>>> The March 13th meeting of
the housing and human services
meeting will come to order. And
Kathy Moore, will the clerk
please call roll ?
>> Council President Nelson .
>> Councilmember Saka.
>> Here.
>> Councilmember Woo.
>> Present.
>> Vice chair Morales.
>> Here.
>> Chair Moore.
>> Present.
>> Four present.
>> Thank you. So if there is
no objection, today patients
agenda will be adopted. Hearing
no objection, the agenda is
adopted. So thank you everyone
for being here today for the
March 13th meeting of the
housing and human services
committee. On today patients
agenda we have three items on
the agenda. One of which is for
a possible vote. And I will
note that Council President
Nelson has joined us. First on
the agenda, we have the
appointment of Nicholas A
Ramirez to the Pacific Hospital
preservation and development
authority for briefing,
discussion and possible vote.
Second we have the unified care
team to talk to us about
restoring Seattle's public
spaces and finally, we have a
presentation from the Seattle
Housing Authority on the work
that they do. So at this
point, we will open the public
comment period. Public
comments should relate to items
on today patients agenda or be
within the purview of the
committee. Madame clerk, how
many speakers are signed up
today?
>> We have one in person
speaker and two remote .
>> Okay, thank you. So each
speaker will have two minutes
and we will start with the in
person speakers. Clerk, can you
read the public comment
instructions?
>> The public comment period
will be moderated in the
following manner. Public
comment period is up to 20
minutes. Speakers will be
called in the order in which
they register. Speakers will
alternate between sets of in
person and remote speakers
until the public comment period
has ended. Speakers will hear
a chime when 10 seconds are
left of their time. The speaker
microphones will be muted. If
they do not end their comments
within the allotted time to
allow us to call in the next
speaker. The public comment
period is now open and we will
begin with the first speaker on
the list. The first in person
speaker is Carolyn Malone .
>> And Carolyn Malone. In
2019, I was (indiscernible) to
move to the apartments. I was
delayed for 12 days because
police were also able to move
in and set up secret
surveillance all over this 13
story building including my
apartment. Since that time, I
had been fighting, complaining,
filing complaints to get them
out because this is illegal.
And I'm under surveillance
because of my activism against
police brutality which is my
right to do. My door on my
apartment is the only one that
is broken up. Is damaged
severely and it has been that
way for more than two months.
On April 30th, I'm supposed to
get a new door. But I have
these two eviction notices.
One, I brought in yesterday. I
received from pocket and read
for. Hand-delivered yesterday.
The second one yesterday from
Boise law firm. That is double
jeopardy, isn't it? Having
two different eviction notices.
This one, I must reply by March
25th. This one I must reply by
March 22nd. And this is just
concerted harassment and a
vendetta against me because of
my outspokenness in support of
my rights , housing rights for
seniors and for myself. And
until police are removed, I'm
going to keep coming and do
whatever I need to do to stop
this vendetta and this
harassment. Has anyone ever
heard of two eviction notices
from two different law firms?
>> Thank you very much. That
was our only in person speaker
at this moment. Next is remote
speakers and up first is David
Haynes followed by Julie roles
.
>> Hello. David Haynes. I
think we need an independent
authority to keep King County
regional homeless authority
honest about their
requirements to keep the
service providers honest who
seem to just generate and
embellish the amount of data
and statistics that is racist
Lee driven. And that lets them
off the hook for sometimes
sulking in these to services.
We really need a wholehearted
effort to start building out
the capacity of shelter and
housing. There are just too
many unnecessary sufferings
taking place. And if you really
had a unified care team, YOU
HAVE TO CARE ENOUGH ABOUT
GETTING RID OF THE EVIL DRUG
PUSHERS THAT DESTROY THEIR
FELLOW MAN FOR 5-$20 IN DRUGS
AND THEN VICTIMIZE THEM. AND
THEN YOU HAVE THESE PEOPLE
COMING ALONG THAT ARE LOOKING
FOR MORE PROFITABLE WRAPAROUND
SERVICES TO EMBRACE SOME
SELF-DESTRUCTIVE REPEAT
OFFENDER WHO GETS TO GOBBLE UP
A MAJORITY OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF
MONEY AND RESOURCES THAT AN
INNOCENT HOUSE LIST PERSON
WOULD BENEFIT MORE FROM AND
WOULD MOVE ON TO A BETTER PATH.
AND I REALLY THINK COUNSEL
NEEDS TO CONSIDER A LAW TO
START JAILING THE DRUG PUSHERS
AND TRESPASSING ALL THE JUNKIE
THIEVES BEFORE THEY START
RUNNING INTERFERENCE OR BEFORE
THE WRAPAROUND RESPONSE TEAMS
START IGNORING THE FACT THAT
THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS
WITH DRUGS. AND IT SEEMS TO BE
USED AS A WRAPAROUND SERVICE
EXCUSE TO GOUGE MEDICAID TO
CONSTANTLY ACCOMMODATE
PEOPLE'S SELF-DESTRUCTIVE
BEHAVIORS. WE REALLY NEED A
HUGE HOUSING BUILDOUT AND
CAPACITY BUILDOUT, NOT JUST FOR
REELECTION APPARATUSES IN THE
HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX BUT
LEGIT -- .
>>>
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
CALLER.
>> THE NEXT REMOTE COMMENTER
IS JULIE ROLES. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX .
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME
NOW?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THIS IS A MESSAGE FOR
EVERYBODY. BUT TANYA WOO KNOWS
THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
THE PERSON I'M CALLING ABOUT.
WE HAVE A PRECIOUS GUY WHO HAS
BEEN LIVING HERE FOR TWO YEARS
NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
ASK AROUND ON HOW TO GET HIM IN
THE HOUSING. AND PROBABLY HAS
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND HAD
SOME KIND OF TROUBLE
BACKGROUND. I HAVE CONTACTED
EVERYBODY I CAN THINK OF UNDER
THE SUN IN THE SERVICES AND I
DID GO TO THE SAFETY COMMITTEE
MEETING AND DISCUSS THE CASE
AND IT WAS POSITIVE. I DIDN'T
GET INFORMATION OF ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT WILL LOOK INTO
THIS. I DID FINALLY GET HIS
DATE OF BIRTH. I HAVEN'T HEARD
ANYTHING BACK. SIGN BRINGING IT
TO THIS COMMITTEE MEETING. I
WOULD SAY THIS GUY NEEDS AN
ADULT GROUP HOME WITH OTHER MEN
WITH ACTIVITIES. SOME KIND OF
SUPERVISION AND MAKING SURE HE
GETS HEALTHCARE AND HAS
ACTIVITIES TO BRING OUT WHAT
POTENTIAL HE HAS. HE IS STILL
JUST SITTING THERE. SOMETIMES
SOAKING WET ON A BENCH AND
COLBY TERRACE. AND SO I'M
WAITING FOR SOME ANSWERS. I DO
HAVE THE DATE OF BIRTH. I
THINK IT IS THE CORRECT DATE OF
BIRTH FOR HIM. I DON'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT AGENCY DEALS WITH
GROUP HOMES FOR IMPAIRED ADULTS
THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEHAVIORAL
ISSUES BUT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO
FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY ON THEIR
OWN .
>> I KNOW SOMEONE WAS IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND AT THE CID
MEETING.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS?
>> THAT IS ALL OF THE
SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. SO THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS AND WE ALL
NEED TO PROCEED TO OF THE ITEMS
OF BUSINESS. I WOULD NOT
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
ENCOURAGED TO EITHER SUBMIT
WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE SIGN OF
CARDS AVAILABLE ON THE PODIUM
OR E-MAIL THE COUNCIL AT
COUNCIL CAP CUP --
COUNSEL@SEATTLE.GOV .
>> MOVING TO THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, APPOINTMENT
OF NICHOLAS A RAMIREZ IS A
MEMBER OF PACIFIC HOSPITAL
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY FOR RETURN TO
DECEMBER 31st, 2026 FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. I'M STILL SEEING
THE TIMER ON THE SCREEN.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE STILL
WAITING FOR THE PRESENTER FOR
ITEM ONE.
>> HE IS HERE.
>> NICHOLAS RAMIREZ.
>> MR. RAMIREZ IS HERE.
>> CAN YOU TAKE THE TIMER OFF
THE SCREEN ? SO WE DO NOT HAVE
THE PRESENTER HERE.
>> HELLO EVERYONE. WE HAVE ONE
APPOINTMENT TODAY FOR THE
PACIFIC HOSPITAL PRESERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. HIS
NAME IS NICHOLAS A RAMIREZ WHO
I WILL HAVE INTRODUCE HIMSELF
IN JUST A MINUTE. THE PACIFIC
HOSPITAL PDA, THE MISSION IS TO
TIRELESSLY CHAMPION EQUITY AND
HEALTH THROUGH EXEMPLARY
STEWARDSHIP OF THE PUBLIC
RESOURCES. THEY SERVE AS A
COMMUNITY ALLY, RESOURCE
CONVEYOR AND CHANGE ANCIENT --
CHANGE AGENT TO THIS END. I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO NICHOLAS
RAMIREZ TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF
AND TALK ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO
SERVE ON THE PDA.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE IT.
AND A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE. I'M
FROM CENTRAL WASHINGTON. IT IS
AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THE PDH
PDA. I -- THERE IS A LOT OF
GOOD WORK HAPPENING. I
DEDICATED MY 10 YEAR CAREER TO
SERVING THE UNDERSERVED. THAT
IS WHAT WE DO. WE PRIDE
OURSELVES ON SERVING NOT ONLY
HISPANICS AND LATINOS BUT ALL
OF THE UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS
THROUGHOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON
AND IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE
HAVE TWO CLINICS IN SOUTH
SEATTLE WHERE WE SERVE
APPROXIMATELY 25,000
INDIVIDUALS A YEAR. WE WERE
PART OF THE MASS COVID TESTING.
WE HAD LINES AROUND THE BLOCK
AND WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE
HAVE ADMINISTERED OVER 500,000
VACCINES SINCE THE VACCINE WAS
ROLLED OUT. SERVING THE
UNDERSERVED IS SOMETHING I'M
VERY PROUD OF AND SOMETHING
THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND
IT IS WHY I WANT TO SERVE ON
THIS COMMITTEE. I THINK THERE
IS A LOT OF GREAT WORK THAT IS
BEING DONE BY THE COMMITTEE AND
A TON OF TALENTED INDIVIDUALS
THAT REALLY DO GREAT WORK AND
THAT I CAN LEARN FROM AND WILL
HELP ME PROGRESS THROUGHOUT MY
CAREER. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
TIME AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE OPPORTUNITY OF SERVING ON
THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. I NOTED
THAT YOU HAD WORKED OR SERVED
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
PROFESSOR WHO WAS ALSO ONE OF
MY MENTORS AND AN AMAZING
VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATE. THANK
YOU FOR THAT WORK AS WELL. I'M
WONDERING IF COLLEAGUES HAD ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE
MOVED TO A VOTE? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> MR. RAMIREZ, I WOULD LIKE
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR STEPPING
UP. I LOOKED OVER YOUR
MATERIALS AND WE ARE FORTUNATE
TO HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE SUCH
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN
NONPROFITS, ESPECIALLY IN
COMPLEX FIELDS LIKE HEALTHCARE
AND ET CETERA. I NOTICED THAT
YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE HONOR
SOCIETY. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT THAT AT SOME POINT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
STEPPING UP.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I
ALSO SHARE THAT SENTIMENT WHEN
I EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND
APPRECIATION FOR MR. RAMIREZ
FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT,
IMPACTFUL AND PROFOUND WAY.
AND THIS WORLD DEPENDS ON
LEADERS AND ORGANIZERS AND
PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL SKILLS AND
ABILITIES LIKE YOURSELF
STEPPING UP AND CONTRIBUTING TO
THE GREATER GOOD. SO KUDOS TO
YOU. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A
QUESTION AND THIS IS NOT
DIRECTED TOWARD MR. RAMIREZ.
PARDON MY IGNORANCE HERE. I
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROLE AS
FOREIGN I THINK MR. RAMIREZ IS
HIGHLY QUALIFIED FOR THE
POSITION. HOW ARE THESE
NOMINATIONS SERVICED TO OUR
COMMITTEE? HOW DO THESE COME
ABOUT GENERALLY? IS MORE A
QUESTION MAY BE FOR MY
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SEEN THESE
KINDS OF THINGS BEFORE, OR
YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER
TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF TO ANSWER
THAT QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. THE EARTH BOARDS THAT THE
HOUSING COMMITTEE HAS OVERSIGHT
OF IN EACH APPOINTMENT OF THESE
COMMISSIONS ARE APPOINTED BY A
COUPLE DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES.
THERE IS ONE SPECIFICALLY FOR
THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL PDA.
>> ALL GOOD. YOU CAN SHARE
OFF-LINE AS WELL.
>> THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL PDA
HAS FOUR SEATS APPOINTED BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND ONE
APPOINTED BY THE KING COUNTY
EXECUTIVE AND FOUR BY THE PDH
PDA COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
>> THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
2765. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED FOR CONFIRMATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT. ARE THERE
ANY FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE
VOTE?
>> SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLL IN THE
RHYTHMIC -- AND THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
COMMITTEE REGULATION TO CONFIRM
THE APPOINTMENT OF NICHOLAS
RAMIREZ WILL BE SENT FOR THE
PACIFIC HOSPITAL PRESERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. AND
WILL BE SENT TO THE MARCH 19TH
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AGAIN,
THANK YOU MR. RAMIREZ FOR ALL
THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING IN
THE COMMUNITY AND BEING WILLING
TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE WORK YOU ARE DOING THERE.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON TO THE SECOND ITEM
ON THE AGENDA, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE SECOND AGENDA
ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, UNIFIED
CARE TEAM BRIEFING FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SO
TODAY, WE HAVE WITH US, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE UNIFIED
CARE TEAM. THEY ARE TAKING
THEIR SEATS NOW. THEY WILL
WALK US THROUGH IS LABELED,
RESTORING SEATTLE'S PUBLIC
SPACES PRESENTATION. THEY WILL
WALK US THROUGH THE CITY'S
APPROACH TO ADDRESSING
ENCAMPMENTS. THE U CT TEAM AND
THE 2023 CITYWIDE DATA. AS A
SIDE NOTE, I DID HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF GOING ON A
DISTRICT 5 TOUR WITH ALL THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM AND I
RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE
ACTIVE AND RECENTLY ADDRESSED
ENCAMPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND
WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISTRICT AND
THE SENSITIVITY OF ALL THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM WORKERS TO
THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS
THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH IN A
VERY DIFFICULT JOB THAT THEY DO
HAVE. I WOULD LIKE -- EXCUSE
ME, I WOULD ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO
DIRECTOR PETERS TO ALSO
SCHEDULE A TOUR WITH UNIFIED
CARE TEAM IN YOUR DISTRICT IF
YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY
AND HOPE THAT UCT WON'T BE
UPSET WITH ME FOR ENCOURAGING
MORE WORK. BUT WITH THAT SAID,
I AM GOING TO HAVE THE HONOR OF
INTRODUCING DEPUTY MAYOR
TIFFANY WASHINGTON FROM THE
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, ALI
PETERS, DIRECTOR BEAU BAUGHMAN,
CHRISTINA KORPI AND TOM VAN
BRONKHORST FROM THE UNIFIED
CARE TEAM. SO LET'S PROCEED
WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU COMMITTEE CHAIR
MOORE. I MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE
FROGGY BECAUSE I JUST GOT OVER
A COLD. SO BEAR WITH ME. AND
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
MAJORITY OF THE PRESENTATION.
SO THAT IS A GOOD THING. BUT
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY,
COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO SHARE WITH
YOU ABOUT THE WORK OF THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM TO ADDRESS
THE IMPACT OF ENCAMPMENTS ON
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SPACES.
>> THE AGENDA IS ON THE
SCREEN. I'M GOING TO REDO
TEAM INTRODUCTIONS A LITTLE BIT
SO THAT YOU KNOW WHICH PERSON
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WAS TALKING
ABOUT. THE BACKGROUND OF THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM APPROACH,
RULES GOVERNING THE WORK, UCT
OVERVIEW AND A 2023 CITYWIDE
DATA OVERVIEW. AND SO WE HAVE
ALI PETERS, UCT DIRECTOR, BEAU
BAUGHMAN , THE REGIONAL MANAGER
CHRISTINA KORPI WHO OVERSEES
ALL OUTREACH AND COORDINATION
OF BEDS AND A.K.A. SUPERSTAR
AND THEN THE COMMUNITY LIAISON,
TOM. AND I'M NOT GOING TO TRY
TO SAY YOUR LAST NAME. BUT HE
IS THE PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT EVERYBODY LOOKS TO FOR
ANSWERS AND DIRECTION AND KIND
OF FAMOUS. AND BEHIND US IS
MORE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT
SUPPORT THE WORK AND ARE NOT AT
THE TABLE THIS TIME BECAUSE WE
DIDN'T WANT TO CROWD THE
TABLE. VERY IMPORTANT FOLKS ON
UCT.
>> SO, THE BACKGROUND OF THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM. BUT BEFORE
WE DO THAT , WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS LOOK AT THE
CITY INVESTMENTS AND ADDRESSING
THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN TWO
AREAS. PEOPLE AND PLACES. THE
HOMELESSNESS SYSTEM THAT
FOCUSES ON HELPING PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
BRINGING THEM INDOORS AND ON A
PATHWAY TO HOUSING STABILITY IS
LARGELY OVERSEEN BY KCRHA
BUTTER PRESENTATION TODAY WILL
LOOK AT HOW THE CITY IS
RESPONDING TO THE IMPACTS OF
THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS ON
PUBLIC SPACES MAINLY THROUGH
THE WORK OF THE UNIFIED CARE
TEAM. WHAT CONNECTS THESE TWO
BODIES OF WORK IS THE
COMMITMENT TO CONNECT PEOPLE
WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO COME
INSIDE. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO
OVER THE UCT TIMELINE. SO WE
UNDERSTAND THAT IN EARLY 2022,
WHEN MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL TOOK
OFFICE AND WE WERE COMING OUT
OF THE PANDEMIC, WE DID NOT
HAVE A DATABASE. SO THESE
ESTIMATIONS ARE OFF OF
HANDY-DANDY SPREADSHEETS AND WE
ESTIMATED 1000 TENTS AND 300
PLUS RVS ON PUBLIC PARKS,
SIDEWALKS AND STREETS AND
THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF 10,000
ENCAMPMENT RELATED CUSTOMER
SERVICE REQUESTS THAT HAD NOT
BEEN ANSWERED. WHEN THE MAYOR
STARTED, HE PULLED THE TABLET
-- CABINET MEMBERS TOGETHER AND
SAID HOMELESSNESS IS
EVERYBODY'S JOB AND HE ASKED
ME TO STAND UP FOR ONE SEATTLE
APPROACH TO ENCAMPMENT WITH THE
FOCUS OF RESPONDING TO
CONSTITUENT CONCERNS AND
BUILDING A DATA INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN 2023, WE PILOTED THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM MODEL WHICH
WAS BUILT ON SOME OF THE EARLY
SUCCESS THAT WE SAW AND LESSONS
WE LEARNED IN 2022. WE WORKED A
LOT WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR WOODLAND PARK AND THAT IS
HOW THE MODEL DEVELOPED. WE
STARTED WITH TIMELINES OF A
MONTH OR TWO, TO RESOLVE THE
PARK AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS
WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH BEDS FOR
PEOPLE TO GO AND SO WE PAUSED
AND CONVENED COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND OUTREACH
AND HST AND HE KEPT CRJ AND MET
EVERY WEEK IN COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS' DISTRICT AND WHAT WE
LEARNED WAS THAT IF PEOPLE ARE
INVOLVED AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
GOING ON, THEY WILL HAVE THE
PATIENCE TO WAIT FOR THINGS TO
BE RESOLVED. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT
WOULD BE WHEN WE WERE DOWN TO
ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE. ONE PERSON
WAITING FOR A TINY HOME VILLAGE
BECAUSE THEY HAD A PET. SO
OUTREACH SAID, IF WE CAN GIVE
THIS PERSON AN EXTRA THREE
DAYS, THEY CAN MOVE INTO A TINY
HOME VILLAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
WAS LIKE, THAT'S FINE. THEY
JUST WANT TO BE NOTIFIED AND
INVOLVED. SO WHERE WE ARE AT
TODAY IS APPLYING THE LESSONS.
