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HSD Severe Weather Resources Update February 11th

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 13th. This shelter will have space for 120 people.
  • Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer Street) severe weather shelter has been extended through Sunday February 17th. 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 4th 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 11th.
  • 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 12th.

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 10th, Navigation Team members and SPD helped 67 people travel to shelter and made 148 contacts people living unsheltered.