>> JANUARY 8th MEETING OF THE
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER
PURKETT WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
POINT
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SECOND.
>> YOUR.
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME EVERYONE
TO OUR FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING
OF THE YEAR. STARTING OUT A
LITTLE BIT SLOWLY TODAY BUT
PACE WILL BE PICKING UP SHORTLY
SO WELCOME EVERYONE BACK. FOR
THE AGENDA TODAY, I'VE HEARD
ABOUT A FEW TIMING CONFLICTS,
SO IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, I
WILL MOVE THAT WE HEAR THE CSE
PRESENTATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER
WE VOTE ON APPOINTMENTS AND
THAT WE HEAR OHS ARE'S JI
PRESENTATION AFTERWARDS. SO WE
WOULD ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS 1
THROUGH 9, THEN HERE AGENDA
ITEM 11 AND THEN OUR FINAL
AGENDA ITEM WILL BE AGENDA ITEM
10. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO
CHANGING THE ORDER OF THESE TWO
AGENDA ITEMS? OKAY. THANK YOU
POINT HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS AMENDED AS DESCRIBED
SO NOW WE MOVE ON TO ADOPTING
THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, HEARING NONE,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED
AS AMENDED. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY
PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO PUBLIC
COMMENTERS TODAY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE FOR
BEING HERE TODAY ON THE JANUARY
8th MEETING OF HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. ON
TODAY'S AGENDA FIRST WE HAVE
NINE APPOINTMENTS 24
COMMISSIONS, THE DISABILITIES
COMMISSION, HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, LGBTQ COMMISSION,
AND THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION FOR
POSSIBLE VOTE. AGENDA ITEM 10
IS THE RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE PRESENTATION FROM
OUR OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
AGENDA ITEM 11 IS A
PRESENTATION ON HSD'S CURRENT
RESPONSE TO COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION. ALL RIGHT. THERE
BEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT, LET US
MOVE ON. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
THREE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
THREE, APPOINTMENTS 30 35
THROUGH 3037, REAPPOINTMENT OF
SHELBY DAY AND JESSICA LO AND
THE APPOINTMENT OF JACQUELINE
PEGUERO TO THE DISABILITIES
COMMISSION FOR TERMS TO APRIL
30th, 2026, FOUR BREATHING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO THE
DISABILITIES COMMISSION SERVES
IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE
MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND
THE CITY OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS. SHELBY IS SEEKING
REAPPOINTMENT FOR A SECOND
TERM. SHE HAS WORKED ON
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY AND
HOPES TO FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT
AND ACCESSIBILITY THIS YEAR.
JESSICA HAS BEEN COCHAIR OF THE
DISABILITY COMMISSION FOR THE
LAST TWO YEARS AND SHE SEEKS
HER REAPPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER
FULL TERM TO CONTINUE HER WORK
IN SUPPORTING THE COMMISSION'S
TRANSPORTATION AND
ACCESSIBILITY GOALS. JACQUELINE
STUDIED THE CRIMINAL LAW AT
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY AND LOOKS
FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK TOWARDS THE GOALS OF
ACCESSIBILITY, ADVOCACY, AND
RECRUITMENT. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR REMOVE
FOR A VOTE FOR THESE THREE
NOMINEES? THANK YOU. SEE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
I NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 3035 THROUGH 3037.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
TMENT'S. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE IN THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> HI.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> HI.
>> COUNCILMEMBER CHEKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> HI.
>> THE MISSIONARIES IN THE
APPOINTMENT WILL BE SENT TO THE
JANUARY 14th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ AGENDA ITEMS FOUR THROUGH
SIX INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEMS FOUR THROUGH
SIX, APPOINTMENTS 3038 THROUGH
3040, APPOINTMENTS OF ANNIKA
KHAN, KOUMUDI PHADAKE A AND
RADHIKA JOSHI AS MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
FOR TERMS TO JULY 22nd, 2026.4
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. SO THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION SERVES IN AN
ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE MAYOR,
THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE CITY
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. NIKA IS
A YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGER WITH
CELEBRATING ROOTS, ADVOCATING
FOR AT RISK AND LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITY WORKS AS
A HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR
FOR MARY'S PLACE AND HAS
WORKED ADVOCATING FOR THE
WORKING CLASS WITH MLK LABOR
AND THE WASHINGTON STATE LABOR
COUNCIL AND RADHIKA IS A
SOFTWARE ENGINEER FOR MICROSOFT
AND A PASSIONATE COMMUNITY
ADVOCATE, AND LOOKS FORWARD TO
CONTRIBUTING MEANINGFULLY AND
PRODUCTIVELY TO THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION. ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BEFORE WE
MOVE FOR A VOTE ? SEEING NO
FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS I
NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 3038 THROUGH 3040.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SECOND.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS
WILL BE SENT TO THE JANUARY
14th FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF AGENDA ITEMS SEVEN AND
EIGHT INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM SEVEN AND EIGHT,
APPOINTMENT 3042 AND 3043,
APPOINTMENT OF BARRY FUENTES TO
THE LGBTQ COMMISSION FOR A TERM
TO OCTOBER 31st, 2026, AND
JASON SELF TO THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO APRIL
30th, 2026, FOUR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION SERVES IN AN
ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE MAYOR,
THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. BARRY
IS A BUSINESS MANAGER AT AMAZON
AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT
ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY. JASON HAS YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH INSURANCE
AND BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION AND
LOOKS FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT
KNOWLEDGE TO THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR
IMPROVED HEALTH CARE ACCESS,
FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF TRANS
AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE FOR A
VOTE? SEEING NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I NOW
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 3042 AND 3043. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMAN PROSECCO.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> EMOTION CARRIES IN THE
RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SENT TO
THE FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WILL THE CLERK'S REVIEW TITLE
OF AGENDA ITEM 9 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 9, APPOINTMENT
3044, APPOINTMENT OF HANNAH
GLOVER TO THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO JULY
1st, 2026, FOUR BREATHING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION, AS ALL THE
OTHER COMMISSIONS, SERVES IN AN
ADVISORY COMMISSION TO THE CITY
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. HANNAH
WORKS AT THE ELIZABETH GREGORY
HOME, A LOW BARRIER WOMEN'S
DAY CENTER. SHE WORKED WITH
WOMEN TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE
PROCESSES FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND HAS WITNESSED
FIRSTHAND THE OBSTACLES WOMEN
FACE IN THIS ARENA. COLLEAGUES,
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS
BEFORE I MOVE FOR A VOTE? ALL
RIGHT. SEE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS, I NOW MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF THE POINT AND
3044 POINT IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT. WILL THE CLERK 'S
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SECOND.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> EMOTION CARRIES IN THE
COMMUNITY RECOMMENDATION TO
AFFIRM THE COMPORTMENT WILL BE
SENT TO THE JANUARY 14th FULL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. ALL
RIGHT. SINCE THE AGENDA HAS
BEEN AMENDED, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 11 INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 11, HSD'S
CURRENT RESPONSE TO COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION FOUR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO
TODAY WE HAVE WITH US HSD'S
DIRECTOR TANYA KIM AND HER TEAM
AND ONCE EVERYONE IS SEATED AND
SET UP I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AND TO START WITH THEIR
PRESENTATION, TO WALK THE
COMMITTEE THROUGH THEIR WORK,
INCLUDING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
COMMITTEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
KENDALL SERVES ON . DEFINITION,
CITY CONTRACTED PROVIDERS
WORKING IN THE SPACE, AND CITY
FUNDED STRATEGIES. AND I WOULD
ASK SINCE WE ARE ON A BIT OF A
SHORT TIMEFRAME BECAUSE WE WILL
BE LOSING, FROM THIS COMMITTEE,
TWO MEMBERS, THAT WE HOLD OUR
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. I AM TANYA KIM,
DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
>> AND I IN ALISON FORSYTH, A
SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
>> WELL IT IS ONLY JANUARY
EIGHTH, AND SO I CAN SAY, HAPPY
NEW YEAR. AND ALSO I WANT TO
EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO
COUNCIL WOMEN, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. WE'VE NOT MET YET IN
YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY AND SO
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE WITH
YOU TODAY. AND THANK YOU FOR
THE INVITATION TO KICK OFF THE
NEW YEAR WITH A BRIEFING. IT'S
A HEAVY TOPIC. WE HAVE A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME AND WE'LL DO
OUR BEST TO TALK ABOUT OUR
CURRENT INVESTMENTS. REALLY, AS
A PRIMER TO WHAT'S TO COME
NEXT WEEK, AND WE'LL TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT JANUARY
AS THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PREVENTION MONTH. BUT RATHER
THAN HAVING PROCLAMATIONS COME
TO YOU WITHOUT -- TO SHOW
CONTEXT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO GIVE YOU A PRIMER ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. IN THIS
SHORT BRIEFING WE ARE GOING TO
COVER A LOTS AND SOME OF YOU
ARE VERY FAMILIAR .
COUNCILMEMBER, CHAIR MOORE,
RATHER, HAS BEEN A LEADER IN
THIS SPACE SO I KNOW THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION EVEN
THROUGHOUT BUDGET SEASON. BUT
WE ARE GOING TO START, OF
COURSE, WITH WHO WE ARE AS THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE
UNIT THAT CARRIES OUT THIS WORK
IS CALLED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT. IT'S WITHIN HSD. WE
ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MODVSA.
THEN WE ARE GOING TO, IN
RECOGNITION OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, PREVENTION MONTH,
WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO OUR
EFFORTS SPECIFICALLY AROUND
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
SO WE ARE GOING TO START OFF
WITH SOME TERMS. WE WON'T
COVER ALL OF THEM EXTENSIVELY
BUT WILL PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO DISCUSS
OUR SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS.
WE HAVE SOME CONSIDERATIONS
WHERE WE ARE WELL POSITIONED TO
OFFER SOME INSIGHTS AND THEN WE
ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF
THE WORK GROUPS THAT WE
PARTICIPATE ON WITH AND THAT'S
CALLED THE COORDINATED EFFORT
AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, OR
CEASE, AND WITH THE
PROCLAMATION ENDING WITH SOME
NEXT STEPS. I WILL SHARE, TOO
THAT WITH ALL THIS WORK , AND I
DID MENTION BUDGET SEASON,
WHICH IS FRESH, TOP OF MIND,
IT'S A NEW YEAR. WE'VE GOT A
LOT OF WORK HERE AT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I DO WANT
TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR ADDING
$2 MILLION INTO OUR BASE BUDGET
SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND ON THIS
IMPORTANT WORK. I ALSO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE COUNCIL'S
LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY CHAIR
MOORE, FOR PROVIDING CLARITY
AND DIRECTION THAT YOU'D LIKE
TO SEE US TAKE WITH THAT
THROUGH, AS EXPRESSED THROUGH
COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION CBA
PROVISO. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO
DO. THIS PRESENTATION IS ABOUT
OUR EXISTING WORK. WE ARE IN
JANUARY 8th, WE ARE GOING TO
BEGIN SOME EXPEDITED PLANNING,
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE'LL
FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ALL OF THE
NEW EXPANDED EFFORTS. THAT'S
NOT WHAT THIS PRESENTATION IS.
AGAIN, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GIVE YOU A PRIMER FOR WHAT'S
TO COME FOR THE PROCLAMATION,
AND JUST UNDERSTANDING HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AS IT RELATES TO
CSC. THIS IS FOR THE GENERAL
VIEWING PUBLIC AND NEW
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, I ALWAYS
LIKE TO START WITH OUR
DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE DO SO
MUCH AND SO, FOR THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OUR
MISSION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE
WITH RESOURCES AND SOLUTIONS
DURING TIMES OF NEED, SO WE CAN
ALL LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND TAKE
PART IN STRONG, HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES. IT SAYS THAT WE
CONNECT PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES
AND SOLUTIONS DURING TIMES OF
NEED. I WILL SAY THE SIX IMPACT
AREAS YOU CAN ALSO SEE, WE'VE
GOT SOME PROFESSION IN THEIR,
TOO SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE
CAN PREVENT PEOPLE FROM NEEDING
SERVICES, THAT'S FANTASTIC.