WE LAUNCHED ALL THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TEAMS LAST YEAR.
BUT WE ARE SLOWLY IMPLEMENTING
THEM THIS YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH ALL OF YOU. WE ALSO HAVE
A FULL YEAR OF DATA FOR THE
FIRST TIME SO WE HAVE A
DATABASE AND WE NOW HAVE 2023
DATA THAT IS YEARS WORTH OF
DATA TRACKED IN THE DATABASE.
WITH THAT DATA, WE LOOK AT
STRATEGIES AND EFFORTS THAT
APPEAR TO BE WORKING AS WELL AS
THOSE THAT ARE NOT WORKING
WHICH ALLOW US TO PIVOT AND
MAKE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO
THE WAY OUR TEAMS AND RESOURCES
DEPLOY. WE ARE LEARNING
CONSISTENCY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD
IS IMPORTANT. WE ARE LEARNING
PRIORITIZING HIGH-IMPACT SITES
IS RESULTING IN A LOWER LEVEL
OF PUBLIC SAFETY INCIDENTS. WE
ARE LEARNING THAT SOME
LOCATIONS REPOPULATE QUICKLY
AND FREQUENTLY AND THAT WE
NEED TO CHANGE OUR APPROACH TO
DETERMINE WHAT STRATEGIES ARE
MOST LIKELY TO RESULT IN SITES
REMAINING CLEAR. A LOT OF YOU
TALK TO ABOUT SEVEN DAY WEEK
UCT WHICH IS A STRATEGY FOR
REPOPULATED SITES. AND WE ARE
LEARNING WAYS TO IMPROVE HOW WE
COMMUNICATE WITH NEIGHBORS
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
AREA. ALL OF THIS IS HELPING
US IMPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
MODEL FOR GREATER EFFECTIVENESS
AND RESULTS THAT MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL PROMISED TO BRING WHEN
THE EFFORT LAUNCHED TWO YEARS
AGO. A LOT OF YOU HAVE HEARD
THIS SLIDE BUT I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AND FOR US TO ALL BE
REMINDED ABOUT THE RULES THAT
GOVERN THE UCT WORK. AND SO
THE UCT WORK IS GOVERNED BY THE
MULTIDEPARTMENTAL
ADMINISTRATIVE RULES. THE RULES
GOVERN HOW WE DO OUR WORK IN
FOUR PRIMARY AREAS. THE AMOUNT
OF NOTICE REQUIRED BEFORE
REMOVING ENCAMPMENT, THE
GUARDRAILS AROUND WHEN AND HOW
WE ADDRESS HAZARDS AND
INSTRUCTIONS, REQUIREMENTS FOR
OFFERS OF SHELTER PRIOR TO
REMOVAL AND STORING AND
PROVIDING ACCESS TO PERSONAL
PROPERTY REMOVED. CONTRARY TO
SOME OPINION, WE FOLLOW THEM
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THEM AND
NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE RULES.
THEY ARE NOT A SUGGESTION BUT A
REQUIREMENT. AND THEY HELP US
KEEP OUR WORK GROUNDED IN THE
COMPASSIONATE APPROACH WE
BELIEVE IN. WE WANT PEOPLE TO
COME INDOORS AT THE SAME TIME
WE KEEP SPACES CLEAN AND
ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE AND
THIS ALIGNS WITH THOSE
OBJECTIVES. ONE OTHER AREA IS
JURISDICTIONAL LINES. WE ARE
ALSO LIMITED BY THOSE. ACROSS
THE CITY ARE VARIOUS SITES ON
STATE PROPERTY, NAMELY SITES
ALONGSIDE AND BENEATH HIGHWAYS
THAT BELONG TO THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION OR MORALES, AS
WE CALL IT. THESE SITES
REPRESENT SOME OF THE MOST
CHALLENGING SITES IN THE CITY
AND WE DON'T HAVE
JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY TO
ADDRESS THESE SITES. WE HAVE,
AS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, THE
2023 STATS THAT A LOT OF YOU
HAVE SEEN AND HAVE EXPRESSED
ALARM TO SOME OF THESE
STATISTICS. I WILL SAY THAT
THE GOVERNOR, AND I THINK RIGHT
NOW, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW
MUCH MONEY THEY WILL PUT INTO
THE PROGRAM FOR THIS YEAR. IT
IS FOR THIS YEAR. BUT IT IS
NOT SOLIDIFIED YET . AND WE
WILL BE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM
AROUND ADDRESSING SOME OF THE
SITES IN SEATTLE. ONE LAST SET
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE HE
PASSED IT TO ALI PETERS IS A 72
HOUR PARKING RULE. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT FRUSTRATES
RESIDENTS A LOT BECAUSE FOLKS
THAT ARE LIVING INSIDE THEIR
VEHICLES ARE ONLY REQUIRED BY
LAW TO MOVE EVERY 72 HOURS. WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES
FOR THE NUMBER OF RVS ON
SEATTLE STREETS AND WE KNOW
FROM OUR WORK THAT RV RESIDENTS
ARE THE MOST HESITANT TO ACCEPT
TEMPORARY SHELTER BECAUSE THEY
DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THE ONE
ASSET THEY HAVE, WHICH IS THEIR
VEHICLE. IF LOTS ARE ONE
SOLUTION BUT WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH LAND FOR SAY FLOODS TO
MEET DEMAND. AND SO FOR RV
RESIDENTS AND VEHICLE
RESIDENTS, PERMANENT HOUSING IS
THE BEST SOLUTION BECAUSE IT
GIVES THEM A KEY TO A DOOR THAT
UNLOCKS IT IS PERMANENT AND
ALLOWS THEM TO TRUST THAT THEY
CAN GIVE UP THEIR VEHICLE AND
GO INSIDE. AND SO I JUST
WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE RV
CHALLENGE BEFORE I PASS IT TO
ALI. BUT BEFORE THAT, I WANT TO
PAUSE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR
THE RECORD, I WANTED IT TO
REFLECT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS JOINED US. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS
STAGE? OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR MOORE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
ALLOWING ME TO JOIN INTO THIS
PRESENTATION. THIS IS A BIG
CHALLENGE IN THE RV. SO AS MUCH
INFORMATION WE CAN GET AN WAYS
WE CAN STRATEGIZE TO ADDRESS
THIS BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGE. AND
FOLKS DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT
SHELTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE
SHELTER AND THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS REALLY AN ISSUE. A LOT
OF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT
NECESSARILY MOBILE. AND THEY
ARE IN AREAS WHERE, IN MANY
CASES -- AND I WILL JUST STAY
THIS FOR THE RECORD. THERE HAVE
BEEN ISSUES WITH DRUGS. AND I
KNOW THAT IN MY DISTRICT, THERE
IS AN ISSUE WITH RVS AND
FAMILIES LIVING THERE AND
CHILDREN AND I HAVE HEARD THERE
IS DRUG RELATED ACTIVITY. I DO
WANT TO FLAG FOR THAT FOR ALL
OF US TO KNOW AND FOR THE
RECORD TO REFLECT. THIS IS
SOMETHING I'M VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT. I'M SURE I'M NOT THE
ONLY ONE. SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO
TO BE GOOD PARTNERS ON HOW TO
MANAGE FOR THIS, I APPRECIATE.
AND I WANT TO SAY FOR THE
RECORD THAT I REALLY THINK --
THANK UCT FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
WE HAVE WORKED ON A NUMBER OF
THINGS FOR THE D4 AND YOU ARE
VERY RESPONSIVE AND I
APPRECIATE THAT AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME BEFORE
WE MOVE ON.
>> CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR
BEING RECOGNIZED . I WANT TO
ECHO THAT SENTIMENT. I
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES AND
MAKE SURE WE HAVE AFFECTED
RESPONSE CAPABILITIES AS WELL.
YOU ALL PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN
THAT BRINGING THAT TO LIFE.
THANK YOU. THE RV CHALLENGES
REAL AND I THINK THE RV SAY
FLOODS ARE A KEY COMPONENT OF
THE BROADER SOLUTION. WE NEED
MORE OF THEM. OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE COST, IN ADDITION
TO POTENTIAL LACK OF SITING AND
LACK OF CITY-OWNED LAND. THAT
IS WHAT WE NEED TO FURTHER
EXPLORE PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS AMONG OTHER THINGS
TO BETTER BRING THOSE TO LIFE.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COST
FOR THOSE CAN BE LARGE. SO
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BETTER
SUPPORT THAT NEED. AS ONE
IMPORTANT PART OF EXPANDING RV
SAFELITE OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS ONE
IMPORTANT BUT NOT THE ONLY PART
OF A BROADER AND MORE
CONFERENCE OF STRATEGY TO
ADDRESS THESE. TO YOUR POINT.
INCLUDING, ADDING MORE
PERMANENT HOUSING AND SO WE
NEED A MULTILAYERED APPROACH.
THIS IS URGENT STUFF. IN MY
OWN DISTRICT, AND DISTRICT 1, I
HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF SOME DESIGN
SOLUTIONS BY SDOT AND OTHER
AGENCIES TO MAKE MORE
BENEFICIAL USE OF CERTAIN
SPACES. AND ALONG HARBOR
AVENUE, IF THERE IS TO BE A
NONTRIVIAL CHALLENGE WITH
CERTAIN RVS AND IMPACT WITH THE
COMMUNITY. IN ANY EVENT, I AM
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK
TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT
WE HAVE A BROAD, COPPERHEADS OF
APPROACH TO ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS FROM PREVENTION,
TO RESPONSE. AND BETTER
CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH SHELTER
AND SERVICES. THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
INNOVATING WITH YOU ALL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA .
>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT
COMMUNITY AND EDUCATING
COMMUNITY, IF THAT IS NOT TRUE,
THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO TRACK. YOU
ARE TRACKING IT AND YOU CAN
SHARE THAT INFORMATION. BUT I
DO WANT TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY
THE CORRECT INFORMATION. IF IT
IS NOT HAPPENING, THEY SHOULD
KNOW THAT TOO BECAUSE THINGS
ARE NOT REPORTED ACCURATELY AND
THAT IS A DISSERVICE TO
EVERYONE AS WELL. SO I WANTED
TO POINT THAT OUT AS WELL.
THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS. WE CAN MOVE
ON.
>> GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OVERVIEW
OF HOW THE WORK IS DONE. THE
FIRST SLIDE HERE IS , THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM ONE SEATTLE
APPROACH. THIS WAS REALLY
EXCITING COMING IN BECAUSE
PRIOR TO MAYOR HARRELL, A LOT
OF THE WORK WAS SIDELOAD END OF
THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE
COMMUNITY AND CONSTITUENTS WERE
OFTEN CONFUSED AND GOT BOUNCED
BACK AND FORTH. THIS SLIDE IS A
REALLY EXCITING SIDE TO PRESENT
BECAUSE IT SHOWS UNIFIED CARE
TEAM BRINGS AT LEAST 11
DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER AND WE
WORK TOGETHER FOR A SINGLE
RESPONSE. AND SO YOU CAN SEE
THAT WE MEET WEEKLY WITH
LEADERS AND YOU CAN SEE THE
SEATTLE APARTMENT OF
INSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION. WE
WORK WITH THEM CLOSELY WHEN
THEIR ENCAMPMENTS ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY. WE WORKED VERY
CLOSELY WITH HELPING THEM AND
HAVING THEM UNDERSTAND AND
WORKING WITH THEM. WE HAVE OUR
SPD FOLKS AND THE ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE TEAM THAT ARE HIGHLY
TRAINED IN DE-ESCALATION AND
KEEPING OUR STAFF SAFE AND
ENSURING THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE
AND ADDRESSING THOSE. THE OTHER
THING NO ONE WOULD THINK ABOUT
IS THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. THE
HOUSE CONSTITUENTS ARE OUT
THERE OFTEN USING THAT FOR
WARMTH AND SHELTER. OUR TEAM IS
OUT THERE TO HELP ENSURE THAT
THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO USE IT TOO
AND IT IS SAFE AND WELCOMING
FOR THEM AS WELL. THIS IS THE
REALLY EXCITING THING ABOUT HOW
THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM IS
BRINGING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
>> QUICK QUESTION.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> WHERE IS THE HOPE TEAM? DO
THEY STILL EXIST AND WHERE ON
THE PRETTY PICTURE IS THAT?
>> THE HOPE TEAM WAS DEVELOPED
UNDER THE NAV TEAM SO THE
ELEMENTS OR THE VALUES OF THE
HOPE TEAM ARE STILL IN PLACE,
LIKE OUTREACH AND ALL OF THAT.
WHEN WE CREATED THE UCT, WE
TRIED TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THE
DIFFERENT NAMES LIKE THE PURPLE
BAG PROGRAM, THE HOPE TEAM. AND
IT WAS CONFUSING PEOPLE. AND IT
WAS, CALL UCT AND WE HAVE
OUTREACH AND ALL THESE OTHER
THINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO THIS ONE IS A GREAT WAY
OF HOW TO TALK ABOUT UCT WORK
AND LANGUAGE THAT IS HELPFUL
COMMUNICATION. YOU WILL KIND OF
SEE THAT THE RESPONDING THAT
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IS -- HOW
UCT HAS IMPROVED THE PROCESS
AND HOW WE KEEP THEM INFORMED.
THE SERVICES, COUNSEL NELSON,
THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE SPEAKING
ABOUT, OUTREACH AND
COORDINATION THROUGH CONTRACTED
OUTREACH AS WELL AND TALKING
ABOUT HOW WE MAKE SPACES CLEAN
AND ACCESSIBLE. THAT IS A LOT
OF THE SPU PARTNERS AND UCT AT
AND WIND FIVE DOING TRASH
MEDICATION. THE RESOLVING AN
CAP IMMENSE, WE WILL TALK ABOUT
PRIORITIZATION AND HOW THAT
HAPPENS. THAT IS ONE OF THE
AREAS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
AND RESTORING PUBLIC PLACES IS
AROUND WHAT WE CALL ACTIVATION.
SO VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WAS SAYING.
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS THE CITY TO CHANGE MAYBE
THE WAY A SITE LOOKS OR
LOCATION LOOKS TO MAKE IT MORE
WELCOMING FOR COMMUNITY AND
LESS INVITING FOR SOMEONE TO
WANT TO CAMP THERE. OR RESIDE
THERE. THESE ARE KIND OF THE
DIFFERENT WAYS AND DIFFERENT
AREAS AND HOW TO BEST
COMMUNICATE THE WORK THAT WE
DO. AND THIS IS GOING DOWN A
LITTLE BIT OF A LAYER ABOUT HOW
WE DO THE WORK. THIS REALLY
SHOWS A WORK CYCLE SO THAT
EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND. SO THE
PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS
WORKS . THE FIRST BOX, THE
COMMUNITY REPORTS, FIND IT, FIX
IT. WE RECEIVE E-MAILS. WE
RECEIVE E-MAILS FROM YOU ALL,
HOWEVER IT COMES IN. WE TAKE
THE INFORMATION IN THE FIND IT
FIX IT HELPS MOVE ALONG INTO
ENSURING WE HAVE A SITE
INSPECTION. MAKING SURE WE
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING
THERE. THE SITES WE ALREADY
HAVE IN THE DATA SYSTEM, THE
WONDERFUL SYSTEM WE HAVE KNOW
THE DEPUTY MAYOR WAS TALKING
ABOUT. WE HAVE TWO CUSTOMER
SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES THAT
HAVE TRIAGED OVER 41,000
SERVICE REQUESTS IN 2023 AND
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THEY
HAVE LOOKED IN THE SYSTEM AND
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EITHER GET A
RESPONSE THAT WE ARE AWARE AND
WE ARE MONITORING THE SITE OR
WE DON'T HAVE A RECENT
INSPECTION BUT WE WILL BE OUT
THERE TO INSPECT IT. TWO PEOPLE
WITHIN THREE DAYS IS THE TARGET
AND THEY MET THAT WITHIN THREE
DAYS OVER 31,000 SERVICE
REQUESTS WHICH MEANS
CONSTITUENTS WERE BACK
IMMEDIATELY WITHIN THREE DAYS
OF PUTTING IN FIND IT, FIX IT.
>> WE HAVE HEARD YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS
WANT MORE OF A PERSONALIZED
RESPONSE AND NOT JUST THE
AUTOMATIC RESPONSES. SO ALI IS
WORKING RIGHT NOW TO ADD TWO
MORE CUSTOMER SERVICE FOLKS TO
-- WHEN WE GET RESPONSES FROM
SOMEONE WHO HAS A SITE THERE
FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY ARE
FRUSTRATED, THEY CAN GO INTO A
DEEPER LAYER OF EXPLANATION AND
MAKE SURE THAT THE CUSTOMER HAS
ADDITIONAL DETAILS. SO WE
HEARD YOU AND WE ARE WORKING ON
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FROM THE SITE INSPECTION,
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS
THAT HAPPENED. MOST IMPORTANT
IS THAT WHAT IS BEHIND THE
SCENES IS OUTREACH TO GO OUT
TO SITES. MITIGATING HARM FOR
THE PUBLIC. SO DOING TRASH
MEDICATION AND PLANNING COME
WITH THE PRIORITIZATION SCORE
WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT NEXT,
MONITORING UNTIL WE KNOW THE
SITE WILL BE RESOLVED. SO
DURING THE DIFFERENT PROCESSES,
THERE ARE RESPONSES THAT GO TO
COMMUNITY AND TO CONSTITUENTS.
THE DEPUTY MAYOR SAID WE ARE
WORKING ON PERSONALIZING THEM A
LITTLE MORE. WHEN MAYOR
HARRELL TOOK OFFICE, I THINK
THE DEPUTY MAYOR SAID 10,000
SERVICE REQUESTS WERE NOT BEING
RESPONDED TO AT ALL BEFORE. NOW
THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN SOME
RESPONSE, RIGHT NOW THEY ARE
KIND OF DOING THE NEXT LEVEL TO
MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL.
THAT IS KIND OF THAT MONITORING
THE SITE FOR THINGS WE DO AND
THE COMMUNITIES STAY UPDATED
DURING THE PROCESS. AND THEN
WE PLAN FOR THE RESOLUTION,
BASED ON THE SCORE, RESOURCE
AVAILABILITY AND CONVERSATIONS
THAT WE HAVE AS TEAM LEADS.
>> SO THIS LEADS TO THE NEXT
SLIDE WHICH IS ABOUT
PRIORITIZATION. WHAT YOU SEE
HERE, WHAT EVERYONE SEES, IS
POINTS ASSIGNED BY DIFFERENT
SITE ATTRIBUTES AS WELL AS TO
OTHER AREAS WHERE WE USE
EXTERNAL DATA TO INFORM US.
