil Rights: Seattle Office for Civil Rights expects to offer walk-in office hours for customers on its alternative schedule of 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm.

Seattle Preschool Program: Preschools at Seattle Public Schools are closed today. For community-based preschool sites, follow your preschools inclement weather policy.

Seattle Fire Department: No current impacts to services provided to the public. All SFD apparatus are operating with chains on tires.

 

Seattle Municipal Courts: Seattle Municipal Court will be closed to the public today. They are planning to hold as scheduled the Monday in-custody arraignment calendar in King County Jail Courtroom 2.

 

City Council: The City Council has cancelled scheduled events today. In additional, legislative department offices will be closed.

 

General Winter Weather Tips for Residents:  

• If you can possibly avoid it, do not drive. If you must drive, please take your time, slow down, leave lots of room, and stay safe. Prepare your car with emergency supplies and chains or other traction devices. Remember bridges and raised roadways are likely to be icy, even when the roads are not.
• Keep warm winter clothing at the ready: gloves/mittens; hats; heavy coats; sweaters; long underwear; heavy socks.
• Have nonperishable food on hand that does not need to be heated.
• Make sure you have adequate propane/charcoal briquettes for barbeques/camping stoves that can be used to heat food outdoors. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, keep electric generators and barbecue grills outdoors and away from your house or apartment.
• Keep water dripping from faucets so pipes don’t freeze.
• If you are concerned about an individual living unsheltered, or in need, call 2-1-1 a resource line that can help connect an individual to resources. When the 2-1-1 line isn’t open, the 24-hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747 can provide information that the City provides on warming shelters, similar to how they do for sheltering information for people experiencing homelessness. If it is an emergency, contact Seattle Police by calling 9-1-1. SPD has transport vans to take people to warming centers and shelters.
• If you see a downed power line, please keep a safe distance (at least 20 feet) and report it to (206) 684-3000. If it appears to be sparking or smoking, call 911. Thanks for your help in spreading the word. Learn more here: http://www.seattle.gov/light/sysstat/whenpowerout.asp.
• Never use a grill, charcoal, or generator indoors, in garages, or in carports. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 10th: The Garfield Community Center shelter will remain open through Tuesday morning, February 12th. The Mary’s Place emergency family shelter will remain open through the coming storms this week. For access, call the King County Coordinated Family Intake Line at 206-245-1026.

There is additional space to serve people at Garfield Community Center, City Hall Shelter (600 4th Ave), the King County Administration Building (500 4th Ave) and the Day Center at 4th and Jefferson. Please go to these locations if you or anyone you know is looking for a safe place to stay tonight. 

The City of Seattle Human Services Department has stood up additional emergency resources in response to the winter weather event that is impacting the Seattle region. The City strongly encourages all individuals living unsheltered to go inside during this event. HSD has activated the following resources for people living unsheltered:

• Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer Street) severe weather shelter has been extended through Sunday February 17^th (For more information, see attached flyer).
• Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry Street) has been opened as a warming and overnight emergency shelter for families with children, and people living in vehicles. Adults are welcome at this facility as well. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day through the morning of Monday, February 11^th.
• The Seattle Center Armory is scheduled to be open as a warming center until 10pm tonight (February 8^th), Saturday between 7am and 10pm, and 7am to 9pm Sunday through Thursday. Call 206-684-7200 for more information.

If you or anyone you know or encounter is experiencing homelessness, we urge you to head to the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. No one will be turned away from this shelter. If you and your family or know of a family experiencing homelessness, please head or direct families to the Garfield Community Center. Further, Mary’s Place has expanded shelters for families and will be opening a shelter downtown. For access, call the King County Coordinated Family Intake Line at 206-245-1026.

 

If you are concerned about an individual living unsheltered, call 2-1-1 a resource line that can help connect an individual to resources. When the 2-1-1 line isn’t open, the 24-hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747 can provide information that the City provides on warming shelters, similar to how they do for sheltering information for people experiencing homelessness.

 

If it is an emergency, contact Seattle Police by calling 9-1-1. SPD has transport vans to take people to warming centers and shelters.

 

The City of Seattle’s Navigation Team and Seattle Police are contacting individuals living in unmanaged encampments throughout Seattle, connecting people to shelter. SPD has two large transportation vans and can bring people to shelter. The City’s outreach provider network has been conducting outreach throughout the week ahead of the storm, providing clothing and cold weather supplies to individuals living unsheltered.

 

Additionally, warming centers and other emergency centers are open throughout the City. Please see the list for more detailed information on locations and contact information. Specifically, City Hall and King County Administration buildings have emergency shelter and we encourage individuals living unsheltered in the downtown area to utilize these resources.

UPDATED: HSD is partnering with Mary’s Place to open a downtown emergency shelter for families. 

UPDATED: The severe weather shelter at Seattle Center will remain open through Sunday, February 17th.

The City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) opened a cold weather shelter on Sunday night, February 3rd that will run through Tuesday night, February 5th in light of the extended forecast for overnight temperatures below freezing. Salvation Army will operate the shelter, open to adults 18 and older (all genders), at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98109). This shelter will be open from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The shelter is open access and no referral is necessary. Clients are asked to use the lower level entrance (on Mercer St.).

