Westside Neighbors Shelter reducing overnight operations due to lack of funding

| Triangle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, October)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It costs about $26,000 a month to run West Seattle’s only overnight shelter, Westside Neighbors Shelter in The Triangle.

That covers not only regular operational costs like utilities, but also security – insurance requires one overnight watchperson for every 24 people staying overnight, and they’ve been hosting 36.

So the shelter board has voted to reduce overnight operations to cold-weather-emergency-only as of December 31 – unless they can raise enough money to keep going at full overnight operations.

All this is according to a conversation we just had with Laurie Utterback of the shelter board, who we contacted for clarification after multiple people told us word was circulating in the community that the shelter would be shutting down.

Earlier this fall, the shelter made a deal with a Burien church to provide administration and security help. But that isn’t free, and Utterback said they’ve got a bill to pay that will take almost all the money the shelter has. They were going to have to cease overnight operations – except for very cold weather – as of tomorrow, Utterback says, but now that’s been extended to the end of the year, thanks to donations from a religious congregation that got word of their dilemma. After that – again, unless they can raise enough money to cover costs – they will only accept overnight guests in very cold weather, which is the only service they get some government funding to cover. The daytime warming center will continue, Utterback says. Costs including security add up to about $26,000 a month,

The shelter is in American Legion Post 160’s building at 3618 SW Alaska in the West Seattle Triangle. The agreement with Highline United Methodist Church followed discussion of community concerns including street disorder surrounding the shelter, which has been run for years virtually single-handedly by the Post 160 commander, Keith Hughes. In addition, they’ve been talking with Seattle Police and now have a trespass agreement with SPD making it easier to remove troublemakers.

ADDED: For anyone wondering how to help, that information is in this news release sent just after we published this report.

Lauren December 20, 2025 (3:09 pm)

Here’s the donation link from the press release: https://donorbox.org/support-westside-neighbors-shelter

Question Authority December 20, 2025 (3:56 pm)

Where has the 100’s of millions of dollars gone that KCRHA has been given to help with these type of issues?

WS Res December 20, 2025 (7:03 pm)

The West Seattle Neighbors Shelter gets $0 from KCRHA. It is a labor of love, not an official part of the regional shelter system.
- Sarah December 20, 2025 (8:19 pm)
  
  And why do they get $0?
  - Question Authority December 20, 2025 (8:57 pm)
    
    That’s the problem with the way this area has been dealing with the issue, there’s been a competitive market all out for themselves with their individual mission statements. The KCRHA was supposed to bring stability and clear consistency, spread the money where the most benefit was possible. What’s happening is many providers are mismanaged, wasteful or not suited for the needs and mission, if your going to hand out public funds, let alone private donations we need successful oversight and that’s not happening.
    - k December 21, 2025 (7:00 am)
      
      That’s the problem with your initial question, it wasn’t a question. It was bait to get people to open the door so you could share your complaint du jour about KCHRA, knowing they’re unaffiliated with this shelter (because you’ve been told as much in other threads). Congrats, you got a couple bites.
    - Question Authority December 21, 2025 (3:37 pm)
      
      K
      You didn’t answer the question, where’s the money gone regardless of this shelter and it’s funding stream? Why has 10 or more years of declared emergency with all that money not solved more? Success is based on facts, not just good intentions and ever changing goals posts and an ever open checkbook.
    - Catte December 21, 2025 (5:04 pm)
      
      How are you defining “success”?
    - KK50 December 22, 2025 (6:39 am)
      
      Hey Question Authority: the Shelter is a Welcoming Space for Volunteers. You can sign up and go down . I imagine Keith would be happy to run some #s by you to help you understand the finances. I believe the utilities alone were $5,000 mth. And the food costs are really high. Awesome place, pop in and say Hello and roll up your sleeves. Always a sink full of dishes that need washing ~
  - WS Res December 21, 2025 (5:08 pm)
    
    They get $0 because they are a community-run shelter (like the UMC shelter in Burien) rather than an official venture of KCHRA.

Christine December 20, 2025 (5:14 pm)

I’m shocked at the monthly cost of maintaining the shelter. $26,000/month? Anyway, I donated some money and will donate some goods. Thank you for letting us know about this, West Seattle Blog. Keith is a superb human being for keeping the shelter going in the midst of so many challenges.

Catte December 21, 2025 (5:05 pm)

That sounds shockingly cheap for housing and feeding dozens of people. How much would you expect it to cost?

Lucy December 20, 2025 (5:20 pm)

26,000 a month?for ONE PERSON?