THE BIGGEST THING I WANT TO
MAKE SURE COMES ACROSS IS THAT
THIS REALLY GIVES US A STARTING
SCORE FOR EVERY SITE . ONE OF
MY MOTTOES ALWAYS USED TO BE,
DATA AND PERFORMANCE. THE
NUMBER IS THE START OF THE
CONVERSATION. AND SO OUR
TEAM'S NORTH AND SOUTH MEET
EVERY TWO WEEKS. PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND. WE TAKE ALL THE
INFORMATION FROM CONSTITUENTS
AND FROM THE WALL. WE TAKE WHAT
THE FIELD TEAMS SEE ON A DAILY
BASIS. WE KNOW THAT THINGS
CHANGE EVERY DAY. EVERY HOUR,
SOMETHING COULD CHANGE. WE
TALK ABOUT IT AND WE TALK ABOUT
THE SCORES FOR RESOLUTION.
THESE SCORES ARE REALLY A
BASELINE FOR US TO START A
CONVERSATION. IT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT ONE IS MORE RISKY THAN
OTHERS. AND OTHER FACTORS ARE
NOT NECESSARILY CAPTURED IN A
QUANTITATIVE MANNER.
>> JUST REMEMBER, I MADE A
STATEMENT IN MY PRESENTATION A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN SOMEONE
WAS UPSET THAT I SAID THE
LOUDEST VOICE DOESN'T RECEIVE
HELP FIRST. IT IS BECAUSE THIS
WAS BUILT BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT
ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS. IF THERE
ARE NOT ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS, IF
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAN
SHELTER BEDS AVAILABLE, WE
WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO DETERMINE WHICH SITE GETS
ADDRESSED FIRST. SO THAT IS THE
GENESIS, IF YOU WANT TO
REMEMBER WHY WE CREATED A
PRIORITIZATION SYSTEM. MORE
PEOPLE THAN BEDS. SO HOW DO WE
DECIDE WHICH ONE GETS ADDRESSED
FIRST IN AN EQUITABLE WAY AND
NOT JUST BASED ON HOW MANY
E-MAILS WE RECEIVED OR PHONE
CALLS WE RECEIVE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT. AND WORKING WITH
PRIORITIZATION AND HOW TO
ALLOCATE THE RESEARCH WE DO
HAVE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. LOOKING
AT THESE, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE
WHAT THE NUMBER IS OR THE
SCORE. I WOULD SAY WITHIN A
SCHOOL WALK ZONE WOULD BE
PERHAPS A TWO RATHER THAN A
ONE. AND ARE THERE ADDITIONAL
CATEGORIES THAT COULD BE ADDED?
HOW IS THE SCORING CREATED
AND ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO
CHANGE IT?
>> WHEN THIS WAS CREATED, IT
WAS BASED ON -- YOU CAN SEE A
NEAR CHILDREN PLAYGROUND IS 1
POINT ALSO WITHIN PUBLIC SCHOOL
WALK ZONES. WE TRY TO LAYER
MULTIPLE IDEAS. THIS ALSO
PROCESSES ITERATIVE. SO WE ARE
IN THE STAGE OF LOOKING AGAIN
AND TALKING THROUGH THE
DEFINITION AND ARE THESE THE
RIGHT POINTS? WE ARE ALREADY
TALKING ABOUT AND GOING WITH,
WHAT DOES THIS CURRENTLY LOOK
LIKE NOW IN THE WORK AND DOES
IT NEED TO HAVE THE NEXT
ITERATION MADE.
>> IN THE DATA WE SAW WHICH I
TALKED ABOUT AND YOU MIGHT HAVE
IT ON HAND IS ACTUALLY POINTING
TO 2023 DATA WE DID RESOLVE THE
MOST IMPORTANT SITES FIRST AND
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT ON
HAND?
>> I WILL BE SPEAKING TO IT
LATER. THE DATA SHOWS THAT WE
DID EXACTLY WHAT WE SET OUT TO
DO AND WE ARE OPEN TO -- WE
HAVE HAD IT FOR A FULL YEAR
WITH DATA. AND SO WE WOULD BE
SILLY TO THINK THAT WE ARRIVED.
EVERY YEAR AT THE END OF THE
YEAR, WE SIT DOWN WITH THE
MAYOR AND WALK THROUGH THE YEAR
AND WHAT WORKED AND WHAT
DIDN'T WORK AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO
IMPROVE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
DOING THAT WITH U.S. OUR
COMMITTEE CHAIR AND HEARING THE
IMPACT -- THE INPUT FROM YOUR
COLLEAGUES AND WE SHOULD BE
GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> I WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE MATRIX.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RATIONAL WAY
OF DEALING WITH, I THINK YOU
SAID YOU INHERITED A BACKLOG OF
10,000 COMPLAINTS. I COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND THE APPROACH AND I
SUPPORT IT. WHAT YOU JUST SAID
CAUGHT MY EAR, DEPUTY MAYOR.
YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT, THEY
ARE NOT ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS.
THAT YOU HEAR COMPLAINTS THAT
PEOPLE ARE NOT SEEING ENOUGH
ENCAMPMENTS RESOLVED.
ACCORDING TO THE LAST RESPONSE
TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH
OFFERS OF SHELTER AND HOW MANY
PEOPLE TAKE IT. THIS IS FROM
APRIL TO JUNE PICK A TOTAL OF
1033 OFFICERS EXTENDED, THERE
WERE 554 OFFERS ACCEPTED AND
THEN CONFIRMED. OF THOSE
CONFIRMED , 206 AND IT COMES
DOWN TO, ACCORDING TO MY MATH,
ABOUT 15%. SO WHEN YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT THEIR ARE NOT
ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS, ARE YOU
GOING OFF OF THE OFFERS NUMBERS
OR ARE YOU GOING ON TYPICAL
ACCEPTANCE RATES OR ENROLLMENT
RATES OR WHAT?
>> BOTH BUT THERE ARE
LITERALLY AND NOT ENOUGH
SHELTER BEDS TO HAS EVERYBODY
LIVING IN A SHELTER NOW. AND
SO IF THERE ARE 35 PEOPLE AT A
SITE, BEFORE WE RESOLVE THIS
SITE, WE NEED TO HAVE 35 UNIQUE
BEDS. SO WE CAN'T GO ON THE 20
BEDS AND OFFER THE 35 PEOPLE
EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW
STATISTICALLY THAT THEY WILL
TURN IT DOWN. WE HAVE TO HAVE
35 BEDS TO OFFER TO 35 PEOPLE.
SO THAT IS PART 1.
>> IS THAT FOR BOISE?
>> IT SEMI- KEPT OUT CAP RS.
WE CAN LOOK AND SEE. IT HAS
BEEN THERE SINCE I HAVE BEEN
HERE FOR 10 YEARS.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SET
AMOUNT OF BEDS TO MATCH THE
PEOPLE AT THE SITE. I WOULD
ALSO SAY THAT SEATTLE IS THE
ONLY STATE -- AND I HAVE
LINDSAY, MY OPS MANAGER BEHIND
ME TO TELL ME IF I'M WRONG. IS
IT AN OPT IN SYSTEM? MEANING
THAT PEOPLE AT HIS SITE HAVE
THE RIGHT TO NOT GIVE US THEIR
VERIFIABLE INFORMATION. AND SO
WITH THE OFFERS OF SHELTER
ACCEPTANCE, IT IS HARD BECAUSE
WE DON'T KNOW IF JOE AT THE
STATE IS JOE AT THE SHELTER.
SO SOMETIMES THE NAME AT THIS
SITE IS KIND OF A NICKNAME PER
SE AND WE DON'T REQUIRE THAT
THEY GIVE US THERE IDENTIFYING
INFORMATION IN ORDER TO GET TO
THE SHELTER PEOPLE WHEN THEY
GET TO THE SHELTER IN ORDER TO
ENROLL, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME
KIND OF VERIFICATION PROCESS.
>> THEY CAN OPT IN OR OPT OUT
OF ENTERING IN WHICH WOULD BE
HOW WE CAN FIRM THE REFERRAL
WITH ENROLLMENT.
>> THE OPT IN AND OPT OUT IS A
REALLY BIG BARRIER TO
UNDERSTANDING HOW MANY PEOPLE
FROM THE SITE WHEN INTO THE
SHELTER AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE
TO OPT IN AT A SHELTER, YOU CAN
IMAGINE WHO WOULD HAVE TO TRACK
WHO WENT FROM SHELTER TO
PERMANENT HOUSING. THE LAST
THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT EVEN
IF THE ACCEPTANCE IS LOW, WE
ARE REQUIRED TO OFFER SHELTER.
WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO OFFER
THE PREFERRED SHELTER AND THAT
IS A HUGE DEBATE AMONG MANY
PEOPLE AND I'M NOT GOING TO
GET INTO IT HERE BECAUSE YOU
CAN'T CHANGE SOMEONE'S VALUES
THROUGH A DEBATE. WE BELIEVE
THAT BRINGING SOMEONE INSIDE
FROM THE ELEMENTS, DESPITE
WHETHER IT'S A NON- CONGREGATE
SHELTER OR CONGREGATE SHELTER,
IS WHAT BETTER THAN LEAVING
THEM OUTSIDE. IF WE HAVE A
CONGREGATE SHELTER OFFER AND
SOME HE SAYS THEY WANT A TINY
HOME VILLAGE AND OF THE TINY
HOME VILLAGE IS ON BECOME
AVAILABLE BY THE TIME THE SITE
IS DISSOLVED, WE CONSIDER THAT
AN OFFER FOR SHELTER AND WE CAN
DISSOLVE THE SITE. SO DID
THOSE THINGS ANSWER?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE
LAST POINT YOU MADE. AND A PART
OF THE DATA YOU COLLECTED IS
ALSO THE REASON WHY PEOPLE
DECLINE SHELTER. CAN YOU DEFINE
THAT A LITTLE BIT?
>> WE DON'T HAVE IT HERE. BUT
IF ANYBODY OFF THE TOP OF THEIR
HEAD REMEMBERS THE TOP REASON.
>> YOU SLOWLY THE TOP REASON IS
RECORDING. AND -- MY.
>> THAT IS THE CASE.
>> AND USUALLY THE OTHER ONE IS
THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE THEY ARE
WITH, A COMMUNITY PARTNER OR
FRIEND, THAT THEY WANT TO BE
WITH AND THOSE REQUIRE VERY
SPECIFIC PLACES AS WELL TO GET
TWO PLACES TO GO IN. THOSE ARE
THE TOP TWO.
>> THOSE ARE THE MAIN ONES.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT AS A
SUPPORTER OF TINY HOME
VILLAGES, I WOULD NOT ATTACH
THE NAME. I THINK WHAT THEY
ARE SAYING IS THAT THEY WANT A
DOOR THAT CLOSES WHERE I HAVE
PRIVACY AND I CAN BE BY MYSELF.
THAT WOULD BE PERMANENT
HOUSING, A TINY HOME VILLAGE
AND WE HAVE PEOPLE DOING
PALETTE SHELTERS. I THINK THE
MESSAGE THERE IS, I WANT MY OWN
PLACE.
>> THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION AS
IT RELATES TO THE SLIDE, 17.
YOU DID MENTION THE REASON WE
HAVE THIS PRIORITIZATION MATRIX
IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH PLACES TO SEND PEOPLE.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO
WE GET MORE? AND WHOSE
RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO DO
THAT? BECAUSE THIS IS A
LONG-STANDING ISSUE, RIGHT. WE
DECLARED THIS IN EMERGENCY.
ARE WE GOING ON 10 YEARS NOW?
>> YES.
>> AND SO I THINK THERE IS
PROBABLY BROAD AGREEMENT THAT
THE SOLUTION TO THIS, AT LEAST
IN PART, IS TO BUILD MORE
HOUSING AND MORE SHELTER BEDS
AND TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
PARTICULAR THINGS PEOPLE ARE
INTERESTED IN. WE KNOW WHAT
THE SOLUTIONS ARE. SO HOW DO
WE GET THERE AND PIVOT AWAY
FROM THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS
ONLY TO CLEAN SITES AND IT IS
THE KCHA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
DO EVERYTHING ELSE . THAT HAS
BEEN A CHALLENGE. MY QUESTION
IS, GIVEN THAT SORT OF SPLIT
RESPONSIBILITY WHICH I THINK
HAPPENED IN THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION, ALL THE WORK
YOU ARE DOING IS WITH THE
INTENT ON SLIDE 15, THE
APPROACH IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS ARE
SPACED CORRECTLY. THE APPROACH
IS AN ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS BY
PROVIDING THE OUTREACH
SERVICES. WE CONTRACT OUT FOR
THAT. I THINK WE JUST PULLED
BACK CONTRACTS FROM KC RHA. I
WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW
WHAT THOSE CONTRACTS ARE AND
IF THAT SITUATION DOES HOW DO
WE RESOLVE THAT SITUATION ABOUT
ACTUALLY PROVIDING THE OUTREACH
SERVICES? OR IS THAT JUST NOT
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY?
>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I THINK
THE TOP THING YOU SAID IS IF WE
HAD UNLIMITED SPACES WHERE
PEOPLE WANT TO GO, TO YOUR
POINT, PREFERRED WOULD NOT BE
AN ISSUE. WE PROBABLY COULD
GET EVERYBODY INSIDE. I WOULD
SAY A COUPLE THINGS AND I WILL
ANSWER YOUR VERY SPECIFIC
QUESTION ABOUT WHOSE JOB IS IT
AND HOW TO BEGET MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING? I THINK
WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH NOW
THAT WE WERE NOT DEALING WITH
WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH THIS
EIGHT, NINE OR 10 YEARS AGO AS
THE BEHAVIOR HEALTH CRISIS IN
THE FENTANYL CRISIS. SO NOW,
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
AND SHELTER, PERMANENT HOUSING,
ACTUALLY ISN'T THE SOLUTION
FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS OUTSIDE.
WE DO THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL.
SOMEONE SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED
TO BE CLEAN BEFORE THEY RECEIVE
HOUSING. WE TOTALLY AGREE WITH
THAT. BUT IF WE WANT THAT
PERSON TO STAY HOUSED, WE HAVE
TO COUPLE THAT WITH SOME
SERIOUS SERVICES. AND SO THE
SYSTEM IN MY HUMBLE OPINION,
ISN'T DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE
MASS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
I THINK WE ARE TRANSITIONING
FROM -- AND DON'T TAKE THIS
LITERAL, FROM WHAT WE THOUGHT
WAS JUST AN UNSHELTERED CRISIS
TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS AND
NOT ENOUGH SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO
GO. I THINK IT WOULD BE A
FALLACY TO JUST BUILD MORE
PERMANENT HOUSING AND NOT BUILD
PLACES TO ADDRESS WHAT WE SEE
ON THE STREETS. TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, IT IS OUR JOB. SO
YES, UCT WAS DESIGNED FOR
MAKING SURE PUBLIC SPACES ARE
AVAILABLE BUT WE WILL ACTIVELY
FUND TO ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM SO WE
CANNOT SAY, NOT OUR PROBLEM.
IT IS OUR PROBLEM. OUR
INVESTMENT. I WOULD SAY DOES
THE REGION'S JOB. WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT PLACES FOR PEOPLE
TO GO, WE HAVE THE MOST SHELTER
IN SEATTLE. WHAT IS THE
PERCENTAGE? 80% OF SHELTER IS
IN SEATTLE?
>> I THINK IT IS 80%.
>> IF IT IS NOT 80%, IT IS THE
MAJORITY AND THAT IS THE
PROBLEM. 80% OF HOMELESSNESS
ISSUES AREN'T IN SEATTLE. HOW
TO BE SPREAD MORE RESOURCES OUT
REGIONALLY SO THAT SOMEONE WHO
IS EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS IN
ABSTENTIONS DOESN'T HAVE TO
CATCH A BUS TO SEATTLE AND
THEY CAN STATE IN ABSTENTIONS
-- IN KENT. AND SOMETHING MAYOR
HARRELL DID IS HE PUT OH AND
HOMELESSNESS UNDER THE SAME
DEPUTY MAYOR AND THAT IS HUGE.
I WAS HERE WHEN THE DEPUTY
MAYOR MOSTLY HAD OH AND I HAD
HOMELESSNESS AND IT WAS VERY
HARD TO CONNECT TO THE TWO.
BUT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW, I'M
HAVING A RETREAT WITH THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THEY
SHOULD BE TIED TOGETHER. I
WILL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.
>> PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING. WHO SAID WHAT IT HAS
TO LOOK LIKE? THE RULES ARE
THIS MUCH. WE KEEP BUILDING THE
SAME THING. WHAT ABOUT
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PLUS OR WHAT ABOUT PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BITE OR WHAT
ABOUT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BOX I WANT TO
BREAK OUT OF, AND I KNOW
DIRECTLY WINKLER IS IN CONCERT
WITH THIS. WE BOXED YOURSELVES
IN AND ME TO START SAYING, WHO
MADE THAT RULE? A LOT OF
TIMES, WE MADE IT. SO WE HAVE
TO GET INNOVATIVE TOGETHER AND
DESIGN PLACES THAT ADDRESS
WHERE PEOPLE ARE. I HOPE I
ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT THE
SCALE AND THE TYPE OF ISSUE WE
ARE DEALING WITH IS REALLY
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAD
FIVE, 10 YEARS AGO. WE HAVE
THE COUNTIES WORKING ON THE
CRISIS AND THE CLINICS GETTING
SET UP AND EXPANDING OUR
CONNECTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THAT AS WELL. AND THEIR ARE
A LOT OF OTHER REASONS PEOPLE
ARE HOMELESS. THEY LOST A JOB
AND HAD A MEDICAL BILL. IT
ISN'T JUST PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT ARE
EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS. THERE
ARE A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS THAT
ARE DEALING WITH AN EVICTION OR
DEALING WITH INCOME INEQUALITY
AND THOSE FOLKS NEED HELP TOO.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I WILL
LET COUNCILMEMBER WOO ASKED THE
QUESTION FIRST.
>> IT IS MORE LIKE A COMMENT.
I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UCT AND
GOING INTO ENCAMPMENTS THE
LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS. I
WANT TO ECHO YOUR COMMENT
ABOUT, IF IT IS A COMPLEX
PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE
THAT FOUND HOUSING COME BACK TO
THE ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE THAT IS
WHERE THEIR FRIENDS ARE AND
WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS. I HAVE
ALSO SEEN, AND TIMES WHEN THERE
IS A RESOLUTION IN THE
ENCAMPMENT, PEOPLE FROM ALL
OVER THE CITY WILL SHOW UP
BECAUSE THE HEAR THAT THAT WILL
RESOLVE AND ARE LOOKING FOR
HOUSING AND ARE LOOKING FOR
VERY SPECIFIC HOUSING WHETHER
IT IS OUT -- HOTEL ROOM OR
TINY HOME VILLAGE. A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO TO
CONGREGATE SHELTERS. I HAVE
SEEN PEOPLE THAT REFUSE SHELTER
AND WHEN THE ENCAMPMENT GETS
RESOLVED, THEY COME BACK. THE
NEXT STEP I THINK WOULD BE IS
TO BUILD TRUST WITH PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A BROKEN
SYSTEM. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH
SHELTER OR TINY HOME VILLAGE
AND THEY CAME BACK OUT. HOW DO
WE BUILD THAT TRUST AND GET TO
KNOW THEM TO HAVE THEM COME
INSIDE AND HAVE SOMEONE PARTNER
WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR
JOURNEY FROM BEING UNSHELTERED
TO SHELTER DEFINING HOUSING AND
MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
SERVICES BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE
THAT HELP THEM WHEN THEY ARE IN
SHELTER VERSUS BEING SHELTERED.
