Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Homeless children in Seattle: What's the City doing?
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October 1, 2011 at 7:55 pm #735490
JoBParticipantOctober 5, 2011 at 1:02 am #735491
DBPMemberYeah, Jo. I’m in. E-mail when you have the appt. time.
Anyone else want to show up? I can’t imagine anything that would impress Mr. Licata more than a delegation of concerned citizens. Now here’s some additional info forwarded to me by Bruce Harrel’s assistant, Jennifer Samuels.
Good morning David,
Councilmember Harrell asked me to follow-up with you regarding additional information we received from the Human Services Department. Below, see the email we received this morning on this subject.
Do not hesitate to call me at 206-684-8572, if you have further comments or questions.
Best,
Jennifer Samuels
[Attached e-mail below . . .]
Subject: RE: MEDIA CONTACT Nickelsville Kudo + Concern
The Human Services Department (HSD) does not and has never had a contractual relationship with the “Nickelsville” tent city; this includes the period of time when the organization was at FS 39. FAS had an agreement with the organization named “Nickelsville”. HSD cannot speak to the specific FAS lease/use terms while “Nickelsville” was at the old FS 39.
HSD visited “Nickelsville” at FS 39. These visits were limited to tours with the Mayor’s Office and meetings we scheduled with them to conduct a survey of encampment residents. On one of the shelter survey visits, HSD observed that there was a family residing at the old FS 39. HSD contacted the organizers of “Nickelsville” to discuss options for the family, provided them with a contact to an HSD-funded motel voucher program and we followed up with our contractor. The family declined assistance. HSD staff also contacted CPS (Child Protection Services).
HSD does not have a contract for outreach services to the encampment known as “Nickelsville”.
There are limited shelter, transitional and affordable housing options available for homeless individuals and children. HSD is engaging community members in a planning process that will result in releasing an investment plan for City funding in 2012. In this process, HSD is looking at ways to increase early intervention services for homeless youth and families with children to end cycles of housing instability and homelessness.
I’m also attaching a document that HSD staff recently prepared on CPS implications in Washington State.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Andrea Akita
Senior Planning & Development Specialist
Seattle Human Services Department
206.684.0113
(David’s Note: I did not receive the CPS document Ms. Akita refers to above. I think that document was intended for Mr. Harrell and not me)
October 5, 2011 at 1:14 am #735492
DBPMemberHere’s the response to my e-mail from Council Member Richard Conlin:
Thanks for the message. I will forward this to our staff who work on homelessness issues and ask them for information on the shelter situation for homeless families. It has been my understanding that shelter space has consistently been available for families, but that sometimes there is a complicating factor (such as a pet) that cannot be accommodated. But I will ask them to verify that.
Council President Richard Conlin
Seattle City Hall
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2
PO Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025
(206) 684-8805
David’s note: To date I have not received any additional info from Mr. Conlin or his assistant regarding availability of shelter space.
October 5, 2011 at 4:38 pm #735493
JoBParticipantDBP
i have renewed my request for a meeting with councilman Licata every day this week but so far have only heard from one of those pesky assistants:)
i will let you know if/when i secure an actual meeting.
October 5, 2011 at 9:40 pm #735494
DBPMemberMr. Licata’s response to my e-mail:
Dear Mr. Preston,
Of the items in Resolution 31292, setting out a work plan to help homeless people who are not served by the shelter system, the 4 efforts that seem most able to address the needs of families with children who are currently sleeping outside are:
1. Expanding family shelter at Fire Station 39 (see pages 1-4)
Will be considered in Council budget deliberations
2. Supporting a non-profit provide in efforts to purchase a hotel/motel property (pages 9-10)
Office of Housing is considering funding a project of Catholic Community Services of Western Washington is using to turn the Fremont Inn – formerly the Thunderbird Motel – into a home for 71 chronically homeless men and women. At this time, no provider has approached the City to fund a family project at one of these locations.
3. Expanding rent assistance vouchers (pages 210 and 11)
The Council will consider increasing the amount of funding for these programs. $250,000 in direct financial assistance could prevent a minimum of 102 households from becoming homeless or re-house a minimum of thirty-two to forty-one families or individuals. Providing additional funding for these programs may not be feasible at this time due to reductions in CDBG funding and pressures on the City’s General Fund. This will be considered in Council budget deliberations
4. Modifying the City’s existing shelter service contracts to meet needs specifically for: working homeless, medically-fragile homeless, frail and elderly individuals, and families. (pages 14 – 16)
The Human Services Department is developing a plan for its 2012 investments in shelter, transitional housing, day/hygiene centers, and other supports for homeless individuals and families with the goal of more effectively meeting the needs of various homeless populations, including working adults, couples, single parents with older children, families, victims of domestic violence, and the chronically homeless.