BUT THERE ARE CASES, OF COURSE,
WHERE WE WORK WITH VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS AND FOR TODAY'S
PRESENTATION WE ARE EMPHASIZING
THE SUPPORTING SAFE COMMUNITIES
IMPACT AREA, AND THAT'S WHERE
MODVSA AND SOME OF OUR OTHER
COMMUNITY SAFETY EFFORTS RESIDE
. THE UNIT THAT CARRIES OUT
THIS WORK IS MODVSA. AGAIN,
THAT STANDS FOR THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT. I'M GOING TO
TAKE A STEP BACK JUST TO TALK
ABOUT MODVSA VERY BRIEFLY.
BECAUSE REALLY CSE IS A PART OF
A BROADER EFFORT OF WORK ON
ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
MODVSA, SINCE 1989, HAS BEEN
ADDRESSING GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE AND PROMOTING CROSS
SECTOR COLLABORATION. WE APPLY
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BEST
PRACTICES AND SUPPORT SURVIVORS
AND HOLD OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE.
SO WE'VE GOT A RANGE OF
SERVICES THAT WE CONTRACT FOR,
AS WELL AS CONVENERS THAT WE
PARTICIPATE IN. JUST AS A
WHOLE, TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
IS THAT WE SERVED 10,000
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND SEXUAL ASSAULT THROUGH A
COORDINATED REGIONAL NETWORK.
ALONG WITH CONTRACTING, WE HAVE
CONTRACTS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. I WANT TO
MENTION, TOO, THAT THOSE CBOS,
THEY ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS BUT OFTEN BRING A DEPTH
OF LIVED EXPERIENCE. MODVSA'S
OF THE RECENT PROJECTS, JUST A
QUICK SHOUT OUT TO NEW PROGRAM
CALLED SEEK AND SPEAK. THAT'S
A COLLABORATIVE WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE
A SEXUAL ASSAULT -- IT'S A
SEXUAL ASSAULT ALTERNATIVE
REPORTING PROGRAM AND WE ALSO
HAVE A SEX BUYERS DIVERSION
PROGRAM. AS I MENTIONED, CHAIR
MOORE IS A LEADER IN THE SPACE.
YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT IS
COUNCILMEMBER CADDELL DOING IN
THIS PHOTO. HE SERVES ON THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION
COUNCIL AND IN RECOGNITION OF
DV AWARENESS MONTH IN OCTOBER.
HE HAPPENED TO BE WALKING BY
AND WE GRABBED HIM TO TAKE THIS
BEAUTIFUL PHOTO, AND WE ARE
WEARING PURPLE IN HONOR OF
THEM. SO THERE IS WORK TO BE
DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS
IS FOCUSING TODAY ON CSE. SO
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO HAND
IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE . THIS
YEAR YOU ARE GOING TO SEE ME
COMING TO THE TABLE AND TALKING
ABOUT ALL SORTS OF TOPICS THAT
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
TOUCHES. I HOPE TO BRING MORE
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE
COMMUNITY, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE ARE GOING TO ADD A LAYER OF
DEPTH TO OUR CONVERSATION. AND
SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE
ALLISON, WHO IS A PART OF
MODVSA AND IS A C7 PLANNER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR
CAN. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE
WITH YOU THIS MORNING. I AM
VERY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT
THIS. IT IS A SUBJECT NEAR AND
DEAR TO MY HEART AND I
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE
PUT TOWARDS THIS, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. AND TO START OFF THIS
PRESENTATION, I JUST THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PROVIDE A
FEW KEY TERMS, JUST TO KIND OF
SET THE STAGE. I KNOW THAT
THERE IS VARYING DEGREES OF
AWARENESS AND SO I WON'T
REVIEW EVERY ONE OF THESE
TERMS, JUST TO KIND OF PROVIDE
SOME CONTEXT AND CLARITY ON
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN
WE SAY CSE OR CSE SEE. CSE IS
THE EXCHANGE OF SOMETHING
SEXUAL FOR SOMETHING OF VALUE.
IT COULD BE MONEY, RESOURCES,
SHELTER. IT COULD BE INTANGIBLE
BUT IT IS SOMETHING SEXUAL FOR
SOMETHING OF VALUE. AND WHEN
THAT EXCHANGE INVOLVES A MINOR
IT IS CALLED CSEC OR THE
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
OF CHILDREN. THERE MAY
SOMETIMES BE A THIRD PARTY
INVOLVED THAT MIGHT BE A TEMP
OR TRAFFICKER. THERE MIGHT NOT.
BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF TODAY
WE USE THE TERM CSE TO DESCRIBE
A LOT OF THIS WORK AND JUST
KIND OF POINT US IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION MOVING FORWARD. GOING
TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST A QUICK
OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE BEST
PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO
SURVIVOR CENTERED CSE SERVICES
AND ALSO, WHAT DOES THAT TERM,
SURVIVOR CENTERED, EVEN MEAN?
WHEN IT COMES TO CSE, AUTONOMY
AND EMPOWERMENT ARE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. IT'S HOW SURVIVORS
ARE INFORMED AND SUPPORTED IN
MAKING DECISIONS AROUND THEIR
OWN HEALING JOURNEY, WITHOUT
EXTERNAL PRESSURE.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND
TRANSPARENCY LOOKS LIKE CLEAR
BOUNDARIES BETWEEN PROVIDERS
AND CLIENTS, OPEN
COMMUNICATION. THESE ARE BOTH
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS FOR
BUILDING TRUST WITH A
POPULATION THAT HAS EXPERIENCED
SO MUCH TRAUMA, AND AS A
RESULT, IS QUITE WARY OFTEN
TIMES OF SYSTEMS OR PROVIDERS.
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE I THINK IS
A BUZZWORD THAT GETS THROWN
AROUND QUITE OFTEN BUT IN
SHORT, TRAUMA INFORMED CARE
LOOKS LIKE SERVICES THAT
RECOGNIZE THAT OFTEN BEHAVIORS
ARE RESPONSES OR MALADAPTIVE
RESPONSES TO TRAUMA OR TO THE
ABUSE AND HARM THAT THEY ARE
GOING THROUGH, AS A RESULT TO
GET THEIR NEEDS MET. SO TRAUMA
INFORMED SERVICES ARE DESIGNED
TO AVOID THAT RE-VICTIMIZATION,
THAT RETRAUMATIZED ASIAN. AND
LASTLY BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT,
CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES
EMPHASIZE PROGRAMS LED BY
SURVIVORS, EMPHASIZE INCLUSIVE
AND AFFIRMING SERVICES, AND
PRIORITIZE SURVIVORS IN
LEADERSHIP THAT ARE INCLUSIVE.
AND WITH ALL OF THESE BEST
PRACTICES IN MIND, I'D LIKE TO
SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO HOW MODVSA
INVESTS IN SERVICES FOR THIS
POPULATION. AND AGAIN, THESE
ARE OUR INVESTMENTS FOR CSE
SPECIFICALLY BUT IN 2022,
MODVSA ADMINISTERED A BROADER
REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL PROCESS
TO INVEST IN GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCES INCLUDING CSE AS WELL
AS DV AND ESSAY, OR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT .
AND AS A RESULT, THE FOLLOWING
STRATEGIES WERE FUNDED. MOBILE
FLEXIBLE ADVOCACY, SHELTER AND
HOUSING, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
AND 24-HOUR HOTLINES AND
THERAPEUTIC AND MEDICAL
ADVOCACY. MOBILE FLEXIBLE
ADVOCACY IS ADVOCATES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE
INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT. THEY
MEET THE SURVIVORS WERE THERE
AT. THEY HELP SURVIVORS
NAVIGATE SYSTEMS LIKE LEGAL,
MEDICAL, HOUSING, WITH THE
PURPOSE OF EMPOWERING THEM TO
REBUILD THEIR LIVES FOLLOWING
VICTIMIZATION. AND OUR SHELTER
AND OUR HOUSING STRATEGY
INCLUDES BOTH CRISIS USING
LIKE SHELTER, TRANSITIONAL AND
LONG-TERM HOUSING MODELS THAT
MEET SURVIVORS WHERE THEY ARE
AT AND THAT KIND OF MEET THEIR
NEEDS FOLLOWING THEIR ABUSE AND
FOLLOWING THEIR VICTIMIZATION.
OUR OUTREACH , EDUCATION, AND
24 HOUR HOTLINES, AS YOU CAN
INFER FROM THE TITLE, IT IS
PROVIDING CRISIS INTERVENTION,
REFERRALS, AND CONNECTING
SURVIVORS AND SERVICES AT ANY
TIME. AND LASTLY, OUR
THERAPEUTIC AND MEDICAL
ADVOCACY SERVICES INCLUDE
IMMEDIATE ONGOING PSYCHOLOGICAL
ASSISTANCE TO MITIGATE THE
EFFECTS OF PTSD, WHICH THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO
EXPERIENCE GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE ALSO HAVE THOSE
SYMPTOMS. AND MEDICAL ADVOCACY
INCLUDES PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE
SHE CLINIC ON AURORA, WHICH IS
RUN BY AURORA COMMONS, THAT
PROVIDES DROP-IN HEALTHCARE TO
THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE
SEX TRADE. SO THE LIST ON THE
RIGHT OF THE SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE
REALLY QUICKLY, THOSE ARE THE
EXISTING PROVIDERS THAT WE FUND
THROUGH MODVSA, THAT
SPECIALIZING CSE. SO YOU CAN
SEE WHAT THE 3.3 MILLION OF
EXISTING DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE,
THE NEW $2 MILLION IS A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FOR US TO
EXPAND THE SERVICES. AND SO WE
WILL DEFINITELY -- AND I KNOW
THAT CHAIR MOORE WILL INVITE US
BACK TO TALK ABOUT THAT. ABOUT
JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO
UNDERSCORE THAT THIS CURRENTLY
DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT $2
MILLION.
>> THANK YOU. AND MODVSA IS
WELL POSITIONED TO NOT ONLY
ENHANCE OUR OWN INVESTMENTS,
BUT ALSO TO AMPLIFY
CONSIDERATIONS FOR KEY LEADERS
AND POLICYMAKERS AND OUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK ON
THE TOPIC AROUND CSE HIGHLIGHTS
THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS.
FIRSTLY THAT THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR HOLISTIC
SOLUTIONS. WE KNOW THAT IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS BOTH THE
IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERNS AND
THE UNDERLYING SYSTEMIC DRIVERS
OF EXPLOITATION, A COORDINATED,
CITYWIDE RESPONSE IS OF THE
UTMOST IMPORTANCE. IT'S
CRITICAL. AND FURTHERMORE, THIS
RESPONSE HAS TO APPROACH
ENFORCEMENT IN TANDEM WITH
SURVIVOR CENTERED , TRAUMA
INFORMED SERVICES. THEY HAVE TO
GO HAND-IN-HAND. ADDITIONALLY,
THE NEED FOR INCREASED SUPPORT
SERVICES WAS BROUGHT UP IN OUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO EXPAND
SHELTER, ADVOCACY, AND HARM
REDUCTION SERVICES, DEMAND
REDUCTION EFFORTS CURRENTLY
TARGET VERY VISIBLE FORMS OF
TRAFFICKING SUCH AS THOSE ON
THE STREET -BASED SEX TRADE ON
AURORA. BUT IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT, IN ORDER TO ASSURE
EQUITY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO
ALSO CONSIDER THE LESS VISIBLE
FORMS OF TRAFFICKING THAT
REQUIRE MORE PROACTIVE DEMAND
OPERATIONS. AND LASTLY, LOOK
AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, IMPLEMENT
AND CAMPAIGNS THAT EDUCATE THE
PUBLIC AND REDUCE THE STIGMA
AROUND THE TOPIC. AND ALL OF
THIS TOGETHER UNDER THE
UMBRELLA OF COLLABORATION,
ENCOURAGING THAT COLLABORATION
BY USING GROUPS SUCH AS CEASE,
WHICH I AM EXCITED TO TALK
ABOUT IN MORE DETAIL ON THE
NEXT SLIDE, AND OTHER SIMILAR
COORDINATED EFFORTS. THERE ARE
A LOT OF WORK GROUPS AROUND
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION,
AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I'M
VERY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THE
CITY'S COORDINATED EFFORT
AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
WORKGROUP. IT IS ESTABLISHED
OVER 12-13 YEARS AGO, IN 2012,
TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC GAPS IN
SEATTLE'S RESPONSE TO CSE AND
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS
GROUP IS TO DEVELOP A UNIFIED,
FOR NEEDED NETWORK TO COMBAT
CSE BY FOSTERING COLLABORATION
AMONGST GOVERNMENT AGENCIES,
NONPROFIT, AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS. THE GROUP RESUMED IN
2024 AFTER BEING ON HOLD DURING
THE PANDEMIC AND NOW IT SERVES
AS A CONVENING SPACE FOR THOSE
DOING THIS WORK, TO IDENTIFY
GAPS, TRENDS, AND DEVELOP
STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
CITY LEADERSHIP. AND NOW I WILL
HAND IT BACK TO DIRECTOR KIM.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. AND CHAIR
MOORE, I KNOW WE OWE YOU A
LISTING OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS.
