MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER. I'M CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
BOTH COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
AND COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON ARE
EXCUSED TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA AND COUNCILMEMBER ARE
JOINING US REMOTELY I BELIEVE
THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO BE HERE
IN PERSON. THANK YOU EVERYONE
FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE MAY
14th MEETING IN THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. ON
TODAY'S AGENDA FIRST WE HAVE
APPOINTMENT OF SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION THEN WE HAVE AN
INFORMATIONAL ITEM FROM HOUSING
CONNECTOR ON THEIR APPROACH TO
PROACTIVELY KEEPING PEOPLE
HOUSED. IF THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS ABOUT TODAY'S AGENDA
, WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT. SEEING NO QUESTIONS
REMOTELY , WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR BE
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE THREE IN
PERSON SPEAKERS AND TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS .
>> OKAY. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
USE OUR USUAL TIME. IF YOU WOULD
PLEASE LEAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
RULES.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. 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 REGISTERED,
SPEAKERS WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN
SETS OF IN PRISON AND REMOTE
SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TRY 110
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED. IF THEY DO NOT AND THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW FOR THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. I
WANT TO NOTE I'M NOT SURE WHAT
EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
TODAY , POTENTIALLY WE MAY HAVE
SOME COMMENTS , JUST WANT TO
NOTE THAT IS NOT ACTUALLY ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. OR NECESSARILY
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE GIVEN THE CITY LAND IS
AN EXECUTIVE DECISION . THAT
SAID, THERE BEING NO OBJECTION I
WILL CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN NORMAL
COMMENTS FOR THE STANDARD
COMMENT PERIOD OF OF
COMMENTS RELATING TO THAT ITEM
SHOULD THERE BE ANY. LET'S
BEGIN WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER IS .
>> COME TO THE MICROPHONE. WE'RE
GETTING OUR TIMER SET UP. EITHER
ONE IS FINE.
>> I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL. I AM
TERRIFIED LIVING IN SEATTLE. I
LIVE AT . WE HAVE A HUGE GROWING
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT THAT HAS NOT
BEEN CLEARED DESPITE MULTIPLE
COMPLAINTS IT REMAINS. THE
CAMPERS ARE ENTITLED AND
DEMANDED WEEKLY TRASH PICK UP
SAYING I CAN CAMP HERE. THEY
OPENLY USE DRUGS AND ARE
POSSESSIVE OF THEIR CORNER.
INCLUDING THOSE WITH A.D.A.
ISSUES FROM USING IT. THERE ARE
MORE SKETCHY PEOPLE IN THE AREA
AND AN INCREASE IN CRIME. THERE
WAS THREATENING WHO I ASSUME
UNHOUSED MAN. HE TRESPASSED ON
PRIVATE POVERTY AND I CALLED
911. I TOLD THE DISPATCHER I WAS
SCARED AND BEGGED THEM TO SEND
SOMEONE. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR
FOR POLICE TO SHOW UP. THE
OFFICERS CANNOT CLEAR
ENCAMPMENTS AND SEEMED AS
FRUSTRATED AS I AM. THE CITY HAS
RESPONDED TO ME SAYING THE
PRIORITY IS NOT TO CLEAR
ENCAMPMENTS RIGHT NOW BUT
INSTEAD TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND
TO BE PATIENT. I HAVE BEEN
PATIENT. THE NUMBER OF UNHOUSED
INDIVIDUALS ALLOWED WHEREVER
THEY WOULD LIKE IS BEYOND OUT OF
CONTROL. A FEW INDIVIDUALS DO
NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TERRORIZE
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE THE
RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE AND NOT LOOK
AT TRASH, HUMAN FECES, NEEDLES
AND'S A PROPANE TANK WILL BLOW
IT. THEY NEED TO BUILD MORE
SHELTERS. THERE SHOULD BE TWO
CHOICES, GO TO A SHELTER OR
LEAVE THE AREA. SQUATTING ON
SIDEWALKS AND PARKS OR OTHER
AREAS WHILE OFTEN DOING DRUGS
AND HAVING UNTIL HEALTH EPISODES
WHICH ARE UPSETTING AND
FRIGHTENING FOR OTHERS TO WATCH
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER .
>> COULD MORNING. I HAVE LIVED
IN LAKE CITY FOR MANY YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY NOT TO OPPOSE
INTENSITY FOR BUT TO SPEAK FROM
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ABOUT THE
REAL IMPACTS ENCAMPMENTS HAVE ON
NEARBY FAMILIES , ESPECIALLY
CHILDREN. DURING THE PANDEMIC
AND ENCAMPMENT WAS PLACED ACROSS
FROM MY HOME IN ALBERT DAVIS
PARK. THAT EXPERIENCE WAS
TRAUMATIC. WE WITNESSED
SHOOTINGS ONCE WHILE I WAS
PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY
DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. THERE WAS
EXPLOSIONS, OPEN DRUG USE, RATS,
NEEDLES AND HUMAN WASTE IN OUR
FRONT YARD. THIS WASN'T JUST
DISRUPTIVE, IT WAS FRIGHTENING.
MY DAUGHTER COULDN'T SLEEP AND
SHE BEGAN TO FEAR FOR OUR SAFETY
AND, TO BE HONEST, I DID TOO. I
TRY TO PROTECT MY DAUGHTER FROM
IT ALL BUT HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THAT KIND OF CHAOS TO A CHILD?
SHE STARTED HAVING NIGHTMARES,
SHE ASKED ARE WE SAFE? I
COULDN'T ALWAYS GIVE HER A
POSITIVE ANSWER. NO PARENT
SHOULD HAVE TO DO THAT. I DON'T
KNOW. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SAY I
DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE. I WAS
HOPEFUL WHEN A CAMP MOVED, BUT
THE PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY. THE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HAS NOT
STOPPED IN OUR AREA AND NOW THE
CITY IS PLANNING TO MOVE BACK
TENT CITY STEPS AWAY FROM OUR
HOMES, DAY CARES, PLAYGROUNDS,
LIBRARY. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT
POLICY. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
FAMILIES LIKE MINE TRYING TO
RAISE KIDS , LIVE AND FEEL SAFE.
ABOUT THE UNHOUSED AS WELL WHO
DESERVES BETTER THAN TO BE
PLACED IN THE ALREADY
OVERWHELMED AND UNSAFE SPACES.
I'M ASKING THE CITY TO CONSIDER
A DIFFERENT PATH, A MORE
BALANCED, LONG-TERM SOLUTION
THAT CONSIDERS BOTH PUBLIC
SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.
IN QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR THE
RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS
JOINED US.
>> OF NEXT AND THEN WE MOVE INTO
REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ALVIN. I FIRST WANT TO THINK
THIS COMMITTEE AND CHAIRPERSON
FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A STATEMENT. WE RESPECT AND
APPLAUD THE WORK DONE IN TRYING
TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF THE
DOWNTRODDEN AND WE APPLAUD WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE. THIS IS NOT A
PROBLEM WITH THEM DIRECTLY. I
HAVE SUBMITTED A LENGTHY LETTER
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE INTO THIS
COMMITTEE. MORE DETAILS ARE
OFFERED THERE THAN I CAN. MY
WIFE AND I HAVE OWNED APARTMENT
BUILDINGS FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND
HE FEELS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN
WATCHING A TRAIN WRECK IN SLOW
MOTION AS THE AREA HAS GRADUALLY
DETERIORATED. I WANT TO JUST
MAKE THREE POINTS. FIRST, THE
PROCESS WAS FLAWED. WE LEARNED
ABOUT THIS BY COMPLETE
HAPPENSTANCE ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO
OR SO AND MAYBE A FEW DAYS MORE
THAN THAT. IN THE LAST WEEK WHEN
WE TRIED TO MOBILIZE OURSELVES A
LITTLE BIT WE HAVE INTERVIEWED
SOME 60 ESTABLISHMENTS AND
RESIDENTS AND SO ON. VIRTUALLY
NONE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
ALL OF THEM ARE OPPOSED. THE
COMMUNITY HAS SUFFERED SEVERE
LOSS AND WE HAVE AT LEAST A
DOZEN EMPTY STOREFRONTS, PEOPLE
CAN'T LEASE THEIR PROPERTIES
BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO MOVE IN
. FINALLY, CITY TO WITHDRAW
THE CURRENT PLAN AND MAKE OTHER
ARRANGEMENTS BECAUSE THE LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CANNOT TOLERATE
THIS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING
FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS . MOST OF
THE TIME RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO OUR
APARTMENT HOLDING WHERE WE HAD
PEOPLE INTIMIDATED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ARE FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS LINDA PRUITT -- REMOTE
SPEAKER. PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HELLO. LINDA PRUITT HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR
TAKING COMMENTS TODAY. I'M
CALLING TO JOIN MY LAKE CITY
NEIGHBORS AND A REQUEST TO ALTER
THE PLAN FOR THE RELOCATION OF
TENT CITY TO ANOTHER LOCATION
OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY NO
LONGER IN LAKE CITY. AS MY
PREVIOUS COLLEAGUES AND SPEAKERS
HAVE SAID WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING
AUTHORIZED AND UNAUTHORIZED
ENCAMPMENTS FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS
IN LAKE CITY OFF AND ON. ONE OF
THEM AT MY CONSTRUCTION SITE AT
20 TO 12 NORTHEAST 1/25 STREET .
THE SITE OF THE FORMER'S ST.
GEORGE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. WE HAVE
BEEN GENEROUS YET WE FIND THAT
BECAUSE OF OUR GENEROSITY THE
LAKE CITY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
AND NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BECOME
MAGNETS FOR HOMELESSNESS ,
GRAFFITI , UNAUTHORIZED
ENCAMPMENTS , VAGRANCY, CRIME ,
THEFT AND ROUTINE SPD CALLS AS
I'M SURE ALL CAN BE DOCUMENTED.
WE ASK FOR A BREAK. WE ARE
FRAGMENTED, FRAGILE AND NOT SAFE
. WE NEED TIME TO HEAL FROM THE
REAL DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE
BY PROBABLY WELL INTENDED BUT
FLAWED POLICY ON THE PART OF THE
CITY AND DEALING WITH LOW INCOME
, HOMELESS AND DRUG ADDICTED
COMMUNITIES. WE COULD GO ON, BUT
I JOIN MY NEIGHBORS SIGNATURES
AND OUR LETTERS. WE ASK YOU TO
TAKE ME SERIOUSLY AND PLEASE
MAKE OTHER PLANS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> NOTICE HOW CITY COUNCIL
REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE KING
COUNTY REASONABLE HOMES
AUTHORITY ABOUT SUBHUMAN
MISTREATING PEOPLE WITH NO REAL
SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICES
SUCH AS POLICE, TRASH PICKUP,
MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG ADDICTION
AND BEHAVIORAL CRISIS WATER DOWN
WITH UNQUALIFIED EFFORTS NEVER
KEPT HONEST BY DEMOCRATS, LINING
THE POCKETS OF DONORS, PADDED IN
COST, UNQUALIFIED EXPERIENCE
WHILE EXECUTIVES DONATE AND
MANIPULATE COUNSEL WHO SEEMS TO
DENY BETTER CAPACITY OF SHELTER
AND PLENTY OF LAND AVAILABLE. WE
NEED A RENTERS REVOLT TO
REGULATE AN ALLOWANCE TO
RENEGOTIATE THE ARTIFICIALLY
INFLATED RENTAL RATES KEPT
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK WHILE
SPECULATORS GET AWAY WITH IT DUE
TO REGULATIONS. THAT SAID,
HOUSING CONNECTOR IS ONE OF THE
BEST IDEAS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HOUSING
INSECURITY, IT MAKES A HUGE
DIFFERENCE , THE SAVING GRACE OF
GOOD AMERICA THAT HELPS COMBAT
THE ABUSE AND SYSTEMIC MIDDLEMEN
SPECULATORS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN
DEREGULATED. WE CERTAINLY NEED A
ROBUST GREAT AMERICAN HOUSING
BUILDOUT WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS
PUT ON NEW HOUSING TO MAKE IT
UNDESIRABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO
ALREADY OWN A RENTAL THAT DON'T
WANT TO COMPETE AND CONTINUES TO
OPPRESS THE WORKING CLASS FOR
REVOLT AGAINST THE CORRUPT
GREEDY CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT
WE SEE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
POLITICIANS WILL BECOME A RICH
AND POWERFUL ABUSING THEIR
POSITIONS. COUNSEL DOESN'T WANT
TO BE LISTED AS A CONFLICT OF
INTEREST. DISCIPLINE AGREES SO
IT BENEFITS THE COMMONWEALTH
INSTEAD OF LINING THE POCKETS OF
YOURSELF AND OF THE GREEDY
RUNDOWN REAL ESTATE SPECULATION.