Finally, in addition to these specific Council efforts, in May 2100, there was a notice of funding availability (NOFA) issued by the Office of Housing (among other funders) the intent to allocate approximately $55.6 million in combined funds for housing with supportive services for homeless families, individuals and young adults. I’ve attached that NOFA here as well so that you can get a sense of the kinds of efforts that we can expect to be implemented in the upcoming year.
I really appreciate your advocacy on behalf of homeless people generally and children especially. It’s heartbreaking that children are homeless. In the most recent year we have data (2009) schools reported 20,780 homeless students statewide. Most of these kids are in shelter or some sort of transitional housing. But even one kid having to sleep outside is unacceptable. Yet, in the last One Night Count, we learned that in Seattle there are 1,700 people sleeping outside (separate from roughly 6000 people who were in area emergency shelters and transitional housing programs on the same night), and yes, sadly, there are children among them.
Sincerely,
Lisa Herbold
Legislative Aide to Councilmember Nick Licata
ph: 206-684-8803/fax: 206-233-0054
600 4th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
P.S. Nick has a periodic newsletter, URBAN POLITICS, that follows political issues that shape the City of Seattle. If you’d like to subscribe to URBAN POLITCS, send a blank email to urbanpolitics-subscribe@speakeasy.net. Previous issues of URBAN POLITICS can be viewed here: http://www.seattle.gov/council/licata/up00dex.htm
Attached to Ms. Herbold’s e-mail were two PDF documents, and I’m linking them to you here:
October 5, 2011 at 10:44 pm #735495
JoBParticipantDBP..
I heard from Lisa in Nick Licata’s office today.
It seems it is not unusual to take at least a week to respond to a request for a meeting.
I wonder how long it will take to actually get a meeting?
October 5, 2011 at 11:01 pm #735496
JanSParticipantI just read the letter from Lisa Herbold. May 2100? Ummm..not gonna happen for quite some time? Guess I am a bit picky, but…a lot of it is double speak to me. Tonight there will be a family on the street, including kids…what are the more immediate plans for them? The fall rains are here…your question to these people was very timely, DP, and I don’t see what is being done right now. Yes, Mr. Licata, it’s sad that there are children homeless on the streets. And something being done in the future is a good thing….but it doesn’t take care of the now. Sigh.
October 5, 2011 at 11:05 pm #735497
funkietooParticipantJoB…when you meet with Mr. Licata, perhaps he might consider a different approach with Seattle’s surplus properties…including the Fire Station on 35th?
Here is the article and my comment
https://westseattleblog.com/2011/10/next-step-toward-selling-historic-former-fire-station-37
October 7, 2011 at 3:33 pm #735498
JoBParticipantfunkitoo..
i wish.
we just leveled a middle school that had it’s last day of school this year to provide playing fields for the high school.
there is at least one vacant high school on delridge that held classes little more than a year ago.
both have kitchens, bathrooms, showers and classroom.
People are making a living converting old schoolhouses to B&Bs all over the country…
surely they could house our homeless.
October 7, 2011 at 6:52 pm #735499
DPMemberHere’s a recent, well-written article from the Times entitled “City may ease tent-city rules for churches, but not others”:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016349740_homeless29m.html
(By Lynn Thompson)
**************************************************************************************
The piece does not specifically address the problem of homeless children; however, it does highlight the general complexities of sheltering the homeless, and the political infighting that goes on, not just between the Council and the Mayor but also between shelter providers and the City.
I was surprised to read, for example, that El Centro de la Raza had been fined $17,000 for hosting Tent City 3 before a “consent decree” with the City had been signed. On the one hand, I understand the City’s position that the law needs to be respected; people can’t just set up shelters anywhere. But it seems like the $17,000 they fined El Centro would have been better spent on shelter services . . .
This excerpt from the article says a lot about why we’re still having such a problem:
Meanwhile, a second tent encampment, Nickelsville, moved in May from Fire Station 39 to city-owned land on West Marginal Way South. The camp already has stayed beyond the 90 days typically allowed for homeless encampments, and a spokesman for McGinn told the West Seattle Blog that the city would not seek to evict residents.
Asked this week if the site could become the elusive long-term encampment the mayor has sought, McGinn spokesman Aaron Pickus said the mayor’s office was still hoping the City Council would propose a plan.
Come on, Mr. Mayor.
Come on, City Council.
Show your leadership and DO SOMETHING already.
October 7, 2011 at 7:11 pm #735500
DPMemberOK. Time for roll call.
