Wilson Announces Legislation To Rapidly Expand Seattle Shelter Capacity

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced new legislation aimed at rapidly expanding shelter capacity across the city, calling on residents, community organizations and service providers to help bring more people indoors.

Speaking at the Hope Factory in SoDo alongside community leaders, neighbors and service providers, Wilson said the proposal would help the city open 1,000 new units of shelter and emergency housing with wrap-around services this year.

The package of legislation, which has been transmitted to the Seattle City Council, is designed to accelerate the development of new shelters, allow successful shelters to serve more people and allocate funding to support expanded shelter and services.

The proposal would allow the Director of Finance and Administrative Services to directly sign lease agreements with property owners, a change city officials say would significantly speed the process of securing and preparing new shelter sites. Once sites are ready, the properties could be turned over to service providers to operate the shelters.

The legislation would also increase the current limit on shelter capacity. Under existing rules, shelters are generally limited to serving 100 people. The mayor’s proposal would increase that limit to 150 people per site on an interim basis and would allow one location in each council district to serve up to 250 people when conditions allow. The city would also provide additional support to address potential public safety impacts near larger shelters.

The legislation also identifies $4.8 million to support shelter expansion and services. Of that amount, $3.3 million would come from an underutilized revolving loan program that had not previously been appropriated. Another $1.5 million would come from the Downtown Health and Human Service Fund, a program created in the 1990s that has not been used for more than a decade.

“We’re moving faster than ever before, but I want to see the ground start breaking, the hammers start swinging, and fewer people left to sleep in doorways and tents,” said Wilson. “That’s why I have transmitted legislation to city council that will help us deliver on the goal of opening 1,000 new units of shelter with supportive services across the city this year. Now I need your help to get sites ready, to support our front-line service provides, and to be good neighbors with the shelters we need to open around the city. Neighbor by neighbor, we can do this.”

Councilmember Bob Kettle said expanding shelter capacity is a critical step in addressing homelessness and related public safety concerns in Seattle.

“Expanding shelters in the city is critical to addressing Seattle’s ongoing public health and public safety challenges. Today’s announcement of creating potentially 1,000 new units of shelter is welcome news for it builds capacity. I appreciate Mayor Wilson’s focus on this issue. My office will continue to support ways in which the city can assist our most vulnerable populations and create that safe base for all,” said Kettle.

Alison Eisinger, executive director of the Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness, said the proposal reflects an urgent need to increase shelter capacity across the region.

“Mayor Wilson understands that urgent action is necessary. It’s refreshing to see a mayor take quick steps to invest and deploy city resources to do more of what works. Seattle and other cities across King County can and must add shelter options and support their residents who can’t access existing shelters because they are at capacity. Our region has to close the terrible gap between the thousands of families and individuals who do get assistance, and those left outside without the basics. As Seattle and King County stand strong in the face of attempts by Trump’s HUD appointees to undermine decades of progress on housing, I hope these local investments are a harbinger of what is possible when we use local resources and policies to strengthen our social contract with each other,” said Eisinger.

Wilson also issued a citywide call for volunteers, encouraging residents to help prepare shelter sites, support front line service providers and work with neighborhoods where new shelters may open.

Speakers at the announcement included Steve Roberts of Hope Factory and Sound Foundations Northwest with Sharon Lee, executive director of the Low Income Housing Institute, Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka, Fé LopezGaetke of Purpose. Dignity. Action, West Seattle resident Grace Stiller, Central District resident Ann Haruki-Pinedo, Chloe Gale of the REACH program at Evergreen Treatment Services, Jilma Meneses of Catholic Community Services, Derrick Belgarde of Chief Seattle Club and Brandon Ashford-Whitfield, a front-line service provider and member of OPEIU Local 8.