I'M TELLING YOU IT IS
UNFORGIVABLE IF YOU GENERATION
X, GENERATION Y, Z AND ALL THE
MILLENNIAL'S AND A WHOLE HOST
OF HONEST WORKING FOLKS BECAUSE
YOU HAVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A JUSTIFIED REVOLT AND
UNFORGIVING IF YOU ARE GOING TO
EMPOWER THE CORRUPT SIDE OF
GREED AND CONTINUE TO CONSPIRE
AGAINST THE ROBUST HOUSING
BUILDOUT AND ALL THE CAPACITY OF
SHELTER THAT MAKE IT DESIRABLE
FOR PEOPLE AND STOP PICKING
PEOPLE WHO ARE DRUGGED OUT --
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS ,
PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK HAS JOINED
US IN PERSON. ALL RIGHT. THERE
ARE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED
SPEAKERS. WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO
ITEMS OF BUSINESS. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ARE ENCOURAGED TO
SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON
SIGN UP CARDS AVAILABLE ON THE
PODIUM OR EMAIL THE COUNCIL AT
COUNCIL AT SEATTLE.GOV. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM ON
THE AGENDA. BEFORE WE GET THERE,
I DID WANT TO PROVIDE A BRIEF
UPDATE ON THE ISSUE FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND OTHERS
WHO ARE INTERESTED. SO, BASED ON
AN EMAIL THAT WAS SENT BY DEPUTY
MAYOR WASHINGTON TO DIRECT KELLY
KENNISON YESTERDAY A DECISION
HAS BEEN MADE BY THE EXECUTIVE
THAT THE LAKE CITY COMMUNITY
CENTER PROPERTY IS NOT SUITABLE
TO SITE THE TENT CITY FOR
ENCAMPMENT AND PROVIDES THE
FOLLOWING REASONS . IT'S THREE
BLOCKS AWAY FROM TENT CITY
CURRENT SITE , THAT DOES NOT
ALIGN WITH THE HISTORY AND
SPIRIT OF TENT CITY FOR HIS
COMMITMENT TO THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY WHICH IS TO BE IN AN
AREA FOR NO MORE THAN ONE YEAR
EACH TIME. NOTING THE HISTORY IN
THIS EMAIL, THEY NOTE IT'S BEEN
LOCATED AT THE SEATTLE CHURCH
FOR THE PAST YEAR . PRIOR TO
THAT . THE LAKE CITY COMMUNITY
CENTER IS SITUATED IN THE HEART
OF LAKE CITY'S COMMERCIAL
DISTRICT AND SERVES AS A HUB
ADJACENT TO THE LAKE CITY
LIBRARY BRANCH, THE LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER AND
ALBERT DAVIS PARK. IT ALSO IS
THE LAKE CITY FARMER MARKET
HOUSED THERE DURING THE SUMMER
AS WELL. COMMITTEE ENGAGEMENT
STANDARDS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY
MET . NEXT STEPS LISTED IN THE
EMAIL IS THE CITY IS INTERESTED
IN SUPPORTING A NEW LOCATION FOR
TENT CITY. THAT MEETS THE NEEDS
OF THE RESIDENTS AND BROADER
COMMUNITY. THEY ARE PARTNERING
TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE
ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS. THE
SEATTLE CHURCH HAS INDICATED
THEY WILL ALLOW TENT CITY TO
REMAIN AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION
UNTIL AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE
IS IDENTIFIED, PROVIDING FOR
REQUEST OF EXTENSION. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE LEASE WILL
EXPIRE THIS FRIDAY AND THEN THEY
DO HAVE PERMISSION TO REMAIN
SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. THE
LAST POINT IN THE EMAIL IS THE
CITY WILL CONTINUE TO FUND TO
THE TUNE OF $45,000 IN 2025
THROUGH OUR CONTRACT TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE, WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND UTILITY COST FOR TENT CITY .
THAT IS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT
IN THE TENT CITY FORWARD ISSUE .
I'D LIKE TO NOTE AT MY LAST
UPDATE FOR MY DISTRICT LIAISON
WITH TENT CITY IS THERE ARE 104
PEOPLE, QUITE A NUMBER OF
FAMILIES, SOME ARE NOW BEING
HOUSED IN THE VACANT DENTIST
BUILDING THAT ADJOINS THE
PARKING LOT AT THE MENNONITE
CHURCH BUT THERE ARE FOUR
FAMILIES OVER CAPACITY . I HAVE
BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION AS
WELL AS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO
GET THOSE FAMILIES HOUSED .
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE WE HAVE
FAMILIES LIVING IN A SANCTIONED
ENCAMPMENT. MY OFFICE WILL BE
DOING WHAT WE CAN TO TRY TO
FACILITATE MORE PERMANENT AND
APPROPRIATE SHELTER FOR THOSE
FAMILIES WHILE WE ALSO WORK
THROUGH MY CAPACITY TO WORK WITH
THE REGIONAL PARTNERS TO FIND AN
APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR TENT
CITY THAT MEETS ITS NEEDS. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK HAD A
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS UPDATE.
I'M JUST DIGESTING THE NEWS
MYSELF , SO APOLOGIES TRYING TO
GET UP TO SPEED. DID I HEAR YOU
CORRECTLY THAT THE CURRENT FOLKS
WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AT THE
CURRENT LOCATION UNTIL AN
ALTERNATIVE IS BROUGHT FORWARD?
I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST
CONCERN FOR ME COMING OUT OF
THIS. IT IS A QUICK DECISION
THAT WAS MADE, SO DID I HEAR
CORRECTLY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
STAY UNTIL AN ALTERNATIVE
LOCATION IS SELECTED?
>> BOTH MY OFFICE AND EXECUTIVES
OFFICE I UNDERSTAND HAVE REACHED
OUT TO THE MENNONITE CHURCH AND
SAID THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO
LET THEM STAY UNTIL AN
ALTERNATIVE IS RESOLVED BUT THEY
WILL BE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF
TENT CITY ON THAT ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM ON
OUR AGENDA. PLEASE READ AGENDA
ITEMS ONE AND TWO INTO THE
RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 3158 AND 3159 ,
APPOINTMENT OF NASEEM A.
GHAZANFARI AND EUNJI HAN AS
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION FOR TERMS TO JULY
1st, 2026 FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION SERVES AN
ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE MAYOR
OF THE CITY COUNCIL , THE CITY
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND
OTHER SEATTLE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
NASEEM IS AN ACTIVIST DEEPLY
COMMITTED TO HUMAN AND WOMEN
RIGHTS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO
CONTRIBUTING HER PERSPECTIVES TO
THE COMMISSION AS AN IMMIGRANT
PROFESSIONAL AND WITH THE WORK
SHE'S DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BOTH IN SEATTLE AND BEYOND. SHE
WILL BE SERVICING THE REMAINING
TERM OF A VACANT POSITION. EUNJI
IS A SEATTLE NATIVE RETURNED TO
HOMETOWN SIX YEARS AGO AND IS
DEEPLY COMMITTED TO GIVING BACK
TO THE CITY THAT SHAPED HER. SHE
LOOKS FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND MAKING
AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF WOMEN
IN SEATTLE. SHE'S ALSO SERVING
THE REMAINING TERM OF A VACANT
POSITION. I WANTED TO TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE
FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO
DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS
TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUITY IN
SEATTLE. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS BEFORE WE MOVE FOR A
VOTE? ALL RIGHT , SEEING NONE I
WILL NOW MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 3158 AND 3159. IS
THERE A SECOND? WAS THAT A
QUESTION YOU HAD AS WELL?
>> THANK YOU. A COMMENT IF I
MAY. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED SO OPEN FOR DISCUSSION?
AT YOUR DISCRETION OF COURSE. I
REVIEWED THE CANDIDATE MATERIALS
FOR BOTH OF THESE PROPOSED
APPOINTEES TO THE COMMISSION AND
I THINK BOTH ARE EXCEPTIONALLY
WELL QUALIFIED AND I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE OUR CITY AND DEVOTE
THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO SERVE
OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLAYS CALL THE ROLL AND
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT WILL BE
SENT TO THE MAY 20th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM THREE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> HOUSING CONNECTOR , PROACTIVE
APPROACH TO KEEPING PEOPLE
HOUSED.
>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED AND
BEFORE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF I
WANTED TO MAKE A FEW PRELIMINARY
REMARKS WHICH IS THAT I'VE
ASKED FOR HOUSING CONNECTOR TO
COME HERE TODAY TO PRESENT
BECAUSE OF ALL THE PHENOMENAL
WORK THEY ARE DOING ON KEEPING
TENANT HOUSED AND THEIR APPROACH
TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE LAST YEAR
WAS ABLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF
MIKE COLLEAGUES TO SECURE SO WE
NOW HAVE $10 MILLION TO DIRECT
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE . I ALSO
WAS ABLE TO GET A SLIGHT
INTRODUCE THAT DIRECTED HST AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO REALLY
LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MOST
EFFECTIVELY STREAMLINE AND GET
RENTAL ASSISTANCE OUT BOTH AT
THE END OF THE STREAM AND ALSO
AT THE BEGINNING TO BE PROACTIVE
IN IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING
BEFORE THEY GET INTO THE
EVICTION CYCLE. I CONTINUE TO BE
A FIRM BELIEVER THAT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL TOOLS WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS HOUSING INSTABILITY ,
HOMELESSNESS. I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE US GREATLY INCREASE THE
AMOUNT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE .
THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
I INTRODUCED A CAPITAL GAINS
BILL LAST YEAR WHERE THE MONEY
WOULD'VE BEEN DIRECTED TO
INCREASING RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
I REMAIN COMMITTED TO THAT
PARTICULAR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTION
, BUT THAT SAID, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT
THERE WHO ARE DOING GOOD WORK
THAT I THINK WOULD BE WHO BEST
TO LEARN FROM HENCE THE OFFER TO
HOUSING CONNECTOR. THAT SAID, IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF, PLEASE, AND WALK US
THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD TO
SEE YOU. MY NAME IS SHKELQIM
KELMENDI, I'M THE FOUNDER AND
CEO OF HOUSING CONNECTOR . A
LITTLE ABOUT ME, I'VE LIVED IN
SEATTLE FOR ABOUT NINE YEARS
NOW. ORIGINALLY I'M FROM
EASTERN EUROPE AND CAME TO THE
U.S. AS A REFUGEE. I HAD THE
CHANCE FIRSTHAND TO SEE THE
CHALLENGES THAT FOLKS FACE IN
TRYING TO SECURE HOUSING WHEN
YOU HAVE NO RENTAL HISTORY, NO
CREDIT SCORE AND IT IS AN UPHILL
BATTLE. IT IS ESPECIALLY AN
UPHILL BATTLE WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THE HUGE OBSTACLES THAT
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING WHEN
IT COMES TO HOUSING SHORTAGES
AND THE CHALLENGES OF POVERTY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I WANT TO
FRAME THIS CONVERSATION TO SHARE
A LITTLE HOW WE THINK ABOUT THIS
ISSUE IN HOUSING CONNECTOR. WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE
THERE ARE OVER 800,000 PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY BUT THAT IS REALLY
MASKING THE ISSUE. WE ALSO KNOW
THERE'S OVER 24 MILLION
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HOUSING
INSECURE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS
THEY ARE LITERALLY ONE PAYCHECK
AWAY, ONE SETBACK AWAY FROM
LOSING THEIR HOME. THIS PROBLEM
IS EXASPERATED WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF UNITS WE
HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS I
MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY FOR
RENTERS THERE ARE LOTS OF
BARRIERS THAT KEEP RENTERS FROM
BEING ABLE TO ACCESS HOUSING .
ONE IN THREE INDIVIDUALS IN THE
UNITED STATES HAS A CRIMINAL
RECORD WHICH WILL LEAD THEM TO
BEING DENIED WHEN APPLYING FOR
HOUSING. ALMOST ONE IN THREE
AMERICANS HAVE A CREDIT SCORE
BELOW 670 AND THAT IS A HUGE
INDICATOR WHEN FOLKS ARE
APPLYING FOR UNITS. WE HAVE OVER
7 MILLION INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
FACING EVICTIONS IN OUR COUNTRY.
THE PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY AROUND
HOW DO INDIVIDUALS GET HOUSING ,
BUT ALSO THE PROBLEM AROUND HOW
DO WE MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE
MAINTAINING THAT HOUSING ? I'M
SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR FOCUS OF
THE PREVENTION ASPECT. WE SAW AN
OPPORTUNITY. ULTIMATELY THE
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF
HOMELESSNESS IS HOUSING. ACROSS
THE COUNTRY THERE ARE OVER 3.2
MILLION UNITS THAT SIT VACANT ON
ANY SINGLE DAY. YET WE HAVE ALL
THESE FOLKS THAT NEED A HOME.
WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO WAS THINK
ABOUT HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE
PROPERTY OWNERS, THE MANAGERS,
WHO HAVE THESE UNITS TO MAKE
SURE THEY CAN NOT ONLY FILL
THESE HOMES AND SUPPORT THEIR
BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO GIVE A
CHANCE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT
DESPERATELY NEED THAT AND ALSO
HELP THEM AND ENSURING FOLKS ARE
MAINTAINING THAT HOUSING AND NOT
CIRCLING BACK TO INSTABILITY.
TALKING ABOUT SOME PROBLEMS IN
THE SYSTEM AND HOW I THINK ABOUT
IT TO ME THERE IS TWO POINTS OF
FAILURES IN OUR SYSTEM. THERE IS
A POINT OF FAILURE IN THE SENSE
WE DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE
RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS FOR
IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
ON THE VERGE OF LOSING HOUSING
AND DELIVERING JUST IN TIME
SOLUTIONS TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR
HOMES. THERE IS A SECOND PROBLEM
AS WELL WHICH IS ONCE
INDIVIDUALS LOSE THEIR HOME AND
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
THE PATHWAY BACK INTO HOUSING IS
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. AS WE
THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS AND HOW WE
USE WHAT WE BELIEVE WE ARE
EQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO ADD VALUE
WE DECIDED TO TARGET THESE TWO
POINTS IN THE SYSTEM . I WANT TO
BE CLEAR, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK
THAT HAPPENS ONCE SOMEONE LOSES
THEIR HOME THAT IS INCREDIBLY
VALUABLE. WE THINK ABOUT THE
SHELTER WORK THAT IS CRITICAL TO
OUR COMMUNITY BUT THAT IS NOT
WHAT WE DO. WHAT WE DECIDED TO
THINK ABOUT IS HOW DO WE HELP IN
KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED AND ONCE
THEY'VE LOST THEIR HOME CREATE
A PATHWAY BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY? THAT'S WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT. IT'S THIS MISSION THAT
NO UNIT SHOULD BE SITTING VACANT
AND WE ALSO NEED TO INCREASE THE
EFFICIENCY IN THE SYSTEM TO BE
ABLE TO DRIVE ADEQUATE
SOLUTIONS. LET ME TALK ABOUT THE
SOLUTIONS WE HAVE AROUND HOUSING
ACCESS AND HOW WE GET PEOPLE
INTO HOUSING. WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND OUR
COMMUNITY, RAPIDLY HOUSING , ALL
THE DIFFERENT FUNDING
MECHANISMS, ONE THING THEY DO
NOT ADDRESS IS THE FACT THAT
SCREENING BARRIERS STILL COST
FOLKS TO BE DENIED HOUSING. IF
YOU THINK ABOUT SEARCHING FOR
UNIT, YOU DON'T FIND IT, YOU
APPLY, YOUR CREDIT SCORE ISN'T
GOOD ENOUGH AND YOU GET DENIED.