Here are the City Council members who responded to my e-mail about homeless children in Seattle (in order of response):
♥ Sally Clark
♥ Sally Bagshaw
♥ Tim Burgess
♥ Bruce Harrell
♥ Richard Conlin
♥ Nick Licata
The Council Members who did NOT respond to my e-mail are:
♠ Tom Rasmussen
♠ Jean Godden
♠ Mike O’Brien
It’s been over a month since I sent my original e-mail on September 6. After a week, I sent a reminder to all the Council Members who hadn’t responded (cc’ing the ones who had) reminding them that I expected some kind of response to my enquiry.
Needless to say, I will NOT be voting for any of the Council Members who did not respond in any future election in which they may be running. Nope, not even for dog catcher.
Call me old fashioned, but I have a personal rule about not supporting politicians who don’t represent me. And how can someone possibly represent me when they don’t even read my letters or respond to my questions?
In fact, they can’t. They can’t represent me.
October 7, 2011 at 8:17 pm #735501
JoBParticipantOctober 9, 2011 at 9:55 pm #735502
DBPMemberHomelessness is very much on the mind of Seattle officials right now, so if you want to do something powerful for the folks at Nickelsville, now’s the time to act.
Call or e-mail the Mayor and Council members and tell them you want them to put their egos aside and work together to either formalize Nickelsville or agree on some other PERMANENT LOCATION for the camp.
If you want the camp to be a place for children, say that in your message. If you DON’T want it to be a place for children, say THAT in your message.
Whatever you do, don’t let this opportunity to influence your government and community pass you by . . .
Mayor Mike McGinn
Phone: 206-684-CITY
E-mail: mike.mcginn@seattle.gov
•Sally Bagshaw
206-684-8801
•Tim Burgess
206-684-8806
•Sally Clark
206-684-8802
•Richard Conlin
206-684-8805
•Jean Godden
206-684-8807
•Bruce Harrell
206-684-8804
•Nick Licata
206-684-8803
•Mike O’Brien
206-684-8800
•Tom Rasmussen
206-684-8808
***************************************************************************************
City Officials Web site:
October 9, 2011 at 10:54 pm #735503
Betty TMemberIn regards to “motel voucher” being turned down. If they take a temporary voucher and at the end of that time housing has not been found for them, they are out& again homeless. If they left Nicklesville to do that they have lost their space there. Could be more traumatic for children then if stayed there in first place. Granted its not a perfect place for kids but its better than under a bridge some place and safer. It would be nice if Homelessness could be done away with for the families but what is the answer? With all the budget cuts there is less and less housing. I take lunch to the camp every Sat. Someone told they me came there from “transition” housing. I thought Transitional Housing was to help people move forward.
My friend & I having been going there with food every Sat since May. I have met some friendly, polite and appreciative people. Some who have a plan for moving on, some not. I sometimes go with my daughter when she takes food just so I can visit with some of them. Some of them could be my own son about the same age, and I’m thankful he has somehow managedto avoid the situation. Evrybody has what they think is the solutions but if they have never had to deal with DSHS or housing of any kind on that level, they can’t begin to understand how it works. Many times things move very slowly and it can be aggrevating. I’m lucky to be in senior housing & retired. I’ve had my issues when raising my kids as a single divorced mother who always worked but received a little extra help. I’ve dealt with waiting lists for housing and at one point homeless in my 60″s and if not for a good friend who could let me stay a limited time or lose her own apartment, I don’t know where I’d been because was in a small community that had no help of any sort except Food Bank. I lost my apartment because was being demolished to build the landlord and nice new home. I had a full time job but the not funds to get into a regular rental. Waiting list for housing ? 2 yrs. Those lists here and everywhere are no better now.
The Mayor’s Office needs to step and do something to help these peolple survive. NOW!
October 9, 2011 at 11:35 pm #735504
Betty TMemberSorry! I said my friend & I had be going to Nickelsville with food every Saturdy since May. We most likely started when they had the big Potluck. Well, Being a senior citizen I’m allowed a senior moment now and then. The important thing is we go every Saturday and take lunch, frozen water jugs, gallons of water(easiest for us old ladies to manage), and clothing and whatever else come our way from friends such a blankets, t.p.,
personal products. We just do what we can.
October 10, 2011 at 12:24 am #735505
DBPMemberThat is great information, Betty! Thanks. Good karma to you.
The more I think about it, the more I see how the situation at Nickelsville reflects the problems of people in society at large. For some folks, life in the big city is simply too much.
I believe there are folks at NV who will probably never make it back into a stable housing situation. It’s not because they’re not “deserving,” but it’s also not because the City doesn’t have enough places for them. Rather, it’s simply because they don’t understand how to work the system to get what they need. (I suspect this might have been the case with the person who told you they came to NV from transitional housing.)