THE PURPOSE OF THOSE GROUPS, AS
WELL AS THE MEMBERSHIP. BUT
WANTED TO UNDERSCORE
C.E.A.S.E., WHICH ALLISON WENT
OVER SUCCINCTLY. AND SO THAT
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.
SO JUST LOOKING THAT UP FOR
YOU. AND SO, WITH THAT, HERE WE
ARE . WE GAVE YOU A LOT TO
THINK ABOUT. I KNOW YOU'VE
ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS. I
DON'T WANT TO, AGAIN, SUGGEST
THAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE
CAN COVER THIS MASSIVE TOPIC.
IT'S GOING TO BE A YEAR,
MULTI-YEAR LONG CONVERSATION.
WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN
THIS SPACE BUT TALKING ABOUT
THE AWARENESS COMPONENT, THAT
TAKES US BACK TO WHAT IS
JANUARY AS THE HUMAN
TRAFFICKING CONVENTION MONTH SO
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 2010 IN
OBSERVANCE OF FIRMS OUR ONGOING
COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE
FREEDOM AND EQUALITY OF ALL
INDIVIDUALS. IT STRENGTHENS OUR
EFFORTS TO ROOT OUT HUMAN
TRAFFICKING IN ALL ITS FORMS,
AND FOR US, HIGHLIGHTING THE
ASPECT OF CSE WITHIN HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. SO NEXT WEEK I'M
WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
UNDER CHAIR'S LEADERSHIP, WE
ARE GOING TO COLLECTIVELY
PROCLAIM JANUARY AS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH IN
SEATTLE. AND SO , IT'S AGAIN,
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
INVITATION TO OFFER THIS HERE
IN THIS SPACE BEFORE THE
PROCLAMATION COMES TO YOU.
AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT BUT
REALLY IT'S SUBSTANCE AND WHAT
WE ARE DOING BEHIND THE SCENES
AND THE LIVES THAT WE ARE
IMPACTING IS GOING TO BE WHERE
WE ARE MEASURED AND WHERE WE
ARE GOING TO BE JUDGED AND SO,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
PASS IT BACK OVER TO YOU ,
CHAIR MOORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION, AND AS YOU HAVE
SO RIGHTLY SAID, THIS IS JUST
SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF
WHAT'S OUT THERE IN TERMS OF
WHO'S DOING THE WORK, WHAT
SERVICES ARE NEEDED, AND THE
DEPTHS AND BREADTH OF THE WORK
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION AND
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT
YOU'VE BEEN DOING TODAY.
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND I WANTED TO JUST
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS JOINED US IN HER
HONORARY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROLE.
AND ALSO WANT TO SAY , I WAS SO
REMISS NOT TO WELCOME OUR
NEWEST MEMBER, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, TO THIS COMMITTEE. SO
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR RINCK, FOR
REMINDING ME TO DO SO. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU ARE
WELCOME. AND TO THAT I WILL NOW
SEE IF COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PRESENTATION. QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU DIRECTOR KIM AND STAFF FOR
BEING HERE. I HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT JUST CONTEXT. WHY WAS
THIS WORK PAUSED DURING THE
PANDEMIC, AND WHAT HAPPENED
DURING THAT TIME THESE
INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT -- VICTIMS
WERE NOT GETTING ASSISTANCE .
WHAT WAS HAPPENING? I THINK IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. THAT'S A
GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE
IMPRESSION THAT THE WORK WAS
PAUSED. IT'S ONE OF THE WORK
GROUPS, THE CONVENINGS OF THE
PROVIDERS AND SYSTEM FOLKS THAT
WAS PAUSED, BECAUSE DURING THE
PANDEMIC PEOPLE WERE JUST
TRYING TO MEET THE BASIC NEEDS
OF WHAT THE PANDEMIC REQUIRED.
THE WORK WAS ABSOLUTELY
CONTINUING DURING THAT TIME, SO
THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, THERE
WERE ALSO OTHER MEETINGS THAT
WERE BEING HAD. YOU KNOW, OVER
TEAMS OR SKYPE, BACK IN THE
DAY. SO -- BUT THE CSE WORK
ITSELF WAS NOT CAUSED.
>> BUT THE COORDINATION WORK
WAS NOT HAPPENING, OR IT WAS?
>> THE COORDINATION UNDER
C.E.A.S.E. WAS NOT HAPPENING
BECAUSE WE WERE JUST TRYING TO
MEET THE BASIC NEEDS DURING THE
PANDEMIC. SO THAT'S CORRECT.
BUT QUICKLY AS YOU KNOW YOU
RECALL WITH THE CITY, WITH THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY AND WE'RE
OPERATING UNDER THE CONTINUITY
OF OPERATIONS PLAN, WE REALLY
HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHAT IT
IS THAT WE ARE TO FOCUS ON .
AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS MAKING
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE. THEY
WERE GETTING -- THE CONTRACTS
WERE BEING EDUCATED. WE HAD TO
PIVOT SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING
BECAUSE OF SOCIAL -- IT'S
REMARKABLE. WELCOME 2025. BUT
AT THE TIME, PARTICULARLY WHEN,
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC,
WHEN WE WERE JUST TRYING TO
FIGURE THINGS OUT, ALL SERVICE
PROVIDERS REALLY WERE PIVOTING
AND WE OURSELVES HAD VERY CLEAR
DIRECTION ON WHERE OUR
ATTENTION WAS. AND THERE WERE
SOME BASIC THINGS LIKE GETTING
PEOPLE FOOD. SO IT'S
REMARKABLE NOW, HERE WE ARE IN
HINDSIGHT, THINKING ABOUT WHERE
WE'VE COME, BUT THE WORK WAS
ABSOLUTELY GOING. IT'S JUST
THAT WE SUSPENDED SOME OF THE
CONVENING'S FOR THOSE REASONS.
THANK YOU.
>> AND I CAN ADD TO THAT AS
WELL, WHERE THERE IS
C.E.A.S.E., WHICH IS MORE FOR
THE SYSTEMIC AND BROADER WORK
GROUP OF THE DIFFERENT
PARTNERS, INCLUDING SPD AND
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT. BUT
THERE WAS ALWAYS THE ADULT
SURVIVOR COLLABORATIVE. I
DIDN'T WANT TO INUNDATE YOU
WITH DIFFERENT ACRONYMS OF
DIFFERENT COLLABORATIVES, BUT
THAT WAS A FUNDED NETWORK OF
OUR PROVIDERS THAT CONTINUED TO
MEET THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
SO SOME OF OUR FUNDED PROVIDERS
WERE CONTINUING TO HAVE
QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND
COORDINATE SERVICES ONGOING. IT
WAS JUST KIND OF THAT BROADER
LEVEL, THAT PAUSED REALLY.
>> AND THAT'S THE LIST THAT WE
ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
CHAIR MOORE HAS.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW SOME OF
THE WORK, DIRECTOR KIM AND I
WORKED TOGETHER DURING THAT
TIME SO I KNEW THERE WAS A LOT
OF COLLEAGUES GOING INTO IT,
INCLUDING SINCE FOLKS CAN MOVE
AROUND, BECAUSE THE FOLKS HAD
TO BE IN PLACE, HOW TO HELP
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND
HOW TO SHIFT THE WORK TO ENSURE
THAT WE WERE STILL PROVIDING
SERVICES. I KNOW ALL THAT WAS
HAPPENING BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT YOU MENTIONED
THAT AS PART OF THIS PAUSE,
THAT THE WORK ITSELF WAS NOT
BEING PAUSED AND THAT THERE
WERE OTHER, TO YOUR POINT,
DIRECTOR KIM, OTHER CREATIVE
WAYS TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO
VICK'S DURING THAT TIME. SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN I
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
COUNTY'S ROLE IN ALL OF THIS.
ARE THEY PART OF THE C.E.A.S.E.
CONVENING GROUP ? AND YOU KNOW
, WHAT ARE THEY DOING AND HOW
DOES IT INTERSECT WITH WHAT THE
CITY IS DOING? BECAUSE WE HAVE
OUR INVESTMENTS, COUNTY HAS
THEIR INVESTMENTS, AND HOW DO
WE LEVERAGE --
>> I CAN DO MORE -- FROM THE
SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION. KING COUNTY HAS A
GREAT CSEC PROGRAM. THEY WORK
WITH US. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH
THE CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTER
OF KING COUNTY WHICH HANDLES
ALL THE CHILD ABUSE AND THEY
SEE A LOT OF AT RISK CSEC
MINERS COMING THROUGH. SO WE'VE
WORKED VERY CLOSELY INCREDIBLE
AERATION WITH THE PROGRAM LEADS
FROM THE KING COUNTY CSEC TASK
FORCE AND COLLABORATION. WE
COURTNEY CLOSELY TOGETHER. AS
FAR AS INVESTMENTS I COULDN'T
SPEAK TO THAT QUITE AS MUCH BUT
AS FAR AS COLLABORATION AND
WORK, WE DEFINITELY COMPLEMENT
AND NOT TRY TO DUPLICATE. BUT
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
PLANNING GOING INTO MAKING SURE
WE ARE NOT STEPPING ON EACH
OTHER'S TOES AND WE ARE
COMPLEMENTING THE WORK THAT
THEY ARE DOING OVER THERE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK
YOU FOR THE WARM . I KNOW I'M
MEETING WITH YOUR OFFICE NEXT
WEEK. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE
THAT FORCED COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLICATION IS WRONG AND A
PROBLEM THAT IS AFFECTING
COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE. SO
REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS
PRESENTATION TODAY AND ALSO
HOPEFUL THAT IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS, AS WE CONTINUE
THEM, WE ARE MAKING SPACE FOR
NUANCE BETWEEN FORCED
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
AND TRAFFICKING BY THE VARIOUS
ACTORS, AND FULLY AUTONOMOUS,
SURVIVAL-BASED STREET SEX
WORKERS WHO ARE DOING SUCH AS A
MEANS OF LABOR. AND TO THAT
END, AND KNOWING JUST THE
REALITIES OF THIS WORK, I'M
OFTEN THINKING ABOUT DATA AND
HOW ARE WE FULLY MEETING THE
NEED THAT IS OUT THERE. SO FOR
HSC, HOW ARE YOU ALL GOING
ABOUT MEASURING THE NEED WITHIN
THIS AREA? I KNOW IN MY
DISCUSSIONS WITH ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK, THERE
IS ALWAYS AN ASK FOR MORE
RESOURCES. BUT HOW ARE WE
REALLY MEASURING AND MAKING IT
SUGGESTIONS, TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE MEETING
THE NEED?
>> IF I CAN ENSURE THAT I HEARD
YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY, IT'S
HOW ARE WE MEASURING THE NEED?
SO IS THIS ENOUGH OR AS WE ARE
GOING TO EXPAND WITH THIS $2
MILLION, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT
WE ARE EXPANDING IT IN A WAY
THAT MEETS THOSE NEEDS? IS THAT
RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
PERFORMANCE MEASURES BUT IT'S
SATISFYING THE NEED THAT'S OUT
THERE.
>> CORRECT.
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO ADD, PART OF
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS PAST YEAR
AROUND THIS TOPIC WAS GOING TO
THESE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING THE
KING COUNTY CSEC TASK FORCE AND
ASKING WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED
TO, WHAT IS IT THAT'S WORKING
WELL, AND WHAT HAVE WE NEVER
HAD? SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
ASKED THESE PROVIDERS IS
IMAGINING A WORLD WHERE THE
NEEDS ARE ALL MET OF THIS
POPULATION, IT ALMOST FEELS
DIFFICULT TO WRAP YOUR MIND
AROUND BECAUSE IT IS A NEWER
TOPIC OF THE LAST 10 BEST 15
YEARS BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE
HAVE A LOT OF PROVIDERS TELLING
US THAT THEIR ADVOCATES HAVE
FULL CASELOADS. A LOT OF THEIR
ADVOCATES AND THEIR PROGRAMS
HAVE WAIT LISTS FOR SERVICES SO
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT
COMING CBA. BUT THERE HAS BEEN
A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND KIND
OF WORKING WITH WHAT WE HAVE
AND NOW WE ARE KIND OF AT AN
OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE IS MORE
ATTENTION ON THIS, TO LOOK AT,
WELL CONSIDERING THAT WE'VE
ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN WITH THE
PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH LITTLE, HOW CAN WE REALLY
EFFECTIVELY EXPAND IN A WAY
THAT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT?
