>>> ALL
RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE TIME IS
9:31 AND THE JUNE
25th MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER. I'M CATHY
MOORE. WILL THE MEETING COME TO
ORDER.
[ ROLL CALL ]
>> WE HAVE FIVE PRESENT.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR
BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE JUNE
25th MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
ON AGENDA, WE HAVE THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE
LGBTQ+ COMMISSION AND
FINALLY THE COMMITTEE ROOTS
HOUSING PDA.
BECAUSE OF THE MANY
APPOINTMENTS THEY WILL BE VOTED
THROUGH
THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE ALSO HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE MORE WE
LOVE WITH AN
UPDATE FROM THEIR SURVIVOR
PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS. IF THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS
ABOUT TODAY'S
AGENDA, WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
AND I'M NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.
SO WE WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT.
HYBRID COMMENTS WILL BE
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
UPON CLERK, HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED
UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER.
>> OKAY. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH OUR IN-PERSON
SPEAKER. CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE
PUBLIC
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL
BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING
MANNER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD
IS UP TO 20 MINUTES.
THE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED AND THEY WILL BE
IN PERSON
AND REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED,
AND
WE JUST HAVE ONE MORE THAT
SIGNED UP REMOTELY.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT ON
THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS' MIKES WILL BE MUTED
IF
THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME
TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER AND THE FIRST IN- PERSON
SPEAKER IS ANDREA
SUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
HELLO.
>> HI.
HI, MY NAME IS ANDREA
SUAREZ AND FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF I HEART SEATTLE.
I AM HERE FOR COUNCILWOMAN MOORE
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO SUPPORT
THESE WOMEN HERE.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO TALK
ABOUT WE HEART SEATTLE, AND USE
THIS
BOILERPLATE THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE USED IN WRITING IN
NEW SERVICES AND NEW PROVIDERS
INTO BILLS THAT MIGHT BE
FORTHCOMING. OUR YEAR-TO- DATE
IMPACTS
WE RAISED $4.5 MILLION AND
LAST YEAR WE HEART SEATTLE
RAISED
A MILLION DOLLARS TO CLEAN THE
GREENBELTS AND UNDER THE
BRIDGES, ON THE BLADE, ON THE
TRACK, REFERRING MEN, WOMEN
AND YOUTH TO PROGRAMS LIKE THE
MORE WE LOVE, LIKE HOPE AND
CHANCE,
LIKE BATTLEFIELD ADDICTION,
LIKE CAMPING UNITED WE STAND.
I LOVE CAMPUS HOUSING.
WE FUND AND DONATE TO
CAMP UNITED WE STAND AND
OTHER PARTNERS THAT HAVE A
RECOVERY BASED AND
TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM
SO PEOPLE REACH SELF
SUFFICIENCY. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE
HEART SEATTLE IS A 24/7 DETOX
FACILITY. MADISON HERE
GRADUATED.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF
HER AND THE OTHER MEN AND WOMEN
WHO GRADUATED FROM THAT
PROGRAM. SO I'M A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNED
THAT CHIEF BARTON IS
SAYING THERE'S NO PLACE FOR
PEOPLE TO GO, THERE'S
NO SYSTEM. WHERE WE HAVE A
SYSTEM.
IT'S PICKING UP THE PHONE AND
CALLING PEOPLE LIKE CHRISTINE.
WE ARE GETTING PHONE CALLS
FROM POLICE OFFICERS, OTHER
OUTREACH
PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION AND TICKETS
HOME TO TREATMENT, TO
FAMILY UNIFICATION, BACK TO
WORK,
BACK TO JAIL.
WE BELIEVE
ACCOUNTABILITY IS LOVE AND WHEN
WE CONTINUE
TO DEFER PEOPLE FROM SERVING
THEIR TIME THEY SORT OF DEVOLVE
INTO
THE SINGLE PATTERN AND WE
WANT TO PUSH THE IMPACTS WE'RE
SEEING
IN THE CITY AND TO SUPPORT
THE MORE WE
LOVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER?
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS
DAVID
HAYNES. DAVID, GO AHEAD AND
PRESS STAR 6 TO SPEAK.
>> HI.
DAVID HAYNES.
IT'S OBVIOUS
THE LANDLORDS AND CITY COUNCIL
HAVE NO EFFORT TO
SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND
IT'S MORE OF AN ATTITUDE OF NOT
IN MY DISTRICT AND MORE PASSIVE
AGGRESSIVE COWARDICE ON
HOMELESS, AND THE CRIMINALS AND
UNTRUSTWORTHY
SYMPATHIZE WITH. THIS COUNCIL
MEETING AND MORE
ABOUT UNELECTED APPOINTMENTS TO
PUSH FAVORS TO DEMOCRAT VOTING
BLOCS.
JUST LOOK AT THE HOUSING
AND SERVICES AGENDA FOR THE NEXT
FEW MONTHS AND NOTHING BUT
CANCELED MEETINGS IN JULY AND
VACATION IN
AUGUST AS IF
PROGRESSIVE LANDLORD DEMOCRATS
ARE OKAY
BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS NICER.
PROVING ONCE AGAIN THEY
DON'T WANT TO SOLVE HOMELESS
CRISIS AND INSTEAD, THEY WANT TO
HAVE CORRUPT NONPROFITS WHO
PASS THE COST OF SUB- HUMAN
SHELTERS
AND SHARON LEE IN CITY HALL WHO
GETS AN EXEMPTION FROM SCRUTINY
FOR HER ILL- SUITED
RUNDOWN REAL ESTATE THAT SEES
LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE
REMORTGAGE SUBSIDIARIES AS
TAXPAYERS'
EXTENSE, OVERCHARGING TAXPAYERS
ON THE DILAPIDATED OF HER OWN
RUNDOWN REAL ESTATE
WHILE OFFERING FIVE SHOWERS
IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, PROVING HOW
TWO- BIT CHUMP CHANGE SEATTLE
IS.
WE HAVE USTWORTHIES IN
CITY HALL WHO NEVER HAVE
THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WHOLE
OF COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE
MORE FOCUSED ON FAMILY
INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT FROM
BAD POLICIES
ON THE OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON
WHAT THE SELLOUTS WANT AND
DON'T HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF
THE WHOLE OF COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF
THEY PROVIDED -- IT'S OBVIOUS
THE
CO-CHAIR HAS CONFLICTS
OF INTEREST AND HAS NO INTEREST
IN SOLVING THE HOMELESS
CRISIS, AND THE ONLY ONES TO
SOLVE IT --
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. SO THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS
AND WE WILL
NOW PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
SIGN-
UP CARDS ON THE PODIUM OR EMAIL
THE
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO THE
FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR,
AND ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR INCLUDE APPOINTMENTS
3190 THROUGH 3193 THROUGH THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION.
APPOINTMENTS 3194 THROUGH 3201
TO THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION.
APPOINTMENTS 3202 TO 3207 TO
THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION,
AND
APPOINTMENT 3208 TO THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION,
AND APPOINTMENT 3209 TO
THE COMMUNITY ROOTS HOUSING
PUBLIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE
FROM TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY ONLINE.
OKAY.
>> HEARING NONE.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
THE
CONSENT CALENDAR? [ ROLL CALL ]
FIVE IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>>
THANK YOU. THE CONSENT CALENDAR
ITEMS ARE
ADOPTED AND WILL BE SENT TO
THE JULY 1st COUNCIL
MEETING FOR FINAL CONFIRMATION.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ AGENDA
ITEM 21 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 21,
UPDATE FROM THE MORE WE LOVE
SURVIVOR
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
JOIN US
AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, ALL OF
YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO MOVE DOWN TO THE
END OF THE TABLE AND YOU'RE ALL
CLOSER.
ALL RIGHT.
SO THANK YOU.
TODAY WE WELCOME CHRISTINE
MORLAND.
UNFORTUNATELY, SARAH ANN
HAMILTON CAN'T JOIN US
TODAY FROM THE MORE WE LOVE, AND
SHELLY McLAVLY
AND ANOTHER PERSON.
>> MADISON.
>> THANK YOU.
WHO ARE PARTICIPANTS IN
THEIR SURVIVOR PROGRAM.
WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE
MORE WE LOVE WHO LET US KNOW
THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO COMMITTEE
TO SHARE THE
WAYS THAT FUNDING HAS HELPED
THE PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR
SURVIVOR PROGRAMS AND ALLOW THEM
TO
SHARE THEIR STORIES, AND I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NICE THING
TO DO
AND A HELPFUL THING BECAUSE
THIS COMMITTEE AND MOST OF
OUR COMMITTEES ALWAYS HEAR FROM
THE PROVIDERS WHICH WE NEED TO
BE
HEARING FROM THE
PROVIDERS BECAUSE WE OVERSEE THE
WORK
THAT THEY DO IN TERMS OF
FUNDING,
BUT WE RARELY GET TO HEAR FROM
THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE THE
RECIPIENTS OF THE SERVICE -- OF
THE
SERVICES THAT WE ARE ALWAYS
TALKING
ABOUT AND DEBATING AND FUNDING,
AND SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE
A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY
TO ACTUALLY HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICES,
WHO WE ARE HERE TO TRY TO SERVE
AND SO
THAT'S WHY I'M DELIGHTED
THAT YOU ARE ALL HERE TODAY TO
TALK TO US ABOUT IT AND SHARE
YOUR
STORIES. SO WITH THAT SAID,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU,
CHRISTINE?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR HAVING
ME HERE TODAY AND HAVING
THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN HERE WITH
ME,
AS
WELL. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE
MORELAND
AND I'M
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MORE
WE LOVE.
WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION ROOTED
IN HUMAN DIGNITY,
SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AND
COLLABORATION.
OUR MISSION IS TO WALK
ALONGSIDE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN
OUR CITY AND OFFER REAL, LASTING
PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY AND
RESTORATION.
WE CURRENTLY RUN SHELTER
BEDS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND
OUTREACH SERVICES FOR OUR
COMMUNITY IMPACTED BY
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION,
ADDICTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND HOMELESSNESS.
EVERY DAY WE WORK TO
PARTNER CURRENTLY WITH THE
SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, MEMBERS OF
THE SEATTLE P.D. AND
GROWING NETWORKS OF DEDICATED
ORGANIZATIONS. TOGETHER, WE ARE
NOT JUST
RESPONDING, BUT WE'RE BUILDING
OUTCOMES THAT
CHANGE LIVES AND WE DO IT BY
BEING
PEOPLE'S
CONSTANTS. IN A WORLD THAT SO
OFTEN TURNS ITS BACK WE SHOW UP
OVER AND
OVER AGAIN. WE LISTEN, WE STAY,
WE
LOVE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND
WE
WALK WITH THEM.
TOWARDS WHERE THEY'RE GOING,
NOT PERFECTLY, BUT FAITHFULLY.
THAT'S WHY TODAY IS
SO MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE
WE ALSO GET TO HONOR -- WE ALSO
GET
TO HONOR SOMEONE WHO HAS
BEEN A
CONSTANT FOR THE CITY'S MOST
FORGOTTEN.
IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I HAVE
KNOWN COUNCIL MEMBER
CATHY MULLER, SHE HAS BEEN A
VOICE
OF TRUTH AND COURAGE IN A TIME
WHEN
IT'S EASIER TO REMAIN SILENT.
SHE HAS STOOD FIRM NOT
FOR POLITICAL GAIN, BUT FOR
THE
HUMAN BEINGS ESPECIALLY THE
WOMEN THAT ARE BEING
EXPLOITED EVERY DAY IN OUR
STREETS.
KATHY SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING
IN AURORA AND SHE REFUSED TO
LOOK
AWAY. SHE DIDN'T SUPPORT THE
SUPPORTER, SHE PUSHED IT
RELENTLESSLY. SHE FOUGHT TO
ENSURE
THAT FUNDING WAS ATTACHED NOT
JUST
TO ENFORCE, BUT CARE THAT
THE RESOURCES WERE THERE,
THAT THERE WAS SAFETY AND THAT
THERE
WAS HOPE.
BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP,
THE INCREDIBLE TEAM AND
THE INCREDIBLE TEAM WITHIN THE
SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE MORE WE
LOVE
WAS AWARDED A SHORT- TERM PILOT
TO
UPGRADE TEN DEDICATED
SHELTER BEDS FOR SURVIVORS OF
COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. THESE BEDS
ARE ALREADY
CREATING REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WOMEN TO
FIND FREEDOM, SAFETY AND
HEALING, BUT KATHY'S LEGACY IS
DIFFERENT THAN ONE ORDINANCE
OR ONE GRANT.
SHE SHOWED US HOW TO LEAD WITH
BOTH STRENGTH
AND COMPASSION. SHE REMINDED US
THAT WHEN PEOPLE
ARE PUT FIRST ABOVE POLITICS,
ABOVE RHETORIC, WE WILL ALL WIN,
AND THAT'S THE VISION WE
ARE COMMITTED TO CARRYING
FORWARD.
AT THE MORE WE LOVE, WE BELIEVE
THAT TRUE CHANGES HAPPEN WHEN
WE SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND
WE COME TOGETHER AROUND
WHAT MATTERS MOST, THE
PEOPLE. WE KNOW NOT EVERYONE IN
THIS ECOSYSTEM SHARES THE
SAME PHILOSOPHIES OR
STRATEGIES AND QUITE FRANKLY,
THAT'S
OKAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT
BEING
RIGHT. IT'S ABOUT BEING
EFFECTIVE
AND BEING LOVING.
IT'S ABOUT
BUILDING BUILDING BRIDGES AND
NOT WALLS
AND IT'S ABOUT MEETING IN THE
MIDDLE
WITH HUME ILITY AND RESOLVE.
WHEN SOMEONE WITH
IDEOLOGY ALIGNS WITH ME AND
WHETHER WE ARE COMMITTED TO
WORKING HAND
IN HAND, BECAUSE OUR CITY
DOESN'T NEED MORE DIVISION,
IT NEEDS MORE HEALING AND
HEALING
COMES THROUGH UNITY, CONSISTENCY
AND LOVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, THANK
YOU FOR BEING THAT KIND OF
LEADER.
YOU'VE LIT A PATH THAT SO MANY
OF US ARE NOW WALKING, AND
I PROMISE YOU, WE WILL NOT LET
IT
GO DARK. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
LOVE
BOLDLY, TO PARTNER WISELY AND TO
KEEP
THE FOCUS WHERE IT
BELONGS, ON THE PEOPLE THAT WE
SERVE.
ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM
ANDAND EVERY WOMAN WHOSE LIVES
ARE CHANGED BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU
MADE
POSSIBLE, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS,
YOUR GRIT AND YOUR HEART AND TO
EVERYONE IN THIS
ROOM, WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP TO
COLLABORATE AND TO LISTEN AND
TO BE SOMEBODY'S CONSTANT
BECAUSE THIS IS
HOW WE WIN, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, I AM SITTING
NEXT TO THREE OF THE MOST
AMAZING WOMEN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
BE A CONSTANT TO, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT
THAT YOU HEAR FROM THEM.
MADISON?
>>
GOOD MORNING. I AM MADISON, A
SURVIVOR
AND PEER RECOVERY.
SITTING IN FRONT OF
YOU IS A SMART, FUNNY, SINGLE
MOM OF TWO.
SIX YEARS AND 63 DAYS AGO
TODAY I DON'T THINK I WOULD
HAVE IMAGINED THE LIFE
I'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN SUCH A
SHORT PAYMENT OF TIME.
THE MORE WE LOVE OFFERS
JORDAN AND MY NUMBER ONE
SUPPORTER
CHRISTINE TELLS ME I WAS
ONE OF NINE TO GET ON A LIST FOR
A FULL
28- DAY TREATMENT PAID FOR
BY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS COMMIT.
I WAS A METH ADDICT,
HOMELESS AND SCARED AND I HAD NO
IDEA OF THE WOMAN I'D
BECOME. I STUCK IT OUT AND WAS
READY FOR
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT
NOT ONLY GOD HAD SENT OUT
FOR ME, BUT THE WOMEN -- MY
WOMEN
AND LEADERS INVOLVED.
I OWE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO ANDREA FOR GETTING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY IN HAVING FAITH IN
SOMEBODY THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW. I THANK YOU FROM THE
BOTTOM
OF
MY HEART. I'M FINALLY THE MOM,
DAUGHTER AND SOBER SISTER I GET
TO BE AND WANT TO BE FOR THE
REST OF
MY YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING FAITH IN
SOMEONE YOU NEVER KNEW BECAUSE
I LOVE THE WOMEN I ADMIRE AND
ADORE EVER SO MUCH.
I CAN'T WAIT TO BE AN
INSPIRATION TO WOMEN JUST
LIKE THE ONE I USED TO BE.
HI, I'M MADISON AND PEER
LEADER IN RECOVERY.
>> I'M SHAY, A SURVIVOR
AND LEADER IN RECOVERY.
AT 17 I GOT A JOB AT A STRIP
CLUB.
ON MY SECOND DAY, A MAN
BOUGHT ME A DRINK AND SLIPPED
SOMETHING IN MY DRINK.
I WAS ON A PLANE LANDING AT
THE LAX AIRPORT IN CALIFORNIA.
FOR TWO YEARS I WAS FORCED INTO
PROSTITUTION AND TOOK DRUGS
DAILY. TWO YEARS AGO THERE WAS A
GUN
TO MY HEAD AND TOLD ME IF I RAN
AWAY HE
WOULD KILL MY FAMILY. NOT
WANTING ANYTHING TO HAPPEN
TO THOSE I LOVED I DID AS HE
ASKED. I WAS A SCARED YOUNG
GIRL. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD
SEE MY
SON, HUG MY MOM OR TELL
MY SISTER I LOVED HER AGAIN.
I GOT INTO A BAD CAR
ACCIDENT AND GOT INJURED BAD
ENOUGH I WAS
TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. I CALLED
MY MOM WHO
IMMEDIATELY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO
COME HOME.
THIS LED TO 20 YEARS
OF PROSTITUTION, SELLING AND
USING
DRUGS, SEX, VIOLENCE,
BASICALLY ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
--
ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY TO SUPPLY
MY
DRUG HABIT.