Ideally, the City would have people acting in the role of “advocates” for the homeless. Advocates could help with filling out paperwork and, more importantly, could work with people on life skills and decision making. Even that wouldn’t be enough to help some, though. For them Nickelsville will be the closest thing to home they ever see again. That’s why I’m for making it as decent and safe a place as it can possibly be. —And that’s why I think people should be contacting City Hall now and saying: “Get a move on, people! Let’s make NV safe. Let’s make it permanent.”
October 10, 2011 at 4:38 am #735506
JoBParticipantDBP…
you do understand that transitional housing generally comes with time limits, don’t you.
when your time is up you aren’t guaranteed permanent housing..
knowing how to work the system won’t do you any real good if your number hasn’t come up on the permanent housing assistance lists.
October 10, 2011 at 7:41 am #735507
JanSParticipantwork the system? Is that like trying to get Section 8 housing? Wait lists closed? 2 year backlog? DP, you make it sound like there is housing out there for everyone. It’s simply not the case, and you’re delusional if you thin k it is. My landlord has been trying to come up with ideas to help me out with this downturn in my health. He suggested that he would be open to do a Section 8 for me…and it simply cannot be done. I was told flatly, no. Closed.
“I believe there are folks at NV who will probably never make it back into a stable housing situation. It’s not because they’re not “deserving,” but it’s also not because the City doesn’t have enough places for them” News flash…the city DOESN’T have enough places for them! There is no paperwork for an advocate to help with filling out. In an ideal world, yes, things would move along swimmingly…but we can’t fool people into thinking there is something there when there isn’t.
And I do agree with you..I wish City Hall would get off it’s duff and make a decision about NV. Oh, but, they probably want to do another study…the Seattle way. Foot dragging is sometimes an art with the powers that be, huh….
October 10, 2011 at 7:47 pm #735508
Betty TMemberI’m glad to know there is someone who understands what’s to be dealt with in all this . I do realize every situation there is different. Just heard “300” more being put out of shelters that are closing. Where is it going to stop? I would like so much to do more but do only what I can. Feed those as long as my food will last each time.
If someone wants to help—I saw in the Kitchen tent yesterday–they could use ready-to-eat canned foods. When I can get my hands on donated “shelf milk”, doesn’t have to be kept refrigerated, I take it there.
I realize some people don’t try to help them selves but some really do.
There was a big meeting this AM downtown and I understand Nickleodian was going in regards to new changes down there. I would very much liked to have gone because I don’t think new changes are all good.
October 10, 2011 at 8:53 pm #735509
JoBParticipantBetty T..
ah.. that meeting.
i think that was demonstration for the homeless.
the central committe meeting
where they set the rules and procedures for Nickelsville is Wed morning.. i think at 9.. at SHARE headquarters downtown.
October 10, 2011 at 10:26 pm #735510
DPMemberThanks again, JanS, for recognizing the complexity of the issue. I know wait lists are long, and I wish you luck with your quest to get into another place.
[A favor: In future, please try to avoid the word “delusional” in reference to me, and I’ll do the same for you. Unless we both go off our meds, in which case all bets are off.]
DP . . . knowing how to work the system won’t do you any real good if your number hasn’t come up on the permanent housing assistance lists.
—JoB . . . I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here. It kind of sounds like another one those deals where you’re contradicting an imaginary point that nobody actually made.
Anyway, just to refresh you . . . My claim is that SOME (not ALL) people at NV are there as a result of poor life skills and that it would be difficult for them to stay in free/low-cost housing even if they DID get into it.
Do you agree/disagree with that statement?
(Circle one)
Thanks in advance . . .
October 10, 2011 at 11:03 pm #735511
JanSParticipanthere’s the thing…I don’t want to get into another place…my landlord was trying to come up with a plan for me to sty here, but with help. My rent is less than most in my area now, but he knows what’s coming, having had a family member in the same boat.He is willing to work with me, and with them, and they still say no. Sigh. I am glad that there’s Nickelsville for them, instead of under a bridge, or in a “jungle” somewhere.
meds? what meds? lolol…
and, yes, I agree, that some people are so entrenched in the homeless way of life, that they will elect to stay there no matter what. And, of course, those who would not be able to sustain a permanent place, lacking the skills to deal with those things.
October 10, 2011 at 11:18 pm #735512
JoBParticipantDP…
yes, some of the people in Nickelsville are there as a result of poor life choices. Some of them simply didn’t have many of what we call life choices to start with.