TO FIND THAT CONTINUITY. AND SO
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHEN
IT COMES TO KCRJ, WHAT IS YOUR
INVOLVEMENT WITH THEM AS WELL
AS WITH ALL THE OTHER POLO --
ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS WE SEE
OUTSIDE? I MIGHT HAVE ASKED
THIS BEFORE. BUT IF YOU CAN
REFRESH MY MEMORY. WHAT DOES
THE ENTIRE MATRIX LOOK LIKE?
>> THAT IS THE QUESTION I DID
NOT GET TO, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> YESTERDAY, WE BROUGHT ALL
THE OUTREACH PROVIDERS TOGETHER
THAT WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE
AND IT WAS AMAZING TO ME HOW
MANY PEOPLE WERE DOWN THERE. I
THOUGHT TO MYSELF, DON'T HOLD
ME TO THIS. THE OUTREACH
CONFERENCE. THERE ARE SO MANY
PEOPLE OUT ON THE FIELD DOING
THIS WORK THAT MAY NOT KNOW
EACH OTHER OR MAY NOT HAVE
COMPLEMENT RE- SERVICES OR MAY
NOT KNOW THEY ARE WORKING WITH
THE SAME PERSON. AND SO WE
BROUGHT THE OUTREACH CONTRACT
BACK FOR TWO REASONS. ONE,
BECAUSE KCRJ HAD SAID THEY DID
NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BUILD
OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM MODEL
OUTREACH AT THAT TIME. WHICH
DOES NOT MEAN THEY CAN'T GO
BACK WHEN THEY DO HAVE CAPACITY
TO DO IT. AND WE BROUGHT IT
BACK TO DO WHAT YOU TALKED
ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER WOO WHICH
IS CREATE A SYSTEM OF OUTREACH
-- AND IT IS IN THE FIVE-YEAR
PLAN, THAT WE NEED TO
TRANSITION TO MAKE OUTREACH
WALK WITH THE PERSON FROM THE
SITE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO
PERMANENT HOUSING. AND THAT IS
HOW YOU REALIZE THAT SOMEONE
WHO WAS PERMANENTLY HOUSED WENT
BACK TO AN ENCAMPMENT. THERE IS
A LOT TO DO AND OUTREACH.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS ASKED
TO BE DEEPLY INVOLVED AND
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS ASKED
TO BE DEEPLY INVOLVED. THAT
WON'T BE SOMETHING WE
RE-CREATE IN A BUBBLE. I'M
HAPPY TO COME BACK AND TALK
ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT
SPOT. HST AS A CONTRACT HOLDER
AND SO THEY HOLD THE CONTRACT
THAT HAS THE MASTER SERVICE
AGREEMENT WHICH WE CALL THE
MSA. AND IN THAT, IT OUTLINES
KIND OF WHAT THEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE TO DO. HAPPY TO
SHARE THAT WITH YOU. FOR THE
NSA FOR YOU TO LOOK AT.
>> WHEN YOU SAY INVOLVEMENT, IS
THERE A SPECIFIC ISSUE YOU ARE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT? AND
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH
INVOLVEMENT WITH KCRHA.
>> I THINK IT IS USUALLY KC RHA
THAT DOES THAT BUT YOU WERE
TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO WS
D.O.T.?
>> KC RJ HAS A CONTRACT WITH
D.O.T. FOR ENCAMPMENTS ON THE
WAY AND I BELIEVE IT IS
STATEWIDE OR I THINK THE
COUNTY. NOT STATEWIDE. AND
SEATTLE IS PART OF THAT. AND SO
IF AND WHEN WSDOT DECIDES THEY
WILL DISSOLVE AN ENCAMPMENT IN
SEATTLE ON THE PROPERTY, KCRJ
WOULD BE THE VEHICLE. BUT IT
IS A CONTACT CONTRACT BETWEEN
KCRHA IN THE STATE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> A COMMENT AND QUESTION. I
WANT TO STATE AND EMPHASIZE MY
STRONG SUPPORT FOR BETTER
ENABLING US AS A CITY TO MAKE
DATA INFORMED DECISIONS AND THE
PRINCIPAL FOR ME APPLIES UP
ACROSS THE BOARD. FOR EVERY
SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER COLLECT
DATA -- THE REASONS FOR THESE
VARIOUS CHALLENGES ARE COMPLEX
AND ARE MULTIFACETED . AND
SOME PEOPLE EXPENSING
HOMELESSNESS FOR EXAMPLE, ARE
SUFFERING FROM DEBILITATING
MENTAL HEALTH AND CODEPENDENCY
CHALLENGES OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUES. ALSO, MANY PEOPLE ARE
ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM
EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS. SOME
ARE JUST DOWN ON THEIR LUCK.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS. I
THINK THIS IS ONE AREA IN
PARTICULAR. WE HAVE A REALLY
RIPE OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER
COLLECT DATA AND BETTER MAKE
BETTER DATA INFORMED DECISIONS.
WILL NEGLECT THE DATA,
UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT
SOURCES AND DIMENSIONS, WE CAN
RUN ANALYTICS CAPABILITIES AND
USE SERVICES TO HELP US AGAIN
MAKE BETTER, AND BEEN WARMED
-- INFORMED DECISIONS. BETTER
PLANNING. BETTER OUTCOME. AND
YES, I ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE
SOME NOTABLE, POTENTIAL PRIVACY
AND SECURITY CHALLENGES WITH
COLLECTION OF CERTAIN DATA.
JUST BECAUSE THAT IS THE CASE
AND JUST BECAUSE IMPLEMENTATION
OF CERTAIN TECHNOLOGIES LIKE
ANALYTICS CAPABILITIES TO HELP
US MONITOR AND TRACK THE DATA,
THE SAME ISSUE APPLIES TO
VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES. IT
DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T USE
THEM OR ADOPT THEM. BUT AS
HAVE EFFECTIVE, SAFEGUARDS IN
PLACE TO CONTROL FOR THAT. WE
NEED STRONG DATA COLLECTION
CAPABILITIES TO HELP US MAKE
BETTER DATA INFORMED DECISIONS.
SO AGAINST THAT BACKDROP, WE
WANT TO DOUBLE CLICK ON A
COMMENT FROM A MOMENT AGO ABOUT
THIS WHOLE OPT IN APPROACH. OPT
IN OR OPT OUT. I'M HEARING --
IT SEEMS TO BE -- SEATTLE
SEEMS TO BE A UNIQUE OUTLIER.
IT IS A UNIQUE FEATURE OF OUR
SYSTEM IN SEATTLE. THE QUESTION
IS, WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC SOURCE
OF THAT OPT IN APPROACH AND
SEATTLE? IS IT A LEGAL
REQUIREMENT OR POLICY DECISION
AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL? WHAT
IS THE SOURCE OF THAT? AND IT
SOUNDS LIKE A HUGE BARRIER.
>> WASHINGTON STATE IS THE ONLY
STATE THAT HAS THE OPT IN
REQUIREMENT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
THEN I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE
TO HOLDER QUESTIONS. WE STILL
HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT TO
GET THROUGH. WE MIGHT HAVE TO
BRING YOU BACK.
>> THAT IS FINE.
>> YOU CAN TELL WE ARE ALL
VERY INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE.
I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF
COMMENTS AND THEN A QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH YOU
DEPUTY MAYOR. I'M A BIG
PROPONENT OF THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE OPTION. AND I ALSO --
AND I SAY AND, NOT BUT ON
PURPOSE, WE DO NEED TO
PRIORITIZE GETTING PEOPLE
INDOORS, WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE
ABLE TO -- THE GOAL IS THEIR
FIRST CHOICE BUT IF THAT IS NOT
AVAILABLE, WE NONETHELESS HAVE
TO GET FOLKS INDOORS. I AGREE
WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND I FEEL IT IS
INHUMANE TO LEAVE PEOPLE ON THE
STREET REGARDLESS. WE NEED TO
WORK TOWARD THAT. AND SO MY
QUESTION IS, ON SHELTER
CAPACITY, HOW MUCH IS COMING
ONLINE EVERY YEAR IF YOU HAVE
THAT INFORMATION? AND IF YOU DO
NOT, YOU CAN PROVIDED AT A
DIFFERENT TIME. WHAT END ROADS
ARE WE MAKING ON THE SHELTER
CAPACITY SIDE? AND WE KNOW IT
IS NOT JUST A CITY
RESPONSIBILITY. I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT THIS IS THE
COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY AND EVERY
CITY THAT IS PART OF THE COUNTY
REALLY NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED IN
THIS. WE DO KNOW THAT FOLKS
ARE COMING HERE FROM OTHER
CITIES BECAUSE THERE ARE SO
MANY SERVICES AND SEATTLE.
THAT IS NOT A SECRET. WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ENGAGING
WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY
PARTICIPATING IN GETTING PEOPLE
SHELTER.
>> THE FIRST QUESTION, HOW MANY
COME ONLINE EACH YEAR? GOOD
QUESTION. DON'T KNOW. CAN WE
GET BACK TO THAT? I WOULD ALSO
SAY TO THAT QUESTION, IS
BUILDING A BIGGER WAITING ROOM
IN THE HOSPITAL -- IT MAY NOT
NECESSARILY BE THE SOLUTION TO
THE PROBLEM. THROUGHPUT I
THINK IS THE SOLUTION TO THE
PROBLEM. GETTING THE WAITER
ROOM -- WAITING ROOM, PEOPLE
IN THEIR TRIAGED AND MOVED TO
PERMANENT HOUSING QUICKER SO
THAT THE SHELTER SPACE IS OPEN
AND MORE PEOPLE CAN COME IN.
WHAT WE HAVE REALLY, AND I'M
HAPPY TO GET YOU THE DATA LATER
BUT A THROUGHPUT ISSUE WHICH
IS A RESPONSIBILITY BUT THE
MAIN FOCUS IS LEADERSHIP
STABILITY. THEY CAN'T CHANGE
AN ENTIRE HOMELESSNESS SYSTEM
IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT
CEO SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW, TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA PATIENTS STATEMENT ABOUT
DATA. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED
MORE SHELTER. I DON'T KNOW IF
THE RESOLVE HAPPENS IF THE
SYSTEM IS WORKING THE WAY IT IS
SUPPOSED TO AND PEOPLE ARE
MOVING OUT AND THERE IS A
STANDARD. HUD HAS A STANDARD
TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE IN SHELTER BEFORE THEY
MOVE TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND
IF WE HAD CONSISTENT
THROUGHPUT, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
DO THE WORK WITH THE AMOUNT OF
SHELTER WE HAVE NOW AND I WILL
PASS IT TO ALI IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT.
>> NO. I THINK WHEN WE SPEAK
ABOUT PERMANENT HOUSING, IT IS
THE CONCEPT MOVING THROUGH THAT
THROUGHPUT.
>> DID THAT ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION?
>> YES AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW
MUCH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING WE ARE LACKING BECAUSE
OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS THE GOAL AND
THAT IS THE MOST HUGE PART,
COUPLED WITH THE SERVICES, THE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES. I'M
UNCLEAR ON THAT THROUGHPUT
PIECE, I'M CLEAR THAT IS THE
GOAL. I'M NOT CLEAR WHAT WE
NEED TO GET THERE. AND I KNOW
THAT IN BETWEEN IS THE
SHELTERING PIECE BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. AND I WILL
SAY IN GENERAL, ABOUT HOUSING,
WE ARE NOT BUILDING HOUSING
FAST ENOUGH OF ANY KIND
INCLUDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING AND I DON'T HAVE A
SENSE OF HOW MANY UNITS
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WE
ARE DOING YEARLY AND I KNOW
THAT DEVELOPMENT IS DOWN THIS
YEAR.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. I
WILL GET YOU THOSE NUMBERS AND
WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT IT AT ANOTHER TIME.
>> THANK YOU .
>> I WOULD REQUEST THAT ANY
FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION YOU
PROVIDE TO EVERYBODY ON THE
COMMITTEE AND THE HONORARY
COMMITTEE MEMBER TODAY.
>> YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED. I
WILL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE MORE
DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE?
>> THINK YOU.
>> YOU ARE TALKING TO ME.
>> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.
>> ACTUALLY, I THINK WE WILL
MOVE RIGHT INTO TALKING ABOUT
OUTREACH WITH CHRISTINA AND
KIND OF REMINDING EVERYONE THAT
WE TALKED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS
AND GENERAL AND WE ARE GOING TO
FOCUS ON THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM
OUTREACH MODEL AND WHERE WE ARE
WORKING ON IT IN THE AREA. I
WILL TURN IT TO CHRISTINA.
>> THANK YOU, ALI. THE ONLY
THOUGHT I HAVE TO ADD TO THE
SHELTER CONVERSATION IS THAT IN
THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE
SHELTER SYSTEM HAS CHANGED
QUITE A BIT AND SYSTEMS CHANGE
AND IT TAKES TOO LONG. WHEN
WE STARTED THIS WORK, WE WERE
WORKING WITH A LOT OF BASIC
SHELTERS WHICH WERE JUST
OVERNIGHT SHELTERS AND THE
SYSTEM HAS CHANGED TO BE
ENHANCED SHELTER WHICH OFFERS
CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING
NAVIGATION AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SUPPORT. AND WE HAVE
ADDED A LOT MORE TINY HOMES IN
THAT PROCESS. BUT HAS BEEN
OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS
THAT WE MADE THAT CHANGE AND I
THINK WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT
CHANGE IS NEEDED.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE
RECORD, IT IS NOT TINY HOMES. I
DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE
MAGIC BULLET. IT IS A DOOR WITH
A KEY THAT BELONGS TO SOMEONE.
SO THAT COULD BE CONTAINER
SHELTERS, MODULAR SHELTERS,
TINY HOMES AND PERMANENT
HOUSING.
>> WITH THAT SAID, I THINK
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH
INDIVIDUALS HELPS US UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE
ARE AND WHAT RESOURCES THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR AND WHAT RESOURCES
WE NEED MOST. OUTREACH PROVIDES
A CRITICAL ROLE WITH THE
UNIFIED CARE TEAM TO SUPPORT
THOSE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS TO CONNECT WITH
SERVICES AND ULTIMATELY TO MOVE
INDOORS. FOR MANY YEARS, THE
CITY HAS PARTNERED CLOSELY WITH
CONTRACTED OUTREACH PROVIDERS
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE
STRENGTHS AND EXPERTISE THAT
THEY BRING TO MANY ASPECTS OF
THE WORK. OVER THE YEARS,
THROUGH MANY CHANGES AND SHIFTS
IN THE SYSTEM, WE HAVE LEARNED
A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE OLD SHOT
-- UNSHELTERED COMMUNITY NEEDS
MOST AND HOW OUTREACH CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL. HAVING A CONSISTENT
PRESENCE IS KEY TO BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST THAT
MAKE OUTREACH MOST EFFECTIVE.
THIS WAS A HUGE CONSIDERATION
THAT HELPED TO INFORM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM MODEL THAT
WAS BUILT INTO THE UNIFIED CARE
TEAM LAST YEAR. THE MODEL IS
BASED ON HAVING THE SAME PEOPLE
WORKING IN THE SAME COMMUNITIES
EVERY WEEK, GAINING AN INTIMATE
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
UNIQUE NEEDS ARE OF THE PEOPLE
STAYING THERE. THIS IS A
CRITICAL ASPECT OF A PERSON
CENTERED APPROACH TO ENCAMPMENT
RESPONSE. WE NEED OUTREACH
PROVIDERS WHO REALLY KNOW THE
INDIVIDUALS AT ENCAMPMENTS,
WHETHER THEY ARE NEWLY UNHOUSED
OR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND
WHAT KIND OF SITUATION THEY ARE
DEALING WITH, WHAT THE SHORT
AND LONG-TERM GOALS ARE AND
WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES THEY
NEED. WE WANT OUTREACH THEY
CAN STAY ENGAGED WITH FOLKS
WEEK OVER WEEK AS WE WORK TO
BRING THEM INDOORS AND AS HE
WORKED TO RESOLVE ENCAMPMENTS
AND RESTORE PUBLIC SPACES.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
BEAU BAUGHMAN TO SHARE MORE
ABOUT UCT'S EFFORT TO MAKE
SPACES CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE.
>> TRASH MITIGATION AT WORK
ENCAMPMENTS IN PUBLIC SPACES IS
DONE BY MULTIPLE CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND COORDINATION IS
CAPTURED THROUGH DATA
INFRASTRUCTURE. ACROSS THREE
DEPARTMENTS, THE UCT ADDRESSES
TRASH IN ENCAMPMENTS, AROUND
RVS AND IN PUBLIC SPACES
INCLUDING HYGIENE SUPPORT. IN
2023, THERE WAS A STEADY
DECREASE IN THE POUNDAGE OF
DEBRIS REMOVED FROM CAMPING
SITES IN PUBLIC SPACES WHILE
THE NUMBER OF CLEANINGS
INCREASED, POTENTIALLY
ATTRIBUTABLE TO A SHIFT FROM
LARGE CLEANUPS INCLUDING SITES
WITH SIGNIFICANT ILLEGAL
DUMPING TO MORE REGULAR
MAINTENANCE. COORDINATED TRASH
MITIGATION EFFORTS HELP TO
PREVENT EXCESSIVE TRASH
ACCUMULATION AND PUBLIC SPACES
AND RESULT IN A DECREASE IN THE
AMOUNT OF TRASH THAT NEEDS TO
BE REMOVED OR NEEDS CLEANING.
>> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO TOM
TANAKA ACTIVATING PUBLIC
SPACES.
>> A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
ACTIVATION. IT IS BASICALLY
ENCOURAGING ACTIVITIES OR DOING
THINGS IN SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN
RESOLVED AND ENCOURAGING THE
PUBLIC SPACE TO BE RETURNED TO
ITS ORIGINAL INTENT AND AND
BRINGING UP BILLING A PUBLIC
SAFETY. TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE
BACK TO THOSE SPACES. WHAT
MAKES IT SUCCESSFUL ACTIVATION
IS NUMBER ONE, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT OR COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT. THOSE ARE THE
SPACES WHERE IT CAN BE THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WHEN THE COMMUNITY
HAS AN IDEA AND WANTS TO BE
INVOLVED. THAT IS WHERE THE
ACTIVE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES AT
THE UCT CAN BE THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WITH HELPING THEM GET
THEIR PROJECTS COMPLETED . AND
THE OTHER PART IS, KEEPING THE
COMMUNICATION OPEN, HAVING
REGULAR CHECK INS, SO THAT
EVERYONE IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR WORKING THROUGH THE
PROCESS. WHAT IS THE ACTIVATION
LOOK LIKE? IS CONNECTING
COMMUNITY WITH EXISTING
PROGRAMS THE CITY HAS TO OFFER
LIKE ADOPTIVE STREET. AND THAT
LEVERAGES ALREADY FUNDED
PROGRAMS AND KEEPS US FROM
HAVING TO ASK FOR MORE FUNDS
FOR DOING SPECIFIC THINGS THAT
MAY BE WERE ALREADY DOING. SO
EXTRACTING THEM INTO THESE
PROGRAMS AND LEVERAGING WHAT WE
ALREADY HAVE GOING.