>> I THINK I'LL JUST ADD THAT
ONCE YOU HAVE A PULSE ON WHAT
THE NEED IS AND THEN THE
CONDITIONS COULD CHANGE. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE STATE FUNDING
LEVELS ARE IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATION. THERE IS THESE
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING
IN THE LANDSCAPE. DURING THE
PANDEMIC, WHEN THERE'S A
SHADOW PANDEMIC WITH ALL THESE
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING, WHERE IT WAS LESS
VISIBLE AND SO I THINK THAT ONE
OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS IS
BRINGING THE TOPIC FORWARD,
HAVING THE COORDINATION AND
LOOKING AT THE DATA AND BEING
REALLY MINDFUL OF NOT HAVING
STIGMA. AND THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH ANYTHING THAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING, BUT NOT HAVING A
STATEMENT OF SERVICE DELIVERY
PROGRAM THAT WERE VERY CURRENT
, AND HAVING THESE OPEN
CONVERSATIONS, DOING THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WATCHING
WHAT'S HAPPENING REGIONALLY,
WE CAN'T DO THIS WORK IN
ISOLATION. IT'S INTERSTATE,
IT'S INTERNATIONAL. AND SO,
THE LEVEL OF COLLABORATION AND
DATA IS SO IMPORTANT TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEED IS,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT ISOLATED TO
ONE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S VERY
COMPLEX, AND SO, REALLY
APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THERE
HAS TO BE A MORE SOPHISTICATED
LEVEL OF COORDINATION AND
ANALYSIS ON THIS.
>> AND IF I COULD ADD JUST
SUPER BRIEFLY, I APOLOGIZE, BUT
ALSO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE SUBJECT, THERE IS SO MUCH
STIGMA AROUND SELLING SEX OR
TRADING SEX THAT IT IS VERY
RARE TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS
WILLINGLY GOING TO COME FORWARD
AND SELF IDENTIFY AS HAVING
EXPERIENCED THAT. SO I WOULD
SAY, OUT OF ALL THE FORMS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, THERE IS
A LOT OF STIGMA AROUND
IDENTIFYING AND THAT GOES
TOWARDS MEASURING DATA,
COLLECTING INFORMATION,
SURVEYS, STATISTICS, AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, YOUR AWARENESS OF THE
NUANCES BETWEEN WE HAVE
CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING
TRAFFICKED AND SEXUALLY
EXPLOITED, WE HAVE FULLY
AUTONOMOUS SEX WORKERS, WE HAVE
THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION,
AND ALL OF IT REQUIRES A LITTLE
BIT OF A NUANCED RESPONSE. AND
IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL
FOR SERVICE DELIVERY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I
JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION IF
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER AND HAVING
WORKED IN HOMELESSNESS, A FIELD
THAT ALSO SIMILARLY INTERSECTS
WITH THIS BUT ALSO HAS ITS OWN
DATA CHALLENGES, I'M ALWAYS
CLEAR EYED ON THAT AND HOW ARE
WE DOING OUR PART TO DO OUR
BEST TO FULLY REPRESENT AND
UNDERSTAND WHO MAY BE
EXPERIENCING THESE CONDITIONS.
BUT MY NEXT QUESTION IS KIND OF
RELATED TO OUR FUNDING
STRATEGIES IN AREAS, AND WE
KNOW ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
TRAFFICKERS WILL -- THE PRIMARY
WAY THAT TRAFFICKERS WILL
MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THEIR
VICTIMS ARE JUST FINDING WAYS
TO SUBJUGATE THEM, KEEPING THEM
VULNERABLE. IN MANY CASES
THROUGH FINANCIAL CONTROL. AND
SO, THINKING ABOUT WHERE RIGHT
NOW IN THE FUNDED STRATEGIES
AREA DOES FLEXIBLE CASH
ASSISTANCE FIT IN, OR IS THIS
AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN EXPLORED?
>> A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS DO
RECEIVE FUNDS FOR ABLE
ASSISTANCE FOR CLIENT
ASSISTANCE, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. GREAT QUESTION.
>> THAT CONCLUDES MY QUESTION.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I
HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AS
WELL AND YEAH, I JUST THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING
ABOUT STREET BASED SEX WORK
THAT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT
MASSAGE PARLORS AND ALL ESCORT
SERVICES, AND ALL THE ONLINE
ACTIVITY THAT'S OUT THERE AS
WELL, WHICH IS OFTEN BEEN
ONLINE AND BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
COME IT'S NOT SEEN, IT'S
HIDDEN AND IT'S A LOT MORE
DANGEROUS IN NEW WAYS, AND MORE
EXPLOITIVE. IMPORTANT THAT WE
KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL. IT
ISN'T JUST ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE
]. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS IN
TERMS OF HOW IS HSD MEASURING
THE SUCCESS WITH THE WORK OF
THE PROVIDERS THAT THEY ARE
CONTRACT THING WITH? BECAUSE WE
DON'T REALLY SEE A LOT OF IT,
AND SO IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO
KNOW EXACTLY HOW THAT'S BEEN
MEASURED.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE'LL FOLLOW UP, IF THAT'S
OKAY, WITH A MORE ROBUST
ANSWER. BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
JUST HIGH LEVEL FOR TODAY'S
PRESENTATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> FOR AS FAR AS OUR CSE
INVESTMENTS, IT'S SIMILAR TO
ALL OF OUR BROADER GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE INVESTMENTS, WHERE IT
IS, DID THE SURVIVOR ACCESS
SERVICES, DID THEY GET WHAT
THEY NEEDED, AND THEN, DID THEY
SELF IDENTIFY A GOAL AND THAT
GOAL IN A SERVICE PLAN? AND
ESPECIALLY I THINK SOME HELPFUL
CONTEXT FOR THIS PARTICULAR
POPULATION, AS WELL, IS THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS AT
ALL STAGES OF CHANGE AND
WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN
SERVICES. AND OFTEN TIMES THOSE
THAT WE SEE THAT ARE THE MOST
VISIBLE ARE THE ONES THAT MIGHT
NOT BE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO
WANTING TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES.
AND SO A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT
HAVE ENGAGED IN SERVICES ARE NO
LONGER ENGAGING IN THE SEX
TRADE. IT'S ALL KIND OF
OVERLAPS BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S
QUALITY AND QUANTITY, HOW MANY
SURVIVORS THAT WERE SERVING,
AND THEN HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT
THE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE
RECEIVING ARE GOOD AND
EQUITABLE AND GETTING THEIR
NEEDS MET.
>> AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE
TRACK ON A REGULAR BASIS AS
PART OF THE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS. I WILL ALSO NOTE,
IN THE FOLLOW-UP, YOU KNOW
IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S NOT
LIKE -- IT'S NOT LIKE A
TUTORING PROGRAM WHERE YOU
MIGHT, IN THE FOLLOWING
QUARTER, SEE GRADES INCREASE TO
A VARYING DEGREE. I THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAUMA THAT
PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED WHEN
THEY ARE YOUNG OR THINGS THAT
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING NOW , AND
IT'S AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE
-- IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT A ONE
SIZE FITS ALL FOR THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING
IMPACTED, AND POTENTIALLY THEIR
FAMILIES AND THEIR KIDS, AND
THEIR HOUSEHOLD. AND SO IT'S
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING
FOLKS AND OFFERING THE OPTIONS
AND HAVING IT SELF-DIRECTED IN
A WAY FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL
FOR LONG-LASTING CHANGE. AND
YOU ARE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS,
AS WELL. THERE'S A LOT OF, I
THINK, TRUST BUILDING THAT HAS
TO OCCUR, WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT
A SURPRISE. BUT I JUST WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT WE ARE WORKING
WITH PEOPLE LONG TERM AND MAYBE
THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE
THERE'S QUICK TRANSITION BUT I
HAVE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE DATA
AND IT'S A LONG-TERM EFFORT.
>> IT IS SIMILAR, I THINK, IF
YOU ARE AWARE, IN THE DVD REALM
THEY SAY SOMETIMES THAT A
VICTIM OR A SURVIVOR, IT TAKES
SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO GET OUT FROM
THEIR ABUSER. THERE'S VERY
SIMILAR DATA THAT SUGGESTS
IT'S THE SAME FOR THE SEX
TRADE, WHERE THAT INCENTIVE
MIGHT NOT BE THE ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIP BUT IF YOU KNOW
THAT YOU CAN GO ON AURORA AND
MAKE A QUICK $1500, AND YOU
HAVE RENT DUE TOMORROW AND A
CHILD CRYING, THERE IS A VERY
REAL INCENTIVE TO CONTINUE TO
GO BACK TO IT, DESPITE THE
HARMS. SO IT IS IN THIS WORLD,
GETTING VERY CREATIVE WITH
EMPOWERING AND WORKING WITH
THESE SURVIVORS, AND THESE
PROVIDERS ARE DOING A FANTASTIC
JOB OF REALLY WORKING WITH THEM
TO IDENTIFY AND BUILD UP THEIR
OWN LIVES, FREE FROM
EXPLOITATION.
>> AND AGAIN, I THINK WE
CONTINUE AS COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
NOTED, WE REALLY NEED TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HOUSING
BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE
MAJOR, I THINK, WAYS OF KEEPING
PEOPLE IN THE TRADE,
UNWILLINGLY. AND THAT WAS
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WAS BEHIND THE IMPETUS OF
THE BUDGET ADDED, WAS TO BE
LOOKING AT EMERGENCY RECEIVING
CENTERS, SORT OF HAVE A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO INITIALLY
AND THEN WE CAN WORK TO
TRANSITION INTO MORE SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING AND JOB TRAINING, AND
REALLY HELPING PEOPLE HAVE THE
SKILLS AND THE SUPPORT,
WRAPAROUND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO
BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE PERMANENT
CHANGES. THE OTHER THING THAT I
WANTED TO ASK AND THEN I'M
AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
MOVE ON, IS GIVEN THE -- HOW IS
THE C.E.A.S.E. WORK GROUP --
LOOKING AT THE C.E.A.S.E. WORK
GROUP SO WHAT ROLE ARE THEY
GOING TO PLAY IN ENSURING THE
SUCCESSFUL INFLAMMATION OF THE
NEW CSE LAW THAT WAS PASSED
THIS LAST SUMMER? BECAUSE RIGHT
NOW THINGS ARE NOT -- WE SEEM
TO BE SORT OF STALLED AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF FORMER PROVIDERS,
AND THERE'S FRANKLY A LITTLE
BIT OF TURF JUGGLING GOING ON,
JOSTLING GOING ON, WHICH I
DON'T THINK SERVES ANYBODY.
AND ALSO JUST THE FACT OF
HAVING SO MANY PLAYERS, THE
LOGISTICS OF BRINGING EVERYBODY
TOGETHER. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I REALLY WAS PROUD OF IN
THAT PROCESS THAT WE WENT TO
WAS THE FACT THAT WE BROUGHT A
LOT OF OTHER VOICES TO THE
TABLE AND THAT SEEMED LIKE
THERE WAS A WINDOW THERE WHERE
THERE WAS A LOT MORE
COLLABORATION AND DISCUSSION
ALONG THE WHOLE SPECTRUM ON
PERSPECTIVE AND PEOPLE BEING IN
THEIR SORT OF VARIOUS CAMPS.
AND I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT'S
WHERE WE NEED TO BE. AND SO TO
THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE
THAT PROCESS AND REALLY PUSH
AGAINST THE TENDENCY TO BECOME
ISOLATED AND SIDELOAD AND
LOCKED IN, IS GOING TO BE, I
THINK, AN IMPORTANT PART OF
WHAT CSE DOES SO I'VE MADE MY
POINT I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT
YOU VIEW AND HOW THEY ARE GOING
TO HELP WITH THIS.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT.
