The City of Seattle has opened over 350 new units of non-congregate shelter over the last three months Today, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) announced the opening of two new shelters for people experiencing homelessness, Benu Community Home, a 24/7 enhanced shelter, and Friendship Heights Tiny House Village. Together,… [ Keep reading ]
The City of Seattle announces the release of the Final Draft 2022 Annual Action Plan (AAP) to the 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development. The Draft 2022 AAP includes guidance for the allocation of an estimated $17.8 million of federal grant and program revenue funds [$9,607,578 in Community… [ Keep reading ]
f the partnership between the City of Seattle, the Port of Seattle, and the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), first established in 2017. Interbay Tiny House Village, located on Port of Seattle’s property at 1601 15th Ave W, will now provide a total of 76 tiny houses with capacity to serve up to 90 people. The program provides 24/7 staffing, on-site case managers, behavioral health services, security, a community kitchen, on-site hygiene, and laundry.
Today, the Human Services Department (HSD) announced the opening of Rosie’s Tiny House Village in the University District, which adds 36 new units of shelter and will serve up to 50 people currently living unsheltered. The new village, located at 1000 NE 45th Street, will provide 24/7 on-site staffing and wrap-around services including case management, hygiene, a common kitchen area, hot meals, housing navigation, employment, and health resources. This project was a partnership between the City of Seattle and Sound Transit, which leased the property to the City at no cost. The lease is for one year and can be renewed for up to three years. The property will eventually be converted to a transit oriented development. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) will operate the village.
Yesterday, the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) submitted its 2021 Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) report to Seattle City Council providing Quarter 1 (Q1) and Quarter 2 (Q2) data outcomes for the city’s homeless outreach coordination team. The results show that in Q2 (April – June) of this year, the HOPE Team referred the most individuals to shelter and had the most confirmed enrollments into shelter ever recorded by City efforts.
The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Seattle and surrounding areas due to forecasted high temperatures above 90 degrees. The warming trend will begin Wednesday and continue through Saturday. The City of Seattle is working together with our regional partners to prepare for these extreme temperatures including monitoring critical infrastructure like power systems, water systems, roadways, and bridges. In addition, the City of Seattle is monitoring the potential for moderate to unhealthy air quality levels on Wednesday to Saturday. A press release sent yesterday by the Mayor’s Office highlighted cooling centers and pools available across the city, and outreach teams are on the ground working with our most vulnerable residents to prevent heat illness in these extreme conditions. You can find a map of locations here.
Today, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) provided an update to City Council’s Select Committee on Homelessness Strategies and Investments on three tiny house village projects that were previously anticipated to open this summer, as well as on hundreds of other shelter spaces in the pipeline for 2021. The three tiny house projects combined are now expected to provide 120 tiny houses and provide shelter for up to 145 individuals with expected openings in September or October. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) will operate all three villages, providing wraparound onsite services that will help a person end their experience with homelessness.
In addition to the incredible challenges our City has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our region has seen an increase in extreme weather events over the past year due to climate change, such as record-breaking snow fall in February, all-time record-breaking heat last month, and the severe drought we are currently experiencing across our state. The rising temperatures and dry conditions this spring and summer have contributed to a significant threat of wildfires along the West Coast and an earlier wildfire season than typical. These conditions also make Seattle more susceptible to the harsh impacts of wildfire smoke on the air we breathe. In preparation for a potential poor air quality event this wildfire season, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is engaged in planning, in partnership with Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Public Health—Seattle & King County (PHSKC), to support those living unsheltered by opening up cleaner air shelters if the need arises.
The City of Seattle recently released a report about the 2020-2021 emergency food response during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and thanking the many partners involved in supporting our residents. Since the beginning, food security has been a top concern as the unprecedented health and economic crisis dramatically… [ Keep reading ]
In response to record-breaking heat over the last week, City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) employees were in touch with our unsheltered and aging neighbors, worked to set up and staff cooling centers and shelters, assisted in water distribution and logistics, and prepared to serve residents in need and respond to requests from emergency operations.