>> WHAT THE SLIDE SHOWS IS
MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT
ARE MEMBERS OF THE UCT . AND
THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE IN
DOING ACTIVATION , USING THE
ONE SEATTLE APPROACH. IT IS THE
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THESE
DEPARTMENTS THAT REALLY MAKE
THE ACTIVATION EFFECTIVE FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT IS WHEN
ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS CAN LEAN
IN AND DO DIFFERENT BITS OF THE
WORK. AS YOU CAN SEE, I WILL
JUST MENTION A COUPLE. ONE OF
MY FAVORITES IS THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THE
CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALIST. IT
HAS THE CRIME PREVENTION
THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN .
THIS IS A BONUS FOR THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVING ISSUES
WITH PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS OR
FEELINGS OF PUBLIC SAFETY
CONCERNS THAT WE CAN HAVE AS PD
EXPERTS, AND TALK TO THEM AT
WORK WITH THEM. WE WILL DO THAT
IN COORDINATION WITH THEM AND
DOING OTHER THINGS ON THEIR
PROPERTY.
>> RESTORATION OF GREEN
SPACES, WORKING ON PEDESTRIAN
FRIENDLY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS THAT
THEY DO TO WORK ON THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY. AND DAWN HELPS
US WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AND IMPROVING THE PROJECTS. WE
WILL BE RELYING ON THEM TO HELP
US EXPAND OUT THE ACTIVITIES.
>> I THINK IT IS GOING BACK TO
ALI.
>> THANK YOU, TOM. IF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS DON'T KNOW TOM
ALREADY, THEY PROBABLY WILL
SOON. BECAUSE TOM IS ACROSS THE
CITY WORKING WITH BUSINESSES
AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE WORK
WE DO AND RELAYING MESSAGES.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU
DO.
>> THE NEXT SECTION WE WILL GO
OVER QUICKLY. THE DEPUTY MAYOR
TALKED ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD TEAMS
AND HOW THAT WAS FULLY AND
PLUMMETED AT THE END OF LAST
AND WE WILL BE BRINGING OUT
MORE INFORMATION ON THOSE
RATINGS THIS YEAR. BASED ON A
PILOT, WE KNOW THAT WHEN A
COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AND
ENGAGED, THEY ARE WILLING TO
WAIVE AND UNDERSTAND THE
PROCESS AND THE PERSON CENTERED
WAY WE ARE DOING THIS. THERE
OUR GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AS YOU CAN
SEE ON THE MAP. AND WE WILL GO
AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS THE TEAM. AGE
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THE EXACT SAME
STAFF AND WE REALIZE THAT
TEAMS, WHEN THEY WORK CITYWIDE,
IT IS THIS HARD TO TRACK. WE
HAVE A REGIONAL MANAGER. THAT
IS BEAU BAUGHMAN, AND DARIUS
WITH SDOT BACK HERE. NORTH AND
SOUTH. AND THEY COORDINATE
EVERYTHING IN THOSE THREE
NEIGHBORHOODS. TWO IN THE NORTH
AND ONE SOUTH. THE REGIONAL
COORDINATOR IS WORKING WITH
CHRISTINA AND THAT IS REALLY
THE OUTREACH. NOT ONLY DID THEY
HELP PROVIDE OUTREACH AT THE
TIMES THEY ARE THERE BUT THEY
ARE COORDINATING WITH THE
CONTRACTED OF OUTREACH. SO THE
QUESTION WAS, HOW DO WE ENGAGE?
CHRISTINA PATIENTS TEAM AND
ENSURES ARE NOT ONLY WITH THE
CONTRACTED OUTREACH BUT AS WELL
AS ALL THE OTHER CONTRACT,
CONTRACTOR PROVIDERS OUT THERE
WORKING TOGETHER. THE FIELD
COORDINATORS ARE OUT THERE.
THEY ARE ON THE GROUND AND DO
INSPECTIONS. THEY ARE THERE AND
OFTEN NO PEOPLE THERE TOO.
OFTEN, WHEN A QUESTION IS
ASKED, WE SEE THIS AND THAT.
AND THREE YEARS AGO -- SO TOM
IS CITYWIDE. THIS IS WHY
PERTAINS TO ALL OF YOU. WE
HAVE THE CONTRACTED OUTREACH
THROUGH KCRHA AS YOU MENTIONED
AND THEN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
A MAINTENANCE WORKER. WHEN
THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE EVERY
TIME, WE CAN BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WE KNOW
THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD COULD
BE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT MORE
SPACES FOR RVS TO GO IN THE
SOUTH AND THE SOUTHWEST AREAS
WHICH IS A VERY DIFFERENT
RESPONSE THAT WE NEED MAY BE UP
NORTH AND NORTHEAST. MORE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARKS AND
AREAS. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT
HOW THAT IS GOING THIS YEAR.
>> REALLY QUICK, COMMITTEE
CHAIR, TIME CHECK, HOW MUCH
LONGER DO WE HAVE?
>> I WOULD SAY WE HAVE 15
MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO SHARE SOME
HIGHLIGHTS OF LAST YEAR AND THE
WORK THAT WE DO. SO THIS ONE
IS REALLY, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF
THE WORK IN 2023. AND I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS ROBUST
DATA SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE , HAS
REALLY ALLOWED -- WHEN I WAS
ON THE NAVIGATION TEAM, THERE
WAS NO ABILITY TO GIVE THESE
NUMBERS AND UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT WE HAVE. I'M VERY
IMPRESSED BY THE SYSTEM THAT
WAS BUILT. YOU CAN SEE NOT ONLY
THE 41,000 SERVICE REQUESTS NOW
THAT ARE PROCESSED BY OUR TWO
FOLKS. 24% DECREASE IN TENTS
FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER AND
ALMOST 6 MILLION POUNDS OF
DEBRIS MOVED ACROSS THE CITY
FOR CLEANING. AND WITH THAT, WE
SAW 20% INCREASE AND SHELTER
REFERRALS IN 2023. WE WILL TALK
MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THAT. WE
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU SOME
OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM
2023 .
>> I WILL TURN IT TO BEAU
BAUGHMAN TO TALK A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT TRENDS OVER THE CITY.
>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE CITY
DEPARTMENTS THAT MANAGE THE
TENT AND RB. DARIUS FOSTER AT
SDOT AND CURTIS WRIGHT AT SPU
AND CHRISTINA KORPI WITH HST.
THE CHARTS ARE LOOKING AT, THEY
SHOW THE OVERALL POSITIVE
IMPACT IN THE CITY FOR UCT.
FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER OF
2023, THERE WERE 24% DECREASES
IN THE NUMBER OF TENTS AND RB
SAW A 51% DECREASE. YOU WILL
SEE IT FROM JULY TO SEPTEMBER
AS WELL AS ANOTHER INCREASE IN
DECEMBER. WE KNOW THE WARMER
MONTHS, INDIVIDUALS LIKE TO
STAY OUTSIDE. THE LAST
DECEMBER WAS AN INCREASE
ESPECIALLY FROM LARGE SCHEDULED
RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE OF HOLIDAY
STAFFING. RIGHT NOW THE UCT IS
WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE
STACKING LEVELS ALLOW US TO
KEEP THE SAME LEVEL OF
ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE
HOLIDAYS AND IN 2024. WE EXPECT
THERE WILL BE FLUCTUATIONS IN
TENT COUNTS OVER TIME BUT WE
ALSO EXPECT TO SEE THE
CONTINUED PROGRESS TO BRING THE
NUMBERS DOWN OVER TIME. RV
COUNTS -- EXCUSE ME, THE
ACCOUNTS OF THE RVS ARE THOSE
IDENTIFIED AT THE TIME OF
INSPECTION AND OFTEN WITH THE
HELP OF PARKING INSPECTION. WE
KNOW THAT RVS MOVE TO OTHER
LOCATIONS. WITH THE NEW DATA
SYSTEM IN PLACE, WE ARE ABLE TO
REVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD DATA AND
UNDERSTAND HOW UCT CAN ENSURE
WE ARE BEING RESPONSIVE TO EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD'S INDIVIDUAL
NEEDS. TWO YEARS AGO, THIS IS
SOMETHING WE WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO. AS A REMINDER,
THE DATA YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS
FROM THE 2023 DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES. AS AN EXAMPLE, WE
KNOW THAT MANY OF THE RVS ARE
IN THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD. IN THE FUTURE,
YOU WILL SEE THE DATA AND THE
NEW BOUNDARIES. AS MENTIONED
EARLIER, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
REQUIRING DIFFERENT UCT
RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES. WE
SAW THE RISE IN TENTS AND THE
NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH
WAS REPPERT DOES RAPID GROWTH.
AND THEN WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE
IN A SPECIFIC APPROACH FOR THIS
AREA. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT
PIECES OF BRINGING TENT AND RV
COUNTS DOWN HIS OUTREACH AND
MOVING PEOPLE INSIDE.
CHRISTINA WILL TALK NEXT ABOUT
UCT PROGRESS.
>> THANK YOU. WE TOUCHED ON A
LOT OF THIS EARLIER. THE
REFERRALS THAT ARE REPRESENTED
IN GREEN HERE ARE UP BY OVER
1000 SINCE 2021. THAT IS AN 83%
INCREASE. A REFERRAL IS WHEN
SOMEBODY SAYS YES TO SHELTER
AND WE HAVE A SPECIFIC BED
AVAILABLE FOR THEM. SHELTER
ENROLLMENT REPRESENTED IN BLUE
ARE UP BY NEARLY 400. THAT IS A
68% INCREASE OVER 2021.
ENROLLMENT IS WHEN AN
INDIVIDUAL COMPLETES AN INTAKE
AT THE SHELTER. THE ENROLLMENT
DATA IS COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE
ARE OFTEN ASKED HOW MANY OF THE
PEOPLE THAT WERE REFERRED TO
SHELTER ACTUALLY WENT INSIDE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT AN
EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER. IN
WASHINGTON, IT IS REQUIRED FOR
HOMELESS SYSTEMS TO ASK
PARTICIPANTS IF THEY WOULD LIKE
TO OPT IN SHARING MULTIPLE
PERSONAL IDENTIFIERS WHICH
MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MATCH
REFERRAL DATA WITH ENROLLMENT
DATA. COMING OUT OF THE
PANDEMIC, THERE WERE SHIFTS
AWAY FROM BASIC SHELTER, AS WE
TALKED ABOUT. AND WITH THE
CITY PATIENTS AND KIM AND
RESPOND TO BECOMING MORE
COORDINATED WITH THE ROLLOUT OF
THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM, WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY MAKE
MORE REFERRALS TO SHELTER.
BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE
MORE REFERRALS, WE ARE SEEING
AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT.
OVERALL, SEEING AN INCREASE IN
BOTH REFERRALS AND ENROLLMENT
MEANS WE ARE SUCCESSFULLY
GETTING MORE PEOPLE INDOORS.
I'M GOING TO PASS IT BACK TO
THE DEPUTY MAYOR FOR THE OTHER
POSITIVE DATA WE SAW IN 2023.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TWO MORE
SLIDES AND WE ARE DONE SO WE
MADE TIME. I REFERENCED THIS
EARLIER. SOME OF THE YEAR END
2023 DATA ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
METRICS ASSOCIATED WITH
ENCAMPMENTS. AND SO, IN 2022,
THERE WERE 116 SHOTS FIRED AND
IN 2023, 69 , THAT IS A 41%
DECREASE. WE SAW A 16% DECREASE
WITH FIRES AND WE DID SEE A 7%
INCREASE WITH MEDICAL RESPONSE
CALLS WHICH WE ATTRIBUTE TO THE
FENTANYL CRISIS. AND WE DO
THINK THAT THE NUMBER WILL
EITHER MAINTAIN OR SLIGHTLY
INCREASE. AND SO IN CLOSING, I
DO WANT TO, AS YOU SEE, THERE
ARE 2024 PRIORITIES THAT
DIRECTOR PETERS AND HER TEAM
ARE COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON.
I WON'T READ ALL OF THEM. YOU
CAN SEE THE BOLD ONES THERE.
STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM
MODELS. THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY. THAT ALL OF YOU CAN
SAY, AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WE
KNOW WHO OUR OUTREACH WORKERS
ARE. WE KNOW WHO THE REGIONAL
MANAGER IS AND WE KNOW WHO THE
FIELD COORDINATORS ARE AND
HOPEFULLY, PEOPLE WILL START TO
TALK TO THEM DIRECTLY AND THEY
DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO
GO TO THE FIND IT FIX IT UP FOR
INFORMATION. IT IS A HEFTY
GOAL BUT I THINK WE CAN DO IT
TOGETHER. I THINK THE MORE IN
PERSON ON THE GROUND APPROACH
IS THE WAY. WE WILL EVALUATE
OURSELVES AT THE END OF THE
YEAR, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, USING
DATA AND THEN SET GOALS FOR
2025 TO JUST CONTINUE TO GET
BETTER . WE WILL ALSO ENSURE,
LIKE I SAID, THE CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENTS WILL GO ON. THE
MAYOR HAS COMMITTED TO BEING
TRANSPARENT WITH DATA. WE ARE
NOT GOING TO HIDE IT. GOOD,
BAD OR UGLY. THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS BAD DATA. I THINK THE
THING THAT IS BAD IS AN
UNWILLINGNESS TO MOVE ORDER TO
TRY DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN YOU
SEE SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING.
AND SO THANKS TO ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES HERE. THAT IS THE
END .
>> WE HAVE A FEW MORE
QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO, DID YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU
DO. I ADMIRE YOUR TEAM AND
YOUR EFFORTS. EVOLUTION OF HOW
THE TEAM HAS COME TO BE. I HAVE
TWO QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS
STAFFING AND OUTREACH. I
NOTICED THAT WHEN I HAVE A
VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT GOES OUT
TO ENCAMPMENTS, DURING THE DAY
AND IN THE EVENINGS, THEY FIND
THEY ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT
GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT THEY
ENCOUNTER BECAUSE SOMETIMES
PEOPLE DO HAVE JOBS OR THEY
KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GO DURING
THE DAY TO STAY WARM, OR GET
MEALS AND FOOD. DO WE HAVE
STAFF ON THE EVENINGS AND
WEEKENDS? AND DO YOU SEE MORE
OF AN EXPANSION IN THOSE AREAS?
>> YES AND NO. I THINK THE
BEHAVIORS CHANGE AT NIGHT AS
WELL. I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND,
PARTICULARLY THIRD AVENUE AND
OTHER PLACES THAT NIGHT I WOULD
SAY, AND WE WILL BRING THIS
INFORMATION. THE WE DELIVER
CARE TEAM IS OUT, OUT OF ALL
THE CITY OUTREACH TEAMS AND I
WOULD SAY THEY CO- LEAD. THEY
ARE OUT THE LATEST IN THE
EVENING THAN ANY OF THE OTHER
OUTREACH WORKERS AND I THINK
THAT THE CORE ISSUE THERE IS
SAFETY. AND SO AS WE INCREASE
SAFETY IN TERMS OF FOLKS TO BE
IN THEIR CARS DOWN THE STREET
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN WE
CAN INCREASE THE HOURS. I
THINK A LOT OF THE WORKERS
THEMSELVES DON'T FEEL SAFE
BEING OUT CERTAIN HOURS OF THE
NIGHT. "WE DELIVER CARE" IS A
UNIQUE GROUP OF PEOPLE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND
THEIR PARTICULAR SKILL SET IS
DE-ESCALATION. AND SO THEY ARE
TRAINED ON HOW TO CALM
SITUATIONS. WE CAN TALK ABOUT
HOW TO MAYBE UTILIZE THAT
APPROACH WITH THE TWO OUTREACH
PROVIDERS THROUGH THE OUTREACH
RFP. WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUY
MORE OUTREACH AIR HOURS FOR
NIGHTTIME.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT.
AND NO RESOURCES ARE HARD. IN
THE EVENINGS, THERE IS NOT MUCH
THERE. THE TEAM IS CONSTANTLY
OUT CALLING SHELTERS ASKING IF
THERE IS SPACE OPEN AND TRYING
TO SEND PEOPLE. SO IT WOULD BE
GREAT TO SEE MORE OUTREACH,
ENGAGEMENT STAFFING IN THE
EVENING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE
LATE HOURS LIKE 9:00 OR 10:00
P.M..
>> WITH IMPROVED
COMMUNICATIONS, I KNOW THERE IS
A ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION
SOMETIMES THERE ARE PROTESTS. I
HAVE SEEN THAT. PLAIN
CLOTHING OFFICERS WILL BE
PRESENT. MOST OF THE TIME,
THEY DON'T ATTEND THESE
BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF
INTERACTIONS DURING PROTESTS OR
INTERACTIONS WITH RESIDENTS, ON
HOUSE RESIDENTS. IS THERE A
PLAN GOING FORWARD ON HOW TO
MITIGATE SOME OF THAT DURING
THE RESOLUTIONS?
>> WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE THE ART
TEAM. THERE ARE SPECIALIZED
OFFICERS THAT GO TO ALL
ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTIONS. WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS, IN MY EXPERIENCE,
THE ISSUES ARE 98% TIMED WITH
PROTESTERS AND NOT THE ACTUAL
PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHOUSED AT THE
SITE. AND OFTEN TIMES, THE ART
OFFICERS ARE THERE TO MAINTAIN
THE CROWD SO THAT THE FOLKS
LIVING IN THE SHELTER CAN PACK
THEIR BELONGINGS AND MOVE. WE
DO HAVE POLICE THAT SHOW UP TO
EVERY SINGLE ENCAMPMENT
REMOVAL.
>> DO YOU GENERALLY NOT SHARED
DATES AND TIMES OF RESOLUTIONS
AS THE REASON WHY?
>> YES. WE WANT TO DETRACT
FROM PEOPLE ORGANIZING AND
SENDING PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE
SITES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANKS. YOU KNOW ALREADY
HOW MUCH I HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
TREATMENT, RECOVERY, ET CETERA.
SINCE I CAME TO OFFICE, I HAVE
LEARNED FROM HOMELESSNESS
ADVOCATES INCLUDING MARKDOWNS
AND OTHER PEOPLE STEEPED IN
THIS ISSUE, THAT ADDICTION IS
NOT A CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS BUT
RATHER A RESULT. AND I HAVE NO
REASON NOT TO BELIEVE THAT OR
AGREE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, I
HAVE COME TO LOOK AT OUR AND
ABILITY TO RESOLVE ENCAMPMENTS
AS COMPLICITY IN INCREASING
ADDICTION BECAUSE IF PEOPLE ARE
IN ENCAMPMENTS, THEY ARE THEN
NEAR DRUG DEALING, DESPAIR AND
SEX TRAFFICKING. WE HAVE A
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE
ENCAMPMENTS FOR THAT REASON
ALONE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
OUTREACH, WHAT IS IT REALLY
SUPPOSED TO DO? WHEN I HEAR YOU
SAY -- YOU SAID EARLIER THAT
WE WANT THE OUTREACH PROVIDERS
TO STAY ENGAGED WEEK AFTER WEEK
AND WE HEAR THAT THEY MEET
PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT TO
BUILD TRUST. TOWARD WHAT END?
IF WE ARE JUST BUILDING TRUST
SO THEY CAN STAY IN THESE
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS EXACTLY,
WHAT IS THE PROGRAMMATIC GOAL
OF THE OUTREACH INVESTMENTS ?
AND FINALLY, WHEN YOU SAID
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE IN LANDIS
WITH ALL THOSE OUTREACH
PROVIDERS. WE DON'T KNOW WHO
THEY ARE AND WE DON'T HOLD THE
CONTRACT SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY ARE DOING OR WHAT THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. BUT I
KNOW THAT WHEN BUDGET TIME
COMES AROUND AND REACH
COORDINATORS YELL STOP THE
SWEEP AND THEY ARE MAKING IT
EASIER TO STAY IN THESE
DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS, --
MAYBE WE CAN TAKE THAT OFF
LINE. BUT THEIR NEEDS TO BE AN
OUTCOME THAT IS ARTICULATE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INVESTMENT
IS TRYING TO PRODUCE.