I WAS CONVINCED A CONVICT,
FELON, PROSTITUTE, DRUG
DEALER AND ADDICT WAS ALL I
WAS EVER GOING
TO BE. I REALLY BELIEVED I WAS
GOING
TO DIE IN THE GAME.
I CAN REMEMBER A FEW
TIMES LOOKING IN THE MIRROR
THINKING TODAY MIGHT BE THE DAY
I FINALLY
USE TOO MUCH FENTANYL AND BE
RELEASED FROM THE WORLD OF
DRUG, SEX AND CRIME AND WONDERED
IF GOD WAS EVEN GOING TO OPEN
HEAVEN'S GATE FOR ME AND IF
DRUG ADDICTS AND PROSTITUTES
EVEN
GET TO SEE HEAVEN.
TWO DAYS LATER I WAS IN A
STOLEN, LIFTED SUPER DUTY,
COP IT IS LIT ME UP AND I
STARTED
TO RAM THEM.
I ENDED UP IN A JAIL
CELL DETOXING WITH FENTANYL.
I WAS FINALLY FREED FROM
THE
DRUG. MY ATTORNEY TALKED
TO ME ABOUT
TREATMENT. I DECIDED TO GIVE IT
A TRY
AND
GAVE IT MY BEST SHOT. 28 DAYS
LATER I GRADUATED, BUT
THE JUDGE DECLINED MY
RELEASE PLAN, AND I HAD TWO
HOURS
TO TURN MYSELF IN, AND I DID.
AT THIS POINT I NOW HAD THE
LOVE AND SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY
BEHIND
MY NEWFOUND SOBRIETY.
FRIENDS PUT MY BAIL TOGETHER
AND BACK TO THE HOUSE I USED TO
USE
AT. THE FIRST TWO DAYS WAS
GREAT, AND I WAS ON MY SABOXIN.
TWO DAYS I WOKE UP TO GIRLS IN
THONGS. WE GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT
AND
HE PUNCHED ME IN MY FACE, AND
I GRABBED MY DOG, SOME
FENTANYL AND I TRIED TO COMMIT
SUICIDE.
I GOT MY DOG OUT AND WAS WALKING
DOWN THE STREET AND RAN INTO A
FRIEND WHO OFFERED TO HELP.
HE CALLED KRISTINE MORELAND,
AND SHE TOLD ME IT
WAS GOING TO BE OKAY AND SINCE
THEN IT
HAS BEEN. HERE'S A POEM I WROTE
TO KRISTINE BACK IN
SEPTEMBER AFTER SHE HELPED ME
OUT.
OH, SORRY.
WHEN I WAS BROKEN IN EVERY
WAY POSSIBLE, YOU LOVED ME.
WHEN I WAS LONELY AND
COMPLETELY LOST, YOU SAW A
BEAUTIFUL SOUL.
YOU MAKE THE WORLD A
BETTER PLACE BECAUSE YOU SEE
GOOD IN
IT.
YOU MAKE ME A
BETTER WOMAN BECAUSE YOU SHOWED
ME HOW TO
BE ONE.
YOU SHOWED ME I WAS BEAUTIFUL
AND WORTH OF LOVE.
MOW MATTER HOW HARD MY SHELL IS,
YOU OPEN YOUR ARMS AND I FALL
APART EVERY TIME.
BECAUSE OF MY ANGELS AT THE
MORE WE LOVE, I CAN'T SEE, I'M
SORRY, AND MY PTSD SERVICE DOG
I CANNOT FIT IN.
I CANNOT THANK THOSE WHO
HELPED ME CHANGE MY LIFE, SHOWED
ME LOVE, GUIDANCE AND LET ME
KNOW THAT I HAVE A VOICE.
I NOW WORK FOR THE MORE WE
LOVE CHAIR MEETINGS AT THE
SAFE LOCATION FOR THE SURVIVORS
AND HAVE RECOVERY SISTERS.
I SHOW RECOVERY CAN BE FUN.
I'M SHAY, A
SURVIVOR, THRIVER, LEADER AND
I'M IN RECOVERY.
HI.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS ASHAUTEE
JEFFERS. PROBABLY ONE OF THE
WORST
YEARS OF MY LIFE, IN 2023 MY
MOTHER PASSED AWAY OF A DRUG
OVERDOSE FOLLOWING MY FATHER DID
THE
SAME WHEN I WAS 15.
JUST AFTER MY MOTHER PASSED I
LOST MY DAUGHTER TO SIDs.
I HAD JUST HAD A BABY THETHE
rd. MY MOM DIED THE 7 th AND SO
I
WAS, NEEDLESS TO SAY,
DESPONDENT, ANGRY,
AGGRESSIVE, DIDN'T CARE.
ALL OF THE THINGS, AND I
WAS SPINNING MY WHEELS IN THE
GAME TRYING TO NOT FEEL OR NOT
NEED ANYONE OR DO IT ALL ON MY
OWN AND PROGRESSIVELY, MY LIFE
GOT WORSE.
SEPTEMBER 20th -- OR NO,
SEPTEMBER 14th MY LIFE CAME TO
A
HEAD. I WAS STRAIGHT OUT OF
OPTIONS,
OUT OF MONEY, FIGHTING
WITH MY -- WITH THE FATHER OF MY
CHILD, YOU KNOW, BEAT UP, HAD
EXPERIENCED ASSAULT.
I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN
WASHINGTON, AND THE POLICE
CALLED KRISTINE AND TOLD HER MY
SITUATION, AND IN ABOUT AN
HOUR AFTER THAT I WAS IN AN UBER
WITH EVERYTHING I OWNED AND ON
MY WAY
TO A SAFE HOTEL ROOM FOR ME
TO GATHER MYSELF, AND THAT
APPOINTMENT AT THE HOSPITAL I
FOUND OUT THAT I WAS NINE
WEEKS PREGNANT WITH MY SON, AND
I KNEW
AT THAT POINT I WAS DONE.
EITHER SOMEONE WAS GOING TO
CARE AND HELP OR I WAS -- I WAS
DONE
FOR. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE
HERE
ANYMORE. AND KRISTINE AND HER
PARTNERS CAME÷÷CAME LITERALLY
CHANGED THE
TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE.
I WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WAS
NOT FOR KRISTINE AND HER
UNDERSTANDING AND KINDNESS AND
SUPPORT THROUGH THE
LITERAL HARDEST TIME OF MY LIFE.
BECAUSE OF HER INFLUENCES I
HAVE ALMOST TWO YEARS CLEAN
AND SOBER.
I HAVE MY OWN APARTMENT.
I LIVE WITH MY
SON. I NOW HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH MY 13-YEAR- OLD DAUGHTER.
I HAVE MY OWN CAR AND
WORKING TOWARDS SCHOOLING AND
EMPLOYMENT, AND IF YOU
WOULD HAVE ASKED ME IF ANY OF
THIS
WAS POSSIBLE IN 2023, I WOULD
HAVE LAUGHED IN YOUR FACE
AND PROBABLY DONE A LOT MORE
RUDE
THINGS, BUT, IT JUST DIDN'T
SEEM POSSIBLE.
I WAS -- LIFE CAN REALLY
KNOCK YOU FOR A LOOP, BUT WHEN
THERE'S
PEOPLE THAT CAN SEE THROUGH
YOURYOUR
PAIN AND ANGER AND SEE WHO YOU
REALLY ARE AND GIVE YOU A
CHANCE TO CHANGE, THAT'S --
THAT'S --
THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
THAT'S THE HEADLINE.
TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ABILITY
TO MOVE THROUGH YOUR GRIEF,
PAIN AND LOSS AND STILL SMILE .
I'M
IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO
EVERYONE WHO HAD A HAND IN THAT
CHANGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
SORRY, IT'S QUITE
EMOTIONAL SITTING LISTENING TO
THESE
INCREDIBLE WOMEN. I JUST WANT TO
SAY, FOR
WHAT IT'S WORTH, THOSE TEN BEDS
THAT WERE AWARDED TO THE MORE WE
LOVE, THE CONFIDENCE FROM
THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT
ARE GOING TO CHANGE
PEOPLE'S LIVES. IT'S A VERY
SHORT- TERM PILOT
PROGRAM, BUT TO US, THIS IS
NOT A PILOT.
THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THESE ARE REAL PATHWAYS THAT
WE GET TO CREATE AND WE GET TO
WALK
ALONGSIDE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
US MOST AND SO WE JUST ASK THAT
THE
CITY COUNCIL SEES THAT WORK FOR
WHAT IT IS AND CONTINUES
TO SUPPORT
US, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF
MY HEART FOR
DOING WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND
IT
MATTERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, CATHY MOORE,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
BRAVERY, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING
UP
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE
FOR
THOSE THAT NEED US MOST.
IT
MATTERS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
THOSE VERY KIND
WORDS, BUT IT WAS TRULY A
COMMUNITY EFFORT.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES?
THIS IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO WRAP
THIS UP, BUT IT'S JUST
YOUR STORIES ARE SO COMPELLING,
AND
WE LOSE LOVE -- SO OFTEN WE
LOSE SIGHT OF WHO IS OUT
THERE AND THE
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND --
SORRY.
I'M SO GRATEFUL.
