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.
The World Health Organization reminds everyone that the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the flu, and other communicable diseases is by following basic hygiene steps regularly: Wash your hands frequently Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze (and… [ Keep reading ]
The Washington State Department of Health announced several new cases of COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, in King and Snohomish Counties. The first case was announced in Seattle on March 1, 2020. You can learn of new developments in the days and weeks ahead by visiting Public Health — Seattle King County and Washington State Department of Health. We are providing information on what the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is doing in preparation and in response to COVID-19 in communities across Seattle and King County. If a significant expansion of services is required, the City will also need significant resources from the state and federal government will be necessary to assist our most vulnerable.
HSD is activating an additional shelter at the Seattle Municipal Tower (SMT), which is located at 700 5th Ave. This shelter is also available to adults and pets and no one will be turned away. People may arrive at 7pm and wait inside for the shelter to open at 8pm. The SMT shelter will operate through Friday morning, January 17. HSD and Seattle Parks and Recreation are also opening an overnight shelter at the Bitter Lake Community Center, which is located at 13035 Linden Ave N. The shelter will open this evening at 7pm and run continuously as a warming center and overnight shelter for families with children and people living in vehicles. Single adults and couples are welcome at this facility as well. This shelter will operate 24 hours a day beginning TONIGHT.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! In anticipation of forecasted snow and extreme temperatures, the City of Seattle will open a severe weather shelter for adults (all genders) starting Sunday night, January 12th through Sunday night, January 19th at the Exhibition Hall at the Seattle Center – 301 Mercer Street –… [ Keep reading ]
The year has kept the Seattle Human Services Department busy, presenting many challenges, opportunities, and reasons to celebrate! As we enter 2020, lets take a moment and look at 19 highlights from ‘19 that demonstrate the incredible work our teams have accomplished together – and with your partnership – over the last year:
In anticipation of forecasted temperatures below freezing overnight, severe weather shelter expansion for adults 18 years of age and above — all genders — will be open every night from Wednesday, November 27 through Monday, December 2, starting tonight at Seattle Municipal Tower. For more shelter options, please call 211 for help and follow @SeattleHSD for updates.
Building Changes is calling on communities across the country to reconsider use of the VI-SPDAT, a widely used Coordinated Entry standardized assessment tool that helps determine who gets prioritized for housing referrals. A new study, funded by Building Changes, finds that use of the VI-SPDAT unfairly favors white people over people of color, thereby perpetuating racial inequities within the homeless system. Building Changes believes strongly that communities have an obligation to address inequities that negatively impact the efforts of people of color to transition successfully out of homelessness and into stable housing, including any barriers that restrict their access to services.
Did you know that the City of Seattle has a blog dedicated just to the city’s homelessness response?
The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) released Quarter 2 (Q2) performance metrics for the City of Seattle’s Navigation Team, which is comprised outreach workers, field coordinators, and police officers that work to connect people living unsheltered to shelter and support services. The Q2 data shows the team working at a higher capacity, connecting more people to shelter when compared to the first quarter of 2019, and increasing operational capacity to better address unmanaged encampments posing public access, health, and safety concerns. When compared to Quarter 1 (Q1), the Navigation Team saw the following increases in Q2: • 16 percent increase in unique individuals engaged by the Navigation Team; • 10 percent increase in unique individuals referred to shelters; • 47 Navigation Team reserved beds available daily, rising from 17 beds available in Q1 o More beds available in basic shelters, tiny house villages, and enhanced shelters; and • 79 more referrals to enhanced shelter and tiny house villages than in Q1.