WSB December 20, 2025 (5:59 pm)

They’ve been sheltering 36 people at night, and serving more during the morning “warming center” hours.
WS Res December 20, 2025 (7:02 pm)

Congratulations, neighbors who insisted on round the clock security when the center is being used. This is on you.
- Mel December 20, 2025 (8:10 pm)
  
  I have never formally complained but am happy to see some changes. I’m tired of the insane drug use all around the YMCA, the people passed out on the sidewalks slumped over. The many many stolen goods I’ve seen folks have. It is trashing the entire neighborhood around there.
- Alki resident December 20, 2025 (9:32 pm)
  
  This is on you? You clearly haven’t been anywhere near that building in years. I’ve witnessed bizarre behavior from the men staying there, not to mention the drug smoking as they hide around the corner of the building by a shipping and receiving loading dock area. I called immediately and left a voicemail. It’s near a daycare as well and I’ve seen plenty of garbage and graffiti since this all started. It’s about time security was hired there.
- Triangle Neighbor December 21, 2025 (1:12 am)
  
  As a neighbor who has insisted on better protocols, or “complained” as you so eloquently put it, the security has nothing to do with the neighbors. Keith needs security during shelter overnights for his building to remain insured. This has been true for a while. Not because neighbors insisted on it. In fact, there is no security during the day.
- Actualperson December 21, 2025 (5:33 am)
  
  WS Res. Accountability; security for everyone. Why are these words so evil to you?
clarify December 20, 2025 (8:09 pm)

My understanding was that the 26K was for all the costs of running the shelter, not just the cost of the security person.

Cost December 20, 2025 (7:29 pm)

For those interested in the math: $26,000 per month to operate. $867.00 per day (30 day). . $24.00 per person/per day (36 people)

Scarlett December 20, 2025 (7:34 pm)

Nothing more dreadful than being out in a cold night, at night with no warm place to sleep. I was recently locked out of my car and spent a couple hours lightly clothed waiting for assistance. and it was an ordeal. And that was with the knowledged that it was temporary. Rest area’s along 1-5 are full of people living – shivering – in their cars but even that hardly offers any more protection from the elements, The service provided here by Keith to the unhoused is of unestimable value

Peter S. December 20, 2025 (8:04 pm)

It’s a tough situation all around. I know Keith Hughes personally, and he’s a wonderful and compassionate human being. It’s unfortunate that a few bad apples spoil it for everyone. I walked past the shelter several weeks ago early in the AM and the window of an adjacent business’ van was punched out. No, I don’t know for sure a shelter guest was responsible, but I can’t blame the neighbors for insisting on adequate security.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy December 20, 2025 (10:30 pm)

I think the security is for inside the building and the shelter property only. I don’t believe it is there to assist the neighbors.

sbre December 21, 2025 (12:19 am)

I went there today to drop-off a couple bags of jackets, socks and gloves to find the doors locked and my knocks went unanswered.So took everything to Dave Newman Insurance for their ‘cold weather clothing dtive’.

WS Res December 21, 2025 (5:11 pm)

They are closed between about 11 and 6.

aa December 21, 2025 (6:18 am)

I’m curious how far off are they are from the $26K needed? Can it be attained through fundraising or is the difference too great to achieve without a large scale effort?

Neighbor December 21, 2025 (9:50 am)

The new mayor is coming on board with a stated goal of creating shelter for homeless people. How about a group of people working with the operator to get some funding from the city? And how about a group offering to partner with the operator for support, problem-solving and pursuing donations? Mutual aid is a hyperlocal way to contribute to the wellbeing of our community and it’s needed now more than ever.

clinker December 21, 2025 (12:57 pm)

This place embodies mutual aid and hyperlocal already. It can’t get any more so.If SPD would do their jobs and get rid of the super obvious drug dealers peddling poison, those suffering would be in a better place. The sellers and buyers meet in front of the Alaska st bus stop or nearby seemingly every single morning.
Jake December 22, 2025 (10:43 am)

This shelter has nothing to do with the new mayor. She did say she wanted to work with communities of faith for sheltering options. Maybe this can fall under that? But Katie Wilson has zero to do with this place.

Scarlett December 21, 2025 (11:52 am)

The only thing that is going to save this country is a return to more of a “city-state” model or in modern parlance, the “hyperlocal” economy, as referenced above. In this model, when one person is suffering, everyone suffers. When one person loses a job, everyone feels it. Everyone feels the impact to some extent and there is an urgency to address the problem. Today, too many of us are safely insulated or distanced from our actions – including investing decisions – that may not directly effect us, but may have negative consequences elsewhere.