C.E.A.S.E. RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE
IT JUST RESUMED, AND I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT IT IS OPEN.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR A GROUP OF
THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
CONTRACTED WITH US. THIS IS
REALLY MEANT TO BE SYSTEMS WIDE
BUT THERE IS LOTS OF
POSSIBILITY AND SO WE ARE
COMMITTED TO HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION WITH YOU ON WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND SO,
CONSIDER US A PARTNER. WE'RE
GOING TO FOCUS ON HOW TO GET
THAT $2 MILLION AND GET ALL OF
THIS WORK ORGANIZED AND
COORDINATED IN A VERY TIMELY
FASHION. THAT $2 MILLION
REQUIRES US TO ALSO EXPEDITE IN
RPD TO GET THOSE SERVICES
ONLINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND
WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO TAKING
A LOOK AT THE WORK GROUPS THAT
WERE INVOLVED IN AND/OR THAT
COMMUNITY IS LEADING, AND THERE
IS OTHER -- SO WE WILL
FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU ON THE
APPROPRIATE SPACES AND AS WE
CAN HELP WITH THE ORDINANCE AND
PARTNER WITH SPD AND
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND OTHERS,
WE ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO DO
THAT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A
QUICK PLUG TO WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT HOUSING BECAUSE WE HAVE
-- ALSO OUR NEW COUNCILMEMBER
JOINING US, TOO, IS A QUICK
NOTE THAT HOUSING IN THIS CASE
ALSO IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE
NEED TO TAKE CONFIDENTIALITY
AND SECURITY INTO
CONSIDERATION, AND THERE MAY BE
FAMILIES INVOLVED. SO JUST
WANTED TO PLUG THAT NOTE TO YOU
$.2 MILLION IS WONDERFUL IN
COMPARISON, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
$3.3 MILLION THAT WE CURRENTLY
HAVE AND WILL PROBABLY HEAR
THAT THERE IS A GREATER NEED
OUT THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO
DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN. WE
NEED TO START SOMEWHERE AND
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO
PARTNER WITH YOU THIS YEAR ON
THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S FAR
GREATER NEED THAN WHAT WE ARE
FUNDING FOR WITH THE SERVICE
LEVEL THAT WE ARE PROVIDING.
AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT
WE ARE ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO
HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN
PUBLIC, THAT WE'VE BROUGHT BUT
AS YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LABORING
HEROICALLY IN THE SHADOWS, IN A
WAY, AND I THINK IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
ARE CONTINUING TO REALLY EXPOSE
THIS, SHED THE LIGHT OF DAY ON
THIS, AND THAT INCREDIBLE NEED
THAT REMAINS, THAT WE NEED TO
ADDRESS. AND I THINK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, YOU HAD A QUESTION?
>> SINCE I PUT OUT MY HAND, A
COUPLE OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE
BEEN ANSWERED. ONE OF THEM WAS
DOES THE $3 MILLION INCLUDE THE
$2 MILLION THAT WAS JUST
APPROPRIATED AND YOU ARE
SHAKING YOUR HEAD NO. SO
THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. I
DIDN'T KNOW THAT C.E.A.S.E.
EXISTED PRIOR TO MAYBE THREE OR
FOUR YEARS AGO. I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT IT WENT BACK MAYBE EVEN
BEFORE 2012, SO THAT IS REALLY
INTERESTING. PERHAPS THAT CAN
BE AT SOME POINT IN THIS
COMMITTEE OR MAYBE WHEN YOU PUT
OUT THE RFP FOR THE $2 MILLION,
OR WHENEVER IT MAKES SENSE. I
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU SEE
CSE CHANGING OVER TIME WITH THE
FENTANYL CRISIS, WITH THE
INFUSION OF DRUGS INTO OUR
CITY. I AM INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING, CHANGING MAJORS,
AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
IN AURORA, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT I
DO IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE
PATTERNS THAT WE MUST TAKE,
THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF, AND
ALSO RESPOND TO. SO THAT'S
SOMETHING -- WE ARE TALKING A
LOT ABOUT DATA. I KNOW IT'S
HARD TO TRACK BUT -- AND THEN
JUST HOW MANY INCIDENTS ARE
BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT. HOW MANY NEW
PEOPLE ARE CONTRACTED PROVIDERS
SERVING, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN
PROVIDE TO FILL OUT THE
INFORMATION FOR US SO THEY CAN
GET A BIGGER PICTURE OF THE
ISSUE.
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND THE PROVISO
ACTUALLY SUGGESTS THAT WE
COLLABORATE WITHIN MULTIPLE
OFFICES AND SYSTEMS SO I'M
SURE DAVID IS GOING TO BE
REQUIRED FOR US TO ANALYZE AND
REALLY TRACK TO SEE WHAT IMPACT
AND WHAT ELSE THE NEED IS, SO
ABSOLUTELY HEARD.
>> THANKS.
>> WE ARE RUNNING SHORT OF
TIME, SO I'M GOING TO WRAP IT
UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I REALLY
APPRECIATE GROUNDING FOR THE
PROCLAMATION, AND I WILL BE
LOOKING FORWARD TO RINGING THAT
FORWARD NEXT WEEK. SO THANK YOU
AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ AGENDA ITEM 10 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 10, OFFICE OF
HOUSING 2024 RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE UPDATE FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU.
TODAY WE HAVE WITH US OUR
OFFICE, OUR WONDERFUL OFFICE OF
HOUSING, AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR
FOR ANDREA AKITA AS WELL AS
NATHAN ANTONIO, TO PRESENT
08'S ANNUAL UPDATE ON THEIR
WORK REGARDING THE CITY'S
RECENT SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE, AND I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO THE PRESENTERS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. GOOD
MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M
ANDREA AKITA, DIRECTOR FOR THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING.
>> WE ARE GETTING SET UP HERE.
>> AND I NATHAN ANTONIO. I'M
AN ANALYST AND CO-LEAD AT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING.
>> WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE JOINED TODAY HERE IN
CHAMBERS AND VIRTUALLY BY
MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING'S CHANGE TEAM AND OUR
LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHO
COLLECTIVELY AND
COLLABORATIVELY LEAD AND
IMPLEMENT OUR RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE WORK. I HOPE THERE IS
SOME NOISE OVER AT SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL TOWER RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY PROUD AND
WE ARE PLEASED TO SPOTLIGHT A
FEW OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
HIGHLIGHTS ON ONGOING WORK OF
OUR OH COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO
ACHIEVE GREATER RACIAL EQUITY
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING'S VISION AND
MISSION ARE GROUNDED IN RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES.
WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD
HAVE A HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE
HOME, AND TO ACHIEVE OUR
MISSION AND VISION, WE PARTNER
IN CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BY EQUITABLY INVESTING,
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, AND
INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO LIVE IN SEATTLE. WE
PARTNER WITH AND INVEST IN
PROJECTS DEVELOPED AND OPERATED
PRIMARILY BY NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS. SO TODAY IN OUR
PRESENTATION WE WILL FIRST
PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW WITH
DATA ON RACIAL DISPARITIES IN
HOUSING. WE WILL HIGHLIGHT OH
INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS
THAT ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY
BLACK LEAD AND NATIVE LED
ORGANIZATIONS , AND THEN NATHAN
WILL DESCRIBE POLICY AND
PLANNING CHANGES WITH THREE
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM OH'S
HOUSING FUNDING POLICIES, FROM
THE USE OF THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT OR RET IN RESIDENT
SERVICES FUNDING, AND THE
IMPACT OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING, WORKFORCE
STABILIZATION FUND. SO WE KNOW
THAT STRUCTURAL INSTITUTIONAL
AND SYSTEMIC RACISM HAVE
CREATED INEQUITIES THAT ARE
PERVASIVE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, HOMEOWNERSHIP, AND
ASSOCIATED INCOME DISPARITIES
AND WEALTH GAPS WERE BLACK,
NATIVE, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR. SO YOU'LL SEE THIS
ILLUSTRATED IN THE NEXT FEW
SLIDES THROUGH HOW RACIAL
DISPARITIES SHOW UP AMONG THOSE
WHO ARE HOMELESS, HOW IT
APPEARS IN WHO IS RENT
BURDENED, ANDEAN WHO RENTS AND
WHO OWNS THEIR HOME. THIS SLIDE
LOOKS AT RACIAL DISPARITIES FOR
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. THE STATUS
FROM THE 2024 KING COUNTY POINT
IN TIME COUNTS, AND TO ORIENT
YOU TO THE CHART, THE
PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS OF
DIFFERENT RACIAL AND ETHNIC
GROUPS ARE IDENTIFIED BY ORANGE
BARS AND GREEN LINES REPRESENT
A PERCENT OF THE OVERALL COUNTY
POPULATION FOR EACH GROUP SO
WHERE YOU SEE AN ORANGE BAR
EXCEED A GREEN LINE, THERE IS A
DISPARITY BETWEEN THE UNHOUSED
POPULATION COMPARED TO THE
OVERALL POPULATION. AND AS YOU
CAN SEE, THIS SHOWS US WHAT
WE'VE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME. IT
CONTINUES TO DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. IN
KING COUNTY, 19% OF THOSE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
IDENTIFY AS BLACK,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, WHILE ONLY 6%
OF OVERALL KING COUNTY
POPULATION IDENTIFIES AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION, WE SEE THAT 7% OF
UNHOUSED -- OF OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS IDENTIFY AS NATIVE
AMERICAN, WHILE THAT GROUP
MAKES UP ONLY 1% OF KING
COUNTY'S POPULATION. SO THE
NEXT SLIDE LOOKS AT HOUSING
COST BURDEN AND SEVERE HOUSING
COST BURDEN OCCURS WHEN SOMEONE
IS SPENDING MORE THAN HALF OF
THEIR INCOME TOWARD HOUSING
COSTS, AND THIS LEAVES THESE
INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS WITH LESS
MONEY FOR OTHER NECESSITIES
LIKE FOOD AND HEALTHCARE AND
THEIR OTHER PAYMENTS THAT THEY
NEED TO MAKE. IT'S GENERALLY
BELIEVED THAT RENTERS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING SEVERE HOUSING
COST BURDEN ARE THOSE WHO ARE
MOST AT RISK OF EVICTION, OF
DISPLACEMENT, AND OF
HOMELESSNESS. SO WHEN RENTAL
HOUSING COSTS ARE AS HIGH AS
THEY ARE IN SEATTLE, THE LOWEST
INCOME RENTERS HAVE THE HIGHEST
RATES OF SEVERE HOUSING COST
BURDEN. SO YELLOW AND RED IN
THIS CHART EQUALS COST BURDEN ,
SEVERELY COST BURDENED, AND YOU
CAN SEE AGAIN THAT BLACK
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS
FOLLOWED BY NATIVE AMERICAN,
ALASKA NATIVE HOUSEHOLDS ARE
EXPERIENCING A HIGHER RATE OF
HOUSING COST BURDEN AND SEVERE
COST BURDEN THAN WHITE OR ASIAN
HOUSEHOLDS. SO WE LOOK AT THE
BREAKDOWN OF RENTERS VERSUS
HOMEOWNERS ACROSS RACIAL AND
ETHNIC IDENTITIES. WE SEE THAT
HOUSEHOLDS OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS BLACK,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, OR NATIVE
AMERICAN INDIGENOUS, ARE LESS
LIKELY TO OWN A HOME THAN THEIR
WHITE COUNTERPARTS. ONLY 35% OF
HOUSEHOLDS OF COLOR IN SEATTLE
ARE HOMEOWNERS WHILE 50% OF
WHITE HOUSEHOLDS IN SEATTLE OWN
THEIR OWN HOMES. HOMEOWNERSHIP
IN THIS COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE
KEYS TO BUILDING GENERATIONAL
STABILITY AND WEALTH. SO HOW IS
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES?