THAT IS A LOT OF TIMES SPENT
RESEARCHING AND APPLYING SIMPLY
TO HAVE A NEGATIVE OUTCOME. THE
OTHER ASPECT IS AROUND THE
DIFFICULTIES FOLKS HAVE IN
FINDING UNITS FOR THEM. WHAT WE
DO IT HOUSING CONNECTOR IS WE
CENTRALIZE THE HOUSING SEARCH
FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND
SYSTEM. THE IDEA IS INSTEAD OF
HAVING A FRACTURED SYSTEM OF HOW
FOLKS FIND HOUSING THEY HAVE ONE
PLACE TO GO TO FIND UNITS IN
REAL TIME THAT HAVE ALL AGREED
TO REDUCE THEIR SCREENING
CRITERIA. WHY ARE THESE REDUCED?
THE KEY IS OUR RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND
MANAGERS. WHAT HOUSING CONNECTOR
DOES IS WE SUPPORT THE PROPERTY
OWNERS AND MANAGERS BY PROVIDING
THEM SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS MAIN
CONCERNS. WE FILL THEIR UNITS,
ENSURE RENT IS PAID, MAKE SURE
THEIR PROPERTY IS NOT DAMAGED
AND THEY ARE LEFT HOLDING
LIABILITY AND WE MAKE SURE THEY
HAVE THRIVING AND SAFE
COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE THEM TO
YEARS OF SUPPORT AFTER SOMEONE
LIVES IN SO FOLKS ARE STABLE AND
THE PROPERTY HAS THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
THEIR DEVELOPMENTS. WHAT THIS
HAS RESULTED IN HIS THOUSANDS OF
PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS
HERE IN THE AREA SAYING , YES, I
WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION,
I WANT TO OPEN MY DOORS BECAUSE
I KNOW I HAVE THE SUPPORT AND
INSURANCE TO ENSURE I AM ABLE TO
ADEQUATELY KEEP THEM HOUSED.
WHAT I WOULD ALSO SAY IS THIS IS
A SOLUTION FOR ALL THE OTHER
NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK IN
TRYING TO GET FOLKS HOUSE. WHEN
WE STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO WE HAD
A CHOICE DO WE CREATE OUR OWN
PLATFORM OR FIGURE OUT HOW TO
PARTNER WHAT ALREADY EXISTS? WE
PARTNERED TO DEVELOP A
MARKETPLACE SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
BECAUSE OF HOUSING INSECURITY.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS IS CREATED A SYSTEM
AND MECHANISM FOLKS CAN GO ON
ZILLOW.COM LIKE YOU AND I WOULD
BUT NOW THEY ARE ABLE TO SEARCH
FOR UNITS PART OF THE HOUSING
CONNECTOR PROGRAM AND SEE IN
REAL TIME NOT ONLY IF THEY ARE
AVAILABLE BUT WHAT SCREENING
CRITERIA THEY PRODUCE . WHAT
THIS MEANS IS CASE MANAGERS AND
INDIVIDUALS AREN'T WASTING TIME
APPLYING TO BE DENIED. THEY'RE
NOT PAYING THE $40 APPLICATION
FEE JUST TO HAVE THAT LOST. THEY
KNOW BEFORE THEY APPLY WHETHER
THE CLIENT WOULD BE APPROVED BUT
WHAT THIS ALSO DOES IS FOR THE
PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS
ELIMINATING WASTE IN THEIR
PROCESS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
GETTING APPLICANTS SENT THEIR
WAY WHO THEY WOULD HAVE TO DENY
BECAUSE THEY DON'T PASS THE
CRITERIA. WHEN WE TALK TO THE
CASE MANAGERS AND COMMUNITY WHAT
THEY SAY IS HOUSING CONNECTOR IN
THE SYSTEM WE HAVE CREATED HAS
REVOLUTIONIZED THEIR WORK
BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN PROCESSES
THAT OFTEN WOULD TAKE MONTHS AND
SHRUGGED THAT IN TODAY'S. THE
NEXT THING WE'RE DOING IS NOT
STOPPING THERE. WE THINK ABOUT
HOW WE HELP CASE MANAGERS AND
INDIVIDUALS ALSO HAVE BETTER
VISIBILITY INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING
? ONE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS A
FRAGMENTED SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T
TALK TO EACH OTHER. WE HAVE
OTHER ASPECTS BUT NOBODY KNOWS
WHAT HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE
LIFECYCLE OF A RENTER . WHAT WE
ARE DOING IS CENTRALIZING THE
ENTIRE HOUSING JOURNEY OF AN
INDIVIDUAL FROM THE MOMENT THEY
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE CASE
MANAGER TO TWO YEARS AFTER
THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY
HOUSED SO WE NOT ONLY KNOW HOW
THEY ARE DOING AS FAR AS FINDING
UNITS , BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
AFTER THEY MOVE IN? THIS IS ONE
FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE BUT ALSO
IN THE OTHERS WE WORK WITH
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE OFTEN
FOCUS ON GETTING FOLKS IN THE
DOOR . WE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER
AT KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED. TO BE
ABLE TO DO BETTER WE HAVE TO
KNOW WHAT THE STATUS QUO IS. WE
HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE FLYING
BLIND BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THAT DATA . ONE OF OUR GOALS IS
CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
OPERATING SYSTEM FOR OUR
COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE VISIBILITY
SO WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING
AFTER FOLKS ARE HOUSED AND
WHETHER THE IMPACT OF MOVING
INTO A UNIT IS ACTUALLY
RESULTING INTO A SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTION. AS MENTIONED, THAT'S
HOW WE GET FOLKS HOUSE BUT
THERE'S A SECOND ASPECT WHICH
IS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE OUR
COMMUNITY IS STAYING HOUSED?
WHAT WE HAVE DESIGNED IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PROPERTIES
IS SOLUTIONS FOR HOUSING
STABILITY. THIS INCLUDES
FINANCIAL RESOURCES SUCH AS RENT
SUPPORT, THINGS LIKE DAMAGE
MITIGATION COSTS TO MAKE SURE
ONE BILL DOESN'T LEAD SOMEONE
TOWARD THE EVICTION PATH OF
LOSING THEIR HOME, BUT WHAT IT
ALSO IS IS THE CONNECTION AND
TOUCH POINTS FOR THE PROPERTIES.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT DATA IS
GOING TO RESULT IN THE BEST
SOLUTIONS AND OUTCOMES AND ONE
OF THE THINGS WE THINK ABOUT
HOUSING STABILITY IS WHO HAS
VISIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING
INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING ?
ULTIMATELY THAT IS THE PROPERTY
OWNERS AND MANAGERS. THE FIRST
INDIVIDUAL THAT KNOWS OF SOMEONE
IS ON THE VERGE OF LOSING
HOUSING IS THAT LANDLORD. RENT
IS NOT PAID AND UTILITY IS NOT
PAID, THERE IS AN INCIDENT
LEADING TO A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE HOUSING
CONNECTOR IS CENTRALIZE THE
PROPERTY AS THE SINGLE POINT OF
CONTACT AND THE FIRST
NOTIFICATION OF A DESTABILIZING
EVENT . A PROPERTY HAS AN
INCENTIVE TO LET US KNOW. THEY
WANT TO MAKE SURE RENT IS
GETTING PAID SO THEY WILL TELL
US OFTEN TIMES WAY BEFORE A
FAMILY MIGHT LET US KNOW BECAUSE
THE FAMILY IS TRYING TO
SELF-SERVICE, BUT WHAT THIS
MEANS IS WE ARE GETTING EARLY
INDICATIONS OF WHEN SOMEBODY IS
BEING DESTABILIZED OR HAVING A
SETBACK AND WE ARE ABLE TO STEP
IN AND SUPPORT THEM EARLY
WHETHER A FINANCIAL RESOURCE OR
CASE MANAGEMENT RESOURCE AND
KEEP THEM HOUSED. YOU TALKED
ABOUT RESOURCES NEEDING TO
HAPPEN IN THE BACK END AND
EVICTIONS BUT NEED TO FRONT END.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT
RESOURCES NEED TO BE THERE TO
STOP EVICTIONS . THE TRUTH IS IF
SOMEBODY IS GETTING SUPPORT
AFTER THEY'VE ALREADY GONE
THROUGH THE EVICTION FILING
IT'S TOO LATE . IT'S BEEN
MONTHS, THEY MOST LIKELY ARE
THREE, SIX, NINE MONTHS BEHIND ,
THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
PROPERTY HAS SOURED SO MAYBE WE
ARE PROVIDING A BAND-AID AT THAT
POINT BUT THE SITUATION IS
USUALLY FAR BEYOND SALVAGEABLE.
I WAS TALKING WITH ANOTHER
COMMUNITY AND ONE THING THEY
MENTIONED THEY WERE PROUD OF WAS
THE AMOUNT OF RENT SUPPORT THEY
DISTRIBUTED. MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS. I ASKED A FOLLOW-UP
WHICH WAS WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE
PAYMENT? THEY SAID IT WAS
$11,000. TO ME THAT IS NOT
SUCCESS. IF WE ARE PAYING , I'M
NOT SAYING SEATTLE IS, BUT IF WE
ARE PAYING $11,000 PER FAMILY
THAT FAMILY IS MOST LIKELY SEVEN
MONTHS BEHIND. WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WE TAKE THAT 11,000 OR
6000 AND MAKE THAT A $500
PAYMENT THAT IS BEING
DISTRIBUTED IN TIME SO WE ARE
ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE DOLLARS WE
HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WAY
MORE FAMILIES. THAT ONLY HAPPENS
IF YOU HAVE VISIBILITY INTO
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH
HOUSEHOLDS. THIS ALL GOES BACK
TO THE PROPERTY PIECE. ONE THING
WHEN WE STARTED IN SEATTLE 5+
YEARS AGO FOLKS SAID I DON'T
THINK THIS WILL WORK BECAUSE
PROPERTIES ARE NOT GOING TO SAY
YES. WHAT WE HAVE PROVEN AND
WHAT PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE PROVEN
IS THAT THEY DO WANT TO BE A
PART OF THE SOLUTION . IF YOU
UNDERSTAND THEIR BUSINESS NEEDS,
IF YOU'RE WILLING TO MEET THEM
AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO
DELIVER SOLUTIONS THAT ARE NOT
CUMBERSOME AND DO NOT CHANGE
THEIR OPERATING STRUCTURE THEY
WANT TO BE A PART OF THE
SOLUTION. THEY ARE IN THE
BUSINESS OF HOUSING PEOPLE, NOT
EVICTING. I THINK THAT HAS BEEN
THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS IS MAKING
SURE WE MEET THEIR NEEDS,
PROVIDE SOLUTIONS AND UTILIZE
DATA THEY HAVE ACCESS TO TO BE
ABLE TO DELIVER SOLUTIONS. THE
NEXT PIECE IS WE ARE A
TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN ORGANIZATION.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE SEE THAT OR SEE
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ZILLOW AND
GET EXCITED. HERE'S WHAT I TELL
FOLKS, TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THE
SOLUTION . HOUSING IS THE
SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.
TECHNOLOGY DOES HELP . IT HELPS
DRIVING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVING
VISIBILITY AND DRIVING
ACCOUNTABILITY AND I THINK FOR
US THAT'S HOW WE THINK ABOUT
HOW WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER
SOLUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. WE
ARE EXCITED ABOUT THINGS SUCH AS
AUTOMATED MESSAGING, DATA
INTEGRATION BETWEEN PRIVATE DATA
AND PUBLIC DATA AND BUILDING
THAT OPERATING SYSTEM THAT
ACTUALLY ALLOWS US TO DRIVE
SOLUTIONS AND DRIVE STRATEGY AS
OPPOSED TO CONSTANTLY BEING
REACTIVE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE COMMUNITY. DOES THIS WORK?
THE DATA SUGGESTS IT DOES. IN
THE FIVE YEARS SINCE WE LAUNCHED
HOUSING CONNECTOR HAS ALMOST
HOUSED 10,000 FOLKS. WE
CURRENTLY PARTNER WITH OVER 2700
POVERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS ,
THAT'S OVER 150,000 UNITS IN A
PORTFOLIO . WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS
WE HAVE OVER 85% OF HOUSEHOLDS
RENEWING THEIR LEASE AFTER THE
FIRST YEAR. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
AND ZIPPING SOMEWHERE AROUND
65%. THE REASON WHY IS WE ARE
NOT JUST GETTING FOLKS IN THE
HOUSING BUT WE ARE PROVIDING THE
SAFETY NET TO STAY SAFELY
HOUSED. I THINK THAT DATA POINT
AND THE FACT WE HAVE LESS THAN
1% EVICTION RATE FOR HOUSEHOLDS
IS A HUGE REASON WHY THE
PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS WE
WORK WITH CONTINUE SAYING YES
AND OPENING THEIR DOORS. SOME
RESULTS BE ON THIS IS WE ARE
CREATING WIN-WIN OUTCOMES. WE
GENERATED OVER $91 MILLION IN
REVENUE FOR THE PROPERTIES. WHAT
THIS MEANS IS THEY CAN CONTINUE
OPERATING THESE BUILDINGS. HERE
IN SEATTLE THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF CONVERSATION AROUND OUR
AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS AND HOW WE
MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT JUST
BUILDING THESE UNITS BUT THESE
DEVELOPERS CAN ACTUALLY OPERATE
AND HAVE FUNDS AND RESOURCES TO
OPERATE AND IT HAS TO BE RENT
HAS TO BE PAID. WE ARE REALLY
PROUD OF THE FACT WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT
MEANS THE RENT IS GETTING PAID
AND THE FAMILY IS STAYING
HOUSED. AS FAR AS THE GOVERNMENT
SIDE, NOBODY WANTS TO BE
FOCUSING SOLELY ON SOLVING
HOMELESSNESS ONCE IT HAPPENS.
THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES, THEY
WOULD ALL MUCH RATHER NOT HAVE
TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE WHEN SOMEONE
HAS ALREADY LOST THEIR HOME.
THEY ARE DOING GOOD WORK AND
TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS BUT WHAT
WE KNOW IS ONCE SOMEONE LOSES
THEIR HOME THE COST TO THE
COMMUNITY IS TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS. IF YOU SIMPLY TAKE
OUT ANY OF THE HUMANITARIAN
ASPECT, ANY ETHICAL
CONVERSATIONS AND TREAT THIS AS
AN ECONOMIC PROBLEM THIS ISSUE
CAUSES SEATTLE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS A YEAR WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT ALL THE COSTS FOR
TAXPAYERS BUT ALSO THE LOST
REVENUE FROM THINGS LIKE
TOURISM, ET CETERA. WHAT WE ARE
THINKING IS IF WE CAN SHIFT THIS
BURDEN AND SAY LET'S SOLVE
HOMELESSNESS BEFORE IT HAPPENS
WE CAN TAKE THAT COST FROM 40,
$50,000-$1000. THE REASON WHY IS
JUST LIKE IN HEALTHCARE,
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN THE
CURE. WE AT HOUSING CONNECTOR
ARE THINKING THAT IF THE
HOMELESS SYSTEM IS THE EMERGENCY
ROOM , WE HAVE GOT TO BE THE
PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR. THE WAY
PRIMARY CARE LOOKS LIKE IS
PREVENTION. WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT ASPECT. ONE
THING I WANT TO SAY IS WE DON'T
DO THIS ALONE. WE HAVE OVER 64
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WE WORK
WITH IN SEATTLE ALONE. WE HAVE
OVER 200 ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
THESE ARE ORGANIZATIONS
UTILIZING HOUSING CONNECTOR TO
FIND UNITS BUT ALSO PARTNERING
TO MAKE SURE THEIR RESIDENTS ARE
STAYING STABLY HOUSE ONCE MOVED
IN. WE ALSO HAVE A GOOD
COMBINATION OF PRIVATE FUNDERS
AND PARTNERS AS WELL AS LOCAL
PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE WE DELIVER
THIS SOLUTION. OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT
AROUND HOW TO BRING ARTISAN,
DESIGN SOLUTIONS AND HOW TO NOT
ONLY GET FOLKS HOUSE BUT KEEP
THEM HOUSE, BUT THE TRUTH IS
I'M NOT SATISFIED BECAUSE WE'VE
HOUSE ALMOST 10,000 PEOPLE AND
WHAT I SEE IS A HOMELESSNESS
RATE HAS GONE UP BY 18% JUST IN
THE LAST YEAR. I KEEP ASKING
MYSELF AND OUR TEAM WHAT ARE WE
DOING? WHAT ARE WE DOING? IF WE
ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY CHANGE THE
WAY WE THINK ABOUT DOING
BUSINESS. OUR FOCUS OVER THE
NEXT THREE YEAR IS FOCUSING ON
THESE PILLARS OF PRODUCT,
LIBERTIES AND PREVENTION TO BE
ABLE TO CREATE AN INTEGRATED
SYSTEM THAT IS NOT ONLY GETTING
FOLKS HOUSED , BUT TRULY
PREVENTING THE FLOW INTO THE
HOMELESSNESS SYSTEM. WE BELIEVE
BETWEEN THE RESOURCES THE CITY
IS SETTING ASIDE AND THE
WILLINGNESS OF PROPERTY OWNERS
AND MANAGERS TO BE A PART OF THE
SOLUTION WE WILL NOT ONLY HAVE
THE PLAYERS AT THE TABLE BUT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN THE DATA
SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE
ABLE TO DELIVER THE SOLUTION AND
BE ABLE TO SCALE THIS HERE
LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I ALWAYS SAY WITH OUR TEAM THE
BEST IS YET TO COME AND I REALLY
BELIEVE THAT. I THINK IN SEATTLE
WE HAVE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
ABLE TO MEET THE CURRENT NEED
AND CHANGE OUR APPROACH FROM
BEING INCREDIBLY REACTIVE TO THE
PROBLEM TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE
CAN BE PROACTIVE AND HOW DO WE
ACTUALLY SOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE
IT HAPPENS AND GETS TO A
POSITION WHERE ALL OF OUR
MEMBERS HAVE A CHANCE OF
STABILITY AND A PATHWAY OUT OF
POVERTY? I WILL STOP THERE,
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AND
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO
THIS ISSUE AND COMMITMENT TO
THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW
WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS
A VERY INFORMATIVE AND SOMEWHAT
HOPEFUL IN MY EARS. QUESTIONS?
JUST FOR THE RECORD, NOTE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON HAS
JOINED US AND WE HAVE BEEN
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
OKAY.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR ARRIVING LATE
BUT I'M GLAD I ARRIVED WHEN I
DID WITH THIS PRESENTATION
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
TIMES I'VE SAT AT THE DAIS
SINGING THE PRAISES OF HOUSING
CONNECTOR AND I HAVE DONE SO IN
2023, 2022 AND I'M REALLY GLAD
YOU ARE COMING BEFORE THE NEW
COUNSEL BECAUSE WHAT I SUPPORT
ABOUT THIS MODEL IS THAT IT IS
BASICALLY A PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP THAT IS SEEKING ONE
OF OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES, IF
NOT THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN A
FASTER EXPEDIENT WAY THAT HELPS
MORE PEOPLE, WELL, FASTER AND
NOT JUST AS YOU NOTED WHICH I
THINK IS INTERESTING , NOT JUST
GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED BUT MAKING
SURE THEY STAY HOUSED. THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT THIS MODEL
HAS WITH THE ACTUAL LANDLORDS
HELPS WITH THAT. THOSE PEOPLE
WANT CUSTOMERS, THEY ARE
BUSINESSES. THERE ARE PEOPLE
THAT NEED HOUSING. WHY CAN'T WE
USE EVERY MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL
TO HELP THE PEOPLE WITH HOUSING
THEY NEED? THIS IS A MODEL THAT
IS UNIQUE AND REALLY FILLING A
GAP IN WHAT I WAS SAYING IN THE
BEGINNING IS THAT THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE MONITORING , THE UNIT
MANAGERS, THE PEOPLE THAT
MONITOR THAT OWN WHATEVER THE
SPACES WHERE PEOPLE LIVING HAVE
AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THOSE
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING ON A
MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS IF RENT IS
LATE, ET CETERA, HARDSHIPS
BEFALL A PERSON OR FAMILY AND
THAT CAN BE AN EARLY WARNING
SIGN AS YOU SAID TO PREVENT
HOMELESSNESS. I WANTED TO SAY
AGAIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE WORK YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE WHO
WAS NEXT.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S GREAT TO SEE
YOU AGAIN. COLLEAGUES, I HAWHEN
REGION RECEIVED 1300 EMERGENCY
HOUSING VOUCHERS AS A PART OF
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. 1300
HOUSING VOUCHERS WITH THE
PROMISE OF 10 YEARS OF HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND I WANT TO NAME
THAT HOUSING CONNECTOR WAS A
CRITICAL PART OF THE LEASE UP OF
THOSE HOUSING VOUCHERS MEANING
THAT 1300 HOUSEHOLDS , COUNTING
OVER 1000 PEOPLE GOT HOUSE. I
WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK HOUSING
CONNECTOR FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP
AND THE MANY PROVIDERS YOU
LISTED FOR GETTING PEOPLE
HOUSED. WE DON'T OFTEN TALK
ABOUT SUCCESSES BUT THIS IS ONE
WORTH CELEBRATING. IT'S ONE OF
CELEBRATED FOR SOME TIME UNTIL
RECENTLY LEARNING THAT IT IS
LOOKING UNLIKELY THOSE VOUCHERS
WILL BE RENEWED AT THE END OF
THIS YEAR LEAVING US WITH A
MAJOR ISSUE OF THOSE 1300
HOUSEHOLDS NEEDING SOMEWHERE TO
GO. THAT LEADS ME TO MY QUESTION
FOR TODAY WHICH IS FOR HOUSING
CONNECTOR, HOW IS THE SHIFTING
FEDERAL LANDSCAPE IMPACTING SOME
OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN
ORGANIZATIONS YOU'RE WORKING
WITH? I IMAGINE THERE IS A
FLURRY OF ACTIVITY. I KNOW I'M
LEARNING DAY BY DAY NEW POLICIES
IMPLEMENTED, BUT WHAT DO YOU
HEAR FROM YOUR MANY PARTNERING
NETWORKS AND WHAT ARE SOME FIRST
ISSUES THAT COME TO MIND?
>> WE ARE GOING TO SEE FEWER AND
FEWER RESOURCES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND I THINK IT'S A REAL
CONCERN OF HOW WE STATE STABLY
HOUSED AND HOW WE MAKE SURE WE
DRIVE EFFICIENCY IN RESOURCES WE
HAVE. IF WE HAVE HOUSING DOLLARS
NOT BEING SPENT THERE IS A LOW
LIKELIHOOD WE SEE IT COME BACK
TO US. I HAVE A HUGE CONCERN
AROUND STABILITY . ONE THING
DURING COVID IS THERE WAS AN
INFLUX OF RESOURCES IN DOLLARS
WHICH IS AMAZING BUT I THINK WE
AS A COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY FELT MAYBE THAT IS THE
STATUS QUO AND THINGS HAVE
SHIFTED. BUT WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT AND SEE IS THERE'S NOW
FEWER DOLLARS TO WORK WITH SO WE
HAVE TO DRIVE AND FOCUS ON
EFFICIENCY . I AM CONCERNED
AROUND THAT PIECED. EVEN
RECENTLY WE SAW OUR OWN BUDGET
IN SEATTLE CUT BY 150,000 AROUND
PREVENTION PIECE AS A RESULT OF
SOME FEDERAL ASPECTS . TO YOUR
COMMENT AROUND THE EMERGENCY
HOUSING VOUCHERS SEATTLE IS A
WIN BECAUSE KING COUNTY HAD THE
HIGHEST UTILIZATION RATE IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY WHEN THAT
HAPPENED. THE REASON IS WE HAD
ALREADY SET THE STAGE TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE THIS PRIVATE PUBLIC
OWNERSHIP. AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW
TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE,
BUILD THE CONNECTIONS IT IS SO
CRITICAL AND IN THAT MOMENT WE
COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
BECAUSE LANDLORDS WERE
CONNECTED, WE HAVE THIS
INTEGRATIONS AND PEOPLE WERE
ABLE TO FIND THE UNITS QUICKER.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE FINAL
QUESTION FOR TODAY RELATED TO
DATA. A LOT OF HOW HOUSING
CONNECTOR WORKS IS THROUGH
EFFECTIVE DATA SYSTEMS WHICH IS
CERTAINLY A VALUE ADD YOU
PROVIDE TO OUR SYSTEM. I'M
WONDERING ABOUT DATA STORAGE A
LITTLE BIT FOR YOU ALL AND THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THAT DATA
STORAGE FOR SO MANY WHO ARE IN
LOW INCOME HOUSING TO WORK.
>> WITHOUT GETTING INTO
SPECIFICS WE HAVE DATA SHARING
AGREEMENTS WITH EVERY ONE OF OUR
PARTNERS. WE HAVE INFORMATION
WITH EVERY RESIDENT TO MAKE SURE
THEY KNOW HOW THEIR INFORMATION
IS USED AND THE INFORMATION IS
UTILIZED AROUND DELIVERING THE
SOLUTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS WHEN
THEY NEED IT. NO INFORMATION IS
SHARED WITH ANYONE EXTERNALLY
OUR PROPERTIES . IT IS REALLY ON
UTILIZATION. I WANT TO BE CLEAR
IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO
CONVERSATION AROUND SPECIFICS OF
DATA STORAGE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF
MY EXPERTISE. I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU AND
PRODUCT LEAD TO BE ABLE TO COME
BACK AND PROVIDE SPECIFICS .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. YOU ALWAYS SO
EXPERTLY ARTICULATE THE ISSUES
AT HAND AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP.
