SEATTLE — Amazon is allowing about 200 homeless people to live rent-free for a year on the site of its future Seattle headquarters. They will be able to move in today.
Amazon turned what used to be the Travelodge motel near Eighth and Denny into a temporary homeless shelter.
Amazon bought the property two years ago as part of its big downtown expansion plan, but construction is not set to start for another year.
In the meantime, Amazon teamed up with Mary's Place, which will run the shelter. The nonprofit helps homeless women and children.
Most recently, the building was a dormitory for nearby Cornish College of the Arts.
The goal is to run it as a shelter, free of charge, for up to 70 families.
"As we grow in Seattle, we recognize the importance of investing in our hometown in ways that benefit our neighbors and our employees. When Seattle Mayor Ed Murray declared a civil state of emergency on homelessness we wanted to help out in a time of great need," Amazon wrote in a statement.
When construction on the site begins in 2017 for the Amazon project, the company plans to find another nearby building to serve the homeless.
Mary's Place will have to pay the utilities on the building.
The most recent count by King County says there are about 4,500 people living on the streets of Seattle.
For a limited time, you can donate to an Amazon list and items will be shipped directly to Mary's Place to help families begin the journey out of homelessness. Click here to see the list.
Cox Media Group