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING IS
INVESTING IN THE CREATION AND
PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT'S DEVELOPED AND
OPERATED BY ORGANIZATIONS, AND
I SAID PRIMARILY NONPROFIT
AGENCIES THAT ARE
REPRESENTATIVE OF AND ROOTED
WITHIN NATIVE INDIGENOUS, BLACK
AFRICAN, LATIN AND ASIAN
COMMUNITIES. AND THIS MAP SHOWS
THE INVESTMENTS IN RENTAL
HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY THAT
HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING IN THE LAST
SEVEN YEARS. IT'S $210 MILLION
INVESTED IN CREATING MORE THAN
2000 AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOMES
FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND
SENIORS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND I WANT TO DIVE INTO THIS A
LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE THE
GREEN DOTS REPRESENT BUILDINGS
THAT ARE OWNED BY OR IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE
COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATIONS
SUCH AS A CENTRO DELAROSA,
AFRICA TOWN COMMUNITY LAND
TRUST, THE SEATTLE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT PDA,
FIRST HOUSING ASSOCIATION, THE
FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE,
INTERIM CDA, THE ETHIOPIAN
COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE, NEWHOPE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
INSTITUTE, SEA MAR, MT. ZION
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB. 08 HAS PARTNERED
WITH CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB AS AN
EXAMPLE, TO DEVELOP ALL THE
SACRED MEDICINE HOUSE AND GOLD
RIDGE PRODUCTS THAT ARE ALL ON
THIS MAP AND THROUGH CLOSE
COLLABORATION WITH CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND OTHER PUBLIC
FUNDERS ARE BUILDING HOMES THAT
CENTER TRADITIONAL WELLNESS
WITH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
SUPPORTS THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO
HEALING FOR OUR INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES. ALL ALL, WHICH
MEANS HOME, IT WAS DEVELOPED BY
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB AND OPENED
IN THE PIONEER SQUARE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN 2022, AND IT
CONTAINS OVER 80 APARTMENT
HOMES INCLUDING 10 STUDIOS THAT
ARE SET ASIDE FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS. IN ADDITION TO
HOUSING THE PROJECT FEATURES
HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES
THAT REACH OVER 2700 PEOPLE
ANNUALLY. 88% OF WHOM HAVE LOW
INCOMES AND 93% WHO ARE
AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA
NATIVE. LAST APRIL CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB CELEBRATED THE
OPENING OF SACRED MEDICINE
HOUSE, ITS FOURTH DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT, WHICH ADDED 120 UNITS
OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
INDIGENOUS INFORMED HOUSING IN
LAKE CITY FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO
IF WE FLY OVER THE CITY AND GO
TO THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, THE
NEXT EXAMPLE I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT IS BRYANT MANOR, AND
BRYANT MANOR MEETS A CRITICALLY
UNMET HOUSING NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE FAMILY SIZE UNITS IN
SEATTLE TO SERVE BLACK
COMMUNITY HISTORICALLY LOCATED
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. FOR
MORE THAN 50 YEARS BRYANT MANOR
PROVIDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO
FAMILIES IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND TODAY, FIRST AME
IS REDEVELOPING BRYANT MANOR,
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOMES FROM 58
TO 250 FOR A FUTURE GENERATION
OF FAMILIES. GAME HOUSING
CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION OF
ITS FIRST BUILDING LAST
SEPTEMBER WITH 101 NEW
APARTMENTS ALONG WITH A NEW
SHAY PREP EARLY LEARNING CENTER
ON THE GROUND FLOOR. THEN IN
SOUTH SEATTLE THE ETHIOPIAN
VILLAGE, WHICH OPENED IN MAY
2023 , IN RESPONSE TO
GENTRIFICATION AND THE GROWING
COST OF LIVING IN SOUTH
SEATTLE. THE ETHIOPIAN
COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE OR ECS
ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS TO
CREATE A BUILDING WITH 89
AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT ARE
FILLED WITH NATURAL LIGHT,
COMMUNITY LOUNGES, AND OUTDOOR
SPACES FOR OUR LOW INCOME
SENIORS. SENIORS HAVE BEEN
CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN
OF THE BUILDING TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT MEETS THE NEEDS AND
REFLECTS THE ETHIOPIAN CULTURE.
ETHIOPIAN VILLAGE PROMOTES
HEALTHY, DIGNIFIED AGING AND
ITS RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS
THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY, REDUCE
ISOLATION, AND MAKE SOCIAL
SERVICES EASY TO ACCESS. REALLY
INSPIRATIONAL WORK ACROSS THE
BOARD. THE NEXT SLIDE, WE FOCUS
ON TWO HOMEOWNERSHIP
COLLABORATIONS THAT WE ARE
SUPPORTING. THROUGH OUR
HOMEOWNERSHIP INVESTMENTS, WE
ARE EXCITED TO SEE A NEW
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY AND AFRICAN COMMUNITY
AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, OR A
CHD, WHO WILL DEVELOP THREE OF
THE RAINIER VALLEY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING INITIATIVE SITES. OH'S
INVESTMENT OF $6.7 MILLION WILL
SUPPORT HABITAT AND A CHD IN
THE CREATION OF 65 PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE FOR-SALE HOMES.
ANOTHER COLLABORATIVE IS THE
BLACK HOME INITIATIVE THAT'S
ADVANCING CHANGE AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK
HOMEOWNERS IN SOUTH SEATTLE,
SOUTH KING, AND NORTH PIERCE
COUNTIES AND OH IS PART OF THE
NETWORK OF NONPROFITS,
COMPANIES, PHILANTHROPY AND
GOVERNMENT THAT'S FOCUSED ON
INCREASING BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP.
OUR STAFF IS COCHAIRING THE
SUSTAINING EXISTING
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECT TEAM OF
THE INITIATIVE AND THAT PROJECT
TEAM HAS ABOUT 40 ACTIVE
MEMBERS. AMONG THE KEY
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS ARE
ONE AMARI, WHICH CREATES SPACES
FOR BLACK OWNERSHIP,
POSSIBILITY AND BELONGING
THROUGH ART, HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AND CONNECTION ,
THE BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS,
WHICH PROTECTS AND EMPOWERS
BLACK HOMEOWNERS THROUGH
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, AND THE
URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN
SEATTLE.
>> BEFORE YOU CHANGE SLIDES,
WHAT DOES RVA HI STAND FOR?
>> SURE, THAT'S THE RAINIER
VALLEY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
INITIATIVE.
>> WE'LL TALK NOW ABOUT SOME
MORE SPECIFIC POLICY AND
PROGRAM WORK AT OH SUPPORTING
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. IN THE
UPDATES TO THE HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES WHICH YOU APPROVED
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE MADE SOME
CHANGES THAT WILL SPEND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING AND
ACCESS TO ASSISTANCE. WE
PRIORITIZED INCLUSIVE FUNDING
BY ADDING MORE EXPLICIT
LANGUAGE ABOUT SUPPORTING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE
COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY
EXCLUDED FROM EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO HOUSING, PARTICULARLY THOSE
THAT ARE LED AND STAFFED BY
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ROOTED IN
COMMUNITY. WE STRENGTHENED OUR
COMMITMENT TO FAIR HOUSING BY
ENHANCING THE LANGUAGE AND OUR
PRIORITIES AROUND AFFIRMATIVELY
FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING TO
EMBRACE INVESTING BOTH TO
PROVIDE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY
AND TO MITIGATE THIS PLACEMENT.
WE ALSO MORE EXPLICITLY
COMMITTED TO PROMOTING
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF OUR
HOUSING INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. WE ALSO FURTHER
PROMOTE DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS
THROUGH INCREASED EMPHASIS IN
OUR POLICIES ON PROVIDING A
RANGE OF OPTIONS INCLUDING
FAMILY SIZED HOMES AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. WE
ALSO NOW ALLOW FOR MORE
FLEXIBILITY FOR PARTICIPANTS IN
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS, MOST
NOTABLY WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE
AN EXCEPTION TO THE FIRST-TIME
HOMEBUYER REQUIREMENT BUT JUST
FOR OWNERS OF RESALE
RESTRICTED, PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMES, SO THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO ACCESS ANOTHER
RESALE RESTRICTED HOME IN THE
CASE OF NEEDING TO UP OR
DOWNSIZE. WE ALSO MADE FUNDING
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CAPS ON
HOMEOWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
SUBSIDIES, DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE, AND HOME REPAIR
GRANTS THAT SHOULD HELP
FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES
WITH MORE BEDROOMS AND ALSO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR PROSPECTIVE
HOMEBUYERS AND CURRENT OWNERS
TO ACCESS ASSISTANCE. AND ALSO
IN THE POLICY CHANGES WE
EXPANDED THE HOME REPAIR GRANT
ELIGIBILITY BY RAISING THE
INCOME CEILING FOR THE PROGRAM
TO 80% AMI. THIS ALLOWS MORE
HOUSEHOLDS, PARTICULARLY THOSE
WITH SOME INCOME BUT WHICH IS
OFTEN FIXED, TO ACCESS
ASSISTANCE ALLOWING THEM TO
MAKE CRITICAL REPAIRS SO THEY
CAN REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES.
MOVING ON, I WILL HIGHLIGHT ONE
OF THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKITS
OR RETS THAT WE DID IN 2023,
WHICH WAS ON THE RESIDENT
SERVICES PROGRAM. IN 2022 AND
2023, A VERSION OF THE RESIDENT
SERVICES PROGRAM WAS PILOTED
USING CLIPPER OR CORONAVIRUS
LOCAL FISCAL ROOF OVER REFUNDS.
ENDING THE 2023 HOUSING LEVY,
$20 MILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS OF
THE LEVY WAS INCLUDED TO
SUPPORT AN ONGOING RESIDENT
SERVICES PROGRAM. THE FUNDING
PROGRAM WAS BUILT ON THE
FRAMEWORK OF THE CLIPPER
VERSION, WE DID DO AN RET AND
THEORY OF CHANGE TO HELP UP
DATE THE PROGRAM DESIGN. THE
RESIDENT SERVICES PROGRAM
OFFERS FUNDING TO OPERATORS OF
NON-PSA H AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
TO HIRE ADDITIONAL RESIDENT
SERVICES STAFF AND TO PROVIDE
MORE ROBUST SERVICES. THE IDEA
BEING THAT BY SUPPORTING
STAFFING AND SERVICES WE CAN
HELP IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF
RESIDENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR
LIVES, THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN
THEIR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
AND THEREBY INCREASE THE
STABILITY OF THEIR PERSONAL
HOUSING SITUATIONS AS WELL AS
THAT OF THE BUILDING. A PRIMARY
NEED IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE RET
WAS IMPROVED REPORTING TO
UNDERSTAND THE DEMOGRAPHIC
PROFILE OF SERVICE RECIPIENTS
AND THE IMPACT OF PROGRAM
SERVICES SO THAT BOTH WE AND
PROVIDERS CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND
WHO IS BENEFITING FROM SERVICES
AND HOW. SO GIVEN THAT WE HAVE
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
PROVIDERS OVER THE LIFE OF THE
PROGRAM, TO HELP THEM AUGMENT
AND ALIGN THEIR TRACKING AND
REPORTING SYSTEMS, TO IMPROVE
THE QUALITY AND DETAIL OF DATA
SO THAT WE CAN USE IT TO INFORM
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS IN A MORE
SYSTEMATIC WAY, AS WELL AS
SHARE INSIGHTS ABOUT THEIR
PROGRAM OUTCOMES THAT THEY
MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE NOTICE.
EVEN NOW, WITH LESS THAN A EURO
FULL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, WE
HAVE MUCH STRONGER
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROVIDER
STAFF AND HAVE ALREADY SHARED
SOME INFORMATION AND IDEAS FOR
IMPROVING DATA COLLECTION, AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DEEPENING
THIS COLLABORATION AS WE GET
MORE TREND DATA AND PROVIDERS
BECOME MORE EXPERIENCED WITH
THEIR PROGRAMS AND TRACKING
SYSTEMS. WE'LL SEGUE NOW TO
TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.
THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING WORKFORCE STABILIZATION
PROGRAM. OVER THE COURSE OF THE
HOUSING LEVY RENEWAL WE WORKED
WITH OUR PROVIDER PARTNERS AND
STAFF TEAM TO ANALYZE EXISTING
PROJECTS AND STAFFING NEEDS, TO
OFFER INVESTMENTS THAT WOULD
MEANINGFULLY LEAD TO
STABILIZATION OF THEIR
WORKFORCE. THE GOAL IS TO
SUPPORT REAL PROGRESS IN
IMPROVING WORKER WAGES,
DECREASING POSITION OPENINGS,
AND PROVIDING BETTER CARE FOR
RESIDENTS AND BUILDINGS. THE
INTERSECTION HERE WITH RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS THE
DEMOGRAPHIC FILE OF THE PSH
WORKFORCE. AS YOU CAN SEE IN
THE CHART, THE PSH WORKFORCE
THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED IS
AT LEAST 60% PEOPLE OF COLOR
WHILE THE PROPORTION OF THE
CITY'S POPULATION IS ABOUT
40%. BLACK FOLKS ALONE ARE
OVERREPRESENTED IN THE
WORKFORCE BY A FACTOR OF MORE
THAN SIX. THIS GROUP OF WORKERS
IS ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY
FEMALE, WHICH IS BROADLY THE
CASE IN NONPROFIT AND CARE
FIELDS SO ANY IMPROVEMENT WE
CAN MAKE IN THE ECONOMIC
STANDING OF THIS GENERALLY
UNDERPAID WORKFORCE AND
IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR WORKPLACE
THAT CAN BE EFFECTUATED THROUGH
BETTER STAFFING AND MORE STABLE
OPERATIONS WILL ALSO BENEFIT
THIS GROUP OF MAINLY PEOPLE OF
COLOR. SINCE THESE INVESTMENTS
HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, WE HAVE
SOME EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE. JUST ONE
EXAMPLE OF WHAT ALREADY APPEARS
TO BE A SUCCESS, THE REPORTED
AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE OF STAFF
SHOWED AN INCREASE OVER 2023 OF
ABOUT $4.60, WHICH IS ROUGHLY
17% HIGHER THAN IT WAS AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. FOR
COMPARISON, CPI INCREASED 3.4%
IN 2023 AND THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE PAY INCREASE WAS 4.6%.
SO THE WAGE INCREASES WE
OBSERVED NOT ONLY OUTPACED
INFLATION BUT ALSO INCREASES
WAGE INCREASES IN OTHER
SECTORS. ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THE
WORKFORCE STABILIZATION PROGRAM
IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES, AS
PART OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE, OFFERS
A PROGRAM CALLED THE SOCIAL
SERVICE PROVIDER ACADEMY. THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING PARTIALLY
FUNDS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT,
INSTRUCTION, MATERIALS,
SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS AND
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PARTNER AGENCY STAFF TO TAKE
ADVANCED COURSES TO HELP THEM
BUILD THEIR SKILLS AND OPEN
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER
ADVANCEMENT. THIS FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE IS A MAJOR HELP FOR
THESE WORKERS WHO ARE GENERALLY
NOT PAID COMMENSURATE WITH THE
DIFFICULTY OF THEIR JOBS.
RESEARCH ON PSH STAFF WAGES
THAT WE CONDUCTED IN
PREPARATION FOR THE HOUSING
RENEWAL FOUND THAT MANY ROLES
WERE COMPENSATED ON PAR WITH OR
BELOW THAT OF BARISTAS AND FAST
FOOD WORKERS, FOR EXAMPLE. ADD
ON THAT MANY OF THESE FOLKS
HAVE KIDS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN
THEIR PERSONAL LIVES THAT THEY
TAKE CARE OF, AND YOU CAN
QUICKLY SEE HOW THEIR PAY DOES
NOT GO VERY FAR. CASE IN POINT,
CARMEN CLARK, WHO YOU SEE HERE,
APPLIED FOR A SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDER ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP
THROUGH CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
SERVICES. CARMEN WAS WORKING
TWO JOBS AT CCS, ONE AT THE
WOMEN'S REFERRAL CENTER, AND
ANOTHER AS A CASE MANAGER AT
THE BUNNY WOBURN HOME. CARMEN
LOVES WHAT SHE DOES AND SHE
KNEW SHE WANTED TO OBTAIN
HIGHER EDUCATION TO GROW
PROFESSIONALLY WHEN SHE
ENROLLED SHE KNEW SHE WAS
TAKING A BIG STEP THAT WOULD
REQUIRE ALL HER STRENGTH,
DETERMINATION, AND FOCUS TO
SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE A COLLEGE
EDUCATION WHILE ALSO BALANCING
HER HOME LIFE, RAISING HER FOUR
CHILDREN, AND WORKING
FULL-TIME. CARMEN SAID THAT HER
CLASSES HAVE GIVEN HER A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE HARM
REDUCTION, TRAUMA INFORMED CARE
AND MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING
SKILLS SHE WAS ALREADY
PRACTICING AT WORK. SHE ALSO
REPORTED THAT SHE HAS LEARNED
HOW TO BETTER ASSIST AND
SUPPORT HER CLIENTS THROUGH
STRONGER COMMUNICATION, SOCIAL,
AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS POINT
SHE ALSO SHARED THAT HER
IMPROVED ABILITY TO REVIEW AND
UNDERSTAND POLICIES AND HOW
THEY IMPACT HER AND HER WORK
WITH CLIENTS HAS OPENED HER
EYES TO THE INTERSECTION OF
POLICY AND PRACTICE WHICH HAS
LEFT HER WANTING TO LEARN MORE.
RETURNING TO THE IMPACT OF
WORKFORCE STABILIZATION ON
BUILDING AND ORGANIZATIONAL
OPERATIONS, ANALYSIS WAS
CONDUCTED FOR THE HOUSING LEVY
RENEWAL SHOWED THAT OPENING --
PARDON ME, THAT THE OPENINGS
RATE OF SOME PROVIDER
ORGANIZATIONS HAD BEEN CREEPING
UP FOR SEVERAL YEARS, FROM AS
LOW AS 9% IN 2016 TO OVER 20%
IN 2022 POINT OVER THE COURSE
OF 2023, AS THESE INVESTMENTS
WERE BEING MADE, THE DATA WE
RECEIVED FROM PROVIDERS SHOWED
THAT THE OPENINGS RATE DROPPED
FROM 23% TO 12% ON AVERAGE
AMONG THE ORGANIZATIONS
SUPPORTED. NOTABLY THIS
OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME THAT
THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS WERE
CREATING NEW PSH STAFF
POSITIONS SO IT'S ESPECIALLY
REMARKABLE THAT THEY WERE ABLE
TO CLOSE THAT GAP AT THE SAME
TIME THEY WERE GROWING THEIR
WORKFORCE, AND ALL DURING A
PERIOD WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF
DEMAND AND COMPETITION FOR
LABOR IN MANY SECTORS. SO THIS
IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW
TARGETED INVESTMENTS HELP
FRONT-LINE WORKERS WHO ARE
PREDOMINANTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR,
MAJORITY WOMEN, AND TYPICALLY
FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS
THEMSELVES, HAS DOWNSTREAM
IMPACTS THAT ALSO BENEFIT OTHER
STAFF, RESIDENTS, BUILDINGS,
ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR
COMMUNITIES. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE
WITH SOMETHING THAT LEHIGH
SHARED WITH US ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF WORKFORCE STABILIZATION
INVESTMENTS ON THEIR
ORGANIZATION. I'M QUOTING
HERE. HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF
HAS INCREASED OUR ABILITY TO
DELIVER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES,
FULFILL OUR MISSION, AND MORE
EFFECTIVELY, SERVE OUR
RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION TO
IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL
STABILITY OF THE PROPERTIES
SUPPORTED WITH THIS GRANT, THE
FUNDING HAS HAD RIPPLE EFFECTS
ACROSS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF OUR
ORGANIZATION, IMPACTING OUR
MISSION FULFILLMENT AND OVERALL
SUSTAINABILITY. SO GRANTED THIS
IS JUST ONE YEAR OF DATA BUT
THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME VERY
PROMISING SIGNS SO WE'LL
CONTINUE WORKING AND LEARNING
ALONGSIDE OF OUR PARTNERS TO
MONITOR TRENDS IN RINGBACK
ACTIONABLE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE IMPACTS OF THE CITY'S
SUPPORT .
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE HAPPY TO
ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS A REALLY
INFORMATIVE RECENT ASIAN. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. DO WE HAVE
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS?
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHEN
YOU SAID THAT THERE WAS A $4.50
INCREASE IN WAGES FOR A
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
WORKFORCE STABILIZATION STAFF,
SO WAS THAT SINCE WHICH YEAR --
BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THAT HAS
TO DO WITH -- IT COINCIDES WITH
OUR -- THE ORDINANCE IN 2019 TO
INCREASE SERVICE PROVIDER
STAFFING LEVELS AT THE RATE OF
INFLATION.
>> THE WAGE INCREASE THAT WE
OBSERVED IN THE DATA WAS JUST
OVER 2023.
>> OKAY. GOT IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION AND WELCOME. I
REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THE
COMPONENT OF TODAY'S
PRESENTATION RELATED TO OUR
WORKFORCE, BECAUSE IN SO MANY
WAYS, OUR SUCCESS IN MANY OF
THESE PROGRAMS RELIES ON A
STRONG FRONT-LINE WORKFORCE TO
CARRY OUT AND KEEP OUR
NEIGHBORS HOUSED, HEALTHY AND
SAFE, AND I WANTED TO ASK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT UW'S WAGE
EQUITY STUDY FOR HUMAN SERVICES
PROVIDERS, WHICH I THINK WAS
EYE-OPENING TO MANY. AND I
KNOW, GIVEN MY WORK OVER THE
YEARS, TOO MANY OF OUR HUMAN
SERVICES WORKERS WHO ARE DOING
THIS CRITICAL WORK, THEY
THEMSELVES ARE A FEW PAYCHECKS
AWAY FROM QUALIFYING FOR THESE
PROGRAMS. AND THE UW STUDY
FOUND THAT THE MEDIAN ANNUAL
PAY FOR HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS
IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, MEDIAN
ANNUAL PAY IS 37% LOWER THAN
NON-CARE INDUSTRIES AND I WANT
TO NAME THAT FOR THE PUBLIC,
AND I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THE
FACT THAT WE ARE MAKING
PROGRESS IN INCREASING THOSE
WAGES BUT WONDERING ABOUT THE
PATH FORWARD AND WHAT ARE THE
NEXT STEPS FOR IMPROVING THIS
BODY OF WORK? ARE WE
CONSIDERING SOME OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE UW
REPORT AND CAN WE BE DOING WORK
ON A CONTRACTUAL LEVEL TO HELP
SUPPORT WAGE EQUITY IN THE
SECTOR?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. ONE OF THE
WAYS IN WHICH WE INTEND TO
CONTINUE THIS WORK FORWARD, THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS LONG BEEN
INVESTING IN THE OPERATIONS,
MAINTENANCE, AND SERVICES
WITHIN THE BUILDINGS,
RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S NOT JUST
PRODUCING UNITS, AS YOU NOTED.
THE CHALLENGES I THINK THAT WE
SEE ARE THAT OUR CONTRACTS
WITHIN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
MAY NOT AFFECT ALL THE WORKERS
WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION. SO WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THAT ME THE
ONLY PART OF THE LINES OF
BUSINESS OF AN ORGANIZATION.
AND SO INCREASING THOSE WAGES
ALONG WITH THE OTHER WORK THAT
THE COUNCIL HAS DONE THROUGH
OTHER HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACTS
WILL HELP BUT IT STILL LEAVES
SOME GAPS, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW,
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE
OFTEN GRADING AND SEEKING A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FUNDING
SOURCES IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR
INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS WORK. SO I
THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK WE
NEED TO BE DOING IN
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER
FUNDERS OF THESE PROGRAMS. WE
KNOW THAT THE COSTS ARE
INCREASING FOR OPERATIONS
EXPONENTIALLY WHILE THE
REVENUES, ESPECIALLY IN
PROJECTS FOR VERY LOW,
EXTREMELY LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS, CANNOT KEEP UP WITH
THAT. SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO ALL
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE
UW REPORT. WE DID COME OUT KIND
OF AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING WAS LOOKING
AT RESOURCES LIKE THE RENEWAL
OF THE SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY AS
NICKY MENTIONED AS WELL AS
JUMPSTART FUNDING, WHICH TENDS
TO BE VERY ABLE, IN ORDER TO
BALANCE THE NUMBER OF UNITS
UNDERPRODUCTION ALONG WITH THE
ONGOING HEALTHY SAFE OPERATIONS
OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
>> THANK YOU. AND JUST CLOSE
WITH A NOTE TO SAY I KNOW THIS
IS ALSO INTIMATELY LINKED WITH
OUR LARGER WORK TO CREATE MORE
AFFORDABILITY IN THIS CITY.