PEOPLE ARE HOUSED BECAUSE OF HER
WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION TODAY. ADMITTEDLY I
WAS LESS FAMILIAR BEFORE TODAY
WITH THE SCOPE OF THE WORK AND
IMPACT THAT HOUSING CONNECTOR
PERFORMS ACROSS OUR REGION BUT
VERY ENLIGHTENING AND INSIGHTFUL
FOR ME TO HEAR MORE DIRECTLY
FROM YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE
TERRIFIC WORK , THE
PRESENTATION, GOOD TO SEE YOU
HERE JUST AS AN ASIDE, I SAW OUR
LEADERSHIP TOMORROW CLASSMATE
LINDA HALL FROM TREE HOUSE
YESTERDAY RIGHT HERE IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS. WE DID A FUN FOSTER
CARE PROCLAMATION. GREAT TO CLT
WELL REPRESENTED. IN ANY EVENT ,
HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND . YOU
SHARED SOME GREAT INFORMATION
INCLUDING DATA AND THE FACT
THERE ARE 24 MILLION PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY
. FOLKS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY ONE
PAYCHECK AWAY FROM EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS , MIGHT BE ONE
RELAPSE AWAY FROM EXPENSING
HOMELESSNESS . ANY NUMBER OF
CHALLENGES. WE KNOW MANY PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ALSO
SUFFER FROM VERY UNIQUE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. AS
YOUR ORGANIZATION WORKS TO
CONNECT PEOPLE WITH HOUSING HOW
DO YOU DEAL WITH CLIENTS OR
SUPPORT CLIENTS OR MAYBE THAT'S
NOT PART OF YOUR MISSION
CURRENTLY, WITH VERY UNIQUE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES?
>> ONE THING WE DO IS HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE SOMEBODY IS SET UP TO
BE SUCCESSFUL IN HOUSING? THIS
IS SOMETIMES WE CAN PUSH BACK ON
THIS, BUT I FUNDAMENTALLY DON'T
BELIEVE SOMEONE IN A UNIT FOR
THEM TO LOSE HER HOUSING TWO
MONTHS LATER IS A WIN FOR ANYONE
. IT'S A SETBACK FOR THAT
INDIVIDUAL. WE NEED TO THINK OF
HOW WE IDENTIFY THE RIGHT
INDIVIDUALS AND MATCH WITH THE
RIGHT RESOURCE AND SUPPORT TO BE
ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
HOUSING. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS
THAT REALLY ANYONE THAT'S
MATCHED WITH THE RIGHT RESOURCES
AND SUPPORT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
WHERE WE GO PUTTING OUR
PRIORITIES AND FOCUS AND HOW WE
MEASURE FOR THE COUNCIL I'M
SURE YOU HEAR ABOUT MOVE IN
RIGHT, BUT WHO IS TALKING TO YOU
ABOUT RETENTION? IS THAT DATA
BEING MEASURED? ONE THING WE DO
IS WE FOCUS VERY HEAVILY ON THAT
ASPECT. WE FOCUS ON THE BEHAVIOR
, AT LEAST, NON-PAYMENTS FOR
EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE NONPROFITS AND
CASE MANAGERS TO GIVE THEM
VISIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING TO
WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT DRIVE
ACCOUNTABILITY. ONE THING I
LEARNED FROM MY MENTOR EARLY ON
IS ACCOUNTABILITY IS . THAT IS
AN IMPORTANT ASPECT IN THIS WORK
IS TO REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DRIVE
THE RIGHT SUPPORT AND SOLUTIONS
BUT ALSO HOLD THE COMMUNITY,
HOLD OUR PARTNERS, HOLD
OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO BE ABLE
TO FOLLOW THROUGH SO FOLKS
AREN'T FALLING THROUGH THE
CRACKS. I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE. A
SMALL ISSUE THAT LEADS TO BIG
CONCERNS. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THE QUALITY DATA AND DATA SYSTEM
IN THIS INDUSTRY THAT HAS SUCH
HIGH TURNOVER WITH CASE MANAGERS
WHAT HAPPENS IS I MIGHT BE
WORKING WITH YOU, I HOPE YOU GET
HOUSED , I LEAVE MY JOB BECAUSE
IT'S A STRESSFUL HIGH TURNOVER.
NOW THERE'S NO ONE YOU'RE
CONNECTED TO. THE DATA, THE
INFORMATION, THE STORY IS LOST
WHEN I LEAVE THIS JOB . SOMEONE
IS SUPPOSED TO COME IN AND TRY
TO PICK THAT UP AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON. WHAT WE SEE IS
IN THOSE TRANSITIONS PEOPLE FALL
BEHIND , FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS
AND LOSE THEIR HOUSING. WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO BUILD WITH THE COMMUNITY IS
THAT IF YOU LEFT AND YOUR
COLLEAGUE TOOK OVER THEY WOULD
BE ABLE TO SEE THE INFORMATION
OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH
THAT INDIVIDUAL, WHERE THEY ARE
AND THEY CAN STEP IN AND MAKE
SURE THINGS ARE NOT LOST AND
THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS THE SUPPORT
TO CONTINUE STAYING STABLY
HOUSED. I THINK THERE IS A
REFERENCE AROUND INDIVIDUALS
THAT MIGHT HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANT
BARRIERS AT HIGHER ACUITY. WE
ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE
PRIVATE MARKET IS NOT THE RIGHT
SOLUTION . THAT IS WHY WE HAVE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND
WHY WE HAVE OTHER HOUSING
SOLUTIONS. ONE THING WHEN WE
HAVE A SCARCITY OF RESOURCES IS
OFTEN TIMES WE ARE TRYING TO FIT
A RESOURCE WITH A SITUATION OR
PROBLEM THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT
FIT. WHAT THAT OFTEN LEADS TO
HIS BAD OUTCOMES. SMALL ANECDOTE
, BUT THAT'S HOW WE OPERATE.
RAPIDLY HOUSING. RAPID REHOUSING
IS A SHORT-TERM RESOURCE
INTENDED TO HELP SOMEBODY FOR
SIX MONTHS AND THEN FADE AWAY
BUT WE ARE MATCHING IT WITH AN
INDIVIDUAL THAT DOES NOT HAVE
THE PATHWAY, THE PLAN AND
COMMITMENT BY THE SUPPORTING
ORGANIZATION TO ACTUALLY GET
THERE. ALL WE ARE DOING IS
KICKING THE CAN SIX MONTHS DOWN
THE ROAD. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
LATER THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS NO
MEANS TO PAY RENT, THEIR SUBSIDY
FADED AWAY AND NOW THEY GO DOWN
THE EVICTION PATH. WE CAN SAY
BUT AT LEAST THEY GOT THE
HOUSING FOR SIX MONTHS AND THAT
IS SO IMPORTANT. WHAT HAPPENS
OFTEN TIMES IS WHEN THAT
INDIVIDUAL LOSES THEIR HOUSING
NOW THEY HAVE AN EVICTION ON THE
RECORD AND NOW THEM TRYING TO
GET BACK IN THE HOUSING IS EVEN
HARDER. FOR US THAT'S WHY IT IS
SO IMPORTANT AROUND US MAKING
SURE WE DO NOT HAVE EVICTIONS
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT SOMEBODY
MOVING INTO A UNIT THROUGH
HOUSING CONNECTOR AND THEN
LEAVING AND HAVING MORE BARRIERS
IN THE END. THAT IS OFTEN WHAT
HAPPENS IF FOLKS DON'T HAVE THE
RIGHT SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE STABLY
HOUSED. YOU MENTIONED YOU
DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT US,
THAT'S PROBABLY BY DESIGN. WE
TRY TO STAY BEHIND THE SCENES
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE
REASON IS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
DOING THIS WORK, THE CASE
MANAGERS DOING THIS WORK ,
PROPERTIES DOING THE WORK, THEY
ARE ULTIMATELY THE ONES LIVING
THE SOLUTION. WE ARE BEHIND THE
SCENES AND WE WANT TO STAY
BEHIND THE SCENES TO BE ABLE TO
EQUIP THEM TO DO THE WORK BETTER
AND FASTER AND I THINK FOR THE
LAST FIVE YEARS WE PROBABLY
MAYBE HAVEN'T SHARED AS MUCH
ABOUT THE WORK WE ARE DOING. I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER RINCK SHARED
A LITTLE OF THOSE BUT THE WAY WE
THINK ABOUT IT IS IF WE ARE
DOING GOOD WORK AND GETTING
RESULTS THERE IS PLENTY OF
PRAISE AND THINGS FOR EVERYONE
TO TAKE AND RUN WITH. I DO THINK
WE ARE AT A CRITICAL POINT RIGHT
NOW AS A COMMUNITY AND A CITY
WHERE WE REALLY HAVE TO
REIMAGINE HOW WE DO THIS WORK
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS
WE ARE TRYING TO BE A LITTLE
MORE VOCAL BASED ON THE DATA AND
LEARNINGS WE HAVE ON HOW WE
REIMAGINE THE SYSTEM AND HOW WE
KEEP PEOPLE IN THAT HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE
REFLECTIONS THERE AND ALSO THE
COMMENT I FOUND TOWARDS THE END
ABOUT PRAISE AND CREDIT.
COULDN'T AGREE MORE. PRAISE AND
CREDIT IS UNLIKE DOLLARS, IT IS
AN INFINITE UNKEPT RESOURCE . WE
CAN ALL SHARE IT, WE CAN ALL
WIN. THAT IS MY DEFAULT
APPROACH. ANOTHER QUESTION,
HOPEFULLY THIS IS A LITTLE MORE
STRAIGHTFORWARD ON SOME DATA
REFLECT IN LATER SLIDES. NOTE
THAT YOU SERVE 4450 HOUSEHOLDS ,
A LITTLE OVER 9000 RESIDENT. I
ALSO NOTE YOUR NATIONWIDE
ORGANIZATION SERVING SIX MAJOR
CITIES. HOW MANY CLIENTS DO YOU
SERVE IN SEATTLE ?
>> MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE HERE IN
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY AREA. WE
HAVE EXPANDED INTO DENVER,
DALLAS, PORTLAND, AUSTIN AND ARE
ABOUT TO LAUNCH IN ORLANDO BUT
ALL THOSE MARKETS HAVE BEEN IN
THE LAST 72 YEARS. OVER 80% OF
THE IMPACT IN THOSE NUMBERS ARE
RIGHT HERE LOCAL. RIGHT NOW IN
THE SEATTLE AREA WE HAVE OVER
2000 HOUSEHOLDS WE ARE PROVIDING
THE SAFETY NET . IF WE THINK
ABOUT WHO WE HAVE VISIBILITY IN
ENSURING WE CAN PROVIDE THAT
SUPPORT IF THEY NEED IT,
THERE'S OVER 2000 HOUSEHOLDS
HERE LOCALLY THAT ARE IN THAT .
THESE ARE PROBABLY THE HIGHEST
RISK HOUSEHOLDS BECAUSE IF WE
THINK OF THE BIGGEST INDICATOR
OF SOMEBODY LOSING THEIR HOUSING
AND BEING HOMELESS IS HAVING
THEM EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS
BEFORE. SOME OF THEM ARE THE
MOST AT RISK BUT NOW THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO THIS FINANCIAL AND
CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO HOPEFULLY BE
ABLE TO PREVENT THEM. IF THE
NUMBERS CHANGING EVERY DAY AS WE
HAVE HOUSEHOLDS MOVING IN AND
EXITING THEIR TWO YEARS I'M
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP AND GIVE YOU
THE EXACT NUMBER AS OF TODAY
AFTER THIS MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
FINAL QUESTION FOR DATA. I'M A
FIRM BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF
DATA TO UNLOCK ANY NUMBER OF
POSSIBILITIES AND LEVERAGING
THAT DATA, PLUG IT IN THROUGH
USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US
UNLOCK ANY NUMBER OF
OPPORTUNITIES AND DRIVE
SOLUTIONS. TO ACHIEVE THAT YOU
NEED A VERY ROBUST SET OF DATA,
COMPREHENSIVE SET OF DATA AND
NEED TO PUT APPROPRIATE PRIVACY
AND SECURITY GUARD RAILS AROUND
THAT OF COURSE. WHERE THAT MAKES
SENSE, INCLUDING WHAT THE
EUROPEANS CALL OF DATA IN AN
AGGREGATED FORM BUT WE NEED
ROBUST DATA. YOUR PLATFORM IT
SOUNDS LIKE THE PLATFORM YOU
SHARE AND BUILT UPON WITH ONE OF
YOUR PARTNERS RELIES HEAVILY ON
DATA . WHAT ADDITIONAL DATA ,
WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DO
YOU THINK IS NEEDED THAT'S NOT
CURRENTLY READILY AVAILABLE OR
ACCESSIBLE , WHAT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SEE IN TERMS OF DATA TO HELP
POTENTIALLY UNLOCK OTHER
POSSIBILITIES AND DRIVE FURTHER
SOLUTIONS ON A GOING FORWARD
BASIS?
>> ONE OF MY GOALS OVER THE NEXT
FEW YEARS IS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD
A PREDICTIVE MODEL THAT CAN
IDENTIFY HOUSEHOLDS AT RISK AND
BE ABLE TO PROACTIVELY OFFER
SOLUTIONS. THAT DOESN'T EXIST
RIGHT NOW IN THE COUNTRY AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE AIMING TO BE
ABLE TO DO. TO DO THAT YOU HAVE
TO HAVE ACCESS INTO THE PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT DATA SO WE CAN THINK
ABOUT PAYMENT TRENDS, LATE
PAYMENTS, ET CETERA. THE OTHER
ASPECT IS I BELIEVE THERE'S
OTHER INDICATORS THAT CAN HELP
US CREATE A MORE CLEAR PICTURE.
