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Human Interests

Seattle Human Services news and events

COVID-19 Update: Continuing to expand shelter and outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness

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image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Since before the COVID-19 outbreak reached King County, the City has taken measures to ensure those with and without shelter have the resources they need to stay safe. Building on that work, yesterday the City announced the opening of a temporary expanded capacity shelter at Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, creating 79 new spaces for current shelter clients. 

The Fisher Pavilion shelter will serve clients from Salvation Army’s overnight-only City Hall shelters. With the opening of this new facility, the Salvation Army and its clients will be able to better follow social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The shelter also provides space at Fisher Pavilion for people to safely shelter. 

Under normal circumstances Fisher Pavilion could provide 146 spaces, but given the need to increase space between individuals, it will provide 79 spaces. By reducing the overnight capacity at City Hall shelters by 79 people, clients and staff at both the City Hall and Fisher Pavilion shelters will be able to better practice social distancing. The City Hall shelters will cap the number of overnight clients in order to better adhere to social distancing guidelines. The Fisher Pavilion shelter may only be utilized for a limited period of time during the COVID-19 response as the City identifies more sheltering options to meet the need during this public health crisis.  

In an expansion of services, clients staying at Fisher Pavilion will have 24/7 access to the building. Meals and cleaning services will also be provided. Fisher Pavilion will not be open to walk-ins.  

Kudos to the HSD and other City staff who came out to Fisher Pavilion last Friday to move and open boxes, take cots out of bags, unfold them, and add two support beams at each end to set up beds for opening this week!

For weeks, the City and County have deployed unprecedented resources and measures to help those experiencing homelessness during this public health emergency. The City’s Navigation Team is a part of that effort and continues to conduct critical outreach to vulnerable people living unsheltered during the COVID-19 response.

Since the first case of COVID was confirmed in King County, the team has focused on getting important public health information out to people living unsheltered and distributing hygiene kits. The team has also continued making referrals to shelter during the public health crisis, and remains one of the few groups continuing to provide critical outreach in the field during the pandemic.

Since this crisis began the team has spoken to over 2,369 people regarding #COVID19, providing 1,382 hygiene kits and distributing 1,306 Public Health flyers. Team members have also made 28 referrals to shelters, encountered 22 persons with COVID-19 symptoms, and referred 12 persons for medical care.

Outreach will continue to unmanaged encampments and to RV encampment sites during the COVID-19 response. The team remains one of the City’s front-line responses and its continued work supports the Human Services Department Continuity of Operations Plan, which requires continued efforts to support people living unsheltered during a crisis. Additionally, the team will connect people to the recently announced expanded hygiene services.  

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

Update on Hygiene Services

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**UPDATED April 3, 2020

image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Building on announcements made earlier in the week, yesterday morning Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced the deployment and maintenance of six hygiene facilities throughout the City. This expansion of resources is a continuation of ongoing work by the City and County to bring critically needed resources to those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Beginning today, the City will deploy and maintain 14 toilets and 6 handwashing stations near City Hall Park, Lake City Community Center, Jefferson Park, Westcrest Park, Cal Anderson Park, and Benvenuto Viewpoint. All areas are in close proximity to individuals experiencing homelessness. The new facilities will be open 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Daily maintenance will be provided including sharps disposal, waste removal and supplemental cleaning. 

In addition to the portable toilets, the City expects to soon deploy at least four hygiene trailers with showers, toilets, and hand-washing stations. Currently under procurement, the trailer locations and staffing will be determined by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) in partnership with outreach teams and other departments and Public Health – Seattle & King County. 

“I am deeply appreciative to the Navigation Team, our contracted outreach providers, and our partner departments for helping to inform where these important hygiene services will be located,” said Jason Johnson, HSD Director. “Ensuring that people have easy and immediate access to the services they need is HSD’s top priority during these unprecedented times.”

Map showing locations of six hygiene statrions around the city that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit seattle.gov/covid19
Click on image above to download an 11×17 PDF

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

COVID-19: Seattle Area Food Resources Map

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image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

To help the public locate food resources available during this COVID-19 public health emergency, an interactive map has been developed by the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department. This map shows the locations of Food Banks, Meals, and Student To-Go Meals, and can be filtered by status with options to reflect those open, those with limited operations, and those whose status is unknown.