SO GRATEFUL FOR -- I'VE MET TWO
OF YOU BEFORE, AND I
REMEMBER BEING JUST SO IMPRESSED
WITH
THE FACT THAT WHILE YOU HAD THE
JOURNEYS THAT YOU HAVE MADE,
AND I THINK EVEN THEN YOU'VE
COME
EVEN FARTHER AND IT'S REALLY
HUMBLING, I THINK, YOU KNOW?
WE SIT UP HERE AND WE MAKE
JUDGMENTS AND DETERMINATIONS AND
COMING FROM SUCH A PLACE OF
PRIVILEGE, IT'S ALWAYS SO
IMPORTANT TO BE GROUNDED.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
STORIES AND THANK YOU
FOR VALIDATING THE WORK THAT WE
DO,
RIGHT? MAKING US KNOW THAT IT
MATTERS,
AND IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE
SUCCESS, AND I GUESS I
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR -- AND I'LL
CALL
ON MY COLLEAGUE IN A MOMENT, BUT
--
WAS IT THE ACCESS TO TREATMENT?
I KNOW COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING
MONEY FOR TREATMENT ATAT
LAKESIDE
MYLAM, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF
HER MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND
PASSIONS. YOU KNOW, JUST WANTING
TO
HEAR ABOUT THE VALUE AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT.
WHAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
DO BETTER UP HERE TO SUPPORT
WOMEN SUCH AS YOURSELVES AND
OTHERS WHO ARE ON THE TRACK AND
STRUGGLING?
THAT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR, BUT
I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON
FIRST.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR
MOORE, AND I WANT TO JUST
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
EXPRESSED BY OUR SPEAKERS
FORFOR YOUR WORK, YOUR BRAVERY,
YOUR
EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THESE
HEROES, THESE SURVIVORS, THESE
WARRIORS
IN THE WORK THAT THEY'RE
DOING BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT --
NOW I'M GOING TO GET, MOBILE.
MOBILE.
WHEN I LOOK AT YOU IN THE
ROOM YOU ARE IMPACTING LIVES AND
WHAT YOU DO WITH WE HEART
SEATTLE
AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THE
MORE WE LOVE, YOU ARE
SAVING LIVES AND SAVING
TRAJECTORIES.
KRISTINE, WHEN I HAD THE
CHANCE TO FIRST MEET YOU AND
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE
HAD
SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE BEEN VERY
MEANINGFUL FOR ME, AND
THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL
CONTINUE,
AND WHEN I HEAR THE STORIES FROM
MADDISON AND SHAY, I HAVE HOPE
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I NEED
IT IN MY LIFE GHT NOW.
SO THANK YOU.
AGAIN, MY GRATITUDE
TO YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND MY
GRATITUDE TO
YOU FOR SAVING LIVES.
MY ATITUDE TO YOU FOR
HELPING
MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> YOUR PRESENCE AT THE
TABLE MATTERS AND LET ME --
FOR EXAMPLE, JUST TO
EXPLAIN HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE
YOU COMING IN.
WHEN THE COUNCIL WAS
DELIBERATING ON THE SODA
AND SOAP LEGISLATION I REMEMBER
A
REPORTER ASKING ME WHY I
SUPPORTED SOAP, AND THEY --
AND IT WAS SOMETHING -- THEY
WERE
SORT OF EQUATING IT WITH
ALL KINDS OF SEX SEX WORK, WHAT
WAS GOING ON IN AURORA, AND I
FELT
LIKE -- IT WAS JUST VERY
BLACK AND WHITE THINKING, AND
I REMEMBER BEING ABLE TO TALK
ABOUT THE STORIES THAT I
HEARD FROM THE MORE WE LOVE AND
THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN THAT
DAY,
AND IT ALLOWED ME TO MAKE A
NUANCE, AND TO -- JUST TO REALLY
SHOW THE ACTUAL --
NOT NECESSARILY IMPACT OF THE
WORK THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO. OUR LEGITIMACY
RESTS ON THE
DEGREE TO WHICH WE
AS POLICYMAKERS ARE RESPONDING
TO THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE BROUGHT
TO US FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS,
PLAIN
AND SIMPLE.
WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING IT UP
FOR
SOME OTHER REASON TO PURSUE.
WE REPRESENT THE INTERESTS
OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
THAT'S ALREADY COMPLICATED
ENOUGH, BUT MY POINT IS THAT
YOUR
PRESENCE AT THAT TABLE ALLOWED
ME TO
REALLY MAKE -- I ALREADY
KNEW HOW I WAS GOING TO VOTE,
BUT
IT ALLOWED ME TO EDUCATE PEOPLE
ABOUT WHY
THIS LEGISLATION WAS SO
IMPORTANT. OF COURSE, IT WAS
IMPORTANT
BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE PUT
IT BEFORE US.
IT WASN'T IMPORTANT FOR
THAT, BUT I HAVE YOU TO THANK
FOR
THE BRAVERY OF DOING THAT AND
ALSO
THE WISDOM TO BRING
PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO BE ABLE
TO --
SO THAT WE ALL KNEW WHAT WAS
GOING
ON, SO OUR CONSTITUENTS COULD
KNOW WHY WE'RE MAKING THE
DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
SO THE POINT IS THAT AT ITS
BEST, GOVERNMENT WORKS
TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE
REPRESENT, AND IT TAKES
COURAGE ON BOTH SIDES, TOO, TO
REALLY SHOW WHAT NEEDS TO
CHANGE,
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS AND WHAT
ARE
THE SOLUTIONS, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER SAKA.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR ACCOMMODATE THE
COMMITTEE'S REQUEST TO APPEAR
BEFORE
US TODAY AND SHARE SOME OF
THE REAL- LIFE, TANGIBLE,
HUMAN IMPACT AND RESULTS OF
OUR COLLECTIVE WORK, AND
SOME OF THESE -- THESE COUNCIL
AND CITY
INVESTMENTS.
I PRAISE AND COMMEND KRISTINE,
MADDISON SHAY AND ASHANTI -- HOW
DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT?
ASHAUTEE, BEAUTIFUL NAME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I PRAISE YOU ALL FOR YOUR
COURAGE.
I AM MOVED, INDEED, BY
YOUR CONVICTION AND YOUR BRAVERY
AND
BEING HERE TODAY, SHARING YOUR
STORIES.
I THINK YOU'RE MORE THAN JUST
SURVIVORS. A SURVIVOR IMPLIES
SOMEONE
THAT EXPERIENCED SOMETHING
TRAUMATIC AND THEY MADE IT
THROUGH ON
THE OTHER END.
IT'S TABLE STAKES.
THE GOAL IS FOR THAT TO BE TABLE
STAKES. I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU
ALL FOR
TAKING THE EXTRA STEP OF
OVERCOMING FENTANYL
ADDICTIONS AND METH AND
OVERCOMING THESE
REALLY TRAUMATIC
EXPERIENCES, PERSONAL, FAMILY,
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES AND
PUTTING
YOURSELF, BEING EMPOWERED
BY COMMUNITY ON A BETTER PATH
TO CREATING A BETTER LIFE FOR
YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILIES.
THAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM.
THAT IS WHAT EVERY LAST
PENNY THAT WE INVEST IN OUR
$8.5 BILLION BUDGET SHOULD
ULTIMATELY BE DESIGNED,
THAT IS THE GOAL THAT EVERY LAST
PENNY SHOULD ULTIMATELY BE
DESIGNED TO
ACHIEVE. SO YOU ARE MORE THAN
SURVIVORS, YOU ARE
ACHIEVERS. LIKE
COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON'S WORD,
YOU ARE WARRIORS AND
YOU GUYS ARE BEASTS IN A WAY,
BUT
AGAIN, I AM INCREDIBLY INSPIRED
BY YOU ALL, AND I WANT YOU
TO KNOW -- I MEAN, I THINK
EVERYONE HAS EXPERIENCED SOME
LEVEL OF
TRAUMA, PAIN IN THEIR LIFE,
MYSELF INCLUDED, BUT I WANT
YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WHENEVER --
AND
ANYONE, NOT JUST YOU ALL
WHO HAPPEN TO BE AT THE TABLE
HERE, BUT EVERYONE WHO
RECEIVES SERVICES OR BENEFITS
FROM
THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS
TO
OFFER, I WANT YOU ALL TO
KNOW THAT YOUR CITY LOVES YOU,
CARES
ABOUT YOU AND IS TRULY COMMITTED
TO YOUR SUCCESS.
YOU BELONG HERE, NOT ONLY
LITERALLY IN THIS SPACE, IN THIS
ESTEEMED CHAMBER, BUT YOU
BELONG IN OUR CITY, AND YOU ARE
WORTHY
OF THE SUPPORT AND SO MUCH MORE
THAT -- AND I WISH WE COULD DO
MORE, BUT YOU ARE LOVED.
YOU ARE APPRECIATED AND YOU
ARE WORTHY FROM THE CITY'S
PERSPECTIVE, AND FROM THE
COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE.
SO WE MIGHT HAVE THESE
POLICY DEBATES ON VISION AND
APPROACH
AND THOSE DEBATES HAVE -- ARE AS
OLD AS TIME, TO BE HONEST
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE
THEM
ON HOW WE BEST ADDRESS THE
COMPLEX SOCIETAL CHALLENGES.
THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY
FROM WHAT I SAID EARLIER.
YOU ALL MATTER, AND YOUR
VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES AND
THE COLLECTIVE LIVED EXPERIENCES
THAT YOU ALL EMBODY AND REFLECT
MATTER. SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF
YOU ALL.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO
HAVE THESE -- THESE POLICY
DEBATES. PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY
KNOW I'M
NEVER SCARED TO HAVE THESE
DEBATES, BUT ME AND
MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT DISAGREE ON
THE
APPROACH AND WE HAVE AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THAT. AGAIN, THESE DEBATES ARE
AS
OLD AS TIME, BUT HERE'S
ONE OTHER THING I DO KNOW, ONE
UNIVERSAL
TRUTH, AND I CAN SAY
THIS CONFIDENTLY OF ALL MY
COLLEAGUES, WE ALL CARE, AND
WE ALL ARE COMMITTED TO YOUR
SUCCESS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
BEING HERE.
IT'S REALLY GOOD TO -- TO SEE
AND HEAR OUT AGAIN, AS THE
CHAIR NOTED, WE OFTEN HEAR FROM
THE
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WE VERY RARELY HEAR FROM
THE SERVICE RECIPIENTS UNLESS WE
DO OUR OWN WORK OUTSIDE OF THIS
CHAMBER, BUT -- SO THANK YOU
ALL. THANK YOU, CHAIR MOORE, FOR
YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
SURE, IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, BUT IT
ALSO, ALL OF THESE THINGS
NEED AT LEAST ONE CHAMPION, AND
ON THIS FLOOR FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE AND YOU
ABSOLUTELY ARE AND WERE THAT
CHAMPION, SO
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY
ON THIS -- ON THIS ISSUE IN
PARTICULAR, SO THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBER SOLOMON.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU RECEIVED
SUPPORT FROM THE CITY FOR A
TEN-
BED PLACE.
>> CORRECT.
>> WAS THAT THE FIRST
TIME YOU HAD RECEIVED SUPPORT
FROM THE
CITY OR ANY KIND
OF CONTRACT FROM
THE CITY?
>> THIS IS OUR FIRST SEATTLE
CONTRACT, YES.
>> WHO ELSE -- WHAT
OTHER MUNICIPALITIES
DO YOU CONTRACT WITH?
>> I'M CURRENTLY WITH THE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
>> GOT IT.
I ASK THAT QUESTION --
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
THAT SEEMS TO BE A REAL --
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT DOES --
IS CONFUSING TO ME AND IT IS
ALSO FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE SEE
NONPROFITS THAT ARE DOING
REALLY GOOD, UNIQUE WORK, AND I
LIKE
TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW THEY
BREAK INTO THE CITY CONTRACT
SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU ANSWER A
REQUEST
FOR PROPOSALS AND THEN
SOMEBODY'S AWARDED AND SOMEBODY
ISN'T.
I AM ALSO THINKING ABOUT WE
HEART SEATTLE WHO IS IN
THE AUDIENCE AND WHO
MAY COMMENT TODAY DOING
INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT WORK, AND NOT JUST
CLEANING
UP GREENBELT AND PLACES
WHERE THERE WERE FORMERLY
ENCAMPMENT,
BUT GETTING PEOPLE INTO
TREATMENT
AND GETTING PEOPLE INTO JOB
TRAINING SERVICES, BUT HAS
NEVER RECEIVED A CONTRACT WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE OR WITH
KING COUNTY OR SEATTLE --
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY.
SO I BELIEVE AS WE ARE
LOOKING AT RESTRICTED FUNDING
SOURCES
WHICH WE ALWAYS ARE, AND
NOW THAT WHAT'S GOING ON
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. , THERE'S A
LOT
OF UNCERTAINTY, WE REALLY
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE CLEARLY SET PERFORMANCE
METRICS AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING
AT OUR
CONTRACTED SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AND IF THEY ARE NOT
LIVING UP
TO THOSE
METRICS, THEN WE CONSIDER
CONTRACTING WITH
SOMEBODY ELSE AND SPREADING OUR
RESOURCES AROUND TO OTHER
NONPROFITS BECAUSE WE OWE IT TO
OUR
CONSTITUENTS TO LOOK AT THE
SERVICES THAT HELP THE
MOST, AND I AM SO GLAD THAT
SEATTLE
HAS RECOGNIZED YOUR VALUE
BECAUSE
CLEARLY, THE TRANSFORMATIVE
WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, ALL OF
YOU, JUST BEING UP HERE IS A
NOTE TO
SELF, I WILL SAY. THANK YOU.
>> MAY I?
>> YES.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT
THE KEY PIECE HERE IS THE MORE
WE LOVE AND WE HEART SEATTLE
IS RECOVERY BASED.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON
RECOVERY AND SO THAT MAY BE WHY
WE HAVE
NOT NECESSARILY RECEIVED
CONTRAST IN THE PAST, BUT I DO
THINK THE
CITY IS MOVING IN THAT
DIRECTION AROUND RECOVERY.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU SEE
THAT AS YOU FUNDED THE
LAKESIDE OPPORTUNITY THAT PEOPLE
ARE BEING GIFTED WITH.
IN THIS SPACE, I HOPE THAT
WITH HOW THE CHANGES ARE GOING,
YOU
REMOIN ARE MAIN MORE HOPES
OF RECOVERY AND GET THE
CITY CONTRACTS TO THE MORE WE
LOVE WILL BE SUSTAINED BECAUSE
IT
IS RECOVERY BASED.
>> ASHAUTEE, PLEASE?
>> CAN I SPEAK TO THAT?
I WORKED IN THIS TWO-
YEAR PERIOD, I WORKED IN 15 TO
17 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS
ALL PROMISING THAT IT WILL BE
BETTER, WE'LL BE THERE FOR
YOU, AND INTENTION AND ACTION
ARE TWO
DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND HAVING SOMEONE LIKE
KRISTINE WHO I KID YOU NOT, I
HAVE
TEXTED ANGRY TEXTS ABOUT MY SON
OR THE BOTTLE WARMER IS BROKEN,
LIKE, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
HAVING SOMEBODY THERE FOR
YOU THROUGH THOSE THINGS
AND ACTUALLY BEING THERE AND
BEING
WILLING TO COLLABORATE
WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IS
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME.
I'M TRIBAL. I'M CHOCTAW
NATIVE, AND THE
MORE WE LOVE ALONG WITH MOTHER
NATION, FIRST NATION FOUNDATION
SPIRIT WOMAN'S COALITION
HAVE ALL HELPED ME TO GET BACK
WHERE
I'M, YOU KNOW, BACK ON MY FEET.
LIFE WIRE, ALL
THESE ORGANIZATIONS WILLING TO
WORK WITH EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF
IN
COMPETITION IS ONE OF THE --
THERE'S A COUPLE THAT I CAN
OFF THE TOP, WHERE I CAN'T --
YOU CAN'T -- BECAUSE THEIR
SERVICES WOULDN'T CO INCIDE
WITH OTHER
SERVICES. YOU KNOW, MY BIG
QUESTION
MARK IN HAVING PEOPLE LIKE
CHRISTINE WHO UNDERSTAND, YOU
KNOW,
WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND
ARE
ABLE TO SIFT THROUGH ALL THE
THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY
TO GET TO THE PROBLEM AND HELP
YOU SOLVE IT, THAT'S RARE,
AND I HAVE FOUND IT IN A FEW
PLACESPLACES AND I'M GRATEFUL,
BUT THE
ABILITY TO COEXIST AND WORK AS
A COMMUNITY TO GET US BACK TO
A FUNCTIONING STATE OF NO LONGER
SURVIVING, BUT LIVING, ENJOYING,
YOU KNOW?
>> THRIVING.
>> YEAH, THRIVING.
IT'S NOT OVER.
IT'S NOT DONE.
WE STILL NEED SUPPORT, AND
WE NEED THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN
SHOW UP FOR US IN DIFFERENT WAYS
NOW, RIGHT?
TWO YEARS AGO IT
WAS I DON'T HAVE FOOD.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING
TO SLEEP TONIGHT.
TODAY IT MIGHT BE, LIKE, I
RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR TOILET
PAPER, YOU KNOW?
IT JUST DEPENDS AND LIFE
CHANGE E BUT HAVING SOMEONE
WILLING TO BE THERE THROUGH ALL
OF THAT
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE FAMILY OR
PEOPLE AROUND THAT THAT
WOULD SUPPORT YOU INTRINSICALLY
JUST BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE,
NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE AND THAT'S
THE BIGGEST -- THAT'S THE
BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS
THAT I HAVE PEOPLE NOW, YOU
KNOW?
>> YEAH.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT -- WHAT
WAS IT THAT SORT OF GOT YOU TO
THE
POINT WHERE YOU WERE WILLING
TO DO THE TREATMENT?
GET INTO TREATMENT AND HOW
DID THAT WORK FOR YOU?
WHAT WAS THAT PATH FOR ALL
THREE
OF YOU?
>> IT'S A BIG ONE.
SEVEN YEARS OF BEING
HOMELESS AND STUCK ON THE
STREETS WITH
MYSELF AND A DOG, YOU CAN
ONLY
IMAGINE. YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE
THE HURT AND SCARITY THAT I WENT
THROUGH, AND I WAS SO DONE, BUT
BECAUSE OF MY HOMELESS SITUATION
IT
WAS
NOT POSSIBLE. I KID YOU NOT.
IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE, AND
I THOUGHT ONE DAY,
AND I SAT AND THOUGHT GOD, IS
THIS THE END FOR
ME? ARE MY KIDS NOT GOING TO
KNOW
THEIR MOM?
MY DAD, DID HE KNOW
THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?
DID HE HAVE ANY IDEA THAT I
WOULD BECOME THIS GARBAGE OF A
PERSON? WHEN KRISTINE AND
OFFICER MET UP
WITH ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY
S█TAY AT LAKESIDE MYLAN WAS PAI
FOR AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS
COMMIT.
THAT'S IT?
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SAY I'M
IN AND I'M IN?
YOU GOT IT.
LET'S GO. LET'S DO IT.
THERE WAS NO HESITATION, I
HAD 45 MINUTES TO PACK
A BAG. I HUGGED MY DOG FOR 15 OF
THOSE
MINUTES AND 45 MINUTES TO PACK A
BAG AND I LEFT THIS TRAP HOUSE
THAT I STAYED AT FOR THE LAST
YEAR AND A HALF, ALMOST A
YEAR,
SORRY. I LIVED IN A TENT IN
THEIR BACKYARD AND WAS
COMFORTABLE LIVING
LIKE THAT. NEVER IN MY LIFE DID
I
THINKTHINK THAT A DAUGHTER, A
MOTHER, A
SISTER WAS GOING TO BE
IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD LIVING
LAVISHLY. THAT'S TRASH, AND NOW
I
GET TO BE IN MY OWN SPACE WITH
MY DOG,
SAFE. MY KIDS ARE THIS CLOSE TO
COMING HOME WITH ME AND ALL I
HAD TO
DO WAS SIT DOWN AND STRAP MYSELF
IN FOR 28
DAYS? THAT'S CRAZY, AND I DID
IT, AND
I TRIED SO HARD TO GET THERE
YEARS AGO, BUT I NEVER -- I
WAS NEVER GIVEN THE LIGHT
AND BECAUSE OF KRISTINE AND THE
CITY COUNCIL, YOU GUYS GAVE ME
THE LIGHT I NEVER THOUGHT I
WASWAS GOING TO
HAVE.
>> CAN I ALSO SAY THAT
THE MOMENT THAT I PUT MADDISON
IN
MY CAR TO DRIVE HER TO LAKESIDE
MY PHONE RANG AND IT WAS
ANOTHER YOUNG MOTHER WHO HAD
JUST REPORTED TO ME THAT SHE
LOST
HER SON OF A FENTANYL OVERDOSE.
I HAD HER ON SPEAKER
WHILE PUTTING MADDISON IN THE
CAR
AND LETTING MADDISON KNOW THAT
THIS IS THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU
HAVE
AND YOUR MOM WILL NOT BE THE
ONE CALLING ME LETTING ME KNOW
YOUR LIFE
WAS LOST. THESE THINGS REALLY,
REALLY
MATTER.
>> TREATMENT WAS THE BEST
THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
IT WAS AN ARM AND A LEG,
THE COST OF TREATMENT, AND I HAD
NOT EVEN A PENNY OF WHAT IT COST
TO
GET ME THROUGH WHAT
I
ACCOMPLISHED. 28 DAYS IS SUCH A
SHORT
TIME, BUT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
YEARS, AND I MEAN YEARS' WORTH
OF SUCCESS IN SUCH A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME.
I CELEBRATE 63 DAYS TODAY,
AND I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE
CELEBRATING. I WANT THE NEXT
YEARS OF MY
LIFE TO BE -- TO BE THRIVING.
TO BE FULL OF LOVE.
TO BE A MOM.
TO BE ABLE TO BE A GRANDMA
ONE
DAY. I GET TO DO THAT NOW, AND
I NEVER -- SEVEN
YEARS AGO YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
THIS
WOULD HAVE BEEN MY LIFE AND
I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LAUGHED AT
YOU,
TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHERE I
SAW MY
LIFE GOING. I CELEBRATED MY 30th
BIRTHDAY IN TREATMENT AND ALL I
TOLD KRISTINE IS I SEE THIS
PLACE WITH A BIG BIRTHDAY BOW ON
IT. I DON'T REMEMBER THE LAST
TIME
I GOT A BIRTHDAY GIFT.
I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU, I
WAS PROBABLY A TEENAGER AND I
GOT
TO OPEN UP MY PRESENT ON MY 30
th BIRTHDAY AT LAKESIDE MYLAM,
AND I FELT ACCOMPLISHED.
I FELT THIS SIGH OF RELIEF AND
THE HEAVINESS ON MY
SHOULDERS WERE TOTALLY GONE, AND
I
MEAN, GONE.
I HAVE NO, NO REGRETS
ABOUT ANYTHING I DID, AND I KNOW
I WILL ACCOMPLISH MUCH MORE, AND
I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO
INSPIRE,
MEN, EVEN, JUST LIKE ME, TO
KNOW THAT IT'S OKAY TO FEEL
THOSE
THINGS AND THE FIGHT IS NOT
JUST YOUR FIGHT AND IT WILL BE
OUR
FIGHT AND WE ARE HERE TO BATTLE
IT WITH YOU BECAUSE
THAT'S ALL THE MORE WE LOVE
SHOWED
ME THAT MY BATTLE IS NOT JUST
FOR ME.
IT WAS FOR EVERYBODY INCLUDED.
I GET TO BE HOME WITH A
SOBER SISTER NOW AND SHE AND
I HAVE THE MOST AMAZING
RELATIONSHIP.
I HAVE THREE SISTERS OF MY
OWN I DON'T KNOW AND I GET THE
BIGGEST BIG SISTER I COULD HAVE
ASKED FOR IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT
OF
TIME.
>> THEY OCCUPY THE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING UNIT THAT
WE USE
FOR PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM
DETOX
TREATMENT.
>> IT'S THE BEST THING THAT
EVER
HAPPENED TO ME.
SO I
THANK YOU.
>> YOU KNOW I WENT THERE
TOO, YOU KNOW?
>> ONE
MORE TIME?
>> DO YOU KNOW I WENT THERE?
>> LAKESIDE MYLAM.
>> IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.
>> I SAY THAT HERE AT
DEUS BECAUSE I WANT
PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT ADDICTION IS
NOT -- IT'S,
YOU KNOW, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
>> IT'S EVERYWHERE AND
PUTTING OUR RESOURCES INTO A
SERVICE
THAT GETS PEOPLE INTO
COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT AND
THEN JUST PAYS A CHECK
AFTERWARDS
ANDAND IS SIMPLICITY.
IT HAS TO BE ON- DEMAND
TREATMENT AND IT HAS TO BE THERE
WHEN YOU WANT IT, AND IT HAS TO
BE
JUST -- THE CITY CAN MAKE
IT EASY BY PAYING THE CHECK
AFTER
WARD. WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
IS
WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR RIGHT NOW
IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE
ARE FINISHED WITH THEIR PROGRAM?
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU CAN STILL GO
DO ALL OF THE COUNSELING GROUPS,
BUT WHERE
DO
YOU LIVE? AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE A
RECOVERY-BASED HOME IF
THAT IS THE PATH YOU CHOOSE FOR
YOURSELF.
>> IT IS.
IT IS, AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
I AM HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I
HAVE GOING
ON IN MY LIFE.
I HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE
AND TREATMENT IS NOT FOR THOSE
WHO NEED IT.
IT'S NOT FOR THOSE WHEN WANT
IT,
IT'S FOR THOSE WHO DO IT, AND
I WALK FOOT BY FOOT THROUGH
MY RECOVERY EVERY DAY OF MY
LIFE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 63rd
DAY.
THAT'S AMAZING.
>> THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> I TOLD HER SHE WAS GOING
TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL
ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS DOING HER
INTAKE AT LAKESIDE.
HERE YOU GO.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE.
NOT GOING LIE.
I THOUGHT -- I HAVE
SOMETHING BIGGER FOR YOU AND NO,
HERE I
AM, AND I GET TO FINALLY
SHOW YOU THIS WORKS, AND I THANK
YOU
BECAUSE YOU SAVED MY LIFE FROM
A
WORLD OF HURT. SO THANK YOU.
>> SHAYLEE?
>> SO FOR ME, RECOVERY,
HONESTLY, I'VE HAD FOUR
SUICIDE ATTEMPTS ALTOGETHER.
I'VE TRIED TREATMENT
TWO DIFFERENT TIMES.
IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS
ABSOLUTELY
OFF OF EVERYTHING AND
REALLY ACTUALLY SAID A PRAYER IN
MY UNIT WITH MY MOM ON THE
TABLET BASICALLY ASKING GOD JUST
TO COME INTO MY LIFE AND
FIGURE IT OUT FOR ME.
BASICALLY, JESUS, TAKE
THE WHEEL. THEN, IT'S NOT THAT
I
HAD A BRIGHT AWAKENING, NO CLOUD
AND SUNSHINE, BUT THERE'S
DEFINITELY
BEEN A BIG DIFFERENCE IN MY
LIFE.
I THINK ALSO THE RECOVERY, BUT
ALSO HAVING SOMETHING TO LOOK
FORWARD TO, SO, LIKE, I
GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
SOMEBODY'S SISTER.
I GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING A GOD I NEVER HAD BEFORE.
I GET A NEW WAY OF LIFE,
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING
THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST
AND YOU
THINK, WOW, THAT WAS
REALLY TERRIBLE OR HOW ABOUT
THIS ONE?
WOW, I REALLY SURVIVED ALL OF
THOSE
SUICIDE ATTEMPTS?
WOW. THAT'S BIG.
FOR ME, RECOVERY WAS
HONESTLY, WHAT'S MY NEXT WAY
OUT.
SOMETHING'S GOT TO
GIVE. I CAN'T DO THE DRUG LIFE
NO
MORE. I CAN'T DO THE
PROSTITUTION.
I DON'T WANT TO
DO IT. I LITERALLY WAS TO
GIVE UP ON LIFE ONE MORE TIME.
LIKE I TOLD YOU GUY, BEFORE
I MET KRISTINE I REALLY TRIED
A SUICIDE ATTEMPT AND I WAS JUST
DONE, AND SHE SAID IT'S OKAY.
IT WILL BE OKAY AND
LITERALLY SINCE THIS DAY IT HAS
BEEN.
I GOT TO MEET ON EASTER --
AROUND EASTER, I FINALLY
GOT TO MEET A GRANDSON THAT IS 4
YEARS
OLD, AND I WAS ALWAYS
DRUGGING AND DRINKING, YOU
KNOW? I DIDN'T GET TO EVER MEET
HIM. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO
THIS LITTLE GUY WAS, HE'S CUTE,
YOU KNOW WHAT
I MEAN? SINCE I'VE BEEN GOING
TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY AND
AFTER KRISTINE TOLD ME
EVERYTHING
WAS GOING TO BE OKAY, I ACTUALLY
GOT TO MEET MY
GRAND BABY. HOW CRAZY IS THAT?
I'M A GRANDMA, YOU KNOW,
SURPRISE!
>> I ALSO WANT TO SAY I WAS
INVITED TO A MEETING LAST FRIDAY
AT OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER AND I
WAS ON THE ROAD AND I
HAD TO ZOOM IN, AND BEFORE ME
WAS SHAY
RUNNING OUR VERY FIRST
RECOVERY MEETING FOR THE WOMEN
STAYING
AT OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER.
IT IS PROFOUND WHAT THEY
ARE DOING THROUGH THEIR
RECOVERY, BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT
THEIR PURPOSE.
>> YES.
>> YOU'VE GOT ONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>
ASHAUNTEE.
>> IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
THERE WERE NO OTHER
OPTIONS. [
LAUGHTER ] I'M ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE --
I'M SORRY -- I SAID THIS THE
OTHER DAY TO KRISTINE, I PLANNED
MY
OWN DEMISE. I'M A PLANNER.
I NEVER DO ANYTHING
WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT FAR
TOO
MUCH, AND LOSING MY MOM DIDN'T
DO IT?
I LOST BOTH MY PARENTS TO
DRUG, AND IT DIDN'T DO IT.
I WAS STILL, LIKE, I'VE
GOT THIS.
KNOW?
I CAN DO WHATEVER.
I'M GOING TO LIVE AND IT'S
GOING TO BE GREAT AND I HAD MY
HEART BROKEN, THAT DIDN'T
DO IT. NONE OF IT DID IT.
I'D SPENT QUITE A BIT OF
TIME HOMELESS, NEVER ACTUALLY,
LIKE, OUTSIDE, BUT YOU KNOW,
JUST
BUMPING AROUND, NOT BEING SAFE,
USING -- AROUND A LOT OF MEN
AND I DON'T KNOW -- I NEVER --
I JUST -- I NEVER -- I FELT LIKE
IT WOULDN'T TOUCH ME, RIGHT?
BECAUSE WHY DO WE USE, RIGHT?
TO COVER UP PAIN.
IF I KEEP USING I WON'T FEEL
IT, AND I HAVE TO DO THIS
FOREVER
BECAUSE WHAT'S BEHIND ME IS WAY
TOO MUCH. I CAN'T FEEL THAT.
I CAN'T FEEL A LOST CHILD.
I CAN'T FEEL THE LOSS
OF MY
ENTIRE FAMILY. IF I DO, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
I HAD OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OFFER,
THE
BED'S READY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS SAY YES,
ASHANTEE, UM, NO.
THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME THIS
TIME IS THAT I WASN'T ALONE.
I WAS NINE WEEKS PREGNANT AND
RUNNING THE STREET AND
GETTINGGETTING UP AND AND YOU
KNOW,
ALL KINDS OF CRAZINESS ANDAND
THAT
GOING GOING TO LOSE
ANOTHER BABY? WAS I GOING TO LET
THAT HAPPEN?
AND I DECIDED REALLY EXHAUSTED
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT
ANYMORE.
SO I GOT ON THE PHONE TO MY
COUNSELOR, AND I WAS
LOOKING AT THE YMCA, AND I SAID
LOOK,
MONO KASHGS EITHER I GET
INTO TREATMENT LIKE RID NOW,
RIGHT NOW OR GOOD-BYE, AND THE
POLICE
OFFICER WHO TOOK THE
STATEMENT FROM THE SITUATION I
HAD
JUST LEFT CAME IN AND
HAD KRISTINE ON THE PHONE, AND
ASKED ME TO
TALK TO HER, AND SHE SAID, HEY,
QUEEN.
I'M GOING TO GET YOU A ROOM,
AND
I'LL SEE YOU LATER TONIGHT,
AND I HAD NO IDEA WHO THIS
PERSON
WAS. I WAS GRUMPY, ANGRY AND
VERY
TIRED, AND -- YEAH.
I HAD THE SUPPORT OF ANOTHER
PERSON WHO WAS GOING TO
TREAT YOU LIKE A PERSON, NOT
LIKE
A JUNKIE OR A PROBLEM
OR SOMEBODY WHO IS SCARING THE
REGULAR PEOPLE YOU KNOW, I'M
A GENERATIONAL USER.
BOTH OF MY PARENTS USED AND
ABUSED, THE REAL REAL OF IT IS
EITHER I WAS GOING TO
DO WHAT MY MOM DID TO ME TO MY
CHILDREN
OR IT STOPS WITH ME, AND I'VE
GOT TO CARRY A LITTLE MORE THAN
I WANT TO, AND IF YOU MEET MY
KIDS, THEY'RE SO CUTE
AND
AWESOME. I COULD NEVER TO THEM,
RIGHT?
I COULD NEVER, AND SO
IT STOPS WITH ME, AND THAT'S
THE
DECISION I MADE THE DAY I
MET KRISTINE.
>> THE KEY, THOUGH, WHAT YOU
SAID, ASHAUNTEE, IT NEEDED TO
HAPPEN THEN RIGHT NOW WHEN
SHE WAS READY, IT HAPPENED THEN,
NOW AND THE RESULT IS VERY
CLEAR,
RIGHT?
WE CAN'T WAIT.
WE CAN'T SAY CALL US NEXT
WEEK WITHIN 8:00 TO 5:00, CHECK
A
BOX.
IT'S NOW.
SO KEY.
>> AND
60 DAYS OF TREATMENT. [ LAUGHTER
]
60 DAYS OF TREATMENT SHE GOT ME
THROUGH DETOX.
SHE GOT ME INTO NORTHWEST
INDIAN FOR A 45- DAY PROGRAM AND
THEN ALL BECAUSE OF MY
PREGNANCY,
I ENDED UP GOING BACK TO THE
DETOX CENTER BECAUSE THEY CAN
MANAGE THE MEDICAL STUFF BETTER,
BUT
60 DAYS OF TREATMENT AND THEN
OUT TO OXFORD AND ALL BECAUSE --
ALL BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS!
I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE AND --
YEAH.
YOU JUST HAVE TO DECIDE.
IT'S HARD.
IT'S SCARY. YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE
GETTING INTO, YOU'RE AN ADULT
AND WANT TO DO WHAT YOU WANTWANT
YOU'RE READY
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES,
FOR
BEING WILLING TO COME
HERE
TODAY. IT'S SCARY BEING IN A
PUBLIC
LIGHT, AND I JUST CAN'T
TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM THAT
YOU'VE
BEEN HERE TO SHARE -- I'M
SORRY,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.
I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> NO, NO.
KRISTINE MENTIONED TWICE
THAT THERE WAS CONTACT WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT
AND THAT THERE WAS A REFERRAL,
RIGHT?
IS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
DOING THAT FOR CARE?
>> ASK KRISTINE THAT.
>> I'VE HAD A
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.
WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT DO CALL US
NOT FOR BECAUSE IT'S BEEN
A FORMALITY THAT'S BEEN PUT
TOGETHER, HOWEVER JUST
BECAUSE THERE'S
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THEY
HAVE A LEVEL OF TRUST.
IN THE CITY OF BERAN, I
WORK WITH THE KING COUNTY
SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT AND THEY CALL ME 24
HOURS. WE HAVE A HOTLINE.
I WILL SAY THE
IMPORTANCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
PLAYING A ROLE
IN CONNECTING THESE
RESOURCES QUICKLY AND FINDING
THE RESOURCE
PROVIDERS THAT WILL SHOW UP
QUICKLY MATTER.
IT ALSO CREATES A DIFFERENT
RELATIONSHIP, BUT THERE IS
NO FORMAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
LAW
ENFORCEMENT NOW FOR US TO
ANSWER CALLS QUICKLY.
WE JUST DO IT.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT SHOULD BE COMING.
THAT WAS PART OF THE FUNDING
PACKAGE WAS THAT THERE WOULD
BE CONTRACTS PUT OUT WITH
COMMUNITY- BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO COULD BE
AVAILABLE ALMOST
24/7 TO WORK WITH PATROL AND
ALSO WITH THE VICE, SO THAT
THE THREE PEOPLE IN VICE
AREN'T HAVING TO DO ALL OF THE
REFERRAL
STEPS THEMSELVES.
SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THE
CURRICULUM IN PLACE AND
WHICH MORE WE LOVE HAS
CONTRIBUTED
TO AS WELL AS OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, AND I BELIEVE THE
RFP FOR THE
COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS
TO BE
BASICALLY ON-CALL. VICTIM
ADVOCATES TO WORK
DIRECTLY WITH SPD IS GOING
OUT THIS MONTH, I BELIEVE, OR
NEXT
MONTH.
SO THAT SHOULD BE
HAPPENING SOON.
THAT MORE
FORMALIZED
RELATIONSHIP. AGAIN, THE FOCUS
OF THE
LOITERING LAW FOR SELLERS
IS DIVERSION TREATMENT SERVICES
HOUSING. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
THERE TO
DO AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE GIVEN
TO
SPD.
>> WE DID PRESENT TO THE NORTH
PRESYNCED INSTRUCTIONS ON
HOW WE CAN CALL THE HELP LINE
ASK
WE'LL DO PROACTIVE OUTREACH AND
IT SHOULD HELP WITH THEIR
PRESENCE
AND THE ABILITY TO ACCESS
THE BEDS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU
SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE
TODAY, REALLY AND BEST OF LUCK
TO YOU.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK HERE IN A
YEAR'S TIME TO HEAR EVEN
MORE AMAZING STORIES OF
YOUR CONTINUED RECOVERY AND
PROGRESS
AND JUST THANK YOU.
THANK YOU
SO MUCH. TAKE
CARE.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING
US A
SECOND CHANCE SO WE COULD BE
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
[ INAUDIBLE ] [ LAUGHTER ]
>> ALL RIGHT.
JUST TO WRAP UP THAT PARTICULAR
PRESENTATION, I DID JUST
WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT
WAS --
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
IT WAS A COMMUNITY AND IT WAS
A COUNCIL EFFORT.
IT WAS THE COUNCIL
THAT DECIDED TO PASS THE LAW.
IT WAS THE COUNCIL
THAT DECIDED TO MAKE SURE THE
FUNDING WAS
THERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR PUTTING $2 MILLION IN
THEIR BUDGET.
SO, CLEARLY, IT TAKES
A
COMMUNITY. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO
MAKE
ALL OF THIS HAPPEN.
SO KRISTINE'S WORDS WERE VERY
KIND, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY OF
US WHO WERE INVOLVED AND
THE TRUSTEE WAS A CRITICAL
PARTNER AS WAS DEPUTY MAYOR
TIFFANY
WASHINGTON, SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE -- EXTEND MY THANKS
TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS
POSSIBLE, AND WHO WILL CONTINUE
TO MAKE
THIS KIND OF PROGRESS
AND RECOVERY
POSSIBLE.
OKAY. SO MY FINAL REMARKS AS
CHAIR,
THIS CONCLUDES THE JUNE
25th MEETING OF THE HOUSING
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE,
THE NEXT
TWO MEETINGS HAVE BEEN
CANCELED WHILE COUNCIL WORKS TO
APPOINT A NEW CHAIR.
SO THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
WILL BE AUGUST 13th.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT
HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A
PRIVILEGE
TO OVERSEE THIS COMMITTEE FOR
THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS
SUPPORTED THE WORK OF THIS
COMMITTEE INCLUDING
OUR INCREDIBLY TALENTED
CENTRAL STAFF TEAM OF TRACY, JEN
AND
ASHA. HSD DIRECTOR TANIA KIM
AND
STAFF. OFFICE OF HOUSING
DIRECTOR
MICHAEL CHEN AND KELLY LARSON
AND STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
AND THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS DIRECTOR DEREK WHEELER
SMITH
AND STAFF, AND LAST, BUT NOT
LEAST, THE DEPUTY MAYOR
TIFFANY WASHINGTON.
I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VICE
CHAIR SOLOMON FOR YOUR
COLLEGIALITY AND YOUR SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT
THIS TIME, AND THE FACT THAT YOU
HAVE COME TO EVERY COMMITTEE
MEETING
ENGAGED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT
THE WORK AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT
THE
WORK, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE
WORKED ALONGSIDE WITH YOU TO
OVERSEE THE
EXTENSIVE HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES WORK,
AND WE HAVE MANAGED TO
ACCOMPLISH
AA
AMOUNT. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF
EDUCATING OURSELVES ABOUT THE
EXTENSIVE LEVEL OF WORK THAT IS
DONE
IN THIS CITY WHICH IS
IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE HEARD
FROM A VARIETY
OF SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WE'VE ALSO EXTENDED THE
MULTI- FAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE
COMING
BACK AT SOME POINT HERE FOR
FINALIZATION.
WE IMPLEMENTED THE FUNDING
LEVY AND WE INCREASED THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE
AND ACTUALLY DIRECTS SOME MONEY
FOR
RECOVERY AND IT'S THE FIRST
TIME THAT IT HAPPENED AND IT'S
THE
LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR KING COUNTY
ALREADY, WHICH WE
ARE WORKING AND REVAMPING THE
BYLAWS AS WELL
AS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
AS THE CITY AND COUNTY'S
APPROACH TO ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS. I WOULD SAY THAT
AS WE WRAP
UP THE WORK UNDER MY
TENURE, THERE'S A LOT THAT
REMAINS TO BE
DONE, AND VOTE FOR MFTE AND
MHA AND ALSO INCREASING OUR
SHELTER AND HOMELESSNESS
AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, BUT I
HOPE
THAT THE FUTURE OF
THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE THAT WE
DO
NOT SHY AWAY FROM ASKING THE
TOUGH QUESTIONS AND FROM BEING
WILLING
TO CONSIDER IF THE
URRENT APPROACH IS WORKING TO
BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
AND TO CONTINUE TO BE
PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE
THAT
EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FEELS
VALUED AND IS CARED FOR BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY, THAT IS WHAT
I BELIEVE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE
RESIDENTS OF D5 FOR SELECTING ME
TO SERVE
ON THIS COUNCIL, AND I WANT
TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT
FOR SELECTING ME TO BE CHAIR OF
THIS
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR
INSTILLING YOUR
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I
CAN NAVIGATE THIS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
SO THE TIME IS 10:37,
AND WE ARE NOW -- OH, SORRY.
HAND RAISED?
OH, SORRY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> YOU DON'T GET AWAY THAT
FAST.
[ LAUGHTER ] I THANK YOU.
I REMEMBER THE WALK THAT WE
TOOK AROUND GREEN LAKE
RIVER TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND
THINKING THAT IT
WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOU
AT THIS COMMITTEE PARTLY BECAUSE
II KNEW YOU FROM PRIOR WORK TO
BE SOMEONE WHO DOES
ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND THAT
IS WHAT
I REALLY APPRECIATED ABOUT
YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ADDITION TO
BEING THE FORCE BEHIND
THE SOAP LEGISLATION AND
BRINGING
PEOPLE TO THE TABLE SO THAT WE
CAN LEARN AND THEN CONTINUE THE
GOOD
WORK THAT YOU HAVE STARTED.
YOU HAVE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM
ACTUALLY ASKING THE
HARD QUESTIONS AND PUTTING
THINGS
IN VERY PLAIN LANGUAGE AT THE
DEUS
AND MAKING YOUR OPINIONS
KNOWN ON WHAT WE WERE DOING OR
ABOUT TO DO OR HAD BEEN DONE,
AND
I WILL VERY MUCH MISS THAT KIND
OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU BRING
TO THIS PARTY IN ADDITION TO
ALL OF THE PIECES OF
APPROXIMATELY
SEE THAT YOU'VE TOUCHED.
IT IS THAT COURAGE THAT I
WILL MISS AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I CAN'T RESPOND BECAUSE
I'M GOING TO CRY AGAIN, WHICH
IS
NOT APE GOOD LOOK FOR HERE, BUT
I KNOW I'M NOT EVERYBODY'S CUP
OF
TEA, BUT I APPRECIATE
THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAD IN
ME,
AND I APPRECIATE THE CAMARADERIE
THAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS
COMMITTEE
AND ELSEWHERE AND THAT CARRIES
FORTH FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA, AS WELL AND COUNCIL MEMBER
SOLOMON. THERE BEING NOTHING
ELSE
THIS DOES CONCLUDE, BEING 10:39
AND THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE HOUSE
ANDAND
SERVICES COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
?
THANK YOU.