FOLLOWUP: Expansion shelter sites in West Seattle announced, but not yet matched to operators

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | Westwood

(WSB photo, Southwest Teen Life Center)

As noted in our nightly COVID-19 local-news roundup last night, the city and county have announced a list of sites where they plan to add shelter space to enable “social distancing” in existing shelters. Two of the sites are in our area – Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle) and county-owned space on Harbor Island. We followed up today in search of more details on who would be served and how the expansion shelter would be managed. For the city, Will Lemke replied, saying most details haven’t been worked out yet: “We have not yet identified a shelter to move clients into the SW Teen Life Center or the Harbor Island site. These spaces are being made available in anticipation of this need. … As with the other de-intensifying shelters we are standing up, the City and County will partner with shelter operators to arrange for transportation, 24/7 staffing, food, and cleaning services at locations being used in response to COVID-19.” The announcement says SW Teen Life Center will have room for 50 people and that Harbor Island will have room for 24, both to be ready sometime in April. These are NOT quarantine/isolation sites – just meant to create literally more space for unsheltered people.

Dcn March 26, 2020 (8:38 pm)

Thanks for the update. I live nearby and want to know what to expect.

Faunt March 27, 2020 (6:44 pm)

We can expect a problem.Terrible . That was one of the only open spaces near chief sealth. They should put this somewhere else. Put it out at the shipping terminals. Lots of open space out there. Why does our mayor and city council rep suck so bad? Put it up on Queen Anne or in U W football parking lot. Bs. West Seattle is dumping ground for all the cities problems. Homeless encampments etc. gawd
- WSB March 27, 2020 (6:52 pm)
  
  This is not an “encampment,” to clarify. It’s a use of a building that is currently closed. No open space involved.

HS March 27, 2020 (10:57 am)

Also expressing thanks for the update. I’m surprised at the large number of people for the SW Teen Life Center location – 50 people. For a single family residential area that seems big.

ACG March 27, 2020 (1:28 pm)

The space there must be bigger than I think, from when I’ve been there. 50 people, each spaced the recommended distance apart (at least 6 feet on all sides), that will require a lot of square footage. The space must be bigger than I think it is to accommodate that many people.

ElDaderino March 27, 2020 (4:16 pm)

Congrats to the surrounding neighborhood. You win increased crime, panhandling, and medical waste. Booo! The city leaders are fools and we are bigger fools to keep electing them. Frustrating.

1994 March 27, 2020 (10:10 pm)

The SW Teen center includes a giant gym with full size basketball court – that is probably where the people will sleep – spread out over the gym. This used to be a community center and then it became a limited use site.

1994 March 28, 2020 (9:01 pm)

Maybe the city should use the Delridge Community Center. That location already offers hygiene services to the homeless as in free showers, soap, toothbrush, use of a towel……It could probably house 50 people, and is closer to downtown where some may already receive ongoing services – health care, mental health….why place the people further away from what they are familiar with.

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