Question Authority December 21, 2025 (2:56 pm)

So when somebody has an addiction or mental illness and makes others suffer thru theft, assault or other criminal activity, what about the suffering they cause others, why is it wrong to want accountability?
- Scarlett December 21, 2025 (6:47 pm)
  
  Self-deception is all the rage these days, isn’t it. QA? Nope, no one had a hand in creating the society we have now, either by self-interest or apathy. Nope, not moi. That company, whose stock jumped after they sacked a thousand employees several states away, well it didn’t effect me and and my portfolio, so life is good. Accountability is a fine principle, but unfortunately it’s only for the poor.

enough already December 21, 2025 (5:45 pm)

The rampant/flagrant drug selling and use (and aftermath) has been out of control lately around the shelter’s Triangle neighborhood, particularly and perhaps most troubling by the YMCA and the Alaska/Fauntleroy bus stop by the Shell station, a few steps away from the montessori school.Why does sheltering the houseless have to include tolerating open air drug abuse? When will the police back up their whopping new salaries and do more to stop drug dealers?

Lauren December 22, 2025 (10:00 am)

I live above this intersection and see the consumption and dealing all day long. I used to call SPD, they never respond. There were three ODs in the last few weeks here, they always respond, never arrest, and the cycle continues.

WestSeattleNeighbor December 22, 2025 (8:51 pm)

As a WS resident, I’ve watched this shelter become increasingly unsafe as well. On a daily basis, there is open drug dealing directly outside the building and at the nearby bus stops around the morning breakfast service, with fentanyl being smoked on the lawn and dealers freely supplying guests in broad daylight. This is not helping people get off the streets – it is actively enabling addiction and keeping a vulnerable population trapped. The organization lacks the infrastructure and social services required to address substance use or mental health needs. As a result, surrounding residents and businesses are experiencing the repercussions. This is especially concerning given the shelter’s location directly across from a daycare and Montessori school – aside from the property damage that has spiked in the surrounding area.
Many neighbors donated in good faith in the past because we believe in the mission of helping people in need, but have lost confidence in this group’s ability to do so safely or responsibly. There are so many people in need of housing services here in Seattle – many of which are not able to benefit from services like the WSNS because of circumstances as mentioned above. These issues have been raised time and again but to no improvement or action plan from the WSNS to collaborate with the community.
Compassion without accountability is not compassion. This situation is, at this point, dangerous – for the neighborhood and for the people the shelter claims to serve. The question is how much worse it has to get before meaningful change happens…

k December 23, 2025 (5:12 am)

Why do we continuously ignore reports of the police doing nothing when called? When they know about the activities in this area? When that’s their actual job to stop crime? Why is it on the shelter to prevent crime? Why is it on those trying to help people stay warm to stop drug deals? Why is proliferation of crime the fault of a warming shelter and not the actual police whose actual job it is to stop crime? Everyone wants accountability, accountability, accountability… except when it comes to holding the police accountable for not doing their jobs so that Keith can run his shelter in peace.
- real December 23, 2025 (3:15 pm)
  
  “Why is It on the shelter to prevent crime?”
  
  Any shelter with overnight permit needs to adhere to the king county policy of prohibiting possession, use, or distribution of narcotics at said shelter. West side neighbors has allowed the inhabitants to be passed out on the lawn high on fentanyl, distributing fentanyl , and or actively smoking fentanyl. They share a responsibility of minimizing the impact to near by community. It’s also the responsibility of the police to be more engaged and arresting those who are breaking the law everyday on the property.
clinker December 23, 2025 (10:15 am)

Law enforcement is not the purpose of this org. Its purpose is to provide basic needs of our human neighbors that are suffering from health problems.Go out on a limb here with me: Imagine if the police’s goal was to neglect the problem enough to “just let them die”, what would their behavior be? Now think about the difference between that and their current behavior. I can’t see any difference.

Dork Sporck December 23, 2025 (7:16 am)

I was on the bus the other day as it passed the one bus stop right there and one person was pleasuring the other person. Not sure if this was related, but hey that is what I tell my kid goes on in that area right now.

Dunno December 24, 2025 (11:36 am)

Quit calling for Law Enforcement! Call the care team. This is exactly what they were created for.If you don’t like what is happening with our homeless, get off the computer and get your behind down to where the problem is and see how you can help. I love all the compassion, now put it to good use and open your own checkbook. Come talk to the homeless, ask what you can do to make their lives better. Better yet, open your home to them!

Andover December 28, 2025 (7:50 am)

Yesterday I witnessed a guy in a wheelchair shooting up a shaking, dank looking guy while waiting to cross 35th toward th shelter around 4pm. The zombie apocalypse that has descended on this area appears worse than ever. Providing shelter and food attracts them, no?

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