ONE IS UTILITY DATA IN THE
BELIEF IS IF THERE BETWEEN
PAYING RENT AND UTILITY PEOPLE
PAY RENT FIRST AND UTILITIES
LATER. COULD WE HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL
UTILITY GROUPS HERE TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE THAT INTEGRATION DATA
AND SAY IF SOMEBODY IS NOT
PAYING THE UTILITIES THAT MIGHT
BE A 45, 60 DAY EARLY INDICATION
THAT IN TWO MONTHS THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO PAY RENT. HOW DO WE
PROACTIVELY REACH OUT TO THE
HOUSEHOLD AND OFFER POTENTIAL
RESOURCES AND SOLUTIONS TO HELP
AND SUPPORT THEM BEFORE THEY
FALL BEHIND? I MENTIONED I CAME
HERE AS A REFUGEE . I AM
ALBANIAN. WE ARE VERY PROUD
PEOPLE. MY PARENTS WERE
INCREDIBLY POOR. OFTEN TIMES WE
WORK SO HARD TO SELF RESOLVE OUT
OF PRIDE OR OUT OF NOT KNOWING
THERE WERE RESOURCES AVAILABLE
TO US AND OFTEN TIMES WE DID
THAT TO HER OWN DETRIMENT
BECAUSE WE WAITED AND WAITED TO
TRY TO SELF RESOLVE UNTIL WE
WERE ALREADY IN CRISIS. I THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS IN
OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE DOING
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE , EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND
WE CAN SUPPORT THEM BY LETTING
THEM KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE,
LETTING THEM UNDERSTAND THE
RESOURCES THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO
THEM TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THOSE
ISSUES. I THINK THE OTHER PIECE
HERE IS THE SYSTEM WE CURRENTLY
HAVE OFTEN REQUIRES SOMEBODY TO
BE IN CRISIS BEFORE THEY GET
HELP AND THEY CAN ACCESS
RESOURCES. IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR
SOMEONE TO ALREADY BE IN THE
COURT SYSTEM OR FOR SOMEONE TO
ALREADY BE HOMELESS BY
DEFINITION TO ACCESS A RESOURCE.
THAT MAKES NO SENSE BUT THAT'S
THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS. WE NEED
TO THINK ABOUT THE PROACTIVE
SOLUTION AND OFTEN TIMES THAT
MEANS DELIVERING A RESOURCE
BEFORE SOMEBODY IS IN CRISIS.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE AT LEAST
TWO IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE AN
OPPORTUNE TIME FOR PARTNERSHIP.
IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU. THANK
YOU TO YOUR WHOLE TEAM. THAT
ISN'T NECESSARILY HERE TODAY,
BUT WHOSE WORK IS REPRESENTED IN
YOUR PRESENTATION AND APPRECIATE
YOU ALL AND ALL YOU DO. THANK
YOU FOR INVITING HOUSING
CONNECTOR HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? OKAY. WELL, I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE . AS
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK SAID YOU'VE
ARTICULATED SO BEAUTIFULLY
WHAT'S BEEN RUMBLING AROUND IN
MY BRAIN FOR THE PAST YEAR WHICH
IS WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE, WE
HAVE TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE AT RISK
BEFORE THEY FALL THROUGH THE
CRACKS, WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE
BARRIERS TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO
GET THAT HELP BEFORE THEY ARE IN
CRISIS, SO I COULDN'T AGREE
MORE. WE HAVE TO REIMAGINE HOW
WE DO THIS WORK. IT'S
REASSURING TO HEAR THINGS
HAPPENING . IT ALSO MEANS WE DO
HAVE TO BE COMMITTED AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL GROWING OUR
RESOURCES PARTICULARLY BECAUSE
OF THE FEDERAL CUTS COMING TO
THE RESOURCES AND BEING MORE
EFFICIENT. I THINK IDENTIFYING
PEOPLE PROACTIVELY DRIVES
EFFICIENCY. IT'S ALWAYS MORE
EXPENSIVE , YOU KNOW ALL OF
THIS. I'M JUST SAYING THIS FOR
THE RECORD BUT WHEN SOMEBODY IS
ON THE STREET OR IN THAT CYCLE
IT IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.
IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO GO TO
THE E.R. THEN YOUR PRIMARY CARE
PROVIDER. THAT SAID, I'M CURIOUS
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE
PROBLEMS WITH HIS IDENTIFYING
THE VACANCY RATE IN SEATTLE. WE
KEEP HARPING ON THIS AND I'M
WONDERING ARE YOU HAVING ANY
BETTER LUCK IDENTIFYING THE
VACANCY RATE IN SEATTLE?
>> WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THAT
DATA IN REAL-TIME THROUGH FEED
INTEGRATIONS WITH DIFFERENT
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.
SHORT ANSWER IS YES. THERE IS A
MORE COMPLICATED ANSWER WHICH IS
WHAT PROPERTIES AND THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON CITY
INVESTMENT PROPERTIES AND WE
WORK WITH MANY OF THEM. I THINK
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M EXCITED
ABOUT IS FINDING WAYS TO PARTNER
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO BE
ABLE TO POTENTIALLY REIMAGINE
AND THINK OF HOW TO RE-CREATE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO NOT ONLY
GIVE THE CITY VISIBILITY BUT
ALSO GIVE THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS
AND MANAGERS THE SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY OPERATE.
>> THANK YOU. IF WE COULD CRACK
THAT PUZZLE, THAT CODE THAT
WOULD BE IMMENSELY HELPFUL. IN
LOOKING AT SLIDE 28 WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS FOR HOUSING
STABILITY CAN YOU WALK THROUGH A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW IS
YOUR FUNDING MODEL WORKING?
WOULD YOU COME UP WITH THE THREE
MONTHS OF EMERGENCY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND DAMAGE MITIGATION
AND VACANCY LOSS?
>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LET SATAN
ONE MILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACT THAT
HAS HELD STEADY FOR THE LAST
FOUR YEARS . THAT IS FUNDING
FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY. THE
WAY WE THINK ABOUT THIS IS
INSTEAD OF PAYING UP FRONT , TO
ME, WHEN WE STARTED THIS I WAS
TRYING TO THINK WHO ELSE HAS
FIGURED OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
RISK? THIS IS A PROBLEM OF RISK
FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND
MANAGERS. THERE'S A LOT TO HAVE
DONE THAT THROUGH INSURANCE
PRODUCTS SO THE THREE MONTHS OF
RENT SUPPORT, THE $5000 IN
DAMAGES, THAT IS PROVIDED TO
THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS AND
MANAGERS AS AN INSURANCE
PACKAGE. WE ONLY PAY IF THERE IS
A SETBACK OR IF SOMEBODY HAS
DEFAULT ON THEIR RENT OR
DAMAGES. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR
ENTIRE DATA SET RIGHT NOW WE
ONLY HAVE TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE
FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR ABOUT
33% OF HOUSING. THE THING HERE
TO THINK ABOUT IS 67% OF
HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE EXITING
HOMELESSNESS OR INSECURITY AND
MOVING INTO HOUSING ALL THEY
NEEDED WAS THOSE LOWER BARRIERS.
THEY NEVER HAD ANOTHER FINANCIAL
SETBACK , BUT IF THEY DID THEN
WE CAN STEP IN AND PROVIDE
WHATEVER IT IS THEY MIGHT NEED
AND DO SO RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE
ALREADY HAVE THOSE INTEGRATIONS
WITH THE PROPERTY. ON AVERAGE IT
COSTS US ABOUT $1100 PER
HOUSEHOLD TO BE ABLE TO KEEP
THEM STABLY HOUSED OVER THE TWO
YEARS. BREAK THAT DOWN ANNUALLY
WE LOOK AT ABOUT $550 TO BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT TO KEEP
HOUSEHOLDS HOUSED. WE HAVE WHAT
I WOULD CONSIDER JUST LIKE
ANYTHING SOME HOUSEHOLDS TEND TO
DRAW DOWN AT A RATE BUT WHAT WE
DO IS TRY TO THINK ABOUT THE
TRENDS AND INDICATORS OF THESE
HOUSEHOLDS. IS IT BASED ON SOME
FINANCIAL SITUATIONS THEY HAVE
COMING IN? IS IT THE TURNOVER
AND CASE MANAGEMENT? IS IT THE
PROGRAM THEY ARE IN? WE CAN ALSO
GET THAT ARE AT PREDICTING THE
POTENTIAL COST AND RESOURCES
FOLKS WILL NEED DOWN THE LINE .
THAT IS A LONG-WINDED ANSWER,
BUT TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE INTO
HOW WE THINK ABOUT THIS IS
TREATING THIS AS AN INSURANCE
MODEL CONSIDER PAYING UP FRONT
AND POTENTIALLY NEVER SEEN THAT
ANY DOWN THE ROAD.
>> INTERESTING. HE SAID 66
PERCENT OF PEOPLE IT'S THE
OBSTACLE GETTING IN THE WAY.
THAT IS THE LOW CREDIT SCORE,
THE ONE PRIOR EVICTION, THAT
SORT OF THING. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU
ARE ABLE TO LOWER THOSE BARRIERS
BECAUSE YOU ARE OFFERING TO THE
LANDLORDS IS PROTECTION WHICH IS
THE RISK MITIGATION MANAGEMENT .
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. WHEN
WE GO TO PROPERTIES WE DON'T GO
AND SAY DO GOOD FOR THE
COMMUNITY. WE SAY HERE IS HOW WE
PROTECT AND SUPPORT THE BOTTOM
LINE WITH INSURANCE. YOU ALSO DO
GET TO DO GOOD FOR YOUR
COMMUNITY BUT YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND YOU'RE RUNNING A
BUSINESS SO IT ALLOWS THEM IN A
SENSE TO CREATE A BIGGER RISK ON
SOMEONE THEY TRADITIONALLY WOULD
NOT BECAUSE NOW THEY KNOW THEY
ARE PROTECTED AND WHAT THE DATA
SUGGESTS IS TWO THIRDS OF
HOUSEHOLDS, THEY REALLY DON'T
NEED ANY ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL
RESOURCES. THEY HAVE IT, BUT
THEY DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE THE
BARRIER WAS ONLY THING. THIS
DISPELS A LOT OF MYTHS WE TALKED
ABOUT YOUR SOMETIMES IN PUBLIC
NARRATIVE WHICH IS EVERYONE
MOVING IN IS DESTROYING
PROPERTIES, CAUSING ISSUES .
THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THERE IS A
SMALL MINORITY DOING THAT, BUT
THE DATA DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT
CLAIM AT A HOLISTIC LEVEL.
>> TO THAT POINT , DO YOU ALSO
PROVIDE TENANT SERVICES? OR WORK
WITH CASE MANAGERS TO PROVIDE
TENANT SERVICES FOR HIGHER
ACUITY TENDS?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS FOR ME IS
NOT RE-CREATING THE WHEEL. WE
TAP INTO THE MANAGEMENT AND
RESOURCES AND TRY TO THINK ABOUT
HOW WE BETTER CONNECT THAT CASE
MANAGER TO THE INDIVIDUAL THAT
NEEDS THAT SUPPORT.
>> HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT ?
THERE IS A LOT OF TURNOVER.
OFTEN THEY ARE TALKING TO
SOMEONE WHO SAID A CASE MANAGER
AND THEY SAY YES IT TURNS OUT
FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE OR
THAT THERE IS NO SORT OF
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CASE
MANAGEMENT . ARE YOU ABLE TO
NAVIGATE THAT GAP AT ALL?
>> IT'S CREATING THAT WEB
BETWEEN THE CASE MANAGER AND THE
ORGANIZATION AN INDIVIDUAL OR
PROPERTY FROM THE OTHER PROPERTY
MANAGER. BE THAT SINGLE POINT OF
CONTACT FOR THE CASE MANAGER AND
PROPERTY BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT
INFORMATION AND KEEPING UP WITH
IT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL
PER PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE WHAT
YOU WILL HEAR IS THEY SAY I HAVE
SOMEBODY, WORK WITH THE CASE
MANAGER AND NOW I CAN'T GET A
RESPONSE. THE CASE MANAGER IS
NOT THERE, NO ONE HAS
INFORMATION AND NOW I'M STUCK
ON MY OWN. NOW WITH THE PROPERTY
THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THE CASE MANAGER IS. THEY HAVE
ONE GROUP THEY WORK WITH, WHICH
IS US, AND WE CENTRALIZE AND
TRIAGE ALL THOSE ISSUES TO MAKE
SURE THEY GET THE SUPPORT THEY
NEED. IT SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT IT
IS REALLY A DATA MANAGEMENT AND
CONTACT MANAGEMENT ASPECT THERE
THAT IS MISSING RIGHT NOW WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT THE INTERRELATION
OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY
AND PRIVATE PROPERTY INDUSTRY
AND WE ARE TRYING TO CLOSE THE
GAP.
>> HOW MANY PRIVATE LANDLORDS DO
YOU WORK WITH ?
>> WE HAVE OVER 2500 PRIVATE
PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE WORKING
WITH US. THEN YOU THINK ABOUT
VACANCY RATE , 155,000 UNITS ,
AVERAGE VACANCY SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 5 TO 7% SO ON ANY GIVEN
DAY YOU HAVE A COUPLE THOUSAND
UNITS AVAILABLE TO FOLKS
SPECIFICALLY IF YOU ZOOM INTO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE ON ANY GIVEN
MOMENT IF YOU GO TO OUR PLATFORM
THERE IS OVER 800 AVAILABLE
UNITS THAT FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO
WITH REDUCED CRITERIA. ONE THING
IMPORTANT IS WE GIVE FOLKS
CHOICE. I WANTED FOLKS TO HAVE
CHOICE IN WHERE THEY LIVED. THAT
MIGHT SOUND SILLY, BUT IT REALLY
IS IMPORTANT THAT EVEN THE FOLKS
THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST BARRIERS
AND ARE LOW INCOME DO HAVE
CHOICE WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO
LIVE AND THAT MEANS HAVING
ACCESS TO HIGHER OPPORTUNITIES.
WE WORKED WITH THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY TO TRY TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY
ZONES WHICH IS USUALLY NORTHERN
SEATTLE TO MAKE SURE THAT
FAMILIES HAVE CHOICE IN WHERE
THEY LIVE AND TAKE THAT
DECISION. WE DON'T MAKE THAT
FOR THEM, WE DON'T STEER THEM
BUT WE DO FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT
FOLKS HAVE OPTIONS WHEN MAKING
THIS DECISION.
>> MY LAST QUESTION BEFORE I
TURN IT OVER, IN TALKING ABOUT
WE NEED TO REIMAGINE THE
APPROACH, HOW CAN WE AS POLICY
INDIVIDUALS OR POLICY BODY, HOW
CAN WE HELP WITH THAT? WHAT
OTHER LEGISLATIVE PIECES CAN WE
HELP WITH?
>> WE CAN DO THIS WORK AS FAR AS
THE DATA , THE OPERATING ASPECT
BUT THERE'S SO MUCH YOU CAN DO
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE
POLICIES IN PLACE AND
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE
POLICY AND MAKING SURE AS A CITY
WE ARE ALIGNED AND WHAT WE ARE
DOING. I THINK ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES I SEE TO BE CANDID
WITH YOU ALL IS DURING COVID
WHAT WE SAW IS WE CAN DO REALLY
HARD THINGS WHEN WE ARE ALL
UNITED. I TOLD MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD
WE DO HARD THINGS. WE DID SOME
REALLY HARD THINGS DURING COVID
AS A COMMUNITY BUT PART OF THAT
IS WE WERE ALSO ALIGNED TO
RESPOND TO THE CRISES. AS
POLICYMAKERS AND COUNCILMEMBERS
I THINK IF WE CAN GET ALIGNED ON
WHAT THE VISION IS THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO ACHIEVE THEN WE CAN
ACTUALLY GO SET FORWARD TOWARDS
ACHIEVING THAT. CANDIDLY,
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE
RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE NEED TO DO
A BETTER JOB AS A COMMUNITY AND
BEING ALIGNED ON WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO, WHAT DOES SUCCESS
LOOK LIKE AND ONLY ONCE WE CAN
DEFINE THAT CAN WE START WORKING
BACKWARDS TOWARDS ACHIEVING IT?
NOT TRYING TO PREACH, BUT I
THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST THING IS LOOKING TO YOU
ALL AS THE LEADERS OF THE CITY
TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
THE VISION? WHAT DOES SUCCESS
LOOK LIKE THAT WE ARE WORKING
TOWARDS? WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN
COME TOGETHER AND CREATE THAT
PLAN OF HOW WE GET THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
HASN'T SPOKEN YET SOME HAPPY TO
HAVE HER GO FIRST IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME.
>> SHE'S ONLY AN HONORARY
MEMBER.
>> I CAN WAIT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO FOLLOW
UP ON THE POINT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAD RAISED IN
THIS POINT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
UTILITIES. I WANT TO THINK FOR
EXPLAINING THIS POINT. USUALLY
WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT PAYING THEIR
ELECTRICITY BILL, SOMETHING
BIGGER IS GOING ON AND THE
PERSON IS AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS AND I WANTED TO
NOTIFY THE COMMITTEE AS A CHAIR
OVER CITY LIGHT WE HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHICH MEANS WE AS COUNSEL AND
THE CITY CAN TAKE STEPS TO BUILD
IN SOME INTERVENTION AND
PREVENTION MEASURES FOR OUR
UTILITY SYSTEM. OUR OFFICE HAS
BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH CITY
LIGHT AS WELL AS PUBLIC
UTILITIES. WE HAVE A NEW REPORT
ON THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE
PREVENTION MEASURES BUT BUILDING
INTO OUR SYSTEM, FINDING WAYS TO
REACH ANY NEW CUSTOMERS OR FOLKS
GENERALLY A PART OF THE CUSTOMER
BASE TO TRY TO BUILD THE
PREVENTION MEASURES. I WANTED TO
NOTIFY THE COMMITTEE THE WORK IS
HAPPENING AND WE ARE TRYING TO
MAKE THAT COME TO FRUITION
BECAUSE THAT IS A REALLY
EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION THAT WE
CAN BUILD AND IS FEASIBLE TO DO.
THANK YOU, I WANTED TO SHARE
THAT.
>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN
DANCING AROUND THIS ONE THING.
HE SAID 1 MILLION. I ASSUME THAT
IS THE SUPPORT THE CITY GIVES TO
HOUSING CONNECTOR. EARLIER YOU
MENTIONED IT IS PROVIDING
VISIBILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I DO THINK PUTTING OUR MONEY
WHERE OUR MOUTH IS WHEN IT COMES
TO MAKING SURE OUR MISSION IS
ALIGNED IS VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
BRINGING TO SCALE WHAT YOU ARE
DOING FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE
YEARS SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE AND WHAT YOU NEED FROM THE
CITY?
>> I WOULD SAY SEATTLE HAS
STAYED STEADY . A LOT OF THE
REASON WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO
THAT IS THEY HAVE ALLOWED US TO
CLOSE THE GAP . I DO THINK AS WE
THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE
OUTCOMES THERE NEEDS TO BE
BETTER PARTNERSHIP AND
INTEGRATION WITH THE CITY AND
HOW WE WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER AS
WELL AS THE PLANNING ASPECT.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE I DO FEEL
PREVENTION AND ALSO PROVIDE THE
CITY AND COMMUNITY VISIBILITY
INTO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. IT
REALLY DEPENDS ON THE SKILL WE
ARE OPERATING AT. WE COULD HAVE
A CONVERSATION TO SUPPORT AN
EXTRA 2000 HOUSEHOLDS A YEAR.
NOW WE CAN CALCULATE THAT AND
PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT . IT
DEPENDS ON HOW BIG WE ARE TRYING
TO AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO
THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME
MORE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ON
THAT AND WE HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AS WELL. WE ARE GOING TO
DO THIS NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE
WE NEED TO DO IT. YOU TALKED
THAT YOU FELT HOPEFUL HERE.
SEATTLE SHOULD FEEL REALLY GOOD
IN THE SENSE WE STARTED THIS
YEAR. THE CITY HAD A PART IN US
GETTING STARTED. I COULDN'T
HAVE DONE THIS BY MYSELF OR JUST
WITH OUR TEAM AND NOW WE HAVE
TAKEN THE SOLUTION THAT STARTED
IN SEATTLE AND TAKEN AT
NATIONAL. WE SHOULD FEEL GOOD
ABOUT THAT. I THINK WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE WHAT
THAT CAN LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT
FEW YEARS AND BE A LEADER IN THE
COUNTRY AROUND HOW WE SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM AND POSITION SEATTLE IN
PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS. I THINK
THE CONVERSATION IS MUCH MORE
NUANCED SO I DON'T WANT TO
OVERSIMPLIFY AROUND THE COST,
BUT MY HOPE IS THERE ARE MORE
INVESTMENTS WHETHER HOUSING
CONNECTOR OR SOMEONE ELSE DOING
THIS WORK SO WE CAN ACTUALLY
DELIVER THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE OTHER
ASPECT IS SO WE HAVE THE
VISIBILITY AND CAN PROVIDE OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TAXPAYERS
VISIBILITY INTO THE ACTUAL
OUTCOMES. ONE THING I'M CAUTIOUS
ABOUT IS OVERPROMISING BECAUSE I
THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT
WHERE PEOPLE PAINT THE PICTURE
OF HOW THIS WILL REVOLUTIONIZE
THE WORLD AND NOT DELIVER. WHAT
I WOULD SAY IS OUR DATA SPEAKS
FOR ITSELF, IT'S SPOKEN FOR
ITSELF THE LAST FEW YEARS. MY
HOPE IS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
WE CAN WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH
THE CITY TO THINK HOW WE TAKE
THAT AND SCALE IT LOCALLY TO BE
ABLE TO IMPACT MORE LIVES. I
FELT LIKE A POLITICIAN THEY'RE
NOT ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION.
>> ONE LAST COMMENT. WHAT YOU'RE
DOING IS WORKING. I'VE ALWAYS
SAID WE SHOULD SPEND OUR
RESOURCES ON WHAT IS WORKING AND
IF WE ARE INVESTIGATING THINGS
NOT WORKING WE NEED TO
RE-EVALUATE THAT EXPENDITURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
RESPONSE. I DO APPRECIATE THAT
WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A
REAL-TIME INVENTORY OF AVAILABLE
SPACES FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED TO
GET INTO HOUSING AND WE HAVE
ALSO ASKED THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
FOR VACANCY RATES OF EXISTING
PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN BUILT
WITH CITY FUNDING. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
VACANCY RATES BECAUSE YOU ARE
WORKING WITH PARTNERS WHO HAVE
TO GIVE YOU VACANCY RATES
BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING GET
PEOPLE INTO THOSE SPOTS. TO BE
CONTINUED ON HOW TO BRING THAT
SOLUTION TO SCALE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS PRESENTATION AND
ALLOWING ME TO CRASH THE PARTY.
I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
HOUSING CONNECTOR UNTIL TODAY
AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT
ABOUT THE NEED FOR ENSURING WE
HAVE PROPER DATA AND VACANCY
RATES BY WHICH TO TACKLE THIS
VERY DIFFICULT AND IMPORTANT
PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITIES. HAVE
A QUESTION BUT I WANT TO MAKE A
COMMENT ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT
DURING COVID AND ABILITY TO WORK
TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE .
WHILE I DO AGREE WE SHOULD ALL
BE WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A
COMMON GOAL AND EXPLORING
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS I DO THINK
THE COVID COMPARISON IS NOT A
FAIR ONE BECAUSE HAVING BEEN
HERE DURING COVID AND HAVING TO
HELP SHUT THE CITY DOWN AND TURN
IT BACK ON THERE WAS AN INFLUX
OF DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT WAS NOT
SUSTAINABLE AND I HEARD YOU
MENTION SOMETHING LIKE PEOPLE
EXPECTED THAT WOULD CONTINUE AND
I'M NOT REALLY SURE . I'M VERY
SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT. WE WERE
RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY AND
WE HAD POOLS OF MONEY TO PULL
FROM BECAUSE WE CAN USE THEM FOR
THE ORIGINAL INTENDED PURPOSES
BECAUSE EVERYTHING GOT SHUT
DOWN. THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY
CAME FROM AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO
SOME THINGS. I WILL SAY SOME
THINGS WE DID WE DIDN'T DO SO
WELL BECAUSE WE WERE IN AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION. USING THE
HOTELS TO HOUSE HIGH ACUITY
FOLKS, THAT DID NOT WORK SO
GREAT AND WE KNEW THAT POST
FACTOR. I THINK DURING PERIODS
OF EMERGENCY WE CAN COME
TOGETHER AND DO THE BEST WE CAN
UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S
NOT THE SAME AS THIS AND WE
WON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF
RESOURCES. THAT SAID, THE
RESOURCES WE DO HAVE SHOULD BE
USED WISELY AND WE SHOULD HAVE A
GOOD PLAN IN PLACE AND SHOULD
ALIGNED TO HAVE A GOOD PLAN IN
PLACE. WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATE
ABOUT WHAT HOUSING CONNECTOR
DOES IS PROVIDE THAT DATA BY
WHICH WE NEED IN ORDER TO BE
ABLE TO HOUSE PEOPLE AND KEEP
PEOPLE HOUSE. THE OTHER THING I
WANT TO SAY AND THEN IT WILL GET
TO MY QUESTION IS THE PIECE
ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE THE
MOST DIFFICULT TO HOUSE ARE THE
ONES THAT HAVE EXISTING
CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOT JUST
FINANCIAL, BUT MENTAL HEALTH OR
ADDICTION AND I AGREE WITH YOUR
STATEMENT EARLIER, WE NEED TO
PROVIDE BOTH. WE CAN'T JUST
HOUSE SOMEONE WHO HAS THE
CHALLENGES AND EXPECT THEY WILL
BE SUCCESSFUL. YOU NEED HOUSING
WITH THE SUPPORT . EITHER THE
MENTAL HEALTH AND THEN THAT IS
WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL. WE DON'T
KNOW THE VACANCY RATES FOR
APARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
DAMAGED BECAUSE WE HAVE FOLKS
THAT NEED IT MORE AND THEY WERE
NOT GIVEN WHAT THEY NEEDED,
LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT THAT. WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT VACANCY
RATE IS AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE
BEEN SEARCHING FOR FOR A WHILE.
IT COSTS MONEY, THOSE UNITS ARE
OUT OF COMMISSION AND THEN IN
THIS MODEL I FEEL HOW DO WE
SUPPORT THESE FOLKS WITHIN THIS
MODEL? IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THESE
VACANCIES MAYBE AREN'T
NECESSARILY FOR A PERSON THAT
NEEDS THOSE EXTRA SUPPORTS OR
MAYBE THEY ARE SO I WOULD LIKE
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW WE HELP
THAT SEGMENT. I APPRECIATE YOU
SAYING AND IT IS A VERY SMALL
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION , YET,
IN SOME PLACES -- LET ME SAY
THIS, IT IS NOT THE FOLKS THAT
NEED ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO STAY
HOUSED. IT IS BAD ACTORS THAT
HAVE NOTHING TO DO THAT ARE
COMING IN AND SQUATTING IN THESE
APARTMENTS AND TAKING OVER AND
THEN THOSE UNITS ARE OUT OF
COMMISSION. TO YOUR POINT YOU
MADE EARLIER, THERE'S A LOT OF
CHALLENGES HERE. I JUST WANTED
TO NAME ALL OF THAT BECAUSE THAT
GOES TO THE VACANCY PIECE. WE
DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THE VACANCY
AND THEN WE STRUGGLE BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT THESE ISSUES THAT
HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE DEALING
WITH. THAT IS THE THIRD PIECE.
ON THE SECOND PIECE OF FOLKS
THAT HAVE THE SERVICES AND HOW
YOU WORK WITH THAT , I KNOW
YOU'RE WORKING WITH CASE
MANAGERS. MY OTHER QUESTION IS I
NOTICED THERE ARE SOME HOUSING
PROVIDERS HERE NOT ON YOUR LIST
LIKE MERCY HOUSING , SO I'M
WONDERING HOW YOU GET FOLKS TO
JOIN ON AND HOW THOSE
PARTNERSHIPS HAPPEN?
