>>> THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
I'M SUDDENLY ECHOING.
>> OKAY.
BEGIN AGAIN.
>> WE HAVE THREE ITEMS.
WE WILL DISCUSS THE SUCCESS OF
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
THEY HAVE BEEN PERHAPS THE HOST
SUCCESSFUL SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE
FACING HOMELESSNESS.
THEY PROVIDE SOME OF THE MOST
ESSENTIAL DIGNITIES OF HUMAN
LIFE.
PRIVACY, SAFETY, A PLACE TO
STORE YOUR BELONGINGS AND LOCK
THE DOOR.
MANY HAVE SELF-MANAGEMENT WHERE
RESIDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO RUN
THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
EVEN BASED ON THE METRIC OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, TRACKING
TRANSITIONS TO PERMANENT
HOUSING, SEATTLE'S TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL
THAN EVEN THE ENHANCED
SHELTERS.
IN REALITY, I DO NOT THINK THIS
IS THE BEST MEASURE BY ITSELF
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED A
MAJOR EXPANSION IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND THAT CAN ONLY BE
DONE ON A PUBLIC BASIS.
PUBLICLY OWNED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BY TAXING BIG BUSINESS
OR OTHER SUCH PROGRESSIVE
REVENUES.
HOWEVER, IN ADDITION TO THAT,
WE ALSO NEED IMMEDIATE SERVICES
TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE
HERE AND NOW AND WE NEED
SHELTER FORS THEM TO GO TO AND
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES HAVE HAD A
REMARKABLE RECORD OF SUCCESS.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT OUT OF
TODAY'S DISCUSSION, WE CAN TALK
ABOUT EXPANDING AND EXTENDING
THE TINY HOUSE PROGRAM.
AND, THAT WE CAN, AS A MOVEMENT
TOGETHER, PUSH BACK AGAINST THE
RIGHT WING ATTACKS THAT PICK ON
THESE VILLAGES TO ATTACK AND
DEMONIZE.
PERHAPS THEY DO IT BECAUSE THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE
VISIBLE.
TODAY, WE HAVE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FROM LEHIGH AND
NICKELSVILLE.
IN THE OUTSET, I WANT US ALL TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN
ONGOING DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
BETWEEN THOSE ORGANIZAIONS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT LARGE ARE
ALSO ENGAGED IN THIS DISCUSSION
ALONGSIDE THE CITY'S HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT DEBATE AND DISCUSSION
NEEDS TO GO ON.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I HAVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AND AS
AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF
WORKING PEOPLE, I HAVE THE
DEEPEST RESPECT FOR THE
INCREDIBLE WORK DONE BY BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS.
NOT ONLY OVER THE PAST YEARS,
BUT OVER DECADES.
AND, MYSELF, AND MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE REQUESTED THAT WE
GO THROUGH A MEDIATION PROCESS.
AND, THAT DISCUSSION WILL
HAPPEN IN THE MEANWHILE IN THIS
COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT, BUT CLARIFY THAT
PARTICULAR TOPIC IS NOT THE
SUBJECT OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION.
TODAY'S DISCUSSION NEED TO BE
FOCUSED ON THE OVERALL VALUE OF
TINY HOUSES IN SEATTLE IN
GENERAL.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE ALL AGREE
ON.
REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFERENCES
WE MIGHT HAVE ON A SPECIFIC
ISSUE AT SPECIFIC TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
BECAUSE, WE ALL NEED TO BE
UNITED AGAINST THE ATTACKS BY
THE RIGHT WING.
SO I HOPE WE WILL ALL FOCUS ON
THAT QUESTION OF WHY TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL
ND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO
EXPAND AND EXTEND THEM IN THE
CITY.
AND, I KNOW MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE SHOWN UP TO SPEAK
IN PUBLIC COMMENT WHICH I
APPRECIATE YOU DOING ON THIS
FRIDAY MORNING AND YOU ARE
WELCOME.
IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT
ANY TOPIC BUT THE MOST VALUABLE
TESTIMONY FROM YOU WOULD BE ON
WHY TINY HOUSE VILLAGES HAVE
BEEN EFFECTIVE IN GENERAL.
THAT'S THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF
THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
THE SECOND ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA IS A DISCUSSION WITH
YOUTH CARE ABOUT THEIR HOPES
AND CONCERNS.
THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WILL BE
NECESSARY IN THEIR OPINION TO
ALLOW THEM TO MOST EFFECTIVELY
HELP PEOPLE FIND HOUSING AND
PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES.
AND, FINALLY, WE WILL HAVE A
SHORT UPDATE FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ABOUT THE LEGAL FRAME
WORK FOR ANY REGIONAL STRUCTURE
FOR OVERSEEING HOMELESS
SERVICES SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR
PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE AGENDA
ITEMS OF COURSE, WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
AND, USUALLY, PUBLIC COMMENT IS
TWO MINUTES WHICH I'M ALWAYS
HAPPY TO DO.
I HAVE AN UNFORTUNATE CONFLICT
WHICH I COULD NOT AVOID.
I HAVE TO JOIN IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT ONE OF
THEIR EVENTS AND I HAVE A SHARP
DEADLINE OF 11:15.
I URGE THAT WE ALL HAVE 1.5
MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT.
A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF AND I'M
REALLY GREATFUL TO MY COCHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW WHO HAS
AGREED TO CHAIR THE MEETING IF
IT GOES BEYOND 11:15.
SO TED FROM THE OFFICE WILL
READ THE NAMES.
SO, IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME READ
AS A SUBSEQUENT SPEAKER COME ON
SO WE DON'T WASTE SOMETIME IN
TRANSITION AND EACH OF YOU WILL
HAVE A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF.
THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST THREE NAMES ARE
DAVID HAYNES, JESS MOCH, AND SUE
HOTZ.
>> WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL GOING
TO STOP USING NONPROFITS AS
GRASS ROOT.
IT IS NOT A VILLAGE.
A SMUDGE WITH DATA.
THESE ARE MODERN THIRD WORLD
SLUMS AND THE RACIST GOVERNMENT
OVERSIGHT OF UNTOUCHABLE SELF-
APPOINTED NONPROFITS WHO GET
RICH MISTREATING THE HOMELESS.
WE HAVE ZONING LAWS TO PROTECT
FROM INDUSTRIAL AND AIR
POLLUTION.
YET, THEY THINK IT IS SAFE
HARBOR TO LET PEOPLE LIVE UNDER
A CRUMBLING MAGNOLIA BRIDGE
NEXT TO A CANCER CAUSING HORN
HONKING TRAIN.
SHARON LEE USES BLESSED
VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS TO BUILD
TINY HOUSES YET SHARON LEE AND
HER PRIVILEGED COLLEGE PUKES
POCKET ALL THE MONEY FOR NOISE
ABATEMENT AND FIRST WORLD
PLUMBING.
IT IS WORST THAN 100 YEARS AGO.
IT IS ANYONE'S GUESS WHETHER
PEE OR POOP IS ON THE TOILET
SEAT.
BEING FORCED TO LIVE UNDER A
HIGHWAY SO LOW INCOME HOUSING
CAN SAVE MONEY ON FIRST WORLD
HOUSING SHELTER SO SHE CAN BUY
OFF POLITICIANS TO GET RICH IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
IF WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL
INVESTIGATE THE SERVICES OF LOW
INCOME HOUSING THEY WOULD FIND
CORRUPT EFFORTS AT URBAN REST
STOP.
>> JEFF?
FOLLOWED BY SUE FOLLOWED BY
MONA LEE.
>> HI, I'M JESS MOCH.
I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCHER.
DURING MY UNDERGARAGE RAT
RESEARCH, I INTERVIEWED 150
HOUSES LIVING IN TENT CITIES
AND TINY HOUSES AND THOSE
CONVERSATIONS SHOWED ME THE
VALUE OF THE TENT CITIES AND
TINY HOUSES.
THEY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO
STABILIZE, TO KEEP YOUR STUFF,
TO SLEEP, AND PROVIDE THE
COMMUNITY, THE BENEFITS OF
WHICH ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO
QUANTIFY EVEN FOR A PUBLIC
HEALTH RESEARCHER.
I THINK THAT THE CURRENT
MANAGEMENT DISPUTES ARE REALLY
PUTTING THESE BENEFITS AT RISK.
AND I BELIEVE THESE
DISAGREEMENTS CAN BE RESOLVED
BY MEDIATION AND THERE IS
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS
IDEA.
A FEW COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS,
MYSELF, PASTOR ANNE RICHE AND
SUE HODAS STARTED A PETITION
CALLING FOR MEDIATION.
WE GATHERED 110 SIGNATURES ON
THIS PETITION.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A LOT
OF COMMENTS ABOUT WHY THESE ARE
SO VALUABLE.
WE ARE FACING A CRISIS THAT IS
NOT, THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT.
AND, WHILE THE CONDITIONS MAY
NOT ALWAYS BE PERFECT IN THESE
ENCAMPMENTS, THAT ARE REALLY
VALUABLE.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
SO I HAVE COPIES OF THIS
PETITION TO DELIVER TO ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT AND NOT
úPRESENT AND ALSO TO
NICKELSVILLE, LEHIGH.
>> THANK YOU JESS.
>> MONA, YOU ARE AFTER SUE.
>> SORRY.
>> SO SUE, THEN MONA, THEN DICK
BURKHARDT.
>> I'M SUE, MEMBER OF THE
MEMBERSHIP COALITION.
I MADE FRIENDS WITH ONE WOMAN
WHEN SHE WAS LIVING IN A LEAKY
TARP ON DENVER STREAK WHERE A
WATERFALL WOULD POUR ON HER
HEAD WHEN IT RAINED.
LATER SHE MOVED TO GEORGETOWN
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE WHERE SHE
HAS BLOSSOM.
IT WAS AMAZING TO ARRIVE AND
SEE HER IN THE GATE HOUSE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS LIKE
CHECKING IN VISITORS, HELPING
RESIDENTS RESERVE LAUNDRY TIME
AND SHE FELT SO SOLID COMPARED
TO BEING A WRECK IN HER RAINY
TARP.
BESIDES THE SECURITY AND WELL
BEING OF HER OWN SAFE SPACE AND
ACCESS TO SHOWERS, BATHROOMS,
FOOD, THERE WAS COMMUNITY.
THE EMPOWERMENT OF COMMUNITY
DECISION MAKING AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE OTHER
PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE IS AN
ESSENTIAL STEP TO HEALING.
COMMUNITY COUNTERS THE
ISOLATION AND PERILOUSNESS ALL
OF US FEEL AND IT NEED TO BE
NOURISHED.
THE INTERCONNECTION, FEELING
USEFUL AND WORTHY FOR ALL OF
US.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO
INTEGRATE INTO LARGER
COMMUNITIES WHEN TINY VILLAGE
MEMBERS GET PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THEM TO
MEDIATE THEIR DIFFERENCES.
THE PEOPLE OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS NEED TO WORK ON
THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND
ON THEIR COMMUNITY SKILLS.
NICKELSVILLE AND LEHIGH ARE NOT
ENOUGH.
SEATTLE NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE 1% OF THE POPULATION, 10%
OF HOMELESS PEOPLE.
NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE
HOMELESS PEOPLE RESPOND TO
OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THEY DISAPPEAR OTHERWISE.
THEY SHOULD HAVE MORE MONEY,
TOO.
COMMUNITY IS NOT LA-LA.
IT IS EACH OF US HOLDING
TENSION OF OUR DIFFERENCES BUT
IF WE DON'T, WE HAVE A
GOVERNMENT LIKE OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
MONA LEE.
I HAVE BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD
ACTIVIST IN OTHELLO MORE THAN
20 YEARS.
I BELIEVE I SPEAK FOR THE
MAJORITY OF MY NEIGHBORS WHEN I
SAY THE OTHELLO TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET
TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE PROUD AT LEAST IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, SOME PEOPLE WHO
ARE HOMELESS ARE ABLE TO HAVE A
REASONABLY HIGH QUALITY OF
LIFE.
THE OTHELLO VILLAGERS UNTIL
RECENTLY HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS AND
GENEROUS WITH THEIR TIME BY
PARTICIPATING IN NEIGHBORHOOD
CLEANUP PROJECTS AND PICKING UP
TRASH AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
TOWN CENTER AND THE LIGHT RAIL
STATION.
HOWEVER, RECENTLY, THERE HAVE
BEEN RUMORS OF CONFLICT THAT
HAVE NOT RESOLVED MAY RESULT IN
THE CLOSURE OF THE VILLAGE.
WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE WANT OTHELLO VILLAGE TO
CONTINUE.
WE HEAR IT IS A CONFLICT
BETWEEN THE CITY, LEHIGHE, AND
NICKELSVILLE.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH LEHIGH IS
THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAINTAIN A
JUST ENVIRONMENT.
WHERE MY IMPRESSION OF
NICHOLSVILLE IS THEY NEED TO
FIGHT CITY HALL.
THE VILLAGE IS AN EXAMPLE OF
THE CITY TRYING TO DEAL WITH
THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN AN
ECONOMICAL COMPASSIONATE
MANNER.
>> COULD YOU WRAP UP PLEASE?
>> OH.
OKAY.
I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> AFTER DICK BURKHARDT COMES
DONNA ANDERSON, LUKE REYNOLDS.
>> I AM DICK WITH THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE.
I AM A SCHOLAR, AND ACTIVIST ON
ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY LOCAL TO
GLOBAL HEADING A SMALL
NONPROFIT CALLED DEMOCRACY
WORKS.
A MATHEMATICIAN, A FAITH LEADER
ON ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND THE
GREEN NEW DEAL.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY I CONTINUE
TO BE A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES WHEN THEY
ARE WELL MANAGED BUT I HAVE
BEEN APPALLED AT THE HIGHLY
UNPROFESSIONAL ACTIONS OF THE
TOP LEADERSHIP OF NICHOLSVILLE
THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
THEIR WAR OF INSULTS AGAINST
THE LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE.
I MEAN THEIR REFUSAL TO ACCEPT
APPROPRIATE DEMOCRATIC
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
ESPECIALLY AT THE PROCEDURES
FOR BARRING INDIVIDUALS FROM
THE VILLAGES.
DESPITE A LONG HISTORY OF
ALLEGATIONS.
I HAVE WITNESSED A SAVVY
POLITICAL MACHINE COMBINED IN
WEIRD WAYS WITH IRRATIONAL
DECEITFUL AND VENGEFUL BEHAVIOR
THAT HAS LED ME TO CONCLUDE
THAT THE TOP LEADERSHIP OF
NICHOLSVILLE NEEDS PROFESSIONAL
HELP.
UNTIL THEY GET IT, THEY SHOULD
HAVE NO MANAGEMENT ROLE IN ANY
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE OR
ENCAMPMENT.
I SEE NO POINT OF MEDIATION AT
THIS TIME.
WHAT IS NEEDED IS A THOROUGH
INVESTIGATION BY OUTSIDE
PERSONS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN
THE VILLAGES AND AN OUTSIDE
AUDIT.
THANK YOU.
>>> DONNA?
>> CAN YOU READ OUT A FEW NAME
INS.
>> FOLLOWED BY LUKE REYNOLDS,
NAOMI CIA AND KAYLA HERNANDEZ.
>> I'M DONNA AT GEORGETOWN TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE.
I THINK FROM THE BEGINNING THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE CONCEPT IS A
WORKING SOLUTION FOR
HOMELESSNESS NOW AND IN THE
FUTURE.
THE VILLAGES HAVE HAD GROWING
PAINS AND WE HAVE ALL MADE
MISTAKES FROM CITY OFFICIALS TO
THE ORGANIZATIONS IN CHARGE TO
RESIDENTS AND LEADERS AT THE
VILLAGES BUT OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH LEHIGH IS ADDRESSING THOSE
GROWING PAINS HEAD ON.
WE ARE HOPING IT WILL BE USED
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS.
WE ALWAYS WORKED UNDER SELF-
MANAGEMENT MODEL BUT WITH
LEHIGH AS A PARTNER, WE ARE
WORKING ON AN UPDATED SELF-
MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT GIVES CASE
MANAGERS MORE OPPORTUNIY TO
KEEP OUR RESIDENTS IN THE
VILLAGES UNTIL THEY ARE READY
FOR PERMANENT H HOUSING.
WE ARE BUILDING POSITIVE
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.
AMAZON CAME OUT AND BUILT ABOUT
25 PORCHES AND RAMPS FOR OUR
RESIDENTS.
GOOGLE WILL BE OUT IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF WEEKS TO HELP WITH
SOME EXTERIOR PAINTING AND
HOPEFULLY BED FRAMES AS WELL.
BUT, ANYBODY CAN COME BY AND
VISIT AND VOLUNTEER.
WE CAN FIND SOMETHING FOR YOU
TO DO SOMEWHERE IF YOU ARE NOT
GOOGLE AND AMAZON.
WE CAN NO LONGER PLAY THE BLAME
GAME.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
HOMELESSNESS LOOKS LIKE AND
THAT LOOKS LIKE ME.
AND THESE FACES BEHIND ME.
AND PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL ON
THE STREET.
SO, NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO VOTE
IN REGARDS TO HOMELESSNESS,
JUST THINK ABOUT US.
ALL OF THESE FACES.
AND VOTE FOR THESE FACES.
>>> AFTER LUKE COMES NAOMI,
KAYLA, AND BRUCH GARDENHIRE.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
AS A JESUIT VOLUNTEER AND
AMERICORP MEMBER, I'M
ASTONISHED BY NOT JUST THE
MODEL.
BUT BY THE WAY IT EMPOWERS
INDIVIDUALS AND TRANSFORMS
PEOPLE.
IN FEBRUARY, I HELPED RUN AN
EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR PEOPLE
OUT IN THE COLD COMPOSED OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN
UNWILLING TO LEAVE THEIR TENT
FOR SOMETIMES YEARS.
TRAUMATIZED BY HOMELESSNESS,
SHELTERS, IN A SOCIETY THAT
LARGELY ABANDONED THEM.
AFTER HAVING HELPED SEVERAL OF
THE PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER
NAVIGATE INTO TINY HOUSES, I
HAVE SEEN A TRANSFORMATION LIKE
NOTHING ELSE.
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO SEE
PEOPLE ON THE VERGE OF
HYPOTHERMIA IN THE COLD WINTER
STORM TRANSFORMED NOT JUST AS
INDIVIDUALS BUT AS MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY.
WHETHER IT IS TAKING ON
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND SELF-
MANAGED VILLAGES OR LEADING
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE GETTING JOBS
AND WORKING TOWARD HOUSING.
TINY HOUSES PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH
A PATH TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE.
SERVICES AT THE DOOR ALLOW
PEOPLE TO DISSIPATE SOME OF THE
TRAUMA AND CHALLENGES
ASSOCIATED WITH HOMELESSNESS
TOWARD A MORE STABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE LIFE.
AS A FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER, I AM
HONORED AND ENTHUSED TO WORK
WITH SUCH A GREAT ORGANIZATION,
BUT ALSO, WITH RESIDENTS THAT
HAVE TRANSFORMED MY LIFE.
THANK YOU.
>> NAOMI?
AFTER NAOMI COMES KAYLA,
BROOKLYN, AND CHRIS.
>> IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME AS THE
NEXT SPEAKER CAN YOU BE READY
TO SPEAK SO WE DON'T SPEND TIME
WITH PEOPLE WALKING?
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS NAOMI AND I'M
CURRENTLY AN UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT AUTOTHE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE
TINY HOUSE COMMUNITY.
AS A STUDENT, I LEARNED MORE IN
THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS
ABOUT COMMUNITY, CREATIVITY,
AND COMPASSION THAN ANYWHERE
ELSE.
BEYOND THE VILLAGE'S UNIQUE
SUCCESS, THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES HAVE THE ABILITY TO
FACILITATE COMMUNITY AT A LARGE
SCALE.
I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
WITNESSES HOW TINY HOUSES HAVE
BROUGHT TOGETHER BUSINESSES,
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS,
SCHOOLS, AND CITIZENS UNDER A
SHARED MISSION.
TO CARE FOR OUR FELLOW
NEIGHBOR.
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO EACH
VILLAGE THAN THE PHYSICAL
STRUCTURE.
BEHIND EVERY NAILED PIECE OF
WOOD THERE IS A DEDICATED
VOLUNTEER.
PASSIONATE DONOR, COMMITTED
ORGANIZER.
BEHIND EVERY RUNNING VILLAGE,
THERE IS A TIRELESS GROUP OF
CAC MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT
GENEROUS AND CARING COMMUNITIES
THAT SURROUND THE VILLAGE.
BEHIND EVERY POSITIVE OUTCOME
THERE IS A GIFTED HUMAN BEING
LIFTED AND EMPOWERED BY THESE
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>>> KAYLA MARTINEZ, BROOKLYN
GARDENHIRE, CHRIS BRAND, AND
DOUG.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M KAYLA
MARTINEZ AND I'M AN AMERICORP
VISTA MEMBER.
LEHIGH HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A
ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY
TO COMBAT POVERTY HEAD ON.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES IN MY
OPINION ARE THE MOST INNOVATIVE
AND DIGNIFIED SHELTER SYSTEM IN
THE COUNTRY.
THEY ARE PHYSICAL EMBODIMENT OF
COMMUNITY AND EMPOWERMENT.
THE COMMUNITY THAT FORMS IN
THESE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES CAN
ONLY BE CREDITED TO THE
INCREDIBLY RESILIENT RESIDENTS
THAT CALL THE VILLAGES HOME.
I HAVE SEEN THE BENEFIT OF
THESE COMMUNITIES FIRSTHAND.
OUR ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED
TIRELESSLY WITH RESIDENTS TO
IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR
DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.
THESE VILLAGES SHOULD CONTINUE
TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THEY ARE A FUNDAMENTAL TOOL TO
SOLVE THIS HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD MORNING, I'M BROOKLYN.
I HAVE BEEN AT TENT CITY THREE
FOR FOUR MONTHS.
CURRENTLY, I'M ONE OF THE ECs
WHO TRY TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN
ALL OF THE CHAOS.
I HAVE HAD TIME TO GET THINGS
IN ORDER FOR ME.
I'M WORKING, SOBER, AND
HEALTHY.
MY PARTNER TABITHA AND I ARE
BOTH WORKING TO GET OUR OWN
PLACE.
IT IS JUST HARD TO AFFORD RENT
IN SEATTLE.
TENT CITY ALLOWS US TO STAY
TOGETHER WITH OUR DOG TESS.
A WHILE BACK, I WAS AT SAFE
HARBOR DURING THE TRANSITION.
IT WAS STILL TENT CITY 5 THEN.
THERE WAS CONFUSION ABOUT WHO
WAS IN CHARGE OF THE CAMP.
MY GIRLFRIEND TABITHA WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHARGE.
SHE NEVER FELT LIKE HER VOTE
COUNTED.
I MAY HAVE MADE SOME MISTAKES
THEN BUT I LEARNED FROM THEM.
NOW I AM AT SHARE WILL, TENT
CITY 3, EXPERIENCING TRUE SELF-
MANAGEMENT.
WHERE MY VOTE COUNTS.
SELF-MANAGEMENT LEADS TO SELF-
ESTEEM.
PLEASE STOP TRYING TO TAKE THAT
AWAY FROM US.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT SHARE WILL IN
NICHOLSVILLE.
WE KNOW IT IS NOT THE ONLY
SOLUTION TO END HOMELESSNESS
BUT WE FEEL IT WORKS FOR MANY
OF US WHO WANT BETTER LIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> CHRIS BRAND FOLLOWED BY DOVE
GARWALDSEN AND SHAWN SMITH.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING.
I'M CHRIS BRAND.
I AM A COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
BOARD MEMBER OF CAMP SECOND
CHANCE.
I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK CLOSER?
>> I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS TO
SAY, NOT A LOT.
I HOPE THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES SAVE LIVES
AND I'M A SUPPORTER OF A TINY
HOUSE VILLAGE.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M DOUG GUNWALDSEN.
RETIRED IN WEST SEATTLE AND
BEEN HELPING TO BUILD THE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
I HAVE NO OPINION ON THE CURRENT
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THEM BUT I
HAVE WORKED WITH LEHIGH AND
FIND THEM TO BE A VERY
PRODUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE
ORGANIZATION.
WHERE I STAND IS THAT THE
HOUSING CRISIS IN SEATTLE IS
NOT GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES PROVIDE
A PLATFORM TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO
TRANSITION FROM COMPLETE
HOMELESSNESS TO MORE NORMAL
LIVES.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CITY
SHOULD BE TO PROVIDE HOUSING
FOR ALL INCOME LEVELS.