Seattle Center Armory will serve as a warming center from 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM.

 

“We expect that temperatures will dip to near freezing next week and welcoming as many people as possible indoors is imperative,” said HSD Interim Director Jason Johnson. “I am grateful for the Salvation Army’s continued support in operating the cold weather shelter and to Seattle Center for providing this space. We continue to ask all our shelter providers to ensure all available spaces are maximized to bring our neighbors indoors.”

The City has notified homeless services providers in the area, so they can direct people to the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. King County Metro bus route #3 and Rapid Ride D Line serve this location.

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.

 

As furloughed federal workers across the country and across Seattle continue to be hurt by President Donald Trump’s partial shutdown of the federal government, Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan issued a new Executive Order to help impacted federal employees with their utility payments.  

 

The partial shutdown began on December 22, 2018 and is now in its 32^nd day. According to an analysis by Governing Magazine, the State of Washington has over 54,000 federal employees. Approximately 11,000 of them work in agencies currently without appropriations and are being directly impacted by the shutdown by working without pay or being furloughed.  

 

Nationally, it is estimated that 800,000 federal employees across the country are working without pay or are currently on furlough. 

 

Mayor Durkan’s Executive Order (EO) builds on existing City assistance programs. The EO directs Seattle City Light (SCL), Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), the City Budget Office (CBO), and the Human Services Department (HSD) to immediately develop a plan to offer deferral of utility bill payments to federal employees and community members who have been negatively impacted by the federal government partial shutdown.  

 

“Every day that the crisis of the government shutdown continues, public servants in Seattle are forced to live without knowing if they can provide for their families – and Seattle is put at risk by the lack of federal services that we rely on, from earthquake monitoring to the Coast Guard to affordable housing support,” said Mayor Durkan. “We are acting urgently to help support Seattle families being hurt by the Trump shutdown. But to truly help families and help Seattle, we need the White House to re-open the federal government today.” 

 

The four City departments will develop their plan for initial execution by this Friday, January 25. The program will include a phone number for impacted residents to call for eligibility information and enrollment.  

 

The shutdown continues to threaten our most vulnerable residents throughout Seattle, the Puget Sound, and Washington State. The shutdown is impacting nutrition assistance programs, TSA agents, federal grant programs, and earthquake monitoring capabilities in the Northwest.  

 

Federal offices in and around Seattle where federal employees are either furloughed or are working without pay include: 

·       NOAA’s Western Regional Center in Sand Point 

·       NOAA’s Seattle Forecast Office 

·       NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center & Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Montlake 

·       NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Sand Point 

·       The Federal Detention Center in SeaTac 

·       U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington 

·       Seattle Immigration Court  

·       EPA’s Pacific Northwest Regional Office 

·       Federal Trade Commission’s Northwest Regional Office 

·       U.S. Coast Guard Base Seattle 

·       TSA & FAA Employees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 

·       HUD’s Seattle Regional Office 

·       USGS Earthquake Hazards Seattle Field Office 

·       Small Business Administration’s Seattle Office 

·       Seattle’s IRS Service Center 

 

The City of Seattle has several ongoing programs to ensure that residents are able to afford basic services such as water, sewer, garbage, and electricity. The City’s Utility Discount Program offers reductions on Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities bills to income eligible customers. Through Project Share, City of Seattle customers can set up individual payment plans and deferrals during times of financial hardship. The program is funded by donations from City of Seattle customers. 

The Human Services Department is pleased to announce the results of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Community Living Connections—a program that links older people, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to services. Community Living Connections provides a continuum of supports that enable people to live in their homes and communities.  The RFQ identified qualified providers to form a Community Living Connections network that will deliver an array of access, support, and information services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers living in King County.

Twenty-two agencies qualified through the RFQ to provide one or more Community Living Connections network services, such as information and assistance, individual consultation and support, care coordination, and supportive services for caregivers.

• African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry
• Alzheimer’s Association
• Asian Counseling and Referral Service
• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington
• Chinese Information and Service Center
• Crisis Connections
• DeafBlind Service Center
• Full Life Care
• Generations with Pride
• Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center
• Hopelink
• India Association of Western Washington
• Jewish Family Service of Seattle
• Kin On Health Care Center
• Korean Women’s Association
• Lifelong
• Neighborhood House
• Open Doors for Multicultural Families
• Pike Market Senior Center
• Sea Mar Community Health Centers
• Sound Generations
• Wallingford Community Senior Center

The above agencies are eligible to participate in the second phase of the Community Living Connections investment process – collaborative network development. They will be joined by the City of Des Moines Senior Activity Center, which was determined eligible to participate in the network as a non-contracted provider.

The second phase of this collaborative process will identify service delivery and funding allocations for network providers. This network development phase will kick-off in January 2019. Providers will meet every three weeks to collectively determine how and where network services will be delivered, and by whom.  The process will result in over $3.7 million in provider contracts beginning in January 2020.   Agencies that have qualified to provide a service are not guaranteed a contract as a network provider.