>> ON YOUR FIRST POINT, I
WOULD SAY THAT IT GOES BOTH
WAYS. SOME PEOPLE BECOME
ADDICTED TO DRUGS BECAUSE OF
HOMELESSNESS AND SOME PEOPLE
BECOME HOMELESS. MY LIVED
EXPERIENCE, AND I KNOW THERE
ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED
EXPERIENCE. MY PERSON HAS A
PLACE TO GO. IT IS MY HOUSE.
AND THAT PERSON CHOOSES TO LIVE
UNSHELTERED BECAUSE THEY DON'T
WANT TO FOLLOW THE RULES WHICH
IS YOU CANNOT USE DRUGS IN MY
HOUSE. AND SO I TRIED TO NOT
COME UP WITH A REASON WHY
EVERYBODY USES DRUGS BECAUSE IT
IS MASSIVE. TRAUMA. SOME
PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD
TO LIVE OUTSIDE, TURNED TO
DRUGS AS A WAY TO SELF MEDICATE
BECAUSE THEY ARE TERRIFIED AND
THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE PAIN
AND SOME PEOPLE COME TO THE
STREETS ALREADY ADDICTED. IN
TERMS OF OUTREACH TO WHAT END,
THAT IS WHAT WE WILL TRY TO
FIX. THROUGH THIS RFP. THE
OUTREACH MAIN GOAL, IF DONE
CORRECTLY AND THERE ARE A LOT
OF AGENCIES THAT DO IT
CORRECTLY, IS TO HELP PEOPLE
REACH PERMANENCY. IT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT. I WAS AN OUTREACH
WORKER FOR GUN VIOLENCE AND
HIGH RISK YOUTH. IT IS BECAUSE
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOU. THEY
WON'T ACCEPT HELP FROM YOU.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE CASE.
OUTREACH IS SUPPOSED TO LOWER
THE BARRIERS AND MAKE SURE THE
PERSON TRUSTS THEM SO THEY CAN
THEN GET THEM TO SHELTER. AND
WHEN THEY ARE IN SHELTER, THERE
ARE CASE MANAGERS THERE TO
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM
AND GET THEM TO PERMANENCY. IF
THAT PERSON GETS BETWEEN
SHELTER AND PERMANENCY OR THEY
FALL BACK INTO HOMELESSNESS,
THE OUTREACH WORKER SHOULD BE
NOTIFIED AND GO RIGHT BACK OUT
THERE TO FIND THE PERSON AND
GET THEM BACK IN. IT IS A
CRITICAL PART IN THE
HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN
UNABLE TO QUANTIFY OR QUALIFY
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WE
WILL DO A BETTER JOB THROUGH
THIS PROCESS THAT YOU YOURSELF
WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN, TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE CAPTURING THE DATA
THAT WOULD DISPLAY THE WORK IN
A WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN
UNDERSTAND AND SEE PROGRESS .
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR. THANK
YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING US
TODAY AND SHARING THIS REALLY
THOUGHTFUL AND INSIGHTFUL
PRESENTATION. REALLY HELPFUL
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THIS REALLY CRITICAL
WORK THAT IMPACTS A LOT OF
PEOPLE AND IN PROFOUND WAYS.
I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR
YOU ALL AND THE WORK THAT YOU
ALL DO IN THIS AREA AND YOUR
RESPECTIVE TEAMS. AND ALSO
REAFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO
LOOKING AT THIS CHALLENGE
HOLISTICALLY. LIKE THE FOCUS
OF TODAY'S BRIEFING
COINCIDENTALLY IS MORE ON WHAT
PEOPLE -- WITH PEOPLE
EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS, HOW DO
WE BETTER TAKE CARE OF THEM?
BUT ALSO, LIKE I MENTIONED
EARLIER, ACKNOWLEDGE AND HAVE
GOOD PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND
PROGRAMS AND INTERVENTIONS AS
WELL. AND TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
DON'T END UP EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS TO BEGIN WITH.
BUT PREVENTION IS IMPORTANT AND
GOING UPSTREAM IS VERY
IMPORTANT. BUT WE ARE NOT
GOING TO ROUTE CARLOS OUR WAY
OUT OF THIS NOR UPSTREAM OUR
WAY OUT OF THIS EITHER. WE
CANNOT JUST HANG OUR HATS ON
UPSTREAM AND PREVENTION AND
GIVE EACH OTHER HIGH FIVES AND
SNAP AND SAY THAT IS THE END
ALL BE ALL AND WILL SOLVE ALL
THE CHALLENGES. WE NEED TO TAKE
BETTER CARE OF OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS. WE NEED A MORE
COMPASSIONATE APPROACH. AND
THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR
HUMANITY AND THE BASIC DIGNITY
THAT EVERYONE DESERVES. AND
THAT IS WHY THE WORK YOU WILL
DO IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. SO
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT. I
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT --
THERE IS A PENDING CASE BEFORE
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, THE
GRANTS PASS CASE I BELIEVE AND
IT IS LIKELY TO HAVE A DECISION
ANNOUNCED LATER THIS YEAR, JUNE
SOMETIME. AND THERE IS A NINTH
CIRCUIT DECISION IN BOISE THAT
WAS FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO
HELD AND I UNDERSTAND -- LIKE,
BEFORE CITIES FORCE PEOPLE OUT
AND ENFORCED CAMPING BANS,
THEY MUST OFFER THEM SHELTER
WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SINCE.
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT
THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENT CURRENTLY IN PLACE,
WE ARE NOT BOUND TO THAT AS A
CITY IN POLICY STANDPOINT AND I
THINK IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO
THAT. WE KNOW HOMELESSNESS IS A
REGIONAL PROBLEM AND A COUNTY
PROBLEM AND A STATE AND FEDERAL
PROBLEM. DECISIONS WE MAKE IN
SEATTLE DON'T JUST EXIST IN A
SEATTLE ONLY BUBBLE DESPITE
SOME PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF
THAT AND SAME THING FROM SOME
OF THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AND
ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE
REGION. AND THIS IS A REALLY
COMPLEX CHALLENGE. WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT -- THE
RULING COULD GO DOES THE
PENDING RULING COULD GO A
NUMBER OF WAYS. AS I UNDERSTAND
IT, IT IS TEED UP TO BE
RESOLVED OR ADDRESSED. THE
SUPREME COURT IS LIKELY TO
ADDRESS THE DEBITED MERITS OF
THE CASE. BUT THEY COULD
CHOOSE TO DEFLECT ON PROCEDURAL
GROUNDS AND OTHER THINGS. TWO
BASIC OPTIONS IF THEY RULE ON
THE MERITS. OVERRULE, REVERSE
OR UPHOLD. AND HOW ARE WE
THINKING AS FAR AS CONTINGENCY
PLANNING OR THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT OF THE RULING AND WHAT
IT MIGHT BE ON SEATTLE AND
DEMAND OR NOT FOR FOR THE
BROADER CHALLENGE.? HAVE WE
THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN ANY WAY?
HAVE THEY DONE ANY CONTINGENCY
PLANNING.? HOW ARE WE THINKING
ABOUT THAT PENDING DECISION?
>> I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE THE
CITY ATTORNEY SET UP HERE. I
WOULDN'T WANT TO MISS UP THE
CASE. I THINK SEATTLE IN
GENERAL MAGICALLY,
INTENTIONALLY, THE MDARS ARE
PRETTY STRICT. I FEEL GOOD
ABOUT THE RULES WE HAVE IN
PLACE. BUT IN TERMS OF ANYTHING
ELSE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO ZIP
MY LIPS. BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY
IS UP-TO-DATE AND I HAVE
REFERRED A LOT OF
COUNCILMEMBERS. THEY WILL COME
TO YOUR OFFICE AND WALK YOU
THROUGH THAT. AND I HIGHLY
RECOMMEND. IF YOU WANT ONE OF
MY FOLKS TO JOIN, WE ARE HAPPY
TO DO THAT TOO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> IN TERMS OF THIS, IS THE
CITY CONSIDERING TALKING TO THE
LEGISLATURE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES
ON THE OPT IN, TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO GET THE DATA WE NEED?
IS THAT SOMETHING ON THE TABLE
?
>> I HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT
YET. WHAT COMES WITH THE DATA
WE DIDN'T HAVE IS THIS ABILITY
TO SEE EVERYTHING CLEARLY AND
HOWL EVERYTHING -- ONE THING
IMPACTS ANOTHER. I HAVEN'T
TALKED OR BROUGHT IT UP
SPECIFICALLY TO THE MAYOR BUT
WE CAN TALK OFF-LINE.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS JUST
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY
IN THE WORK WE ARE DOING.
>> IF WE ARE THE ONLY STATE.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT. AND ON THE
PRIORITIZATION, SITE
PRIORITIZATION, ARE THESE FOR
TENTS AND RVS? OR JUST TENTS
ON THE SCORING?
>> IT INCLUDES TENTS, RVS,
BOTH.
>> ONE THING I NOTICED IS
COMMUNITY CENTERS AREN'T
SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT HERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS
PURPOSEFUL.
>> PROBABLY WITH AN ITERATION.
>> THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO
MAKE A COMMENT ON THE REGIONAL
COUNTY PIECE THAT BOTH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND I
RAISED EARLIER. SOUND TRANSIT
IS ANOTHER HUGE PIECE OF THIS.
WE ARE SEEING FOLKS BEING MOVED
FROM THE STREET INTO LIGHT RAIL
AND THAT IS CAUSING ISSUES ON
THE LIGHT RAIL. SO THIS IS
ANOTHER EXAMPLE . WE NEED TO
WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS BECAUSE
WE DON'T WANT TO
UNINTENTIONALLY CREATE A
PROBLEM IN ANOTHER AREA. I
KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS, WITH THE
RECENT SHOOTING IN THE LIGHT
RAIL, FOLKS ARE REALLY AFRAID
TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING AND
THERE IS A NEED BECAUSE WE ARE
GROWING IN POPULATION TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE WORKING
WITH OUR PARTNERS. I IMAGINE
THE CITY IS WORKING WITH SOUND
TRANSIT ON THIS AND SO I WANT
TO CALL THAT OUT AS ANOTHER
ENTITY THAT NEEDS TO HAVE
STRONG PARTNERSHIP. I JUST
WANT TO OFFER -- TOM AND I KNOW
EACH OTHER. TOM IS DOING GREAT
WORK. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. I
WILL SAY THAT YOU ARE ONE
PERSON FOR ALL THE CITY. HOW
CAN WE ALL HELP WITH COMMUNITY
AND CONSTITUENTS AND OUR
RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS ON GETTING THEN
THE INFORMATION AND BEING A
PARTNER IN GETTING THE
INFORMATION OUT TO
CONSTITUENTS. TO THE POINT YOU
MADE EARLIER, FOLKS WANT TO
KNOW, THAT THE ENCAMPMENT, OR
THE RV OR THE UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS THEY ARE WORRIED
ABOUT, OR SOMEONE IS ADDRESSING
THE NEED, THEY WILL BE PATIENT.
SO THIS IS MORE OF AN OFFER
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER
AND MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING
INFORMATION OUT TO THE
CONSTITUENTS.
>> WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE TOMS
AND I HAVE ASKED IF WE CAN
SHRINK THE SIZE OF THE REGIONS
BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY LARGE
AND ALL OF THAT COST MONEY. AND
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE ALL THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. I WILL BRAG ON
TOM AND WHY WE NEED TO
DUPLICATE HIS WORK. HE JUST WAS
NOMINATED. WHAT WERE YOU
NOMINATED FOR, TOM? INTO THE
MICROPHONE .
>> IT WAS THE FREMONT CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE . THEY HAVE A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OF ORDERS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> I WILL BE ACCEPTING THAT ON
BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM.
>> CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK
YOU DEPUTY MAYOR. I WILL SAY
THAT I KNOW THESE RESOURCES ARE
LIMITED SO MY OFFER STANDS ON,
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO HELPING
GET THE WORD OUT TO
CONSTITUENTS. AND IN GENERAL,
BROADLY, I WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SIT
TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE
GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
THAT WILL BE THE LAST QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THE CONVERSATION IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME AND I WILL
PROBABLY JUST SEND QUESTIONS TO
FOLLOW-UP. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL REMEMBER TO ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS FOR THE WHOLE
GROUP. WE WILL SEND THE ANSWERS
TO EVERYONE HERE. THANK YOU.
>> ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE,
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. I KNOW WE TOOK YOUR
VALUABLE TIME BUT IT IS AN
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US AND IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY, THE
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE. I SHOULD
SAY THE RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE.
THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND
IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE. AND
WHEN I WENT ON THE DRIVE TO THE
DISTRICT, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH
THE SENSITIVITY, THAT THESE ARE
DIFFICULT ISSUES. AND THE
COMMENTS TRYING TO ESTABLISH
RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS
TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY
OF EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU
COME INTO CONTACT WITH AND
TRYING TO CREATE THAT LEVEL OF
TRUST AND DO AN ASSESSMENT
ABOUT WHAT THE NEED IS, AND IT
IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE. AND IT
IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IS SO
POLARIZING AND OUR CITY. MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT YOU
ARE DOING THE WORK HUMANELY AND
IT IS NOT PERFECT AND THERE IS
A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
AS ONE SEATTLE, WE CAN GET
THERE. I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN
GET THERE. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. AS WE TRANSITION,
MADAME CLERK, IF YOU CAN READ
AGENDA ITEM THREE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE, SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY BRIEFING FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
TODAY WE HAVE WITH US ROD
BRANDON AND LISA WOLTERS FROM
THE SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AND
THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE AND
THEIR BIG DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
AT NORTHGATE COMMONS AND
YESLER TERRACE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN
HERE MOST OF THE MORNING. I
APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. THANK
YOU. AND WE WILL TURN IT OVER
TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
IT WAS GREAT TO SIT AND LISTEN
AND REFLECT. JUST GREAT TO
HEAR THAT. MY NAME IS ROD
BRANDON. ON THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR SEATTLE HEALTH
CENTER AUTHORITY.
>> MY NAME IS CLERK, I AM THE
-- LISA WOLTERS. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US.
>> SOME OF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO
MEET ONE-ON-ONE AND THAT IS
GREAT. SOME OF YOU I DIDN'T, I
LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING ON
THESE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT WHAT WE DO AT SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HOW WE
SERVE OUR MISSION. TODAY, WE
JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN
OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE DO AND HOW
WE DO IT AND WHAT CHALLENGES
THERE ARE FOR THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY. AS YOU
KNOW, HOUSING IS JUST A VERY
COMPLEX SITUATION IN SEATTLE.
THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF FOLKS
INVOLVED IN HOUSING AND EACH
HAVE DIFFERENT RULES AND SOME
OF THOSE SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND
SOME OVERLAP. HOPEFULLY YOU
GET AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT SEATTLE
HOUSING IS AND YOU CAN SEE AND
CHOOSE TO PLACES IN THE
CONTINUUM HOUSING AND WE WILL
GO OVER THAT. BEFORE I GET
STARTED INTO THE DETAILS OF IT,
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR
PRIORITIES AT THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY THIS YEAR AND
FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS THE
STRATEGIC PLAN IS COMPLETING
ITSELF AND UNFOLDING. WE ARE
FOCUSED ON SERVING MORE PEOPLE.
THE GOAL IS NOT TO STAY
STAGNANT. WE WANT TO SERVE
MORE THEN WE SERVED LAST YEAR
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE. OUR ARENA IS THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LOW
INCOME MARKET AND WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT TODAY.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE SERVE OUR RESIDENTS WELL. WE
DON'T WANT TO FORGET ABOUT OUR
EXISTING RESIDENTS AND JUST
FOCUS ON THE NEW ONES THAT WE
CAN BRING IN, INDOORS. WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE THING
WE DO HAS A RACIAL AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE LENDS TO IT, NOT JUST
FROM POLICY BUT HOW WE GO ABOUT
WORK AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH
STAFF AND HOW STAFF INTERACTS
WITH RESIDENTS. WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE IN THAT SPACE AND LEARN
HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST
ORGANIZATION. WE DON'T HAVE
IT DOWN YET BUT WE ARE LEARNING
AND LEANING INTO THAT SPACE.
WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR EMPLOYEES. OUR EMPLOYEES
DRIVE US. THEY DRIVE HOW THEY
INTERACT WITH RESIDENTS AND IF
THEY ARE NOT IN A GOOD
SITUATION AND TAKE CARE OF THEM
IN A WAY THAT WE CAN SUPPORT
THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEN
WE CAN DO THE JOB IN A WAY WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING
THAT. LAST, WE WANT TO BE
SMART ABOUT OUR FISCAL
MANAGEMENT. AND JUST SERVING
PEOPLE, SERVING THE ONES WE
HAVE WELL AND TAKING CARE OF
OUR EMPLOYEES AND BEING SOUND,
FISCAL MANAGERS OF THAT. LET ME
JUMP INTO IT. WE ARE A BIG
ORGANIZATION. WE HIDE IN THE
BACKGROUND A LITTLE BIT. WE
SERVE 38,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THERE IS KING
COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY AND
RENTON AND TACOMA AND OTHERS.
OUR JURISDICTION IS IN THE CITY
LIMITS OF SEATTLE. 18,000
FAMILIES AS YOU CAN SEE. EVERY
SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN SEATTLE
FROM MAGNOLIA TO LAKE CITY TO
DOWN SOUTH. WE WANT A LOT OF
THE PROPERTIES TO BLEND IN AND
BE CONSISTENT TO THE VALUES
ESTABLISHED THERE. WE ARE A
HUGE LANDLORD. JUST 9000 UNITS
THAT WE OWN AND MANAGE. THAT
IS A LOT. THAT IS A BIG PLAYER
IN THE SEATTLE MARKET. IN
ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF JUST UNDER 12,000
VOUCHERS THAT FOLKS CAN USE IN
THE PRIVATE MARKET WITH PRIVATE
LANDLORDS. IF THEY CHOOSE TO
DO THAT. WE ARE A BIG PLAYER IN
THE AFFORDABLE AND LOWER INCOME
HOUSING MARKET. WE SERVE ALL
KINDS. YOU CAN SEE THE
STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND
SENIORS. THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR
THE LEVEES YOU HAVE PASSED IN
HISTORY. 1987 LEVY FOR THE
SENIOR HOUSING PROGRAM IS HUGE
FOR US. WE HAVE OVER 1000 HARD
UNITS JUST FOR OUR SENIORS. WHO
LIVE IN THOSE UNITS. IT IS A
GREAT PROGRAM AND I APPRECIATE
THE SUPPORT WE HAVE HAD OVER
THE YEARS FOR THEM. JUST A FEW
DEMOGRAPHICS. AVERAGE INCOME,
13,000 FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. 75%
OF SHA HOUSEHOLDS IDENTIFY AS
BIPOC AND THAT IS HUGE. YOU CAN
SEE WHY RACE ON SOCIAL JUSTICE
IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF
THAT. IF WE ARE NOT IN A
POSITION TO UNDERSTAND THAT,
GET TRAINING AND INTERACT, WE
WOULD NOT DO A GOOD JOB
INTERACTING WITH THOSE
INDIVIDUALS. WE KNOW THAT. 53
LANGUAGES SPOKEN. THAT IS NOT
A MISTAKE. THINK ABOUT THAT.