MANY OF THESE WORKERS AGAIN ARE
COMMUTING FROM OUT OF COUNTY TO
COME UP AND WORK AND SUPPORT
OUR NEIGHBORS. SO I WOULD JUST
NAME, AGAIN, THIS IS ALSO
LARGELY CONNECTED TO OUR
ABILITY TO ADDRESS
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES IN THE
CITY, SO FOLKS ARE ABLE TO STAY
HERE AND LIVE NEARBY WHERE THEY
WORK. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY HAVE A
QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, WHO HAD UNFORTUNATELY HAD
TO LEAVE EARLY. SO I'M GOING
TO TAKE THAT QUESTION AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I'LL GET
TO YOU. IN LOOKING AT THE SLIDE
AROUND BIPOC COMMUNITY LED
DEVELOPMENT HOMEOWNERSHIP, HIS
QUESTION IS -- SHOWS THAT WE
CLEARLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
INCREASE HOMEOWNERSHIP IN BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. SO HE'S
WANTING TO KNOW, AS AND I, I'M
SURE ALL OF US UP HERE, WHAT
ARE SOME ADDITIONAL WAYS OR
THINGS THAT WE CAN BE DOING
LOCALLY TO INCREASE
HOMEOWNERSHIP RATES AMONG BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
>> WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH
THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN
THE MOST EFFECTIVE, OR I'M
SORRY, AFFECT DID, IN ORDER TO
ASSURE THAT WE ARE REACHING
POPULATIONS WITHIN SEATTLE THAT
ARE LEGACY BLACK HOMEOWNERS.
SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT I
MENTIONED, WE ARE WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. WE HAVE
LOOKED AT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO
DO THAT, TO INCREASE THEIR
ABILITY TO DEVELOP
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS.
THERE'S WORK WE'VE DONE WITH
THE NEHEMIAH INITIATIVE, WHICH
IS A COLLABORATIVE OF MANY
BLACK CHURCHES IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, TO LOOK AT LAND AND
THEN THE ABILITY TO TAKE THAT
LAND AND TURN IT INTO
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES .
IT'S VERY COLLABORATIVE WORK.
OUR FUNDING HAS INCREASED OVER
TIME, THANKFULLY, TO BE ABLE TO
DEDICATE RESOURCES TO OUR HOME
OWNERSHIP WORK AND WE'D BE
HAPPY TO COME BACK AND TELL YOU
MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS
IN WHICH WE ARE DOING THAT. WE
ALSO JUST RECEIVED A GRANT FROM
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT CALLED
PRO HOUSING, WHICH IS AN
INNOVATIVE WAY OF LOOKING AT
HOW WE CAN CONVERT POTENTIAL
RENTER PROPERTIES INTO
HOMEOWNER PROPERTIES. AND SO
FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO DO
THAT WITH THE PARTNERSHIPS AND
THE NETWORKS THAT WE'VE
CREATED WILL BE PART OF THAT
WORK OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND TWO
YEARS OR SO.
>> THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLY
EXCITING. I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THAT. SO MAYBE WE
CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT
OFF-LINE OR EVEN BRING YOU BACK
TO COMMITTEE. BECAUSE I KNOW
PARTICULARLY WITH THE CAR PLAN,
THAT THIS IS AN AREA OF CONCERN
FOR MANY OF US AND REALLY
CONTINUED TO HARP ON THE NEED
TO HAVE INCREASED HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES, AND I GUESS ONE
OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I HAD, TOO, IS
RELATING TO AND LOOKING AT
HOMES OWNED AND OPERATED BY OR
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BIPOC LED
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
CLEARLY IMPORTANT THAT THE
BUILDINGS BE OWNED BY BIPOC BUT
ALSO THAT THOSE UNITS, I'M
ASSUMING, OUR RENTAL. SO WHAT
WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS CONVERT
THOSE RENTALS TO EITHER CONDO
OR CO-OP OR AN OWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITY. SO THERE ARE TWO
SORT OF PATHWAYS THERE THAT I
THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
PURSUE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AGREE
WITH YOU. A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS
WERE ACTUALLY ANSWERED. I WILL
REQUEST, IF POSSIBLE, THERE WAS
SO MUCH INFORMATION AND SO MUCH
HELPFUL INFORMATION. AND IF
IT'S POSSIBLE TO GET A COPY OF
YOUR PRESENTATION, YOUR REMARKS
TO THE PRESENTATION, THE NOTES,
I GUESS THAT WOULD BE HELP WILL
BECAUSE YOU GAVE A LOT OF
REALLY GREAT DATA AND OTHER
MEDIA INFORMATION THAT'S NOT
CONTAINED IN THE SLIDES, AND
THAT WAS REALLY HELP PULL TO
KNOW. I'LL SAY GENERALLY
SPEAKING I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT TOOL AND
AN IMPORTANT ONE TO TELL US HOW
WE ARE DOING WITH OUR PROGRAMS
AND HOW TO, ANTONIO, AS YOU PUT
IT, HOW TO IMPROVE OUR
PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, IN SERVICE
TO COMMUNITY. SO IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK. I APPRECIATE
THE WORK. I APPRECIATE YOU
COMING TODAY AND LIKE I SAID,
I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR NOTES SO
I HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU
ARE SHARING BECAUSE CLEARLY A
LOT WENT INTO THIS AND IT DOES
HELP INFORM THE DECISIONS THAT
WE HAVE TO MAKE ON BEHALF OF
CONSTITUENTS IN THE CITY , IN
OUR CAPACITY. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. I, TOO WOULD ECHO
THAT REQUEST IF WE COULD JUST,
AS COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SAID,
THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY
HELPFUL INFORMATION THERE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, WAS THIS A
NEW HAND?
>> IT IS A NEW HAND. I'M
SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION JUST
HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE
MINUTES. I WANTED TO BRING UP
HAIL W RELEASED A REPORT THAT
STATED STUDENT HOMELESSNESS HAS
INCREASED 20% IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND THAT CAME OUT LAST
WEEK. I THOUGHT THAT WAS
IMPORTANT TO NAME ESPECIALLY
WITH THIS CONVERSATION, AND
THINKING ABOUT THAT'S OVER
2200 K-12 STUDENTS. THIS HAS ME
ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT
TODAY'S PRESENTATION, HOW THAT
-- HOW AGE IS LAYERING INTO
SOME OF THIS. OF COURSE WE
DON'T HAVE A RACIAL BREAKDOWN
BY STUDENTS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AS REPORTED HERE
BUT HOW ARE YOU ALL TRACKING
WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT OUR
KIDDOS AND YOUNG PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE, WHAT
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
BUT ALSO JUST IN A RENT
BURDENED HOUSEHOLD AND HOW THAT
CAN FUEL ADVERSE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES, BUT ALSO THINKING
ABOUT AGE AND THE INCREASINGLY
CHALLENGING CONDITIONS THAT OUR
ELDERS MAY BE EXPERIENCING AND
COMMUNITY. IF THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY TO FOLLOW UP AND
JUST TALK ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL
LAYER OF DATA HERE AS IT
RELATES TO SEEING BY RACE AND
BY AGE, THAT WOULD BE
FANTASTIC. BUT DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO SHARE ON HOW YOU
ARE CAPTURING AGE?
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT WE DO BUT
WE WILL DO MORE RESEARCH ON
THAT AND I'LL SAY THAT WITH
RELATION TO DAYCARE, WE HAVE
ALSO BEEN INVOLVED PARTNERING
WITH ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS RELATED TO HOW WE CAN
MAKE OUR INVESTMENTS IN
HOUSING, COORDINATED WITH CHILD
CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION. AND SO CO-LOCATING
THOSE WITHIN HOUSING AND
PROMOTING FAMILY HOUSING THAT
IS AFFORDABLE, LARGER SIZE
UNITS, WHICH WE KNOW THAT THE
MARKET DOESN'T NATURALLY
PRODUCE, IS ANOTHER GOAL FOR
CITY OF SEATTLE INVESTMENTS. WE
ARE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THAT
MORE FOR YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> FEDERALIST. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER
QUESTION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE
TO WRAP UP BECAUSE WE ARE GOING
TO LOSE FOR HIM PERMANENTLY. IN
A MINUTE. WHICH IS LOOKING AT
THE SLIDE, 40% OF SEATTLE
RENTERS ARE COST BURDENED AND
THEN LOOKING AT THE IMMENSE
DISPARITY FOR COST BURDENED
COMMUNITIES IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, ALSO NATIVE
AMERICAN. THIS KIND OF BLEEDS
INTO THE QUESTION ABOUT WHY IS
THAT WHEN WE HAVE MFT AND WHEN
WE HAVE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY? WHY ARE WE
SEEING SUCH RACIAL
DISPROPORTIONALITY WITH THOSE
TOOLS IN PLACE?
>> I THINK IT MAY GET BACK TO A
NUMBER OF FACTORS INCLUDING
JUST HISTORICAL, SYSTEMIC,
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS, RIGHT?
WHICH BLACK, NATIVE AMERICAN
HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOT ON PAR WITH
WHITE HOUSEHOLDS IN TERMS OF
WEALTH , INCOME. THERE IS JUST
A NUMBER OF THINGS. I THINK THE
EXAMPLE THAT NATHAN GAVE AROUND
MANY PEOPLE WORKING IN THE
SERVICE INDUSTRY WHO ARE
SUPPORTING OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THERE'S LARGER
FACTORS THAN JUST THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SIDE, I
THINK THAT WE AS A CITY ARE
TRYING TO LOOK AT STRATEGIES
THAT ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE
GREATER RACIAL EQUITY. SO
HOUSING IS ONE OF THEM.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, INCOME,
INCREASING INCOME. ALL OF THOSE
THINGS CONTRIBUTE TO A
PERSON'S ABILITY TO DO THAT.
SPECIFICALLY TO THE KINDS OF
PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE
DEVELOPING, MFT A, MHA , OFTEN
TIMES WE ARE SETTING AN INCOME.
WELL THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.
I THINK WE CAME TO YOU ALL AND
DESCRIBED SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN
AMI, AREA MEDIAN INCOME THAT
TAKES INTO ACCOUNT BOTH RENTERS
AND HOMEOWNERS. IT'S AN
AGGREGATE OF ALL OF THOSE.
RENTERS TEND TO HAVE LOWER
INCOMES OVERALL BUT WE ARE
SETTING IT AT AN AGGREGATE AMI
LEVEL, WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT
HOMEOWNER INCOMES. SO IT'S
SKEWING THE AFFORDABILITY FOR
THOSE HOUSEHOLDS. SO THAT'S
PLAYING A FACTOR IN WHAT WE ARE
SEEING, AS WELL AS WHEN YOU
MOVE INTO A HOME, YOU HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO -- THE INCOME LEVELS
ARE SET AT A PARTICULAR LEVEL
AND IF YOU'RE AT OR BELOW THAT
LEVEL YOU ALREADY MAY BE PAYING
MORE, JUST BECAUSE IT'S AT OR
BELOW THAT INCOME. SO AGAIN,
THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST. WE
ARE HAPPY TO ALSO PROVIDE THAT
IF WE HAVE MORE DIALOGUE ON
WHAT WE ARE SEEING BEHIND SOME
OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO
THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW WE SHOULD
BE GETTING SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT
THE MFT E AND I KNOW THERE WAS
A DISCUSSION ABOUT TRYING TO
ADJUST THE RATES TO BETTER
MATCH THE TRUE INCOMES OF
PEOPLE WHO NEED MFT, IN
PARTICULAR AROUND NOT LOOKING,
BASING IT ON OWNERSHIP AND
RENTAL. BUT I THINK ALSO TO
INCLUDE THIS PIECE ABOUT HOW DO
WE ADDRESS -- IT'S ADDRESSING
JUST THE AMI LEVEL . IS THAT
ALSO GOING TO GET AT THE RACIAL
DISPROPORTIONALITY ISSUES OR
ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE
ALSO NEED TO DO? I MEAN I
REALIZE IN THIS BROADER
SYSTEMIC AND IN SOCIETY, YES,
BUT THE FOCUS HERE ON HOUSING,
IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A
PARTICULAR LENS OR ANALYSIS
THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT,
AS WELL. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU.
THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A VERY
INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
INFORMATION. APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE , MAKING
GREAT PROGRESS. SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR COMING TODAY AND
SHARING THAT.
>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE
YOUR INTEREST.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL
THAT -- ANYTHING FURTHER?
11:00. THIS CONCLUDES THE
JANUARY 8th MEETING OF THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. THE NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 22nd,
2025. THE TIME IS 11:00 EXACTLY
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU, EVERYONE.