Some of them are disabled vets. some of them are simply disabled. some of them are elderly.
and on occasion i meet someone who ticks all of the above boxes.
I also meet a lot of people who are in Nickelsville as the result of the kind of personal tragedy that derails the best of us.
but i haven’t met any who wouldn’t trade 4 walls and a roof for the tent they are sleeping in.
last night they raffled off the latest sleeping structure. Anyone who works on the structure gets to put their names in a hat and they draw a winner.
I brought the winner a housewarming gift.. a pair of cheap curtains, a blanket, flannel sheets for the twin mattress a family member is bringing him later today, a mat for the bare floor space and a rug for his front door.
He and his friends thought he had just won the lottery. As it turns out, he had.
If you want to see eyes sparkle at Nickelsville..
all you have to do is ask the latest winner of a sleeping structure what is their favorite color.
Give them an opportunity to sleep in a structure with 4 walls and they are as eager as anyone else to fix the place up.
October 12, 2011 at 12:15 am #735513
JoBParticipantCity Councilman Nick Licata graciously fit me into his schedule today.
For a half hour he listened as I talked with him about my experience at Nickelsville and asked the kind of questions that showed he was paying close attention.
Unfortunately a half hour is not long enough to cover anything more than the basics, but it was long enough to assure me that Mr Licata is aware of the complex issues at Nickelsvile and welcomes citizen involved there.
October 14, 2011 at 6:58 pm #735514
DBPMemberThis response trickled in from CM Mike O’Brien two days ago:
David,
Thank you for elevating the issue of homelessness and starting a lively conversation on the West Seattle Blog. I sincerely apologize for taking so long to respond, and you are right in your criticism of my lack of response to date. I hope in time I can earn back your trust as your elected representative and I appreciate you granting me the opportunity to reply belatedly.
I also appreciate your even-handed way of addressing this issue in your initial letter to Council, showing compassion for homelessness while also concern and caring for homeless children. At this point I also understand from the thread at WSB that folks want solutions, not just rhetoric from their elected officials. As we all well know, solutions to homelessness are hard to come by, and particularly during this economic time when there are so few resources to address problems of this scale and magnitude.
The balancing act we play here is that we do not have enough shelter space for families to stay together on the one hand, and on the other hand we are reluctant to insist on breaking up families so each family member can be in a shelter. Many families faced with that choice will choose to stick together, and I do not think it is my place to tell them otherwise. So while it pains me to see children experiencing homelessness, I am heartened to see the resilience of families who stay together and face those challenges collectively. I agree that we are not doing enough to prevent homelessness or to help people get back on their feet once they become homeless. I am honored to work with leaders like Councilmember Licata on this issue and also feel that we cannot insist that Nick do it all on his own.
For my own part, I have been working on developing a model for car campers in Ballard that we might be able to replicate in other parts of the city. The pilot we are working on is in collaboration with State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, religious institutions and social service providers and would allow a religious institution to host up to 5 cars or small campers in their parking lot for a period of time while providing social services to the campers and assisting them in transitioning into more permanent, stable housing. I hope to have our first pilot site up and running by the end of the year. We are actively looking for more religious institutions willing to provide space to car campers and I encourage any WSB readers with a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other space of worship to contact my office if you think your space might be a willing host.
You noted that my colleagues Mr. Burgess and Ms. Clark said there are homeless people who refuse shelter vouchers and I want to touch on that briefly. While shelters do go under capacity on some nights, my understanding is that anytime the weather turns sour (cold wintery nights in particular), shelters fill up and have to turn people away. To me this signifies that we probably do not have enough shelter space for everyone who is homeless. And homeless people I have spoken with have told me that life in a shelter is not always a very dignified life, and that is why some homeless people choose to live in their cars or pitch tents in greenways or move into tent cities. While you may not be indoors, having your own space is one of the few ways to maintain your dignity. Additionally, shelters can also be unsafe places, particularly for young people.
I wish we were doing more. And in lieu of the city fully stepping up to the challenge, the homeless are organizing themselves and I see Nickelsville as a great example of organizing and community building. I have visited the last two Nickelsville encampments (Lake City and South Park) and been very impressed by what I saw. Nickelsville is a community unlike many others in Seattle, and not just because they happen to live in tents. And I know many readers of the WSB have been down there and volunteered and participated in potlucks and so they know just what I am talking about. I do not think Nickelsville or encampments are “the solution” to homelessness and reiterate that we need safe, affordable housing for all. But I think Nickelsville is serving an important role in providing stability and community for homeless people while we continue to work on more permanent solutions.
Thank you again for elevating the issue on this forum and I apologize again to you and the readers of WSB for being so late with my response.
Sincerely,
Mike
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