WHEN WE SHOW UP FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING SOMETIMES, IT IS A
CHALLENGE. WE DON'T HAVE ALL
53 THERE BUT YOU CAN EASILY
HAVE 10-15 LANGUAGES AND FOLKS
ASSISTING IN THE TRANSLATION AS
WE ARE TRYING TO DELIVER
COMPLEX POLICIES TO OUR
RESIDENTS. SO IT JUST TAKES A
LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF PATIENCE
AND A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AS WE
DO THAT. SOMETIMES WE GET IT
RIGHT INTO A WELL AND SOMETIMES
WE DON'T AND WE HAVE TO KEEP
ADJUSTING FOR THAT. BUT 53.
THE DOMINANT LANGUAGE, ENGLISH,
SOMALI, VIETNAMESE, I THINK ARE
THE TOP THREE LANGUAGES WITH
OUR RESIDENTS. WHAT I WAS
STARTING TO TALK ABOUT WAS
WHERE OUR ROLE IS. WE ARE A LOW
INCOME HOUSING PROVIDER. WE ARE
IN THE LONG-TERM SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING. WE SEE IT AS A
CONTINUUM. WE HEARD TODAY ABOUT
SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING AND THE SERVICES THEY
NEED. WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WE SUPPORT THEM. WE SUPPORT
THEM THROUGH OUR VOUCHERS AND
THAT IS NOT A SMALL SUPPORT. IT
IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT THAT
GOES TO THIS REGION. WE ALSO
HAVE SOME LOW INCOME
AFFORDABLE UNITS, UNDER 80%,
AROUND 80% IN THE PORTFOLIO AS
WELL. WE HAVE A BLENDED, LOW
INCOME AND AFFORDABLE UNIT
INSIDE SHA THAT WE MANAGE AND
OWN AS WELL. WE HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. A LONG
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. WE WANT TO CONTINUE
THAT. GO TO THE NEXT ONE. THE
RELATIONSHIP, WE ARE AN
INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION. WE
ARE NOT A CITY DEPARTMENT. WE
WORK WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS
BECAUSE WE TOO HAVE NEEDS,
WHETHER IT IS SECURITY, SAFETY
OR THE ENCAMPMENTS NEAR SOME OF
OUR PROPERTIES OR WHETHER IT IS
NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITIES. PEA
PATCH COMES TO MIND. WE
INTERACT WITH OTHER AREAS LIKE
TECHNOLOGY. AS WE TRY TO
ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE OF TECHNOLOGY
USE AND APPLICATION, WE WORK
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF IT TO
SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS AND THAT
HAS BEEN GOING WELL. WE HAVE
HEARD ABOUT OTHER SERVICES THAT
OVERLAP. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF
HOUSING PARTNERS, NONPROFITS
AND THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS . WE WORK
WITH THEM AND SUPPORT THEM AND
IN TIMES THEY SUPPORT US. WE
SUPPORT THE MOST DIRECTLY BY
PROVIDING VOUCHERS TO THEM FOR
SOME OF THEIR HARD UNITS SO
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO HOUSE
FOLKS AND MAKE IT AFFORDABLE
FOR THEM TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS.
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LIST IN
FRONT OF YOU THE DIFFERENT
NONPROFITS WE WORK WITH. SOME
OF THE SHA KEYS, CLEARLY, WE
LIKE DEVELOPMENT AND ENJOY THE
HOUSING IN THE MARKET. IT IS A
SUPPLY ISSUE AND WE NEED MORE
HOUSING WALL TYPES. HOUSING
ALONE DOESN'T DO IT. BUT IF
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT AND
PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES FOR
THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOUSE,
IT WON'T WORK. IT WILL BE
SUSTAINABLE.
>> [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING
]
>>> AND NOT HAVING FOLKS JUST
GO OUT TO PROVIDERS AND PAY FOR
THAT WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY AND
IT STRETCHED BUDGET. WE HAVE A
PILOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW WHERE
WE ARE TRYING TO RE-WIRE OUR
BUILDINGS AND GIVE THEM FREE
ACCESS TO WI-FI. HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES IS CRITICAL. IF
FOLKS WANT TO REMAIN IN OUR
HOUSING AND STAY STABLE , THEY
NEED TO HAVE GOOD HEALTH AND
DECENT HEALTH TO DO THAT. WE
RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE PLAY A
ROLE IN CONNECTING THEM TO THE
SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. WE
ARE NOT A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER,
BUT WE CAN ASSESS AND SEE THE
SYMPTOMS WHEN SOMEONE IS
STRUGGLING PHYSICALLY OR
MENTALLY AND BEGIN TO ENGAGE
IN THAT WAY. EDUCATION AND
APPOINTMENT ARE KEY AND
FOUNDATIONAL . WE HAVE LOTS OF
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS,
PARTITIONS WITHIN SEATTLE
SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MONITOR ,
I POINT E KIDS WHO ATTEND THE
SCHOOL . WE HAVE OUR OWN JOB
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AND SAID
AND SHA DIFFICULT JOB LINK. IT
IS FOR RESIDENTS . IT IS NOT
JUST ANY JOB. IT STARTS WITH,
HOW DO WE GET YOU TO A CAREER ?
YOU MAY NOT BE READY TO BUILD A
CAREER , BUT HOW DO WE GET YOU
THE SKILLS TO GET THE BUILDING
BLOCKS TO DO THAT? HOW DO WE
HELP YOU WITH EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL? WE
ENGAGE WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
DEPUTY MAYOR TIFFANY WASHINGTON
WAS ACCURATE. YOU HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO RELATE AND ENGAGE WITH
THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO CONNECT
WITH THEM JUST PUTTING OUR
SIGN UP WITH STAFF THERE WILL
NOT DO IT YOU HAVE TO FORM A
RELATIONSHIP. YOU HAVE TO HAVE
A TRUSTED RELATIONSHIP. WHEN
WE DO THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE IN
THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND MAKES A
BIG DIFFERENCE TO GET FOLKS TO
ENGAGE. THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
ARE HUGE. PEOPLE LIKE US TO
FOCUS ON HOUSING ALONE. WE CAN
DO THAT. WE HAVE ENOUGH
EXPERIENCE TO KNOW THE IMPACT
AND IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE OVER
A PERIOD OF TIME. SOME OF THE
PARTNERS WE HAVE ON THOSE
SERVICES, YOU CAN SEE THOSE . I
WILL POINT OUT A COUPLE.
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES IS
GREAT. THEY WORK WITH US. THEY
HAVE AFTER-HOURS TUTORING FOR
ALL OF OUR KIDS, WHERE THEY CAN
SHOW UP AND GET ONE-ON-ONE OR
GROUP TUTORING SERVICES. AGING
AND DISABILITIES WITH THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. AND MAKE EXCELLENT
PROGRAM WE PARTNER WITH TO
SERVE OUR AGING PROPOSITION AND
OUR DISABLED OPPOSITION IN
CONNECTING THEM WITH SERVICES.
SOUND MENTAL HEALTH IS WHEN WE
ARE CONTINUING TO GROW IN THAT
SPACE FOR THE NEEDS IN
PARTICULAR COMING OUT OF COVID.
WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF
RESOURCES IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
I TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT
DEVELOPMENT. VERY PROUD OF
OUR RECENT DEVELOPMENT THAT IS
RIGHT UP THE STREET HERE. SOME
OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE
COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME AND
YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT -USED TO
LOOK LIKE. WE ARE PROUD OF
THAT. IT STARTED IN 1940 AND
WE WERE THE FIRST PUBLIC
HOUSING AUTHORITY . EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT WAS THE FIRST
INTEGRATED HOUSING AUTHORITY IN
THE COUNTRY . WITH THOSE ROUTES
THAT ARE STRONG ANGER TOWARD
US. IT WAS FAILING IF THE
STRUCTURE WAS FAILING . THE
SUPPORT SYSTEMS AROUND WERE
FAILING AND WHEN WE HAD TO
REDEVELOP IT. WE WERE VERY
FORTUNATE IN OUR STRATEGY
THERE THAT WE DO NOT RUSH AND
JUMP INTO THAT. WE STARTED THIS
20 TO 25 YEARS AGO IN
ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY AND
HAVING CONVERSATIONS. NOT
RUSHING TO JUST BUILD
SOMETHING AND TEAR SOMETHING
DOWN. THAT PROCESS INVOLVED
THE CITIZENS AND THAT AREA .
INVOLVED THE RESIDENTS IN
THERE. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
DEVELOPMENT. RANGING FROM
WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THE KITCHEN WINDOW . WHICH
FACILITIES THEY WOULD LIKE TO
SEE IN THE UNIT , TO HOW THEY
WANT THEIR COMMUNITY TO FILL IN
LOOK WEATHER IS WALKABLE, DENSE
OR NOT. AND THEN, WE SPENT A
LOT OF TIME WITH RELOCATION .
BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS WERE
ATTACHED TO YESLER COMMUNITY
FOR A LOT OF GOOD REASONS . WE
SAW THE PHYSICAL THIS THAT
NEEDED REPLACING, BUT YOU ALSO
HAVE TO GO DEEPER AND. OUT HOW
ARE THE PEOPLE DOING AND HOW
THEY FEEL ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL,
THEIR HOME. THEY WANTED TO STAY
THERE. IN FACT, AS WE DID
REDEVELOPMENT WE HAVE FOLKS
MOVE FIVE OR SIX TIMES AND DID
NOT WANT TO RELOCATE OFF-SITE
AS WE WERE DOING CONSTRUCTION
ON SITE. THEY SAID, WE DO NOT
CARE, WE WANT TO STAY HERE.
VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE
REDEVELOPMENT EFFORT IS VERY
STRESSFUL . WE WENT OVER AND
ABOVE . WITH SOME OF THE
THINGS WE OFFERED LIKE
REGULATIONS A 90 DAYS FOR
RELOCATION NOTICE. WE GIVE
THEM 18 MONTHS BECAUSE WE DO
THEY WOULD NOT BE READY IN 90
DAYS. WE KNEW THERE WERE A
NUMBER OF REASONS. A LOT OF
THEM HAVE SCHOOL-AGED KIDS AND
HE WILL NOT PULL THEM OUT IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. WE
WORKED THE CYCLE AND GOT THEM
TO A PLACE WHERE THEY WERE
READY TO MOVE BECAUSE WE KNEW
IF THEY MOVED TO WHERE THEY
WERE HAPPY, THAT THEY WOULD
STAY . MOST OF THEM DID STAY IN
THE NEW LOCATION. SOME CAME
BACK. WE OFFERED THEM AN
INFINITE TIMELINE OF RETURNING
BACK TO YESLER . WE GIVE THEM
A PHYSICAL CERTIFICATE THAT
SAYS , YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO
RETURN ANYTIME YOU WANT . EVERY
TIME WE DO A REDEVELOPMENT
BUILDING THERE, WE GO BACK TO
THE ORIGINAL LIST. WE LOOK AT
WHO WE HAVE CONTACTED AND ASKED
AGAIN , DO WANT TO COME BACK TO
20 WE HAVE ANOTHER BUILDING
OPENING UP AND YOU ARE THE
FIRST HAVE A CHOICE. THAT
THOUGHTFULNESS, THAT ENGAGEMENT
, THAT RESIDENT-CENTRIC
APPROACH HAS PAID OFF, TO SEE
FOR US. YOU CAN SEE HOW YESLER
LOOKS. IT STARTED WITH 561
UNITS . THAT WAS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE HAVE OVER 1300
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT. THE
CITY ENCOURAGED US TO DO MORE.
THEY WANTED US TO DO MORE THE
PARTNERSHIP AND THEY HELPED PAY
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AND WE WENT WELL
ABOVE FOR WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO
DO THAT. IN ADDITION TO THE
1300, WE HAVE 3000 MARKET RATE
UNITS AS WELL. WE LIKE THE
MODEL OF A MIXED INCOME
COMMUNITY . WE THINK THERE ARE
BENEFITS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS IN
THAT. IF WE CAN TRY TO KEEP
THE SOUL WE HAVE THERE, GREAT.
WE WORK ON THAT AND USE THE
RHYTHM TO STAY IN TUNE TO THAT.
WE SEE THE BENEFITS OF A MIXED
INCOME. WITH FIVE OR SIX MIXED
INCOME COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE.
HIGH POINT, RAINIER VISTA,
LAKE CITY AND NOW, YESLER .
WE ARE NOT DONE. YESLER IS A
GREAT MEMBER. THE NATIONAL
INTENTION WE GET FROM YESLER
IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE RECENTLY,
FOUR YEARS AGO IN 2019
PURCHASED ANOTHER PROPERTY UP
NORTH. AS LIGHT RAIL MADE THE
PLANTS WE BOUGHT A .5 ACRES BY
NORTHGATE MALL TO IMPROVE THE
HOUSING THERE . OUR OBJECTIVE
IS TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY .
START AT THE GROUND AND MAKE
SURE WE ARE TOUCHING BASE WITH
THEM ON THE THINGS THEY WANT TO
SEE HAPPEN THERE. SEE HOW WE
CAN FOLD THAT IN. WE ARE
LOOKING AT 20 DO ANOTHER YESLER
. INCREASE THE DENSITY .
INCREASING OUR PUBLIC HOUSING
AND INCREASE THE MARKET RATE
HOUSING AS A NEW FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUSINESS,
SHOPPING AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT
AND TRANSPORTATION. WE THINK
IT HAS ALL OF THE RIGHT
INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS AND IT
JUST NEEDS TO HAVE A LOT OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS WE
START THE PROCESS . I KNOW
THAT WAS FAST. I KNOW YOU GUYS
HAVE BEEN UP HERE A LONG TIME.
I WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK
OVERVIEW. I AM READY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS FOR YOU. AGAIN, WE
WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH
YOU AS YOU CONTINUE TO WANT TO
ENGAGE WITH HSA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH . HANDS
ARE FLYING NOW. COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY J. MORALES ?
>> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE REMARKS HE
MADE ABOUT THE PROJECT OF
NORTHGATE COMMONS . ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING .
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS , COLLEGE
AND ALL OF THE THINGS YOU
TALKED ABOUT. IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THAT'S
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. IT
SOUNDS GREAT. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT AS THE LAND-USE CHAIR
THAT WE WERE ON HAVING THAT
KIND OF COMMUNITY IN AS MANY
PLACES IN THE CITY AS POSSIBLE.
IN LOTS OF PLACES WHERE PEOPLE
SHOULD ABLE TO WALK TO THEIR
ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES. I
APPRECIATE THAT. ONE OTHER
COMMENT BEFORE ASKING
QUESTION. I WANT TO DRAW THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN , YOU
MENTIONED SOMALI AND VIETNAMESE
ARE THE LANGUAGES MOST SPOKEN
AT YOUR PROPERTIES. IN MY
DISTRICT, LAKE WASHINGTON
APARTMENTS IS PREDOMINATELY
SOMALI NEIGHBORS . AND THE
CONNECTION TO THE SERVICES YOU
PROVIDE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
YOUTH EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY. THE JOB LINK
PROGRAM YOU TALKED ABOUT
HELPING PEOPLE BUILD CAREERS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT , BUT ONLY FOR
FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT. I WANTED
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THANK
YOU FOR THAT. I HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS AND I WILL TRY TO
CONSOLIDATE THEM. PARTICULARLY
ABOUT THE EVICTION . CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT YOUR INFECTION
RATES AND WHAT EFFORTS HSA
TAKES TO PREVENT EVICTION ?
PARTICULARLY HOW YOU WORK WITH
AGE AND DISABILITY SERVICES.
IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT IF THEY RENTED -- RENTER
IS EVICTED, WE KNOW HOUSING
OPTIONS ARE TO. WHAT OPTIONS
ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENTERS WHO
HAVE HAD THEIR SUBSIDY
TERMINATED? WHAT KIND OF
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT DO YOU
HAVE TO GO OFFER SO YOUR
TENANTS? I KNOW IT WAS A LOT.
>> FIRST, THANK YOU FOR THE
COMPLIMENTS. THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THE ISSUE OF EVICTION
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IS A
CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS. IT IS
VERY SERIOUS ON OUR PART. WE
KNOW IF WE EVICT SOMEONE MOST
LIKELY WHERE THEY WILL END UP.
THEY WILL END UP IN THE
CONVERSATION YOU GUYS JUST
HEARD. THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF
SAFETY NETS . WITH A MARK ON
THEM THAT THEY WERE INFECTED,
IT DOES NOT MAKE IT EASIER FOR
THEM TO FIND HOUSING. THAT IS
NOT SOMETHING TAKEN LIGHTLY.
WE LOOKED AT THIS A NUMBER OF
YEARS AGO AND WE CONTINUE TO
LOOK AT IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
OUR INFECTION RATES , CONTRARY
TO STATISTICS OF 8000 HARD
UNITS , IS EXTREMELY LOW . IS
LESS THAN 1% . I DO NOT HAVE
THE LATEST STATISTICS IN FRONT
OF ME COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES. 2020 , 2021 BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC- AND YOU KNOW WHAT
WE DID DURING THE PANDEMIC.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC , LESS THAN
20 PER YEAR. I , WAS AT A
DIFFERENT POSITION AT SHA. WAS
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR. I ASKED
AND REQUIRED THAT ALL PROPERTY
MANAGERS COME TO ME BEFORE
THEY FINALIZED AND THE
CONVICTION OR START THE
EVICTION PROCESS . I WANTED TO
KNOW WHAT EFFORTS THEY HAD
TAKEN BEFORE . I WANTED TO KNOW
IF IT WAS BEHAVIORAL OR RENT .
I WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY
INTERACTED WITH THEM SO THAT WE
CAN SEE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO TRY
TO PREVENT AND MAKE EVICTION.
WE CANNOT DO IT IN ALL CASES.
THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT OCCUR
THAT THREATEN THE INDIVIDUAL .
THAT THREATEN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE NOT SET UP TO HANDLE
THAT. BUREL PLAYS A BIG ROLE
IN THIS. WE STARTED INVESTING
MORE OF OUR DOLLARS , WHICH ARE
COMING AWAY FROM HOUSING. WE
HAD TO . MORE OF OUR DOLLARS
INTO THE HAVERHILL HEALTH TO
BEGIN TO HAVE AGENCIES LIKE
SOUND MENTAL HEALTH BE ON SITE
. I CANNOT PUT THAT
RESPONSIBILITY ON PROPERTY
MANAGERS TO ASSESS AND
DETERMINE WHEN SOMEONE IS
STRUGGLING . WE WILL CONTINUE
TO DO THAT AT THE EVICTION.
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEM.
THEY HAVE BEEN INCREASING . I
DO NOT HAVE THE STATISTICS
BECAUSE THERE IS GREAT WORK
THAT WAS DONE ON RENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE HAD
RIGHT AFTER THE PANDEMIC. A
LOT OF OUR RESIDENT BENEFITED
FROM THAT. AS WE CONTINUE TO
SEE NOW, FOLKS ARE FALLING
BEHIND . FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING.
WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT
ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND NO
THAT WE WILL DO EVERY THING WE
CAN TO KEEP THEM IN THE HOUSE.
WE ARE HOUSER.
>> ONE FINAL COMMENT. I WOULD
LOVE TO INVITE YOU. I DO THINK
WE WILL HAVE A MEETING SET UP
WITH YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO
INVITE YOU TO COMMENT
OFFICIALLY ON THE HOUSING AND
AFFORDABILITY ELEMENT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WE ARE
REVIEWING RIGHT NOW. ALL OF THE
THINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
ARE RELATED TO THAT.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS NOT PART
OF LAND-USE. THAT IS ALSO
REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PROBLEM .