>> ON THE LIST, THEY ARE MORE ON
THE COMMUNITY PARTNER SITE OF
FOLKS WORKING WITH RESIDENTS. WE
WORK WITH ON THE PROPERTY SIDE
AS FAR AS THEY MAKE THEIR UNITS
AVAILABLE AND WE SUPPORT THEIR
STAFF. I THINK WHAT I HEAR IN
PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS IT
IS REALLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH
A SEVERE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT
ARE CAUSING MAJORITY OF THE
CHALLENGES. THE SCALE THAT COME
WITH THAT ARE QUITE HIGH BECAUSE
THE IMPACT OF THE TWO UNITS ARE
POTENTIALLY MORE. THIS IS WHERE
YOU ALL AND GOING BACK TO MAYBE
COUNCILMEMBER MORE ON THE POLICY
SIDE IS THINKING HOW DO WE
CREATE QUALITIES AND SUPPORT FOR
PROPERTIES TO NAVIGATE THOSE
SITUATIONS? RIGHT NOW IT'S BEEN
OUR EFFORT TO ENSURE TENANTS
HAVE PROTECTION. WE HAVE MADE IT
VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THOSE
ISSUES THAT ARE FRANKLY
DANGEROUS AND DISRUPTING TO THE
REST OF THE BUILDING. THAT OFTEN
CAUSES FOLKS TO MOVE OUT OR
CAUSES DAMAGES. I DON'T HAVE
THE ANSWER, BUT I WILL SAY AND
HEAR IS THAT THAT IS THERE
BIGGEST POINT RIGHT NOW. THEY
FEEL STUCK AND THEN WHEN I HEAR
FROM THEM IS I WANT TO GIVE THE
CHANCE TO THE NEXT PERSON BUT I
FEEL STUCK IN THE SITUATION AND
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THAT
HAPPENS AGAIN. WE AT HOUSING
CONNECTOR ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW
TO BE ABLE TO GO ABOUT WHATEVER
THE CITY OR STATE LAWS ARE SO WE
CAN'T INTERVENE IN THOSE
SITUATIONS. I THINK YOUR POINT
IS SPOT ON. I DO THINK WE NEED
TO THINK ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS WE
CAN PUT IN PLACE TO SUPPORT THE
PROPERTIES AND RESIDENCE AS WELL
WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN THAT
SITUATION THAT IS CAUSING
DAMAGES AND FRANKLY CAUSING
LIFE-THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF UNITS
THAT STAY VACANT IN YOUR HOUSING
CONNECTOR POOL BECAUSE FOLKS
DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT
BUILDING FOR INSTANCE? DO YOU
KNOW?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
DATA TO IDENTIFY THAT. IT'S
DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY WHAT IS
THE NORMAL RATE OF VACANCY WE
SHOULD EXPECT ? VACANCY RATE
SHOULD NOT BE 0% SIMILAR TO
UNEMPLOYMENT. IT IS DIFFICULT T
VACANCY ANECDOTALLY WE KNOW OF
BUILDINGS THAT THE CASE MANAGER
WILL SAY I WILL NOT MOVE MY
RESIDENT IN THERE BECAUSE OF
SOME OF THE OTHER BEHAVIORAL
ISSUES. THERE'S ALSO A
CHALLENGE AROUND CONCENTRATION
OF POVERTY AND WHEN WE THINK OF
CONCENTRATION OF SOME CHALLENGES
WE SET A LIMIT ON ACTUALLY HOW
MUCH INDIVIDUALS WE WILL MOVE
INTO A PROPERTY. EVEN IF THE
PROPERTY OWNER SAYS PLEASE KEEP
FILLING MY BUILDING WE WILL SAY
NO, WE SET A THRESHOLD BECAUSE
WE ALSO DO NOT WANT TO BE IN THE
BUSINESS OF MOVING A LOT OF
FOLKS INTO ONE BUILDING . I
THINK THERE IS AN ASPECT OF THAT
WHICH WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AS
A COMMUNITY WHICH IS IF WE DO
HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE
EXTREMELY LOW INCOME MAY HAVE
SOME CHALLENGES WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT AND TREAT THE
PROPERTY DIFFERENTLY THAN WE
WOULD A TRADITIONAL MARKET RATE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE SOME
NUANCE COMES IN IN THOSE
CHALLENGES.
>> CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION
IF THAT'S OKAY? I'VE HEARD
FROM FOLKS OR FROM HOUSING
PROVIDERS THAT THEY WILL HAVE A
DANGEROUS TENANT OR CHALLENGING
TENANT THEY'VE EVICTED AND THEN
THAT TENANT GOES BACK INTO THE
SYSTEM AND THEY GET PUT INTO A
DIFFERENT UNIT AND A DIFFERENT
HOUSING PROVIDERS BUILDING. I'M
SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS. HOW
DO WE ENSURE THAT THE PERSON IS
GETTING THE NEEDS MET BEFORE WE
PUT THEM? THEN IT IS LIKE A
CYCLICAL THING.
>> WE PUSH THE PROBLEM FROM ONE
UNIT TO ANOTHER . I THINK
THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE
BETTER VISIBILITY AND
COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SYSTEM
OF UNDERSTANDING IF SOMEBODY WAS
IN THAT SITUATION WE HAVE A
COMMITMENT AS A COMMUNITY WE
MADE TO HELP EVERYONE THAT WALKS
THROUGH THE DOOR BUT ALSO
UNDERSTAND IF SOMEBODY WAS
PREVIOUSLY THREATENING SOMEBODY
OR STALKING SOMEBODY THESE ARE
REAL SITUATIONS THAT HAPPEN IN
THE PROPERTIES WE WORK WITH .
HAD WE MAKE SURE WE DON'T JUST
MOVE THAT INDIVIDUAL INTO THE
NEXT UNIT AND SAY IT'S THE NEXT
PROPERTY MANAGER PROBLEM TO DEAL
WITH? ON OUR TEAM IF SOMEBODY IS
IN THAT SITUATION AND HAVE A
NEGATIVE OUTCOME BECAUSE OF
THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE
LIFE-THREATENING AND DAMAGING TO
PROPERTY WE WILL NOT REHOUSE
THAT TO ANOTHER ONE OF OUR
PROPERTY ITEMS. I DO NOT FEEL
GOOD TO SAY TO THE NEXT PROPERTY
OWNER THIS PERSON DID XYZ HERE,
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO YOUR
UNIT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST . IF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT THERE
TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL IT IS
NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE
INDIVIDUAL OR PROPERTY IN OUR
COMMUNITY TO THEN PASS THAT TO
SOMEBODY ELSE AND HOPE FOR A
DIFFERENT DECISION. HOPE IS NOT
A STRATEGY. UNLESS WE ARE GOING
TO CHANGE THE WAY WE ARE DOING
THINGS WE CAN'T EXPECT
SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO HAPPEN.
THE POINT THERE IS WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT THE OPTIONS FOR
HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THAT
INDIVIDUAL MIGHT BE A BETTER
CASE FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
WHERE THERE IS ON-SITE SUPPORT.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A SCARCITY IN
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THIS IS THE
SITUATION AND SOLUTION COMPLEX
BUT I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT THE REAL IMPLICATION
THAT A SITUATION LIKE THAT HAS
ON A PROPERTY WHO WANTS TO BE A
PART OF THE SOLUTION BUT BECAUSE
OF THIS NEGATIVE OUTCOME IS
CHOOSING TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS ON
INDIVIDUALS IN THE FUTURE. MY
PERSONAL OPINION IS I'M NOT
WILLING TO SACRIFICE THE HOME
FOR THOUSAND PEOPLE TO JUST
TRADE OFF FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL. WE
CAN HAVE AN ARGUMENT
PHILOSOPHICALLY ON THAT, BUT TO
ADDRESS AT SCALE WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT HOW WE MAKE SURE
THERE ARE SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE
FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY
AND WE DO THAT BY ADDRESSING THE
REAL NEEDS THAT THE PROPERTIES
ARE FACING.
>> THANK YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED
HERE AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE -- TO
MY COLLEAGUES POINT, WE LOVE TO
SEE THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY
WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE AND THIS
IS ONE THING. I WOULD LOVE TO
SEE , WE SHOULD BE USING THIS AS
A HOLISTIC APPROACH AND NOT JUST
-- THAT'S WHY I ASKED WHY SOME
HOUSING PROVIDERS WEREN'T
LISTED ON HERE. WE CAN CREATE
THIS SO EVERYONE CAN UTILIZE AND
IT CENTRALIZES. I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE
OF. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU
ARE DOING TO HELP OUR UNHOUSED
FOLKS IN SEATTLE. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. IT HAS BEEN VERY
ENLIGHTENING. AS I'VE SAID,
HOPEFUL AND WOULD LOVE TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND
HOUSING CONNECTOR BOTH ON THE
WORK YOU'RE DOING AND ALSO KIND
OF A BROADER REIMAGINING. IT
WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD ALL
FIND CONSENSUS. I DON'T KNOW IF
WE CAN, BUT IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
I KNOW WE'VE CONTINUE TO SAY
THAT FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS NOW BUT
IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE. I
THINK WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
DOING HASN'T BEEN WORKING. IT
DOES ALL THOSE PEOPLE A
DISSERVICE FOR US TO REMAIN
ENTRENCHED IN OLD WAYS OF
THINKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AND
COMING HERE TODAY AND BEING WITH
US AND WILLING TO PARTNER WITH
US AND OTHERS TO REALLY ADVANCE
A SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.
>> WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. I
THINK THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE WORKING TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ? ALL
RIGHT. I WILL MAKE TWO FINAL
POINTS. I KNOW EVERYONE IS
ANXIOUS TO GET OUT OF HERE. I
DID WANT TO MAKE THE POINT AGAIN
WE DO NEED MORE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND WE NEED
MORE OF A SPECTRUM OF PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THAT IS
SOMETHING, WAS REALLY ADVANCING
A NURSING HOME MODEL ON THAT .
UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS TO BE
UNDER THREAT NOW. I THINK THERE
IS A LOT OF GOOD THINKING AROUND
THAT ISSUE GOING ON. HOPEFULLY
WE WILL SEE SOME PROGRESS THERE.
I WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE THERE
WAS SOME COMMENTS ABOUT LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES IN LAKE CITY.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT IN
MY OFFICE THERE ARE A LOT OF LOW
IN COMMUNITIES AND MANY OF THEM
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AND PEOPLE
ARE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS TO
MAKE ENDS MEET AND RAISE THEIR
CHILDREN. WE ARE VERY MUCH
SUPPORTIVE OF THE LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES AND MAKING SURE
THERE IS AFFORDABILITY AND
AMENITIES AND SERVICES FOR THEM
. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE
ISSUE IS PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING AND CHOOSING TO
ENGAGE IN DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
JUST TO RE-EMPHASIZE THE SUPPORT
HERE , AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORT
FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THAT SAID,
I SAY THIS CONCLUDES THE MAY
14th MEETING ON THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. SORRY.
>> WOULD IT STILL BE OKAY TO
SHARE A COUPLE OF WORDS?
>> I'M SO SORRY.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
ADDRESSING THE UPDATE AT THE TOP
OF THE MEETING. I WANTED TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO ADDRESS SOME WORK
I'VE DONE ALONGSIDE SOME
SANCTIONING PARTNERS OVER THE
YEARS, PARTICULARLY TENT CITY
THREE AND FOUR . I'VE GOT TO
KNOW THE WORK SUPPORTING SOME OF
THEIR MOVES. THEY ARE NEVER
EASY. THEY ARE VERY STRESSFUL,
THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME, IT'S A
LOT OF PAPERWORK. THEY HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN CAREFUL TO BE GOOD
NEIGHBORS . IN SERVICE OF BEING
GOOD NEIGHBORS PART OF THEIR
PROCESS IS TO CANVAS FULL
NEIGHBORHOODS. ONCE THEY MOVE
INTO A SITE THEY WILL THROW A
BARBECUE TO INVITE AND GET TO
KNOW SOME NEIGHBORS AND THEY
ALWAYS LEAVE WHEN THEY SAY
THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE. IN THE
30 YEAR HISTORY OF SHARE, THEY
HAVE HONORED THAT WHICH IS WHY I
KNOW IN THIS CASE AND I HAVE
CONFIRMATION THEY WILL BE MOVING
FROM SEATTLE MENNONITE CHURCH
THAT THEY WILL HAVE NOWHERE TO
GO. MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE AS A
PART OF TENT CITY RIGHT NOW WILL
HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. I KNOW THE
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT UNIQUE. WE
HAVE SEEN BACKLASH , WE CAN
CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT EQUITABLE
SIDING OF THE SITES AND WE
SHOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION .
I'LL NOTE WITHOUT SHELTER,
PEOPLE DIE. COINCIDENTALLY TODAY
ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL THIS
IS THE DAY THE WOMEN IN BLACK
HOLDS THEIR VIGIL TO HONOR OUR
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE
PASSED IN THE CITY . I INVITE
YOU ALL TO JOIN TODAY AND I HOPE
AND INTENT WE CAN FIND AN
IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO MAKE SURE
TENT CITY 4 RESIDENCE HAVE A
PLACE TO GO. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO COMMENT ON THIS.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. JUST IN
RESPONSE TO THAT IS THEY DO HAVE
THE PERMISSION TO STAY AT THE
MENNONITE CHURCH, BUT BECAUSE OF
THE WAY THEY INTERPRET THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY
THEY WILL BE LEAVING AND I KNOW
WE ARE WORKING FAST AND
STUDIOUSLY TO FIND A PLACE FOR
THEM SO WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO
LEAVE ON FRIDAY THEY HAVE A
PLACE TO GO. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE MAY
14th MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING
IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 28th. THE