Information will be updated as soon as available, and we are continuing to improve the map and make it more accessible. To view this interactive resource now, please click here: Food Resource Interactive Map

By hovering over or clicking a specific location, the following information is available:

  • Resource Type
  • Resource Location
  • Operating Agency
  • Hours of Operation
  • Eligibility Details
  • Phone Contact Details
  • Website Links
  • Date of Last Update

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

Seattle and King County expand COVID-19 emergency shelter and housing response

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image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Facing an unprecedented public health crisis, the City of Seattle and King County announced yesterday that we are working with partners across the region to create additional shelter space and a range of temporary housing options for people who are unable to isolate and recover in their own homes, or do not have a home. These actions will help slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the region and preserve critical hospital beds for the most acutely ill.

There has been a total of 1,893 spaces created by:

  • Creating more emergency shelter (95 new beds)
  • Creating more social distancing in existing shelters (709 expansion spaces)
  • Creating isolation [for confirmed cases] or quarantine spaces [for possible/suspected cases] (432 beds)
  • Creating space for recovery for people who do not require emergent care (up to 612 beds)

“In the last three weeks, the City of Seattle and King County have worked quickly to rapidly create almost 1,900 spaces for individuals experiencing homelessness, so we can slow the spread of COVID-19. This unprecedented deployment of resources at a local level will need the continued support of our state and federal government to create additional facilities with personnel and resources. We know that individuals experiencing homelessness are some of the most at risk for exposure. Our partnership to create new shelter, de-intensify our current high capacity shelters, and create new spaces will go a long way in ensuring more people have the tools they need to stay healthy, the support they need if they are ill, and will help alleviate the growing pressures on our regional health care system,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan.

De-Intensifying Shelters for Individuals Currently in Shelter

In this blog post we want to focus on how we are working closely with higher capacity shelter providers to create more social distancing between individuals, which can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A total of 709 expansion spaces are being created, including several opening this week in the City of Seattle.

  • New: Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center (146 spaces) operated by Salvation Army and opening this week
  • New: Garfield Community Center (50 spaces) operated by Catholic Community Services, YWCA, and WHEEL and opening this week
  • New: Miller Community Center (50 spaces) operated by Compass and opening this week
  • New: SW Teen Life Community Center (50 spaces) opening early April
  • New: Loyal Heights Community Center (50 spaces) opening early April
  • Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center (179 spaces), open and operated by DESC.
  • King County Airport (80 spaces), open and operated by Catholic Community Services and St. Martin de Porres
  • Harbor Island (24 spaces) open April
  • Congregation for the Homeless in Bellevue (80 spaces), open and operated by CFH.

Staff with the Seattle Human Services Department and King County’s Department of Community and Human Services are working closely with all shelter and day service providers to ensure their ability to follow social distancing guidelines and assist with access to hygiene and sanitation supplies. They are also cross-training other City staff to help support operations in the shelters — and they are even pitching in to help set some of these spaces up!

Here are some photos of preparations underway for the Miller Community Center shelter space, operated by Compass Housing Alliance, which opens tonight. Staff moved quickly to unpack, arrange, and carefully space sleeping cots in the community center gym.

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

Update on City efforts to expand shelter, hygiene, and outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness

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image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The City of Seattle has been working to provide more resources for people living unsheltered leading up to and during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Human Services Department (HSD) has partnered with the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), and other City departments to stand up critical resources and services for people experiencing homelessness.

Shelter Expansion

The City and King County have prioritized the deployment of resources that can provide critical services, facilities, and resources for people living unsheltered during this public health emergency.

The County, in partnership with the City, is moving forward on three key priorities, which could serve individuals experiencing homelessness or individuals who cannot recover at home. This includes:

  • Expanding all shelter capacity and de-intensifying shelters
  • Creating isolation (for confirmed cases) or quarantine spaces (for possible/suspected cases)
  • Creating spaces for recovery of individuals who do not require emergent care

Specifically, efforts over the last two weeks include expanding existing shelter capacity by at least 100 spaces at existing and new City-funded shelters, opening up Seattle Center Exhibition Hall to help relieve capacity at Seattle’s most high-use shelters, and supporting DCHS in efforts to create hundreds of spaces for isolation, quarantine, and recovery spaces for people experiencing homelessness or for individuals who cannot recover at home.