PART OF THE REASON WE ARE
EXPERIENCING THESE CRISES
BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE
NOT INVESTED WHAT WE NEED TO
INVEST IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
WE ARE SEEING APPLICATIONS OF
THAT.
>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES, YOU ASKED ABOUT ADS ,
AND WE HAVE A VERY CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP WITH ADS AND FULL
LIFE CARE WE PROVIDE MATCH FOR
THE STAFF TO BE IN OUR
BUILDINGS. IT IS INTEGRAL .
BEFORE WE STARTED FUNDING SOUND
MENTAL HEALTH, ADS WAS THE
PRIMARY WAY THAT OUR FOLKS GOT
MANAGEMENT SUPPORT.
>> WHO IS NEXT? I WILL START
AT THIS END. COUNCILMEMBER
WU?
>> TWO QUESTIONS. I WILL TRY
TO MAKE IT QUICK. I ALSO HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WANTED
TO ECHO THE FACT THAT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS A HUGE
ISSUE. SINCE THE CONTRACT , WE
SKIPPED SEATTLE CHINATOWN AS
THE BUILDING MANAGER. I DON'T
KNOW IF IT COMES OUT OF YOUR
OFFICE OF OFFICE OF HOUSING.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A GRANT
TO ALLOW FOR A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH COUNSELOR AS PART OF
THEIR STAFF TO TALK TO TENANTS
. UNFORTUNATELY, STOCK IS LOW
AND NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE
APPLYING. WITHIN ONE YEAR, WE
WERE NOT ABLE TO FILL THE
POSITION . IS THAT PROGRAM PART
OF YOUR FOLIO ?
>> NO, IT IS NOT . YOU JUST
RAISED A GOOD POINT . WE NEED
TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT
SPACE . THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF
WORKERS IN THAT SPACE. AS
OTHER AGENCIES STRUGGLE TO
KEEP THEIR STAFFING LEVELS HIGH
, IT IS A BIGGER ISSUE THAT WE
NEED TO ADDRESS ON A NATIONAL
LEVER TO GET MOST PEOPLE
INTERESTED AND PAY FOR THE
CHALLENGES OF THE JOB DEMANDS.
>> DO YOU SEE HAVING SOMEBODY
ON STAFF GOING FORWARD AS PART
OF HELPING PEOPLE WITH
EVICTIONS ?
>> THANK YOU. NO PROMISES, BUT
WE ARE LOOKING AT A MODEL FOR
US WITHIN SHA . I CANNOT
EXPECT A PROPERTY MANAGER TO
HAVE THAT SKILL SET OF THE
SOCIAL WORKER AND TO NAVIGATE
AND DE-ESCALATE AND KNOW WHEN
TO ENGAGE IN A CERTAIN WAY. IF
WE CANNOT CONTRACT THOSE
SERVICES TO HSA , WE ARE
THINKING HARD . TO START TO
CULTIVATE AND DEVELOP THEM
INSIDE HSA WITH THE RIGHT
INFRASTRUCTURE AND RIGHT
SUPERVISOR WHO HAS THE SKILL
SET ? WE DO NOT HAVE THAT SKILL
SET.
>> IT DOES NOT JUST PROTECT
WITHIN HOUSING, IT IS AROUND
HOUSING. SECOND QUESTION IS ,
THERE ARE MULTIPLE LANDLORD
-TENANT REGULATIONS . ARE
THERE ANY THAT YOU ARE EXEMPT
FROM? AND, IS THERE A LIST WE
COULD REFER TO IF THERE IS?
>> WE COULD GET YOU THAT
INFORMATION. I WOULD SAY YES,
THERE ARE SOME WE ARE EXEMPT
FROM I DO NOT KNOW THEM ALL OFF
THE TOP OF MY HEAD WE TRY TO
MONITOR THEM EVERY YEAR AS
THEY GO THROUGH THE STATE
LEGISLATURE PROCESS. AND WANT
TO COME TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I CAN GET YOU A LIST OF THOSE
THAT WE ARE EXEMPT FROM.
>> I DO NOT KNOW THEM ALL . FOR
EXAMPLE, WHEN THINGS COME
BETWEEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE,
OUR RESIDENTS PAY 30% OF
THEIR INCOME AND WE MAKE SURE
THEY ARE PROTECTED IN THAT WAY
. WE OPERATE IN A WHOLE
DIFFERENT WAY AND OUR GOAL IS
TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS'
INTEREST IS PROTECTED THERE.
WE WILL GET YOU A FULL LIST
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROB SAKA .
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND
THIS PRESENTATION. MORE
IMPORTANTLY THE IMPACTFUL WORK
YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY IS A
HOUSER . AND MANY MATERIAL
RESPECTS MY SERVICE PROVIDER AS
WELL. WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE , IMPLEMENTATION
-WISE ON YOUR END. I WILL SAY
, IT WAS TRY TO PRACTICE THE
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. I AM
GRATEFUL , FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU DO. AND GRATEFUL
TO BE ABLE TO SIT IN THIS
COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON THIS DAY
ALONGSIDE THESE ESTEEMED
COLLEAGUES OF MINE . I
APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY LAST
ONE OF YOU PERSONALLY. I AM
ALSO MINDFUL OF MY OWN
TRANSFORMATION AND JOURNEY .
FOR THE FIRST NINE YEARS OF
LIFE I GREW UP IN AND OUT OF
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM MOSTLY
IN. I OVERCAME A TRAUMATIC AN
UNSTABLE HOME LIFE . THROUGH
THE HELP OF AFFECTIVE
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES LIKE YOURS , SECTION 8
HOUSING, FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS .
THROUGH THE HELP OF EFFECTIVE
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES LIKE YOURS, AND
THROUGH THE POWER OF PUBLIC
/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND
PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS,
AND FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES AS
WELL, I WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME .
HERE I AM LITERALLY TRIED TO
BE THE KING OF POTHOLES OF
SEATTLE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO PARTNERING TOGETHER ON A GO
FORWARD BASIS. AS PART OF THAT,
YOU ARE A HOUSE OR AN
OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER. I AM ONE
OF THE EXHIBITS , ONE OF THE
MANY STORIES OF THAT. PART OF
OUR PARTNERSHIP , AND HOW I
VIEW MY BROADER ROLE ON THIS
COUNCIL , IS MAKING SURE THAT
MORE PEOPLE, MORE RESIDENT --
RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO TAKE
THEIR PLACE IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS ACROSS THE STATE AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TAKE THEIR
PLACE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSES IN OLYMPIA AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. TAKE THEIR PLACE
AT THE U.S. CAPITOL AND CAPITOL
ROTUNDA. THAT WAS JUST A
COMMENT. THANK YOU. NO
QUESTIONS. I LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTNERING TOGETHER.
>> LIKEWISE. I WOULD LOVE YOUR
INSIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT SARA
NELSON .
>> YOU REALLY OPENED MY EYES
WHEN YOU GIVE ME YOUR
PRESENTATION A COUPLE OF DAYS
AGO AND NOW. 38,000 PEOPLE,
INDIVIDUALS OR 18,000 FAMILIES
HAVE HOMES BECAUSE OF HSA.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THAT IS ASTOUNDING AND WE
DON'T HEAR VERY MUCH FROM YOU.
MAY BE IT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE
FEDERAL ENTITY AND THEREFORE,
WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT HSA WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT OUR HOUSING
CRISIS OR ANY OF THE OTHER
PROVIDERS. YOU ARE IN AN ISLAND
ON YOUR OWN. WHICH IS STRANGE
TO ME . I HAVE A QUESTION .
DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THEN INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
YOUR FUNDING AS OUR POPULATION
INCREASES? HOW DOES THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING AND HOW DO YOU
STUCK UP -- STUCK UP AGAINST
THE OTHER HOUSING MEANS WE
HAVE. YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU
ALSO SUPPORT THE PERMANENT
HOUSING PROVIDERS. HOLDER
ANSWER. -- HOLD YOUR ANSWER. I
DON'T KNOW WHERE THE ISSUE OUR
CONVERSATION OF EVICTION IS
COMING UP. IF THERE WAS A NEW
STORY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I
DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT I WANT TO
REMIND COLLEAGUES THAT WE HAVE
HAD OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS COME TO US CONCERNED
ABOUT -- THE ONES THAT DO RELY
ON RENT, AS YOU DO. THE ONES
THAT RELY ON RENT. NOT ALL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS .
THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY
COLLECTING RENT. THEIR
BUILDINGS ARE IN DISREPAIR .
THEY ARE COMPLAINING TO US
ABOUT TENANTS WHO ARE A THREAT
TO OTHER TENANTS WITH BEHAVIOR
ISSUES. IT WAS ONE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROVIDER THAT STRONGLY
CAME OUT IN OPPOSITION TO A
PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE SEATTLE
EVICTION MORATORIUM IN 2022. I
MENTIONED THE ISSUE OF EVICTION
IS POLITICAL, BUT I THINK IT IS
ALSO SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF
PROVIDERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH
AS WELL. DR., QUESTION ABOUT
POPULATION AND HOW IT TRACKS
WITH YOUR FUNDING.
>> THE EVICTION IS VERY
COMPETENT -- APPLICATIONS AND
MULTI-LAYERED. I LIKE THE
PASSIONATE APPROACH WE HAVE
BEEN TAKING. THERE ARE PROS AND
CONS. WE ARE HAVING SOME FOLKS
STAY LONGER IN HOUSING THAT
MAY HAVE BEEN EVICTED
HISTORICALLY. WE ARE HAVING
SOME FOLKS WHO GET EVICTED
STRUGGLING WITH WHERE THEY GO
NEXT. IT IS VERY COMPLICATED.
OUR FUNDING SOURCES FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. THEY
FUND PUBLIC HOUSING ACROSS THE
COUNTRY . WE ARE COMPETING WITH
THE FUNDING ALLOCATION THEY DO
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE
GREAT BENEFITS WE HAVE. WE
HAVE A SPECIAL STATUS IN
SEATTLE, WHICH IS A MOVE TO
WORK STATUS. YOU HERE IN PW
SOMETIMES. IT ALLOWS US TO GET
FUNDING . A SINGLE FUNDING
SOURCE. IT ALLOWS US TO USE
THOSE DOLLARS TO MEET OUR
LOCAL NEED IN SEATTLE DID NOT
EVERY HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS A
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE
39 WHO HAVE THIS SPECIAL STATUS
TO DO THAT. THAT IS EXPANDING.
SOME AMAZING WORK IN THIS
REGION. THANK YOU TO OUR
SENATORS IN PARTICULAR SENATOR
PATTY MURRAY. WE HAVE AN
EXTENSION OF 10 YEARS OF THAT
SPECIAL STATUS . IT WAS JUST
GRANTED LAST WEEK WITH THE NEW
APPROPRIATIONS BILL THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT PASSED. IT HELPS
SECURE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR US
A FUNDING STREAM FOR US IN THE
FUTURE, A LITTLE MORE STABLE
THAT CAN CHANGE, AS YOU WILL
KNOW . AS THE PRESIDENT PUSHES
HIS BUDGET FORWARD AND THEY
DISCUSS WAREHOUSING FITS .
FORTUNATELY, HOUSING IS CLOSER
TO THE TOP AND HAS BEEN FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS. WE FEEL VERY
FORTUNATE THAT WE CONTINUE TO
GET DECENT FUNDING FOR THE JOB.
NOT ENOUGH. YOU KNOW THE
SUPPLY . WE COULD BUILD A LOT
MORE WITH A LOT MORE DOLLARS .
OUR SOURCE IS DIFFERENT FROM
OFFICE OF HOUSING FUNDING
SOURCE. DID NOT FULLY ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE
A FEW QUESTIONS. I AM
INTERESTED IF YOU COULD
ELABORATE ON THE RIGHT TO
RETURN AT YESLER TERRACE . IT
SEEMS TO BE A NOVEL AND
SUCCESSFUL MODEL I BELIEVE
YOU'LL BE INCORPORATING THAT
INTO THE NORTHGATE COMMENTS .
IT IS ALSO AN ISSUE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J. MORALES
POINTED OUT IS IN THE LAND USE
CONVERSATIONS AND DISPLACEMENT
STRATEGY.
>> I WANT TO SAY WE STUMBLED
UPON THAT. I THINK THE
RESIDENTS WANTED SOME
ASSURANCES. THEY WERE SCARED
WHEN WE WERE REDEVELOPING
YESLER . THEY HAD TO LEAVE
THEIR HOME AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER
ONE. THEY WANTED BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY. US JUST SAYING WE
PROMISE YOU CAN COME BACK AND
DO NOT WORRY . YOU KNOW HOW
STAFFING CHANGES AND THINGS
GET LOST. OUR STAFF THOUGHT
OF THE IDEA OF LET'S
MEMORIALIZE THAT WITH A PIECE
OF PAPER AND A CERTIFICATE
THAT THEY CAN TAKE WITH THEM
AND KEEP . WE HAVE OUR OWN
RECORDS AND WE KNOW WHO THEY
ARE AND HOW TO REACH THEM.
THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT
SYMBOLIC CERTIFICATE WAS
EXTREMELY MEANINGFUL . YES, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH
NORTHGATE AS I SEE THE POWER
OF THAT AND THE MEANING. I
UNDERESTIMATED AT THE TIME , AS
WE WERE MAKING OUR PROMISES TO
THE RESIDENTS.
>> WAS THERE ANY PRIVATE OR
PHILANTHROPIC MONEY THAT WAS
UTILIZED TO MAKE IT PENCIL
OUT? HOW DID YOU AFFORD TO DO
THAT?
>> ON THE REDEVELOPMENT? OR ON
THE LOCATION ?
>> THE RELOCATION AND RIGHT TO
RETURN.
>> ON RELOCATION, THERE ARE
FEDERAL GUIDELINES THAT
DIRECTORS ON WHAT RIGHTS
TENANTS HAVE WHEN THEY WILL BE
RELOCATED OR DISLOCATED AS
PART OF REDEVELOPMENT. WE
FOLLOW THOSE TO THE TEETH. SOME
OF THAT IS CASH PAYOUT. SOME
OF THAT IS OPTIONS ON THE KIND
OF HOUSING THEY LOOK FOR.
MAKING SURE THERE IS NO LOSS
FROM WHERE THEY ARE NOW. WE
FOLLOW THOSE FEDERAL
GUIDELINES. IT IS A UNIFORM
RELOCATION ACT THAT WE GO TO.
PHILANTHROPIC , I APOLOGIZE
FOR NOT MENTIONING THAT IN THE
PRESENTATION. WE DID NOT DO
ALL OF THIS BY OURSELVES. THEY
DID SHOW UP AND THEY CAME TO
THE TABLE, AS WELL AS SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY WITH THE EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM TO HELP US WITH SCHOOLS
LIKE BAILEY GATZERT ELEMENTARY
AND A CATCH BASIN ZONE.
PHILANTHROPIC PLAYED A GREAT
ROLE. WEATHERED WITH
PARTNERSHIP AND HEALTHCARE
PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION,
PARTNERSHIP AND FUNDING FOR
USE, ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
THEY LIKED THE WORK WE WERE
DOING AT YESLER . THEY SAW THE
VISION AND BOUGHT INTO IT AND
THEY WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT.
WE HAVE A PHYSICAL
CONTRIBUTION FROM SOME OF THEM
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF
THE LOCAL BANKS HERE. THE
STEPS THAT YESLER, THERE IS THE
CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN JACKSON
AND GOING UP TO THE BACKSIDE
OF YESLER REDEVELOPMENT THAT
WAS NOT THERE BEFORE . WE DID
NOT WANT TO DO WAS CUT OFF THE
COMMUNITY. WITH THE
REDEVELOPMENT , AS IT GOT
ENHANCED AND MORE PEOPLE
STARTED COMING IN AND FORCING
FOLKS TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND
12th AND BACK DOWN JACKSON TO
DO THEIR DAILY SHOPPING IN
THEIR DAILY INTERACTION WITH
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICTS. IS A
BEAUTIFUL STAIR WALKWAY THAT
CUTS RIGHT THROUGH AND ALLOWS
FOR FOLKS TO DO THAT AND IS
LACED WITH ART FROM RESIDENTS
IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE
THAT. IT HAS BEEN REALLY NICE
. IS MORE READABLE AND HAPPENS
IN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICTS, WE
ARE HOPING IT WILL BE A FINAL
FOR INDIVIDUALS TO USE TO
ENGAGE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES , DO YOU HAVE A
QUESTION ?
>> I LOVE THE STAIRCASE. I
HAVE LUNCH THERE REALLY OFTEN.
I DO NOT HAVE A QUESTION, I
WANTED TO RESPOND TO YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT THE RIGHT TO
RETURN . AS I RECALL , YOU
HAVE MY TIMING WRONG, IS TRENT
20 AND HOPE SIX PROJECT?
>> NO, IT IS A CHOICE
NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCH. HOPE SIX
WAS ALL THE OTHER ONES I
LISTED. IT IS CALLED THE
EVOLUTION OF HOPE SIX. THEY
CALLED IT CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THE PROCESS, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT IS THE RIGHT TO
RETURN A VAULT IN THE LATE 90s
AS HOPE SIX PROJECTS ARE
HAPPENING . I DID MY MASTERS
THESIS ON THIS AND I AM A
LITTLE FAMILIAR. PEOPLE WERE
GETTING MOVED OUT BECAUSE THE
OLD HOUSING PROJECTS WERE
GETTING TORN DOWN. VERY OFTEN,
THERE WAS NO RECORD KEPT OF WHO
THEY WERE OR WHERE THEY WENT.
WHEN A NEW PROJECT CAME IN , IT
WAS ON THE PEOPLE. OBVIOUSLY,
THIS COULD TO DISPLACEMENT FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING. IS THAT PROGRAM
EVOLVED , THIS RIGHT TO RETURN
BECAME PART OF THE SOLUTION.
THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT
REALLY BENEFITED AND ALLOWED
PEOPLE TO COME IN AND IN A
FIT FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT WAS
HAPPENING RATHER THAN BEING
PUSHED OUT. IT IS AN IMPORTANT
COMPONENT OF IT AND REALLY
IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE
ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT. NOT JUST
IN HSA PROPERTIES OR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, BUT IN ALL
OF OUR PROJECTS. THE REASON THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AS PER
NOMINALLY WHITE NOW IS BECAUSE
WE DID NOT DO THIS. I THINK IT
IS AN IMPORTANT PART -- SHOULD
BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD.
MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING
DISPLACEMENT. IT IS AN
IMPORTANT TOOL TO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. IT WAS VERY
INFORMATIVE. ALSO FOR ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU DO, A CRITICAL
PROVIDER IN OUR AREA AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU
HAVE REACHED OUT TO ALL OF US
AND YOU'RE WILLING TO COME ON
BOARD AND BE TRANSPARENT, SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> SO YOU SEE LISA AND I UP
HERE TODAY AS A MOUTHPIECE BUT
WE JUST GOT AN INCREDIBLE TEAM
BEHIND US, AND MISSION-DRIVEN
EMPLOYEES WHO WANT TO BE THERE
AND WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB ON
THE WORK THEY DO. WE ARE REALLY
FORTUNATE FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY
MAKE US LOOK REALLY GOOD.
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH
NOTHING FURTHER, THAT CONCLUDES
THE MARCH 13th MEETING AND THE
NEXT WILL BE MARCH 27th, 2024.
TIME IS 12:02 AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH.