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Mayor proposes to increase Seattle shelter capacity by 25 percent

By MYNORTHWEST.COM

Tiny houses on display May 30, 2018 as Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced an increased effort to address homelessness with the homes. (Matt Pitman, KIRO Radio)

By MYNORTHWEST.COM

SEATTLE — Mayor Jenny Durkan aims to expand Seattle shelter services by 25 percent, which will include inviting 120 more homeless people to the shelter at city hall.

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Durkan’s plan to expand shelter units passed out of the council’s Finance and Neighborhoods Committee Wednesday afternoon. The legislation will move to the full council for consideration next week. The mayor’s office expects it to be approved.

The plan proposes to serve an additional 525 people each night.

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“Once we give people shelter, they’re more likely to access services such as mental health care, hygiene services, and employment support, and then move to permanent housing,” Mayor Durkan said. “We all will have to work together to create more spaces for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, which is why we’re opening city hall to 120 more people each night to help address this crisis.”

Seattle shelter increase
Seattle's shelters are already at or near capacity every night. Durkan's latest plan will add to the number of bridge housing and shelter units within 90 days.

Enhanced shelters will serve 205 more people under the proposal. Bridge housing will be opened at Haddon Hall, a homeless apartment complex on Third Avenue in downtown; it will serve 75 people.

Durkan’s proposal also makes official the city’s plans for 54 tiny homes in South Lake Union and 30 tiny homes at 18th and Yesler (after the city completes community outreach). The city expects the two tiny home villages to serve 103 people at a time.

KIRO

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