In the coming days, HSD, DCHS, and City partners will have more announcements regarding expansion of additional resources. If new state and federal staffing and financial resources become available (which is anticipated ), the City and the County can continue to significantly expand efforts to serve more individuals experiencing homelessness. 

HSD is closely monitoring service levels at shelters and is working with PHSKC to ensure safe operations for clients and staff. HSD and DCHS have bulked ordered sanitation and hygiene supplies for service providers and is distributing materials to providers.

Hygiene and Sanitation Services

In addition, the City has been working on a series of efforts to increase hygiene facilities and sanitation services citywide in partnership with City Council and PHSKC.

The City, through HSD and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), will deploy portable toilets, hand-washing stations, and four hygiene trailers at locations across Seattle. These facilities will be staffed and provided with garbage and needle disposal services. These hygiene and sanitation resources will be deployed in locations across Seattle in consultation with PHSKC. The City will have more details about these resources in the coming days. For current guidance for effective sanitation and hygiene practices as well as preventive measures, please click here.

Additionally, SPU has also deployed more resources to do additional litter services and serve encampments with 12 sites receiving encampment trash program services with the goal of serving 16 sites continuously in the upcoming days.

Outreach and Navigation Team

The Navigation Team will continue to play a critical role in connecting individuals who are at risk for COVID-19 with expanded shelter resources, referrals to testing and medical treatment, and hygiene services. The Navigation Team is Seattle’s only program that mitigates the impacts of hazardous encampments that pose public health risks, while providing offers of shelter, services, and support to individuals who are impacted.

The Navigation Team’s outreach services supplement the work of over 10 City-funded and independent outreach providers who specifically address broader needs of Seattle’s unsheltered community.  Outreach providers are receiving guidance from PHSKC for providing safe services to encampments.

Navigation Team members putting together hygiene kits for distribution

Since the beginning of March and in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Navigation Team has primarily focused on conducting outreach and eliminated scheduled encampment removals. Since March 2, there have been limited Navigation Team removals. As of March 13, the team has visited 172 sites, handed out 462 COVID-19 Public Health flyers, and distributed hygiene kits to 126 people. Hygiene kits include paper towels, water, soap, contact cards with information regarding services and shelter resources. The team is asking individuals basic symptom-screening questions and is providing information on community-based hygiene resources.

The Navigation Team, along with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Police Department, and other City partners, will continue to pause 72-hour removals and will pause obstruction operations to prioritize COVID-19 outreach. The team will continue to remove waste, garbage and debris from unmanaged encampments to reduce public health risks in unmanaged encampments. 

No such removals will occur during the public health emergency unless needed for an extreme circumstance that presents a significant barrier to accessibility of city streets and sidewalks, and is an extraordinary public safety hazard that puts people living unsheltered or others at risks. Individuals in all of these cases will be offered shelter. 

The City and HSD will provide further updates regarding shelter, hygiene and outreach as it becomes available 

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

On the DCHS Blog: Supporting King County residents experiencing homelessness to help slow the spread of COVID-19

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Over on the King County Department of Community and Health Services blog, Cultivating Connections, yesterday’s entry details how in response to COVID-19 three agencies are closely coordinating efforts and collaborating to support King County residents experiencing homelessness: Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC) and its Healthcare for the Homeless Network (HCHN) and Environment Health Division; King County through the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), Facilities Management Division (FMD), and METRO; and the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD).

Click here to read more details about our coordinated efforts focusing on:

image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • Supporting existing homeless services providers to maintain capacity and care for people experiencing homelessness;
  • Hygiene and sanitation to prevent or slow the spread of the virus, including provider training and centralized supply purchasing and distribution;
  • Response planning for assistance for people who become sick with COVID-19 who cannot care for themselves in home settings; and
  • Siting and staffing facilities for quarantine, isolation and congregate recovery—for all who cannot care for themselves in home settings, including people experiencing homelessness.

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

City to Open Exhibition Hall Shelter for Current High Capacity Shelters

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Yesterday afternoon, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) and the Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC) announced the Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center (301 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109) will be activated as a preventative measure to best align with Public Health Seattle-King County guidance (PHSKC) in response to COVID-19.  The Exhibition Hall will open TODAY, March 9. At this time, there are no known COVID-19 cases at the DESC Main Shelter or any other Seattle shelter.

image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

This announcement is one of many steps City and County officials are taking to address COVID-19, with more announcements likely in the future. The Exhibition Hall is most often activated during severe weather events and is part of the City’s overall public health response planning.

The Exhibition Hall shelter will be available for agency-selected DESC Main Shelter clients—one of the busiest and largest overnight shelters in Seattle serving a high number of vulnerable individuals—in an effort to limit potential COVID-19 exposure. Some individuals from DESC’s Queen Anne shelter may be moved as well. DESC is identifying male clients that can be served at the Exhibition Hall, which will accommodate people that are relatively healthy and able to access services independently. Additionally, the City is taking steps to ensure sanitation and hygiene standards at Seattle shelters are in alignment with updated recommendations from the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) and PHSKC.

DESC’s Main Shelter accommodates 260 individuals, with Queen Anne shelter serving 100 people. Both are close-quarter congregate settings. By pre-preemptively opening the Exhibition Hall, the DESC shelter population would be temporarily lowered, with 100 individuals moving to the Exhibition Hall. DESC has also identified their most vulnerable clients at risk for COVID-19 and found new temporary accommodations, off-site from their shelters and Exhibition Hall, for these clients.

The City will continue to monitor high capacity shelters to determine if similar steps are needed to ensure the health and safety of people staying in shelters.

Exhibition Hall Operations

The City plans to operate Exhibition Hall shelter through at least March 23, 2020. DESC will operate the shelter and will transport clients, along with their possessions and pets, to the Exhibition Hall shelter Monday, March 9. Exhibition Hall has ample floor area to allow for safe social distancing and includes restroom access. The City will provide hygiene and sanitation supplies, and funding for meals. The City is partnering with PHSKC for medical services at the site to help the program maintain the same level of medical support clients received by DESC at the Main Shelter.

There are no further impacts to Seattle Center at this time, but more steps to prevent and respond to the impacts from COVID-19 are possible in the days and weeks ahead.

Additional Updates

Daily coordination and response efforts to COVID-19 have continued over the weekend. PHSKC offered updated guidance for safe shelter operation on Saturday, March 8. This announcement to open the Exhibition Hall to DESC clients is in direct alignment with PHSKC recommendations. The rapid opening of the Exhibition Hall was made possible through the partnership between DESC, King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), PHSKC, HSD, Seattle Center, City of Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and City’s Finance and Administrative Services Department.

Supporting our agencies through this crisis is a priority of the City. To that end, the City recently completed a large order of cleaning supplies, through OEM’s Emergency Operations Center, for service providers and is working with DCHS to distribute these materials to providers next week.

The opening of Exhibition Hall comes days after the City announced the expansion of shelter across Seattle. This expansion in shelter resources is to increase capacity for Seattle’s vulnerable unsheltered populations, which are at elevated risks from public health concerns, including infectious diseases. Currently, the City does not expect any of these sites to be for quarantine or isolation of individuals recovering from COVID-19. The City is working with PHSKC to determine medical needs and agency support required to safely operate these new resources in relation to COVID-19.

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

Mayor Durkan Employs New Measures to Reduce Exposure of COVID-19 to Our Neighbors Experiencing Homelessness

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As reported by the Office of the Mayor today…

Following her Proclamation of Civil Emergency, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan unveiled new measures in the City of Seattle to prepare for the potential spread of COVID-19 amongst individuals experiencing homelessness by increasing shelter resources during this public health emergency.

image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

“We know we need to take additional measures to bring more of our unsheltered community inside. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness are at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19, and as a City, region, and Country we must act with urgency to address the ongoing impacts of this public health crisis,” said Mayor Durkan. “Working in partnership with public health officials and King County, we will continue to work with providers to help individuals currently in our shelters as well as expand shelter locations and resources for our most vulnerable individuals.”

The goal of this expansion is to increase shelter capacity for Seattle’s vulnerable unsheltered populations living in unsafe encampments, which are at elevated risks from public health concerns, including infectious diseases. At this time, the City is not expecting any of these sites to be quarantine or isolation sites. HSD will follow direction from Public Health Seattle King County (PHSKC) to determine medical needs and agency support required to safely and effectively operate these new resources in relation to COVID-19.  All locations will be accompanied with ongoing services, staffing, and support.

The City locations, which will take 2-3 weeks to make operational, will add capacity for up to 100 individuals. The locations are:

  • Lake Union Tiny House Village: Expansion of the current tiny home village by up to 20 units. 
  • New Cherry Hill Church Tiny House Village: The City expects capacity to be 30 units.
  • Former Treatment Facility: Former Evergreen Treatment Facility in the Bitter Lake neighborhood with capacity for up to 50 people.

The City’s Department of Neighborhoods will engage the community to identify immediate neighborhood needs as the sites are opened.

Separately, King County announced several locations across the county to serve as quarantine, isolation and/or recovery sites for people who are not able to use their homes for this purpose. The City is partnering with King County on standing up these shelters. These include people traveling, people who cannot be at home, and those who are homeless.  Sites are located in White Center, Kent, Interbay, and North Seattle. This will create capacity for approximately 213 individuals. At this time, no COVID-19 patients are currently occupying any of the sites.  King County is continuing to seek additional sites across the region.

The City will seek funding from the State of Washington and federal emergency sources to stand up and operate these shelters. The City is committed to bringing these important shelter resources online and operating these programs throughout the COVID-19 response and potentially beyond to meet the needs of vulnerable people living outdoors. Note, the City can stand up 500 additional emergency shelter spaces in 24 to 48 hours, as seen with recent winter storm responses. The City will evaluate this option in consultation with PHSCK as the situation evolves.

The City is continuing to explore avenues for opening additional shelters in the weeks ahead and is working with other government agencies to identify resources and locations.  Any new shelter expansion would require funding support from state and federal sources.

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.   

HSD Announces Homeless Investments to Serve American Indians/Alaska Natives RFP

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The Homeless Strategy & Investment (HSI) Division of the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications from agencies interested in providing services for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) homeless individuals.

Approximately $1M is available through this request for proposal (RFP) process from a 2020 City Council Budget Action to specifically support this community; and funding is intended to result in permanent housing exits. $395,000 of the $1M is one-time only (2020) funding, and the remaining $605,000 is expected to be renewed in 2021. In addition, a minimum of $375,000 of the $1M must be used for Rapid Re-Housing. This $375,000 is ongoing funding.

Homeless Native American man facing camera with blanket on his shoulders
Photo Credit: David Entrikin

HSD intends to fund between one and four proposals. Initial awards will be made for the period of April 15, 2020 – December 31, 2020. While it is the City’s intention to renew agreements resulting from this funding opportunity on an annual basis through the 2021 program year and possibly beyond, future funding will be contingent upon performance and funding availability.

This is an open and competitive process. For more information, and all RFP materials, please visit HSD’s Funding Opportunities web page: http://www.seattle.gov/humanservices/funding-and-reports/funding-opportunities. Completed application packets are due by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

If you have any questions, or would like to receive a copy of the RFP in the mail or by email, please contact Seán Walsh via email at sean.walsh2@seattle.gov or (206) 684-0569 .

COVID-19: Helping All Seattle Residents Stay Informed

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Today we want to help more Seattle residents stay informed about COVID-19 by sharing this excellent blog post by Joaquin Uy from the Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs which showcases community-reviewed translations of important Public Health recommendations as part of their mission to expand language access for Seattle residents:

**UPDATED March 6, 2020, 12:28 PM**

New languages added: Arabic, Khmer, Russian, and Thai.

image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

On the Coronavirus Disease 2019 website of our partners at Public Health – Seattle & King County listed below, you’ll also find the Novel Coronavirus fact sheet one-pagers they have produced in 11 languages: Amharic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, English, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese.

Where to get the most up-to-date public health information 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.