NOT JUST THOSE WHO CAN SUPPORT
THE MARKET LEVELS AND I HOPE
VERY MUCH THAT THE CITY WILL
MAKE ITS SURPLUS PROPERTIES
AVAILABLE AND PROVIDE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENABLE THE
TINY HOUSE ENCAMPMENTS TO
FUNCTION AS VIABLY AS THEY
POSSIBLY CAN.
THANKS.
>> AFTER SHAWN SMITH, COMES
PEGGY HOODIS AND ANITRA FREEMAN
AND ERIC DAVIS.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SHAWN SMITH.
I AM THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
COORDINATOR AT OTHELLO VILLAGE.
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE
CITY AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
NONPROFIT SECTOR AND HOMELESS
PEOPLE HAS EMBARKED ON A GRAND
EXPERIMENT DEALING WITH THIS
INCREASING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
IT HAS BEEN FOR THE MOST PART A
GRAND SUCCESS.
WHILE THE EXISTING ENCAMPMENT
ORDINANCE IS A GOOD START, IT
DOES NOT ADDRESS ALL THE NEEDS
OF HOMELESSNESS.
ONE SHOE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
IF WE ARE TO RENEW OR UPDATE
THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, WE
SHOULD BEAR IN MIND A FEW
SIMPLE THINGS.
ONE, WE SHOULD HAVE A VARIETY
SHELTER THAT MATCHES THE
VARIETY OF PEOPLE MATCHING
HOMELESSNESS.
TWO, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE
EXPERTS.
THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED OR
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
LASTLY.
úWE NEED TO BUILD THE NECESSARY
HOUSING QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THE
TIDE OF INEQUITY THAT HAS SWEPT
ACROSS OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM PEGGY AND I VOLUNTEERED
WITH NICHOLSVILLE OVER A
DECADE.
THE LARGE CORPORATION TRIED TO
FIRE OUR SMALL GRASS ROOT
ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE THREE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES FROM WHICH
WE ARE THE ONLY CITY CERTIFIED
OPERATORS.
THIS HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED
THE COST OF RUNNING THE
VILLAGES AN EMASCULATED THEIR
EMPOWERFUL.
OCCUPIED OTHELLO IS INNING
CURING A COST FOR $800 A DAY
FOR CORPORATE SECURITY.
AT THAT RATE, THE BUDGET WILL
BE EXHAUSTED BY TEND OF
DECEMBER.
WHEN OPERATED BY NICHOLSVILLE,
THEY HAD NO SECURITY COSTS.
I BELIEVE EVERYONE ON THIS
COMMITTEE CAN TELL THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS
CORPORATE MODEL WHICH GIVES
PAID SITE MANAGERS AN CENTRAL
STAFF THE POWER TO OVERTURN
EACH AND EVERY DECISION OF THE
VILLAGE AND THE NICK ELLES
VILLAGE STRUCTURE OF
DEMOCRATICALLY ORGANIZED
EFFORTS BY THE GRASS ROOTS
BOARDS OF DIRECTORS.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD
INVESTIGATE AN AUDIT AND THE
CORPORATIONS OPERATIONS OF TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
EVERY INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER AND THE COUNCIL AS A
BODY SHOULD INSIST ON MEDIATION
BETWEEN HSD, THE CORPORATE
CONTRACT HOLDER, AND THE
DEMOCRATIC AND SELF-MANAGED
COMMUNITIES THEY ARE TRYING TO
RUIN.
THANK YOU.
>>> AFTER ANITRA COMES ERIC
DAVIS AND ZSA ZSA FLOYD.
>> I AM ANITRA FREEMAN.
A GROUP OF FORMERLY HOMELESS
PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER WITH A
DREAM OF A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
FOR 1,000 PEOPLE CALLED
NICHOLSVILLE.
THEIR GOOD WORK AND PERSISTENCE
IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES TO THIS POINT.
THEY THEMSELVES DREW
INSPIRATION FROM SHARE WHEELS
TENT CITIES.
IT WAS SHARE WHEELS GOOD WORK
AND PERSISTENCE THAT LED TO
CITY SUPPORT OF ORGANIZED
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
THE CREATION OF LIPTON SPRINGS
VILLAGE AND THE FIRST CITY
SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENT TENT CITY
5, SEATTLE'S EFFORTS TO END
HOMELESSNESS WORK BEST WHEN THE
EFFORTS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE
THEMSELVES ARE RECOGNIZED AND
RESPECTED.
WHEN HOMELESS PEOPLE CONTROL
THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR
LIVES.
IN RECENT YEARS, THE SELF-
MANAGED MODEL HAS NOT BEEN
RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE
POWERS THAT BE.
THIS HAS SEVERELY DAMAGED OUR
COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY.
THEY WILL BE BETTER IF YOU
INSIST THAT THE PIONEERING
DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNING OF
NICHOLSVILLE BE APPLAUDED AND
SUPPORTED.
THANK YOU.
>> IS ERIC HERE?
>>
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ERIC DAVIS.
I'M A COFOUNDER OF CAMP SECOND
CHANCE.
A SITE COORDINATOR FOR LEE
HIGH.
I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND THE COMMUNED.
THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER
WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS,
BUILDING THEM, HAVING
CONFIDENCE AND A PLACE TO STAY
IS MORE THAN JUST AN EXPANSION.
IT IS MORE OF A BOND.
ALL THE DISCREPANCIES, I
CHALLENGE MOST INDIVIDUALS TO
GO INSIDE EACH AND EVERY
VILLAGE AND DETERMINE IF THEY
ARE BEING DEMOCRATICALLY RAN.
SOME THINGS WE DIDN'T AGREE
WITH.
THE BEST THING WE COULD AGREE
WITH, WAS IT WAS A SHELTER BUT
WE HAVE SINCE CHANGED AND FOUND
CAMP SECOND CHANCE IN 2016.
AND WE WENT TOWARD THE BEST
PRACTICES OF A VILLAGE.
YOU HAVE A CHOICE AND A
COMMUNAL TOGETHERNESS ABOUT
EACH AND EVERY STEP AND
TRANSPARENCY TO OVERSEE.
SO, THERE IS NO CLICKS.
THERE'S NO PEOPLE BEING AFRAID
IF THEY DON'T GO OUT AND DO
POLITICAL THINGS THAT THEY WILL
BE PUT OUT.
TRANSPARENCY NEED TO BE FROM
TOP TO BOTTOM.
IF YOU WANT TO REALLY CLEAN AND
SOBER ENVIRONMENT, KEEP
TRANSPARENCY IN ALL OF THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>> CAN YOU READ THE NAMES?
>> YEAH.
AFTER ZSA ZSA, SYLVIA, ANTHONY.
AND THEN MICHAEL GALLOWAY.
>> I WANTED TO STATE I'M A
FORMER RESIDENT OF CAMP SECOND
CHANCE.
IT IS DEMOCRATICALLY RUN
ORGANIZATION.
I WAS ONCE ON THE BOARD THERE.
WHEN LEHIGH TOOK OVER AS A
FISCAL SPONSOR, WE HAD NOTHING
BUT HARMONY.
THEY LISTENED AND TOOK CARE OF
US.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> SYLVIA?
>>> NOT SEEING SYLVIA.
ANTHONY LOPEZ IS UP AND THEN
MICHAEL GALLOWAY.
>> I'M ANTHONY LOPEZ, A CURRENT
RESIDENT AT TINY CABIN SAFE
HARBOR INNER BAY SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF MY CAMP AND JUST MY
OWN TESTIMONY.
I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS FOR A YEAR
NOW.
THREE MONTHS AGO, WHEN LEHIGH
CAME TO TAKE OVER WAS FABULOUS.
WE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
THE WHOLE THING WITH Cs AND
THE SECURITY SHIFT AND ALL THIS
AND THAT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF POWER
TRIPPING AND PEOPLE WERE
GETTING BARRED.
THROWN OUT.
THINGS LIKE THAT WERE NOT --
SORRY, I'M NERVOUS.
THEY WEREN'T, IT WASN'T
HUMBLING TO HAVE OTHER HOMELESS
PEOPLE ATTACKING YOU WHEN YOU
ARE HOMELESS TOO.
BECAUSE OF THESE RULES THAT
SHARE HAD, IN OTHER WORDS, IN
CONTROL, HAVE PUT EVERYBODY IN
CONTROL OF THEMSELVES AND OTHER
PEOPLE, PEOPLE WERE NOT, YOU
KNOW, FOLLOWING RULES AND
PEOPLE WERE LEAVING.
I LEFT BECAUSE I HAVE ANXIETY
AND I COULD NOT TAKE THE
PRESSURE.
BUT WHEN LEHIGH CAME IN, WE
WILL STOP ALL OF THAT.
THERE IS NO MORE ECs , NO MORE
POWER TRIPPING.
YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN SECURITY
AND WE WANT YOU GUYS TO GET OUT
THERE AND HAVE A SUCCESS STORY
AND GET A JOB AND GET THERAPY
IF YOU NEED IT.
THEY PUT THAT FUNDING INTO
WORK, NOW WE HAVE CABINS, A
BRAND NEW KITCHEN.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LAUNDRY
FACILITIES.
WE WILL HAVE WASHER AND DRIERS.
THAT INSPIRED ME AND MADE ME
FEEL REALLY GOOD.
JUST BEING IN MY CABIN, WITH MY
CAT, GETTING UP AN GOING TO
SCHOOL AND WORK AN GET THERAPY
IS HELPING ME SO MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK LEHIGH AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR FUNDING T5
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
GUYS.
THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
MICHAEL GALLOWAY.
I'M A FRIEND OF EVERYONE IN THE
ROOM.
IF THAT TAKES MY MINUTE, I'M
HAPPY TO DO IT.
I'M A FRIEND OF CHIEF SEATTLE
BUT ALSO OF CHIEF LESS SHY WHO
WAS HUNG BECAUSE HE WAS FOUND
TO BE GUILTY OF THINGS THAT
COMMITTEES AND PROCESSES
THOUGHT HE SHOULD BE HUNG FOR.
WE LOSE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS
CITY.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF CRANE
ACCIDENTS WHERE WORKERS ARE
UNDER PRESSURE TO REMOVE PINS,
ON THE WAY TO TAKE IT DOWN, OR
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF BOEING 737
HAD AN ANGLE OF ATTACK DESIGNED
TOP DOWN BY ENGINEERS WHO KNOW
HOW TO FLY PLANES, BUT REAL
PEOPLE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN
EVERY PROCESS THAT EVERY PERSON
IN THIS ROOM TALKED ABOUT
TODAY.
AND IT WILL BE WRONG IF WE
THINK THIS IS NICHOLSVILLE
VERSUS THE OTHER GROUP.
TOTALLY WRONG.
THAT'S WHAT POLITICS DOES TO
PEOPLE.
SO LET'S NOT BE DIVIDED.
LET'S BE UNITED.
AND WHATEVER THE PROCESSES
TODAY.
STAND WITH EACH OTHER.
GO TO THE HOMELESS OR THESE
VARIOUS CAMPS AND JUST HANG
OUT.
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE
A FRIEND OF EVERYONE IN THE
ROOM.
>> THAT'S OUR LAST SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
TESTIFIED IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AS I HAD NOTIFIED YOU ALL
EARLIER, USUALLY, WE HAVE TWO
MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND, I JUST HAVE TO -- I HAVE
AN UNAVOIDABLE OBLIGATION TO
ATTEND A COMMUNITY MEETING AND
I HAVE TO LEAVE AT 11:15.
SO, I APPEAL TO YOU ALL TO
SPEAK TO A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF
EACH AND YOU PROVIDED VALUABLE
TESTIMONY AS TO WHY TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES ARE IMPORTANT.
AND IT WAS ALSO CRUCIAL, NOT
ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE VILLAGES
THEMSELVES FROM BEING HOMELESS
SPOKE BUT ALSO VOLUNTEERS,
STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN IT IN
ACTION HAVE ALSO TESTIFIED.
I WANTED TO NOTE AGAIN, SOME OF
YOU WEREN'T HERE WHEN I SPOKE
EARLIER.
THIS CAME UP A LITTLE BIT IN
THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
YES, THERE ARE ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS ON SOME DIFFERENCES
THAT HAVE ARISEN ON THE
MANAGEMENT OF SOME OF THESE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
AND, THAT DISCUSSION WILL TAKE
PLACE INDEPENDENTLY.
MY OFFICE HAS A JOINT COMMUNITY
MEMBERS RECOMMENDING THAT WE
HAVE A MUTUALLY AGREED UPON
MEDIATION PROCESS.
BUT I ALSO AGAIN WANTED TO
REMIND EVERYBODY THAT IS NOT
THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
SO WHEN WE HAVE OUR GROUP AT
THE TABLE HERE, THEY WILL BE
FOCUSED ON THE MOST IMPORTANT
QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE
REITERATED, THE IMPORTANCE OF
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, THE
EFFECTIVENESS THEY HAVE PROVEN
IN THEIR TRACK RECORD AND WHY
THE CITY SHOULD BE MAKING
CONCERTED EFFORTS TO EXPAND AND
EXTEND THEM.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
REITERATING THAT.
AND I WANTED TO ECHO SOMEONE
WHO SAID SELF-MANAGEMENT EQUALS
SELF-ESTEEM.
YOU HAVE MADE VERY CLEAR PART
OF THE REASON THE VILLAGES HAVE
BEEN SO EFFECTIVE IS BECAUSE
THEY TRULY PROVIDE A SPACE OF
DIGNITY AND COMMUNITY.
AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY AN
ESSENTIAL CORE TO REBUILDING
YOUR LIFE AFTER HAVING FACED
SOME DEVASTATING EXPERIENCES
THAT HOMELESSNESS COMES WITH.
SO, I'M SORRY?
>> WHEN YOU ARE DONE, I NEED TO
GET IN THE QUEUE.
>> OKAY.
AND, SO, WE WILL HAVE
PRESENTERS COMING TO THE TABLE.
SO, IF YOU CAN PLEASE JOIN US
HERE, I ALSO WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBERS
O'BRIEN, HERBOLD, AND PACHECO.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> I WANT TO REMIND
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE VIEWING
AUDIENCE AND, THE FOLKS IN
CHAMBERS WHO KNOW THIS TO BE
TRUE FROM THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES
THAT WE WOULD HAVE NEITHER
SANCTION ENCAMPMENTS NOR TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES IF IT WAS NOT
FOR DECADES OF WORK OF LEHIGH,
NICHOLSVILLE AND SHARE WHEEL
WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD THAT
SHARED OBJECTIVE.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE.
WE HAVE DECADES OF UNITED WORK
BEHIND US.
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO GO FORWARD ON THAT
BASIS.
SO, WILL ALL THE PRESENTERS WHO
ARE HERE FIRST GIVE VERY QUICK
DESTRUCTIONS FOR THE RECORD?
JUST VERY BRIEF ONE SENTENCE
INTRODUCTIONS.
AND, YOU ARE FREE TO START THE
PRESENTATION.
>> I'M E LEHIGHE ANA,.
>> ERIC DAVIS, CAMP SECOND
CHANCE AND LEHIGH EMPLOYEE.
ZS A ZA FLOYD.
CINDA TENGER.
>> JOSE RUIZ.
>> MELINDA NICHOLS.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD AT LEE
HIGH 22 YEARS AND WORKING TO
BUILD TINY HOUSES FOR THE LAST
FOUR YEARS.
I'M A CARPENTER.
>> SHARON LEE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE.
>> ROBERT JEFFREY.
PASTOR OF NEW HOPE BAPTIST
CHURCH AND ONE OF THE PARTNERS
WITH THE TRUE HOPE VILLAGE TINY
HOUSE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WANTED TO HAVE A
PRESENTATION, A POWER POINT
PRESENTATION, AND, WHO HAS THE
CLICKER?
OKAY.
GREAT.
SO -- OH.
HOW DO YOU HIT?
>> JUST HIT THE SPACEBAR.
>> SPACEBAR?
RIGHT HERE?
OKAY.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
SO, I WANTED TO FIRST SHOW YOU
THE EXTENT OF LEHIGH'S WORK IN
TERMS OF OUR HOUSING.
AND, WE HAVE HOUSING, URBAN
REST STOPS, AND TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND WE PROVIDE A FULL
RANGE OF SUPPORT OF SERVICES.
WE THINK HOUSING IS THE
SOLUTION BUT AS YOU KNOW IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO DO ADVOCACY
FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR
HOMELESS AND LOW INCOME
HOUSING.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU TWO
BUILDINGS THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FUNDED AND WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 65 PROPERTIES AND
OF COURSE, PERMANENT HOUSE,
PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING IS
THE SOLUTION ON THE LEFT IS THE
MARRION WEST, HOUSING FOR YOUNG
ADULTS ON THE WEST.
OVER THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
FOOD BANK.
AND WE ALSO HAVE HOUSING FOR
LOW WAGE WORKERS.
AND, THE REASON I'M BRINGING
THIS UP IS BECAUSE, WE WERE
ABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM TINY
HOUSES.
LIVING IN TINY HOUSES TO THE
MARION WEST.
AND ALSO, ON THE RIGHT, 70
UNITS OF WORK FORCE HOUSING
OVER A PRESCHOOL.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ON CITY
OWNED PROPERTY THAT YOU
TRANSFERRED TO US.
AND, THERE IS A PRESCHOOL FOR
80 CHILDREN AND WE WERE ABLE TO
MOVE PEOPLE FROM TINY HOUSES
INTO THE TONY LEE.
SO EVEN IF IT IS TINY HOUSING,
WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO WORK
FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM.
EVEN IF IT IS CITY COUNCIL
PROVIDING US FUNDING FOR CASE
MANAGERS, WE HAVE MANAGERS FROM
EVERY SITE FILLING OUT HOUSING
APPLICATIONS AND MOVING PEOPLE
INTO EVERY NEW BUILDING THAT WE
OPEN UP.
THIS IS JUNE LEONARD PLACE
WHICH WE JUST OPENED UP AND WE
ARE 100% LEASED THIS WEEK FOR
HOMELESS FAMILIES, HOMELESS
VETERANS AN LOW WAGE WORKERS.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE
ALSO TAKE A REGIONAL APPROACH
MAKING SURE THERE IS PERMANENT
SUPPORT OF HOUSING.
>> SO THESE ARE OUR URBAN REST
STOPS, WE HAVE THREE OF THEM IN
SEATTLE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
THEY PROVIDE FREE LAUNDRY,
SHOWERS, AND BATHROOMS.
THEY ARE FUNDED BY BOTH PRIVATE
DONORS AND BY THE CITY FUNDING.
THEY SERVE ABOUT 800 WOMEN AND
MEN EVERY DAY.
THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED IN
DOWNTOWN OPENED IN THE YEAR
2000.
IT IS OUR BUSIEST ONE.
ONE SURVEY WE CONDUCTED SHOWED
ABOUT HALF THE PEOPLE AT THEIR
REST STOPS ARE EMPLOYED.
SO, THEY ARE SHOWING UP TO GET
READY FOR WORK.
THEY LINE UP TYPICALLY AT 6:00
A.M.
AND THEY ARE TAKING SHOWERS SO
IT IS REALLY A LIFELINE FOR A
LOT OF FOLKS.
THEY PROVIDE HOUSING AND
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND THEY
ARE POWERED BY STAFF AND A
BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS THAT KEEP
THEM RUNNING.
THE BALLARD URBAN REST STOP IS
ATTACHED TO OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BUILD WEEING HAVE.
IT OPENED IN 2015, ININCLUDES,
BATHROOMS, SHOWERS, WASHERS,
DRIERS.
IT SERVES A COUPLE HUNDRED
PEOPLE A DAY AND WE ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE TOURS IF THAT IS EVER
DESIRED AND WE WANT TO THANK
THE CITY FOR ALL OF YOUR
SUPPORT IN KEEPING THESE FUNDED
AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO
OPEN MORE AND OPEN THEM FOR
LONGER HOURS.
>> SO, QUICKLY.
YOU HAVE ALL SEEN THIS CHART
SHOWING THE NUMBER OF
UNSHELTERED AND SHELTERED
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
AND IT IS AT LEAST SHOWING SOME
PROGRESS THAT THE NUMBER OF
UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS IS
LESS.
A LITTLE LESS THAN LAST YEAR
BUT WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT,
BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY
FACILITIES NOW, PEOPLE LIVING
IN TINY HOUSES HAVE HEAT,
ELECTRICITY, LOCKING DOOR, AND,
THEY HAVE PLUMBED TOILETS AND
SHOWERS.
AND ARE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE.
WE HAVE CLOSE TO 300 TINY
HOUSES THAT SERVE OVER A
THOUSAND PEOPLE A YEAR.
WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN TOUCH
THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON
THE STREET OR LIVERING UNDER A
CAR.
SO, WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
BECAUSE TINY HOUSES ARE NOW A
PART OF THE EFFORT AS BRIDGE
HOUSING TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO
PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND, THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED
UNSHELTERED ANYMORE.
>> SHARON, COULD YOU OR SOMEONE
ELSE GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF
DETAIL OR MAYBE YOU ARE IN
TERMS OF THE LOGISTICS OF HOW
YOU PROVIDE ELECTRIC HOOKUPS
AND WHAT CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN
TERMS OF PLUMBING.
I'M ASSUMING THAT IS A GREAT
DEAL OF INTEREST TO OTHER
CITIES AS WELL.
HOUSES BEING ACCOMPLISHED AT A
VERY LOW COST BASIS.
>> YES.
ABSOLUTELY.
AND MELINDA IS THE EXPERT ON
HOW TO SET SOME OF THIS UP.
>> I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
WHY WE NEED TINY HOUSES WHICH
IS FAIRLY OBVIOUS I THINK TO
EVERYONE IN THE ROOM.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE GROUPS OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO SERIOUSLY NEED
SOME PLACE BESIDES UNDERNEATH
THE BRIDGE.
AND, WE HAVE WHOLE FAMILIES,
LARGE FAMILIES, WE HAVE DONE
SOME INNOVATIVE THINGS TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT HAS A
LARGE FAMILY CAN STILL SEE
THEIR KIDS BECAUSE OUR HOUSES
ARE SO SMALL.
WE PUT THE HOUSES NEXT TO EACH
OTHER WITH WINDOWS SO THEY CAN
LOOK BACK AND FORTH.
LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS, STRAIGHT AND
GAY COUPLES.
GAY COUPLES WITH CHILDREN.
FAMILIES WITH TEENAGE SONS,
IMMIGRANTS.
UNDOCUMENTED HOUSEHOLDS.
SINGLE MEN AND CHILDREN, AND
PEOPLE WITH PETS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T
REALIZE IS PEOPLE WILL NOT GO
TO A SHELTER IF THEY HAVE A
PET.
THEY WOULD RATHER STAY OUTSIDE.
THAT IS HEARTBREAKING TO
REALIZE MY GOSH, IF WE JUST LET
THEM HAVE THEIR PET IN THEIR
HOUSE THEY WILL GET SHELTER SO
WE HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF
THAT.
AND THE PETS HAVEN'T BEEN BAD.
IT HAS BEEN OKAY WITH US.
WE ARE REALLY GLAD TO DO IT.
>> SO, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
IS THAT IN THE INITIAL PHASE OF
THE TENT ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE,
TENTS WERE ENVISIONED ON
PLATFORMS.
A COUPLE OF HONEY BUCKETS.
AND WE HAVE MODERNIZED THE
VILLAGES SO THAT THERE'S
ACTUALLY ELECTRICITY RUNNING TO
EVERY TINY HOUSE.
THERE IS A SMOKE DETECTOR.
THERE ARE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
AND HEAT INSULATION AND WE ARE
ALSO INSTALLS FANS AND WE HAVE
SOLAR IN SOME OF THEM.
AND, WE ACTUALLY PUT IN PLUMBED
TOILETS AN SHOWERS SO WE
ACTUALLY HAVE, YOU WILL SEE
LATER IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS,
COMPLETE BATHROOMS THAT ARE
PLUMBED.
AND, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
PEOPLE TO SPEND ALL DAY HUNTING
AROUND DOING THEIR LAUNDRY, WE
HAVE PUT IN LAUNDRY SERVICES.
AND THE KITCHENS ARE NOT
PRIMITIVE.
THEY INCLUDE SINKS, FREEZERS,
REFRIGERATORS, AN DINING AREA.
AND THERE IS SECURITY AND THERE
IS ALSO CASE MANAGEMENT OFFICES
SO IT IS LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS
WHEN YOU WENT TO FAMILY CAMP
YOUR FAMILY STAYED IN YOUR
LITTLE LEAN TOO AND YOU WENT TO
KITCHEN, DINING, RECREATION.
WE HAVE THE WHOLE PLACE SET UP.
IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE
IMPROVEMENTED AND THERE IS ALSO
A SECURITY FENCE AND A GATE
HOUSE.
>>> GOOD MORNING.
BASIC EDUCATION.
FOOD, PART OF OUR SERVICES.
WE HAVE BEEN EDUCATING THE
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PAY RENT
FOR A YEAR.
AND, THE SECOND YEAR, THEY ARE
GOING TO USE ONLY HALF OF THEIR
INCOME TO PAY RENT.
EVERYBODY HAD BEEN COMING OUT
WITH POSITIVE FEEDBACK OF THIS
PROGRAM.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEND
PEOPLE TO PENNSYLVANIA, IDAHO,
OHIO, AND CALIFORNIA TO GRAB
THE VOUCHER WITH THE INTENTION
TO PUT IT BACK TO WASHINGTON.
AND SO FAR, NONE OF THEM HAVE
RETURNED.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING IN
WAREHOUSES.
WE HAVE FROM OTHER STATE, CASE
MANAGERS THAT HAVE BEEN TO
NAVIGATE WITH THE HOUSING
PROCESS.
ONCE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A
CHOICE VOUCHER, THIS MORNING I
CHECK AND THERE ARE 431 CHOICE
VOUCHERS AVAILABLE IN ALL
UNITED STATES.
IT TAKES RIGHT NOW, THE BUDGET
IS SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.
WHOEVER I PLACE, IF I DO IT
THIS MORNING THEY WILL GET IT
ON THE FISCAL YEAR.
OCTOBER 1, 2019.
I HAVE PRESENTED THIS TO THE
SECOND CHANCE ENCAMPMENT AND
ALSO TO SOME OF THE FOLKS.
AND, THEY WERE VERY, VERY
INTERESTED, EVEN TO GO OUTSIDE
THE STATE.
GET THE VOUCHER.
GET A JOB.
AND WORK, NOT PAY RENT FOR ONE
YEAR.
AND THE SECOND YEAR, THEY HAVE
PLANS TO STAY OR USE THE
VOUCHER IN ANY PART OF THE
UNITED STATES.
WE ARE RESIDENTS GETTING
EDUCATED IN ALASKA.
WE HAVE TWO RESIDENTS THAT
ALREADY HAVE THE VOUCHER IN
TEXAS AND ANOTHER HAS IT IN
CALIFORNIA.
AND I HAVE BEEN THERE ONLY FOR
TWO WEEKS.
I HAD TO WORK FROM HOME BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE MAKING A
LINE.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTED TO GO
THERE.
I START WORKING.
I DON'T PAY RENT FOR ONE YEAR.
THIS IS A PROGRAM.
IT IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM, 1990.
LAST TIME AN AMENDMENT WAS DONE
WAS IN 2016.
IT IS A HOT PROGRAM.
THE LAST AMENDMENT THAT WAS
DONE WAS THE PROGRAM.
THAT IS PART OF THE PROGRAM OF
THE SERVICE THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING NOW.
>> JUST TO GIVE YOU A
LANDSCAPE, WE HAVE TEN TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES AND EIGHT OF
THEM ARE RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
ONE VILLAGE IS BEING SUPPORTED
ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
IN THE CITY OF OLYMPIA.
AND ONE IS CHURCH SPONSORED BY
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE GOOD
SHEPHERD.
YOU CAN SEE.
DON'T YOU LIKE THIS DRONE
PICTURE OF THE LAKE UNION
VILLAGE?
OUR FIRST DRONE PICTURE.
LOOKS REALLY WELL ORGANIZED.
YOU CAN SEE THE KITCHEN TENT
AND THE LONG ONE BUILDING IN
THE MIDDLE IS THE HYGIENE
FACILITY.
EVEN BATHROOMS.
FULL BATHROOMS.
ALSO LAUNDRY FACILITY.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF
THE SITES ARE ON PUBLICLY OWNED
PROPERTY.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE PORT
PROPERTY AND THERE ARE SOME
CHURCH PROPERTIES.
LEHIGH AS WELL.
>> JUST A QUESTION AS IT
RELATES TO YOUR HYGIENE
FACILITY ABILITY.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AUDITOR HAS
RECENTLY IN ITS AUDIT OF THE
NAVIGATION TEAM FUNCTIONS AND
THE THEORY OF CHANGE IN HOW
WELL IT MOVES PEOPLE FROM
LIVING UNSHELTERED INTO OTHER
SITUATIONS CITED THE LACK OF
HYGIENE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
AND, NOTED THAT THERE ARE ONLY
SIX PUBLICLY FUNDED 24/7
BATHROOMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN
OPENING SOME OF THE COMMUNITY
CENTERS THAT HAVE SHOWERS.
NOT ALL OF THEM.
I THINK ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE
OPENED.
BUT, I'M WONDERING
OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE VERY
DIFFICULT TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE
THAN OUR RESIDENTS OF THESE
INDIVIDUAL TINY HOUSES.
BUT, IS THERE A WAY TO CONSIDER
HOW WE MIGHT OPEN SOME OF THEM
TO A LARGER POPULATION OF FOLKS
THAN ARE CURRENTLY RESIDENTS AT
TINY VILLAGES?
>> WELL, I THINK FIRST OF ALL,
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS BUT WE HAVE THREE URBAN
REST STOPS THE CITY HAS BEEN
SUPPORTING BUT THE CHURCH WE
ARE RENTING, THE U DISTRICT
REST STOP, WE WILL HAVE TO SHUT
THAT DOWN.
IT IS HEAVILY USED.
NOT ONLY IS THE URBAN REST STOP
IN THE U DISTRICT BUT THE ROOTS
SHELTER FOR HOMELESS YOUTH.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE
DISPLACED.
SO, WE ACTUALLY NEED YOUR HELP
TO FIND A NEW SITE TO REPLACE
LOST SPACE IN THE U DISTRICT.
THEY ARE ONLY SUCCESSFUL THE
THEY ARE WELL LIT, STAFFED, AN
CLEAN.
IT IS A NIGHTMARE TO HAVE A
FACILITY THAT IS HAZARDOUS, YOU
ARE NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, WHAT
PEOPLE ARE DOING.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
FOR THE CITY TO LOOK AT
EXTENDING HOURS OF THE EXISTING
REST STOPS AND OTHER FACILITIES
AND TO OPEN UP MORE OF THEM.
AND, TO US, IT IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE.
IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY
ISSUE.
WE HAVE SO MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORKING.
AND, THEY CAN'T FIND A JOB OR
APPLY FOR HOUSING IF THEY ARE
NOT PRESENTABLE.
WE THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO BE OPEN EARLY IN THE
MORNING.
YOU CAN'T JUST OPEN A FACILITY
LIKE 9:00 TO 5:00.
THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE URBAN
REST STOPS AND HYGIENE CENTERS
OPEN EARLY IN THE MORNING AND
EVENING SO PEOPLE CAN DO THEIR
LAUNDRY AND TAKE A SHOWER.
SO WE WOULD REALLY WANT TO WORK
IN PARTNERSHIP.
BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME BUILDINGS
AND THERE ARE SOME
UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS AND
FACILITIES WE CAN EXPAND AND
OPEN.
SO UNSHELTERED AS WELL AS
SHELTERED PEOPLE.
AND PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR CARS
CAN ALSO USE THE FACILITIES.
SO WHITTIER HEIGHTS, WE WILL
FOCUS ON THREE NEW ONES.
THIS IS THE FIRST ONE
EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN.
WHEN I HEARD WE WERE GOING TO
DO IT, I THOUGHT LET'S HAVE ALL
WOMEN BUILD IT.
I'M FROM THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY.
I HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING THE
CITY OF SEATTLE 22 YEARS SO I
KNOW A LOT OF WOMEN IN THE
INDUSTRY.
225 OF THEM VOLUNTEERED TO DO
THE WORK.
AND, IT ALSO BECAME AN
INTERNATIONAL STORY.
WE WERE INTERVIEWED BY
ORGANIZATIONS ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
AND, IT WAS A VERY EXCITING
THING.
AND I THINK THAT HAVING IT FOR
WOMEN ONLY WAS A REALLY GOOD
THING.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO A
VETERAN'S ONLY VILLAGE AS WELL.
THERE ISN'T ANYONE ANYWHERE IN
THE STATE.
WE HAVE SO MANY HOMELESS
VETERANS.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
I LOVE THE FACT THE WOMEN'S
WHITTIER HEIGHTS WAS
CONSTRUCTED BY WOMEN.
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS SPACE
AVAILABLE AT THE VETERAN'S
FACILITY ON BEACON HILL.
PARKING LOTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ANYBODY
HAS REACHED OUT TO THEM.
BUT I THINK A YEAR OR SO AGO, I
TALKED WITH THE LEADERSHIP
THERE.
AND SAID, WHY DON'T WE USE
THIS, IF NOT FOR TINY HOMES,
SOME OF THE MOBILE OPTIONS THAT
WE ARE LOOKING AT, AND THEY
HAVE SPACE.
AND I THINK THAT THEY OUGHT TO
BE OUR PARTNERS SO I WOULD LOVE
TO KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE
REACHED OUT, IT WOULD BE GREAT.
ANYTHING WE CAN USE FOR
UNDERUTILIZED PARKING SPACE
WOULD BE A GOOD START.
>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH JBLM.
THEY WANT US TO DO A VILLAGE.
THEIR FOLKS ARE VOLUNTEERING TO
BUILD FOR US AND THEY WANT A
PLACE WHERE THEY CAN REACH OUT
DIRECTLY TO VETERANS BECAUSE
SOMETIMES THEY ARE EXTREMELY
ELUSIVE.
BUT TO GET BACK TO WHITTIER
HEIGHTS.
>> I'M THE ONE WHO TOOK YOU IN
THAT DIRECTION.
>> IT WAS A WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE.
WE GAINED A HUGE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO BUILD
MORE OF THEM.
WE ALSO KIND OF RECRUITED SOME
WOMEN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY WHICH IS A VERY
IMPORTANT THING TO DO AS WELL.
SO WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH HOW
IT TURNED OUT.
>> THANK YOU FOR EMPHASIZING
THAT.
>> YES.
AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK
CITY COUNCIL.
YOU WROTE A LETTER AND PUT IN
FUNDING THE PREVIOUS YEAR FOR A
NEW VILLAGE DOING THE BUDGET
PROCESS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE WHITTIER
HEIGHTS.
SO, WE WANT TO THANK THE
EXISTING COUNCIL FOR MAKING
THIS POSSIBLE.
>> WITHOUT YOU, THIS WOULDN'T
BE HAPPENING.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL.
>>> MY NAME IS ROBERT JEFFREY.
I'M A PARTNER WITH LEE LEHIGH
IN THE TRUE HOPE VILLAGE.
MY OBSERVATIONS ARE PRIMARILY
THAT CONNECTING HOMELESSNESS
PROBLEM WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY
INSTITUTIONS IS A VERY SOUND
PRINCIPLE.
MANY AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE
HOMELESS BECOME SORT OF LOST IN
TERMS OF THEIR CONNECTION WITH
COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS.
SO THE WAY I THINK TO HELP
AFRICAN-AMERICANS BECOME
STABILIZED IN TERMS OF THEIR
HOMELESS SITUATION IS TO
CONNECT SOME OF THESE TINY
HOMES TO COMMUNITY BASED
INSTITUTIONS.
OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE
IN THE TRUE HOPE VILLAGE.
THE PEOPLE COOK DINNERS AND
TAKE THEM DOWN.
CLOTHING.
ALL KINDS OF THINGS WHICH HELPS
THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AND THESE TINY HOMES CONNECTING
TO THESE INSTITUTIONS IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I HAVE NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS
TO SAY ABOUT THE TRUE HOPE
VILLAGES.
I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WHEN I WAS IN GRAD SCHOOL, I
SPENT THREE WEEKS IN CLEVELAND,
OHIO ON THE STREETS.
I LIVED IN SHELTERS, I WALKED
THE STREETS.
AND, I LIVED, I KNOW, I DON'T
CLAIM TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO
BE HOMELESS.
BUT FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME, I
LIVED IN SHELTERS, I TOOK
COMMUNAL SHOWERS.
I HAD TO EAT SOUP AND HEAR
BIBLE STORIES BEFORE I COULD
EAT.
I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK
THE STREET AND BE LOOKED AT
LIKE YOU ARE A NONEXISTENT AND
A NOBODY AND I THINK THIS IS A
STEP UP.
IT PERSONALIZES IN A WAY THAT
IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND IT GIVES PEOPLE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BREATHE AND
REGAIN THEIR COMPOSURE.
AND TO PREPARE THEMSELVES TO GO
BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD.
THIS SHOULD NEVER BE A
PERMANENT SITUATION.
A TEMPORARY SITUATION.
I THINK THESE PROJECTS PROVIDE
PEOPLE WITH THAT SPACE.
AND WITH THAT TIME WHICH I
THINK IS CRUCIAL FOR PEOPLE
GETTING THEMSELVES TOGETHER AND
BECOMING WHOLE AGAIN.
SO I APPLAUD THIS.
>> YOU CAN SEE FROM THESE
PICTURES DIRECTLY, THAT, THE
KITCHEN, HAS FREEZERS AND
REFRIGERATORS AND A KITCHEN
SINK AND APPLIANCES AND YOU CAN
SEE A TYPICAL BEDROOM.
EIGHT BY 12.
THEY COME FURNISHED.
AND WE HAVE THE BATHROOM.
IT IS NOT LIKE TAKING A SHOWER
ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
IT IS A COMPLETE SELF-CONTAINED
BATHROOM AS A MODULE WE BROUGHT
ON SITE AND WE BUILT HANDICAP
ACCESSIBLE SITES.
WE FOUND THERE WAS AN
UNDERREPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE
OF COLOR LIVING IN THE VILLAGES
SO THE REFERRALS TO TRUE HOPE
VILLAGE INCLUDE THE SEATTLE
URBAN LEAGUE, THE SEATTLE
INDIAN CENTER.
THE SEATTLE VOCATIONAL
INSTITUTE, STUDENTS OF COLOR
WHO ARE TRAINING IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
AS WELL AS THE TRUE VINE AND
NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE
NAVIGATION TEAM AND REACH.
SO, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT
YOU SHOULD COME VISIT.
IT IS SO CLOSE.
ON 18th AND YESLEYR.
>> WE WERE THERE FOR THE
INAUGURATION.
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN REALLY
IMPROVING EVEN SINCE THEN.
AND, IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT
ALL THE TINY HOUSES HAVE BEEN
BUILT THROUGH VOLUNTEER EFFORT?
>> WE HAVE MOSTLY, I WOULD SAY
90% HAVE BEEN BUILT, LET'S SAY,
IF WE HAVE, LET'S SAY, WE ARE
TRYING TO OPEN A CERTAIN DAY
AND THAT WE ARE SHORT, THEN, WE
HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT BUILDS
THEM VERY QUICKLY AND COST
EFFECTIVELY.
BUT, THE VOLUNTEER ONES ARE
BUILT AT 2,500 FOR MATERIALS.
AND, PEOPLE ARE BUILDING THEM
IN THEIR BACKYARD.
SCHOOLS.
BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS.
BUSINESSES.
AND THEN WE PICK THEM UP
BECAUSE THEY ARE ON SKIDS.
WE TAKE A FLAT BED TRUCK AND
BRING IT TO THE VILLAGE.
>> DID YOU SAY THE AVERAGE COST
IS $2,500?
>> YES.
WE DO HAVE SOME FANCY ONES.
BUT THOSE ARE PAID FOR BY
DONORS.
>> THAT INCLUDES INSULATION.
ALL OF IT.
EVERYTHING.
>> SO YOU ALSO MENTIONED SMOKE
DETECTOR AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER?
>> YES.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE HOUSING
CODE COME IN TO INSPECT
REGULARLY.
ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE TO INSPECT.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES, PEOPLE
DISABLE THEIR SMOKE DETECTOR:
WE DO NOT ALLOW SMOKING IN THE
TINY HOUSE OR CANDLES.
AND PEOPLE HAVE A HEATER.
AND, THE HEATER WE MAKE SURE IS
NOT THE KIND THAT FLARES OR
COMBUSTIBLE SO CATS AND DOGS
AREN'T GETTING SINGED.
>> AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
AND, JOSH WANTED TO SAY
SOMETHING AND TED AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW.
>> WE HAD AN AMAZING DAY LAST
YEAR, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, CENTURY
LINK BUILD HAPPENED.
THE SAME SPACE THAT HOSTED A
TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT THE NIGHT
BEFORE.
IT WAS A LARGE SPACE.
WE HAD 400 VOLUNTEERS FROM
VULCAN, SEATTLE VOCATIONAL
INSTITUTE.
AND AGC CAME OUT AND BUILT 30
TINY HOUSES IN ONE DAY.
WE NEVER BUILT SO MANY HOUSES
IN SO SHORT A PERIOD OF TIME.
THEY WERE HOISTED UP ON A FLAT
BED TRUCK AND BROUGHT TO TRUE
HOPE VILLAGE.
WHERE THEY ARE SERVING OVER 50
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
AND, NOW, BASICALLY, IT HELPED
IMPROVE.
WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT EVEN MORE
ABOUT HOW TO BUILD THEM OUT OF
THIS EFFORT.
AND IT WAS JUST A REALLY LONG,
AMAZING DAY.
>> HOW DO THEY COMPARE IN
AMENITIES AND COST COMPARED TO
THE CORPORATE BUILT ONES?
>> WE DID SEE THE PALETTE
SHOUTERS AND WE HAD A
DEMONSTRATION ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT THEM, THEY
COME FLAT ON A LITTLE TRAILER
AND YOU CAN PUT THEM UP IN A
FEW HOURS BUT WE CHOSE TO
CONTINUE WITH OUR STICK BUILT
TINY HOUSES FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS.
OURS ARE INSULATED.
AND ALSO, WE FOUND THAT IT WAS
VERY IMPORTANT THAT VOLUNTEERS
HELP WITH DECORATING, FLOORING,
ROOFING, AND WE HAVE MORE A
SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHERE WE
FELT THE PALETTE SHOUTERS
LOOKED VERY SORT OF UNIFORM.
IN TERMS OF NOISE, BECAUSE OURS
ARE INSULATED, WE HAVE A THICK
WALL.
WE FOUND AT THAT POINT, WHAT WE
SAW THEY WERE NOT INSULATED.
SINCE THEY COST MORE THAN OURS,
MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR COST THAT
WE WENT AHEAD WITH OUR
CONVENTIONAL STICK BUILT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW?
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE
VOLUNTEERS THAT WORKED ON THIS
WHOLE PROJECT.
AND, REMEMBER THAT I THINK IT
WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO NOW,
SHARON, THAT THERE WAS A GROUP
OF STUDENTS AND THEY HAD A
STATEWIDE COMPETITION IN
OLYMPIA AND YOU AND YOURS WERE
VERY INSTRUMENTAL WITH THOSE.
BUT, WHAT I HAD LEARNED MANY
TIMES CONSTRUCTING SOME OF
THESE MYSELF, WAS THE BUY-IN
FROM THE COMMUNITY IS SO MUCH
MORE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE HANDS ON.
AND, I WANT TO REALLY SAY THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING THAT TO
CONTINUE.
BECAUSE I DO THINK IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE.
THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO
MAKE ON THE SAFETY ABOUT HAVING
AND I KNOW THIS IS JUST A KNIT.
BUT SOMETHING I AM GOING TO ASK
YOU, DO YOU SPEND ANY TIME
TEACHING THE RESIDENTS HOW TO
USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER?
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, IF YOU
HAVEN'T DONE IT BEFORE AND
DON'T KNOW HOW TO PULL OUT THE
PIN AND SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER.
IT SOUNDS SIMPLE BUT IT IS IS A
LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT.
DO YOU SPEND ANY TIME AT ALL ON
THOSE KINDS OF FIRE SAFETY
DETAILS?
>> WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A
CHECKLIST OF ALL THE SAFETY AND
EXPECTATIONS AROUND THE KITCHEN
AND EQUIPMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE PEST TROLL.
MAYBE YOUR POINT OF ACTUALLY
SHOWING SOMEONE THE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER MAKES SENSE.
DO YOU WANT TO SAY THAT ERIC?
>> WE DO THAT AT CAMP SECOND
CHANCE.
>> IT'S AMAZING TO ME HOW
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE, WHETHER IT
IS COAST GUARD OR WHOMEVER SAYS
YOU NEED TO UPDATE THESE TO
MAKE SURE.
BUT NOBODY HAS EVER USED THEM.
AND, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN
YOU MIGHT THINK TO FIGURE OUT,
ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A FIRE
BURNING AROUND YOU, HOW TO GET
THAT PIN PULLED OUT.
TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE KNOW
HOW TO USE IT.
>> THIS IS LAKE UNION VILLAGE.
WE OPEN IN OCTOBER ON SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT LAND.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE A PAINT
PARTY.
WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL INVITE
PEOPLE INCLUDING NEIGHBORS.
ARTISTS, SCHOOLS, TO COME AND
DO A PAINT PARTY.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS.
>> OH FUN.
>> SO, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
WE
>> LET'S SEE.
SO, DEMOCRATICALLY RAN SELF-
MANAGED ENCAMPMENT.
THIS ENCAMPMENT IS BASED ON
BEST PRACTICES OF OTHER
ENCAMPMENTS.
OTHER TENT CITIES THAT WE HAVE
LIVED IN BEFORE WE FORMED CAMP
SECOND CHANCE.
SO, ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE LOOK
AT RIGHT THERE ARE PRACTICED ON
A DAILY BASIS.
BUT THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS
HOW THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED
WITH THE EXPANSION.
THE CONNECTION WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
THE THINGS WE DO DAY IN AND DAY
OUT ON THE WEEKENDS.
BUILDING HOUSES, HAVING ALL
KINDS OF BARBECUES,
FUNDRAISERS.
HAVING OUR DOORS OPEN ON A
REGULAR BASIS HELPS THE
COMMUNITY SEE WHO WE ARE AND
CONNECT US TO THEM.
THUS, THE RESIDENTS AREN'T JUST
SITTING BACK THINKING THEY ARE
NO ONE.
THEY GET TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE
ACCEPTED BECAUSE WE ARE WARM
AND VERY INVITING COMMUNITY.
MOST ENCAMPMENTS STRESS WHEN
THEY GET INTO A NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD, WELL, WE LEAVE
OUR DOORS OPEN AND WE ALLOW THE
COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND SUP
WITH US.
YOU SPEND THE NIGHT.
COMMUNITIES COME IN AND WANT TO
BUILD DAILY.
THERE ARE TOURS EVERY DAY.
DON'T GET A BREAK BECAUSE THERE
ARE SO MANY TOURS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING FROM
OUT OF STATE JUST TO VIEW THAT
MODEL.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
START THIS.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US EXAMPLES OF
OTHER CITIES OR COUNTIES OR
STATES FROM WHERE PEOPLE HAVE
COME TO VISIT?
>> WE HAVE SAN JOSE.
WE HAD CALIFORNIA.
NEW YORK.
DETROIT.
EVEN KITSAP.
>> TODAY WE HAVE THE CITY OF
TACOMA VISITING TRUE HOPE
VILLAGE.
>> OH THAT IS EXCELLENT.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS, HAVE ANYBODY
WHO IS OFFICIALLY PART OF OR
IDITAROD LOGICALLY SUBSCRIBES
TO THE VIEWS OF THE GROUPS LIKE
SPEAK-OUT SEATTLE, HAVE ANY OF
THEM COME TO THE VILLAGES OR
ASKED TO VISIT TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT HOW THE VILLAGES ARE RUN?
>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO.
BUT THEY WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.
I TALK WITH THEM.
I TALKED WITH A FEW OF THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD TO KNOW IN TERMS OF
SHARING WITH MEMBERING OF THE
PUBLIC, THEY HAVE BEEN INVITED
AND IF THEY ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW
WHY THESE THINGS ARE WORKING,
WHY THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE
WORKING.
AND ALSO, WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM UNLESS YOUR STARTING
POINT IS HUMANITY AND DIGNITY.
AND ALSO, JUST THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF HAVING A SAFE
SPACE WITH INSULATION.
AND SMOKE DETECTORS AND FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS AND A PLACE WHERE
YOU CAN STAY WITH YOUR FAMILY
AN PETS.
AND HAVING SHOWERS AND TOILETS
AND KITCHENS.
THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GET BACK
ON THEIR FEET.
I WOULD URGE PEOPLE WHO ARE
CURIOUS OR ALIENATED FROM
HOMELESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
FEEL THAT THEY ARE INCLINED TO
BLAME INDIVIDUALS.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
THEY GO AND VISIT.
AND UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM AND
THE SOLUTIONS MUCH MORE.
>> THANK YOU.
AS A PERSON WHO HAS VISITED
CAMP SECOND CHANCE SEVERAL
TIMES, IT IS GREAT TO SEE MY
CONSTITUENTS HERE AT THE TABLE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK
YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IN HIGHLAND
PARK.
COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO
TWO THINGS.
ONE, YOU KNOW, THE CENTURY LINK
EXERCISE WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE
WITH THE NUMBER OF HOUSES
PUMPED OUT OVER A SHORT TIME.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN
OPERATION AT CAMP SECOND CHANCE
AS WELL.
AND A LOT OF CAPACITY TO BUILD
MORE THERE.
AND AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO THE COMMUNITY BUILDING
ASPECT.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD
MAYBE QUANTIFY THAT A LITTLE
BIT BECAUSE I THINK CAMP SECOND
CHANCE HAS GONE THE EXTRA MILE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY.
MAYBE YOU COULD TELL US HOW
MANY CONGREGATIONS ARE ACTUALLY
ACTIVE ON AN ONGOING BASIS FROM
WEST SEATTLE IN SUPPORTING CAMP
SECOND CHANCE.
I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
RIGHT?
IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
INDIVIDUAL CONGREGATIONS.
>> YEAH.
I WOULD GO AS FAR AS 25 OR
MORE.
>> YEAH.
AND IT IS REALLY CHANGED
PEOPLE'S FEELINGS.
I THINK, ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
AND, REALLY ALLOWED PEOPLE TO
SEE THAT WE HAVE COMMON CAUSE
TOGETHER.
AND THAT WHEN SOME OF US SAY
THAT WE ARE NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT NOW IN A REALLY
DIFFERENT WAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WILL LET CINDA SPEAK ABOUT
THE EXPANSION ON THAT PART.
BUT THAT COMMUNITY GROUP THERE,
THAT IS USUALLY EVERY DAY.
ANYONE COMES OUT, THE LOVE YOU
GET THERE, THE WARMTH YOU FEEL,
IS VERY IMPORTANT AS A
COMMUNITY.
THAT IS LIKE, BETTER HOMES AND
GARDENS.
IT IS GATED.
IT'S A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE
THAT TRUST EACH OTHER ARE
SECURE IN EACH OTHER.
YET THERE'S NO GUNS, SCREAMING,
NO NEEDLES.
THERE'S PEACE ALL DAY LONG.
THIS IS THE MODEL WE WANT TO
ADVOCATE EVERYWHERE.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY IS
THOSE TINY HOUSES ARE NOT JUST
TINY HOUSES.
THOSE ARE COMMUNITIES YOU NEED
TO HAVE.
UNTIL YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET
ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE
NEED TO BUILD AS MUCH OF THESE
AS POSSIBLE AND HAVE THEM RUN
IN SUCH A WAY THEY HAVE THEIR
DIGNITY AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
THAT LOVE FROM THE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER.
>> MAY I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION?
I HAVE BEEN TO MANY OF THE
VICTIM LANGUAGES AND VILLAGES
AND I HAVE SEEN THE WORK DONE
IN A PEACEFUL WAY AND I WAS SO
IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I SAW AT
ONE OF THE VILLAGES THAT I
WISHED OUR CONDO WAS AS
CONSIDERATE AS WHAT I SAW
THERE.
MY POINT BEING HERE IS, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING DIFFERENTLY?
WHAT ARE YOU AND YOU VILLAGE
DOING TO PROMOTE THAT PEACE?
>> AN EXAMPLE FROM EACH
INDIVIDUAL.
THERE IS NO SPECIAL THING THAT
ANYONE CAN OR CANNOT DO.
WE PRACTICE IT.
AND, WHEN SOMETHING IS
ADDRESSED, IT IS ADDRESSED IN A
CIVIL MANNER.
IT IS ADDRESSED IN A CALM TONE.
IF YOU ARE USING OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT, WE DON'T KICK YOU
OUT, WE OFFER YOU TREATMENT.
I HAVE A HISTORY OF ALCOHOL AND
DRUG CARE SERVICES.
I WORKED IN THAT FIELD 13
YEARS.
I CAN TALK WITH YOU AT 2:00 IN
THE MORNING.
3:00 IN THE MORNING.
BUT THE WHOLE IDEA IS
UNDERSTANDING IT IS NOT JUST
ADDICTION MENTAL HEALTH.
THESE PEOPLE NEED LOVE AS WELL.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE SCREAMED
AT.
THEY NEED TO BE HEARD BUT AT A
TONE IN A DISTANCE WHERE THEY
FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT BEING
PUT ON THE SPOT.
WE PRACTICE IT AND IT GROWS AND
FLOWS.
NOW YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY GOING
OUTSIDE THE GATES EXPANDING.
SO WE WANT TO SEE THIS LOVE
EVERYWHERE.
STOP BICKERING AND BUILD.
>> I LOVE THAT MAN.
TED HAD SOMETHING TO SAY AND I
INVITE THE OTHER SPEAKERS TO
JOIN THE DISCUSSION.
>> I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO MY
EXPERIENCE AT CAMP SECOND
CHANCE.
I LOVED IT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE
OF THE HARMONY HAPPENING AT
THAT TIME.
AND, I SAY AT THAT TIME.
BUT, IT WAS CONTINUOUS.
UP UNTIL I JUST TRANSITIONED
INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
>> I LIVE IN KENT.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> IN A BEAUTIFUL PARK AREA.
JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE HOMELESS
AND TRANSITION, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO SETTLE.
YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND BE
PROACTIVE AND FIND WHAT IT IS
YOU REALLY WANT.
SO THAT YOU KEEP IT AND
MAINTAIN IT.
THE THING ABOUT CAMP SECOND
CHANCE, I HAD CERTAIN SERVICES
I NEEDED.
MENTAL HEALTH.
THING OF THAT NATURE.
I WAS INTERVIEWED BY CHRIS
BRAND.
HE GAVE ME THE CODE OF CONDUCT
RULES.
THERE'S RULES YOU HAVE TO
FOLLOW.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
I ALSO WAS ABLE TO GET, BECAUSE
IT WAS A STABLE ENVIRONMENT, I
WAS ABLE TO GO OUT AND RECEIVE
THE SERVICES THAT I NEEDED.
OR, ALSO, THE SERVICES CAME TO
ME.
WHICH WAS BIG.
AND HUGE.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT FIVE
POINTS IMPORTANT TO ME LIVING
THERE.
LIKE HE SAID WE HAVE A MEETING
EVERY WEDNESDAY.
EVERY POSITION THAT IS
AVAILABLE, YOU CAN SAY HEY, I
WANT TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW.
AND, THERE'S A VOTING PROCESS.
AND, THE FORMER PERSON MAY GET
IT AGAIN OR YOU MAY GET IT.
SO, IT IS ALL DEMOCRACY.
YOU KNOW?
IT IS FAIR ALL THE WAY AROUND.
THE POINTS I WANT TO MAKE IS I
FELT SELF-EMPOWERED.
I FELT STABILITY.
I FELT SAFETY BECAUSE IT WAS A
GATED COMMUNITY.
AND 24/7 SECURITY.
LIVING THERE, YOU HAVE TO DO
TWO SECURITIES A WEEK AT FOUR
HOUR INTERVALS.
AND, THAT INVOLVES THE WHOLE
ENTIRE CAMP.
THERE IS LIKE I SAID HARMONY.
AND, THE SERVICES I COULD
RECEIVE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
IT AS I LIVE IN KENT AND I'M
REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME TO CONTINUE TO
REACH BACK AND ENCOURAGE AND
HELP MY FORMER PEOPLE TO COME
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M CHAIR OF THE OTHELLO
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I THINK THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES
ARE ONE OF THE NEAT FEATURES
THAT GOT SET UP.
THEY BRING TOGETHER STAKE
HOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE
COMMUNIT.
WE HAVE MEMBERS OF FAITH
COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZERS,
BUSINESS OWNERS, NONPROFIT
LEADERS.
AND MANY MORE.
EACH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT, WE ARE ALL PASSIONATELY
COMMITTED TO THE WELL BEING OF
THE RESIDENTS.
AND MANY SEE IT AS A BRIDGE.
YOU HAVE HEARD A LITTLE ABOUT
WHY TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE
IMPORTANT.
ESPECIALLY FOR POPULATINS LIKE
COUPLES AND PET OWNERS WHO
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO USE
TRADITIONAL SHELTERS.
BUT THE ADVANTAGES GO FAR
BEYOND ISSUES OF CAPACITY OR
ACCESSIBILITY OR THEIR VERY
IMPRESSIVE COST EFFECTIVENESS.
FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, THE SELF-
MANAGED VILLAGE MODEL IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT HARM REDUCTION
TOOL THAT THE CITY HAS
AVAILABLE FOR ADDRESSING THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE FROM
UNHOUSED TO HOUSED, THERE NEED
TO BE HEALING AND SKILL
BUILDING AS WELL AS THE
OVERCOMING OF PRACTICAL
OBSTACLES.
THE ISOLATION, TRAUMA, AND
DISEMPOWERMENT OF HOMELESSNESS
ARE PROFOUND AND NEED TO BE
REPAIRED.
SOMETHING THE VILLAGE MODEL HAS
PROVEN REMARKABLE AT
ADDRESSING.
AT OTHELLO VILLAGE.
I OBSERVED NOW NICHOL'SVILLE'S
APPROACH OF COOPERATION AND
MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE IS GREATER PHYSICAL
SAFETY IN THE VILLAGE MODEL
THAN OTHER MODELS.
BUT HAVING ONE'S OWN PRIVATE
SPACE.
AND ELECTED CAMP LEADERSHIP AND
COMMUNALLY AGREED UPON CODES OF
CONDUCT CREATES A SENSE OF
SECURITY THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR
BEING ABLE TO MOVE BEYOND
CRISIS MODE AND BUILD A STABLE
FUTURE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTCOME I
HAVE SEEN IS THE GROWTH AND
EMPOWERMENT THAT COMES FROM
HAVING REAL AGENCY IN ONE'S
LIFE AND FUTURE.
AND MENTOR SHIP.
IT IS THIS EMPOWERMENT I
BELIEVE THAT OUTSIDE LIES THE
SUCCESSES OF THE SELF-MANAGED
VILLAGE MODEL.
I IMAGINE THE VERY SUCCESS OF
THIS MODEL MIGHT FEEL
FRUSTRATING AT TIMES TO THOSE
AT HSD MANAGING IT.
WHEN YOU EMPOWER MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE, THEY MIGHT RAISE THEIR
VOICES IN INCONVENIENT SEEMING
WAYS.
THEY MAY NOT BE STREAMLINED
INTO A TINY SYSTEM AND INSIST
ON BEING TREATED AS INDIVIDUALS
WITH UNIQUE NEEDS.
WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER
COMMITTEES OF ENGAGED DEDICATED
COMMUNITY FOLKS, WE ALSO MIGHT
BE INCONVENIENTLY VOCAL.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THESE ARE MARKS OF
SUCCESS.
THE HIGH LEVEL OF COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT FROM
THE HOUSED AND UNHOUSED IS AN
ASSET.
A SIGN OF SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP
AND PROGRAMMING.
SPEAKING VERY PERSONALLY, I
BELIEVE THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES I
HAVE PERSONALLY OBSERVED CAN BE
CREDITED TO THE DEDICATED
COMBINED EFFORTS OF LEHIGH AND
NICHOLSVILLE AND I CONTINUE TO
HOPE FOR IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION
TO ALLOW THE SUCCESSFUL
COLLABORATION TO CONTINUE AND
BE IMPROVED ON FOR THE
ENRICHMENT OF US ALL.
>> I WANT TO SHARE SOME
OBSERVATIONS.
>> I WAS THINKING THAT.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CAMP
SECOND CHANCE.
I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE
CREATION OF CAMP SECOND CHANCE
IS SUCH A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF HOW
CREATING TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
WAS A GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE EXISTS
BECAUSE PEOPLE WITH NOWHERE TO
GO WENT AND CLIPPED THE LOCK ON
THAT CHAIN ON THE FENCE AND SET
UP AN UNSANCTIONED ENCAMPMENT
IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT.
AND, THEY WERE 24 HOURS AWAY
FROM BEING SWEPT AND KICKED OUT
OF CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
AND, COMMUNITY MEMBERS RALLIED
AND STOPPED THAT SWEEP FROM
HAPPENING.
AND, EVENTUALLY, THEY GOT
AUTHORIZED: LAST TIME I WENT
AND VISITED, IT WAS TENTS.
NOT THE TINY HOUSES.
BUT IT LOOKS A LOT BETTER NOW.
EVEN THEN, THERE WAS THAT
COMMUNITY, THAT FOUGHT FOR AND
WON THAT SPACE.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE HOW
NICHOLS FOUGHT TO CREATE
AUTHORIZED EVER CAMPMENTS IN
THE BEGINNING.
IT IS NOT JUST IN THE PAST.
IT IS HAPPENING NOW.
PERHAPS SOMEBODY FROM CAMP
SECOND CHANCE CAN TALK ABOUT
YOUR PERMIT TO CONTINUE AT THAT
LOCATION.
IT WAS GETTING UP IN MARCH.
AND YOU HAD NOT HEARD WHETHER
IT WAS GOING TO BE RENEWED AND
I THINK IT WAS RENEWED.
YES.
BUT, JUST IMAGINE, IN TERMS OF
CREATING, I DON'T KNOW, IN
TERMS OF A PROGRAM LIKE THIS
THAT IS SO GOOD, AND HAVING TO
NOT KNOW WHETHER THAT VILLAGE
IS GOING TO CONTINUE THERE UP
UNTIL LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE
THE DEADLINE OR MAYBE EVEN
AFTER THE DEADLINE, IT IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE THAT THE CITY DOES
THAT.
>> CAN SHE GO AHEAD?
>> I HAVE A MEETING I HAVE TO
RUN TO AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU.
ALL OF YOU, FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE
AMAZING WORK YOU ARE DOING OUT
THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT IS INSPIRING AND IT GIVES ME
SO MUCH HOPE.
YOU ARE AMAZING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CAMP SECOND
CHANCE AND HOW WE HAVE GONE
FROM ZERO TINY HOUSES, ALL A
TENT CITY, TO HAVING 45 ON
SITE.
AND HOW, ALKI UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST RAISED $75,000 TO BUILD
24 HOUSES OF THOSE 45.
I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE SOME
OBSERVATIONS BECAUSE THERE IS
THE SPACE AT THE SITE FOR US TO
BUILD.
I WATCHED A CONTRACTOR WHO
SPENDS HIS LIFE IN A LEXUS
GOING JOB SITE TO JOB SITE.
BUILD A TINY HOUSE WITH A
RESIDENT EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
NOT ONLY DID HE BUILD THAT, BUT
AT LUNCHTIME, HE SAT DOWN AND
HE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THAT
RESIDENT TO LEARN OF HIS LIFE
AND TO START A FRIENDSHIP.
I WATCHED A MAN DELIVER
DONATION TO THE CAMP.
COME BACK AND TOUR IT.
LOVED WHAT HE SAW.
WENT HOME.
GOT HIS TOOL BELT.
CAME BACK TO CAMP, HE HAS BEEN
WITH US EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY
AND HAS GIVEN THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS TO THE BUILDING OF TINY
HOUSES.
I WATCHED THE OWNER OF ALKI
BIKE AND BOARD STRIKE UP A
CONVERSATION WITH A RESIDENT
TINKERING WITH HIS BIKES.
THAT CONVERSATION LED TO A JOB.
AND, THE COMMUNITY BOUGHT THAT
RESIDENT A PAIR OF WORK BOOTS
SO HE COULD TAKE THAT JOB.
I WATCHED THE OWNER OF AN EAST
SIDE START-UP WHO BROUGHT HIS
HR MANAGER, SAT DOWN WITH
RESIDENTS.
WORK ON THEIR RESUMES WITH THE
GOAL OF GETTING RESIDENTS JOBS
IN TWO MONTHS.
I WATCHED MYSELF BE TRANSFORMED
ON THE TOP OF A LADDER.
SIDE BY SIDE WITH A RESIDENT
WHO SHARED HIS LIFE WITH ME.
HE FLED THE KILLING FIELDS OF
CAMBODIA ON THE BACK OF HIS
GRANDFATHER AS A TWO-YEAR-OLD.
I CONSIDER HIM MY FRIEND.
WE LIKE TO SAY THAT MANY ARE
TRANSFORMED ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE CHOP SAW.
BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OUR
SHOWING UP EVERY WEEK TO BUILD
TINY HOUSES HAS INSPIRED THE
CAMPERS.
LIFTING THEM UP IN VERY POWERFUL
WAYS.
WE EXPERIENCE THE POSITIVE LIFE
OF A CLEAN AND SOBER CAMP AND
THIS IS AN EXPANSIVE BASE OF
WIDE SUPPORT.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE IS THE HOLY
TRINITY WE ALL SEEK.
THE UNION OF CITY.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
NONPROFIT AND THE FAITH
COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER
TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMUNITY
FOR CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
ACTIVE IN LISTENING TO LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOODS CONCERNS AT
MONTHLY MEETINGS.
TROUBLESHOOTING AND ADVISING
OBSERVATION ISSUES OF THE CAMP.
ADVOCATING WITH THE CITY AND
LEHIGH FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SUPPORTING THE PROGRESS OF
CAMPERS MOVING UP AND OUT TO
PERMANENT HOUSING.
>>> LET'S KEEP MOVING ON.
I KNOW YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF
TIME.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE INNER
BAY EXPANSION AND THIS WENT
FROM 23 TINY HOUSES TO NOW WE
HAVE 46.
THIS IS ON PORT OF SEATTLE
PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE THE KITCHEN AND THE
BEAUTIFUL, I WOULD SAY,
JAPANESE STYLE INTERIOR OF ONE
OF THE NEWEST TINY HOUSES.
AND, THE VOLUNTEERS, SO AGAIN,
EVERY WEEKEND, THERE HAVE BEEN
VOLUNTEERS AT INNER BAY.
AND, THE PORT EXTENDED THE
LEASE TO THE CITY SO THAT WE
COULD CONTINUE HAVING A VILLAGE
THERE.
AND AGAIN, HERE ARE PICTURES OF
VOLUNTEERS.
AGAIN, THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS CAMP
SECOND CHANCE WHERE THEY HAVE
SET UP A WHOLE LITTLE TINY
HOUSE FACTORY ON SITE TO BUILD
TINY HOUSES IN THE SUMMER AND
THE WINTER AT ALL WEATHER AND
ON THE UPPER LEFT YOU CAN SEE
ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS HOWARD
SCHULTZ PROVIDING FOOD.
OKAY.
I WANT TO SHOW THE LIPTON
SPRINGS WHICH WAS OPEN FOR TWO
YEARS.
THE CITY MADE A COMMITMENT THAT
WOULD STAY OPEN TWO YEARS.
THIS WAS A VILLAGE THAT THE
NAVIGATION TEAM, 100% OF THE
PEOPLE REFERRED FROM THE
STREET.
THE OUTCOMES ARE PHENOMENAL.
THEY SERVED 100 PEOPLE, MEN AND
WOMEN, OVER TWO YEARS.
IT SHUT DOWN APRIL 1. APRIL 2,
WE ANALYZE THE DATA.
49% OF THE PEOPLE WERE IN
PERMANENT HOUSING.
39 IN TRANSITIONAL OR SHELTERS.
AND, ONLY 14% EITHER RETURNED
TO THE STREETS OR DID NOT GIVE
INFORMATION OR WERE UNACCOUNTED
FOR.
SO THIS IS A VERY HIGH RATE OF
HOUSING THAT EVEN WE HAD PEOPLE
WHO HAD SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS,
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, DRUG
ADDICTION, WE WERE ABLE TO GET
SO MANY PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING AND TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING.
AND, YOU CAN SEE, THE BREAK-
OUT.
WE SERVED A LARGE POPULATION OF
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE AVERAGE AGE WAS 47.
AND, THERE WERE MORE WOMEN THAN
MEN SERVED IN THE VILLAGE.
AND, WE PLAN TO DEVELOP 115
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON
THAT SITE.
SO, WE EVEN HAVE A VERY
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.
>> THE YOU EXPLAIN HOW PEOPLE
MOVE FROM THE TINY VILLAGES TO
PERMANENT HOUSING?
ARE THEY GOING FOR COORDINATED
ENTRY OR IS THERE ANOTHER PATH
FOR THEM?
YOU MENTIONED MANY PEOPLE ARE
GOING DIRECTLY INTO YOUR
HOUSING.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT IS
WORKING?
>> WE PUT FOUR CASE MANAGERS
AND SUPPORT A SERVICE STAFF
THAT WORK VERY INTENSELY WITH
PEOPLE.
SO, WE MOVE THEM INTO BRIDGE
HOUSING, PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND WE PLEADED.
WE ASKED IF THEY WOULD PLEASE
TAKE THE FIVE HIGHEST RANKING
PEOPLE WHO HAD THE MOST
VULNERABILITY AND CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS TEN YEARS OR MORE.
AND THEY IGNORED US.
WE DID NOT GET ANY HELP FROM
COORDINATE ENTRY ATTACK ALL.
COORDINATE ENTRY IS RUN BY KING
COUNTY.
WE ASKED THE MANAGER, THE
DIRECTOR, THE STAFF, TO PLEASE
PRIORITIZE.
BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, RETURN TO THE
STREETS.
AND, WE DID NOT GET ANY PHONE
CALLS RETURNED.
WE DID NOT GET E-MAILS
RETURNED.
WHEN WE WENT TO THE MEETING.
WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR STAFF GO TO
THE MEETINGS AND ADVOCATE FOR
THE FIVE PEOPLE AND WE WERE
IGNORED.
SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
REGIONAL CONSOLIDATION OF KING
COUNTY AND SEATTLE.
>> YOU ARE GOING TO EXPAND ON
THAT?
THE NEXT ITEM AS WELL?
>> WE HAD TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO
LEHIGH HOUSING AND TO OTHER
NONPROFIT OWNED HOUSING AND
PRIVATE MARKET RATE HOUSING.
>> TO BE CLEAR, YOU ARE GOING
AROUND COORDINATED ENTRY.
>> WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO.
WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT WE TRIED
VERY HARD.
>> BUT YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO.
THAT'S THE THING I'M TRYING TO
GET A HANDLE ON.
>> NO, WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO.
BUT WE TOOK THE HIGHEST RANKING
PEOPLE TO TRY AND GET THEM
THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY INTO
HOUSING AND WE FINALLY HAD TO
GIVE UP BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T
HELPING US.
>> WHAT ARE THE CONDITION
THAT'S ALLOW IT SO YOU DON'T
HAVE TO GO THROUGH COORDINATED
ENTRY?
I THOUGHT EVERYBODY HAD TO.
>> WE HAVE AFFORDABLE WORK
FORCE HOUSING.
WE HAVE HOUSING HOMELESS
HOUSING THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED
BY HUD.
SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF HOUSING
THAT IS NOT CONTROLLED AND WE
ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO FOR
COORDINATED ENTRY.
>> SO YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO.
BUT YOU ATTEMPTED TO AND IT
DIDN'T WORK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND YOU SAID THAT YOU ALSO,
YOUR STAFF ALSO PERSONALLY WENT
TO THE MEETINGS?
>> YES.
>> WHAT HAPPENED AT THOSE
MEETINGS?
DID THEY TALK TO YOU THERE?
>> THEY SAID THEY HAD A NEW
METHOD.
DYNAMIC PRIORITIZIZATION.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> IT MEANS THERE IS NO
TRANSPARENCY.
SO, THEY COULD DECIDE A SMALL
GROUP OF PEOPLE WILL SIT IN A
ROOM AND DECIDE THIS PERSON CAN
MOVE HERE AND HERE SO IT IS A
SECRET.
AND, WE TRIED VERY HARD.
IF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SAYS WE ARE CLOSING A VILLAGE
IN TWO YEARS AND YOU KNOW, WE
TRY TO HONOR THAT, WE GOT NO
HELP FROM COORDINATED ENTRY.
>> RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
AS I SAID BEFORE, I HAVE TO
JOIN THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR
EVENTS.
AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MANAGE
THAT.
AND SO, I AM HAVING TO LEAVE IN
A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW
THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL WHO
CAME HERE TO TESTIFY AND THANK
YOU FOR WAITING HERE.
I KNOW IT IS FRIDAY MORNING AND
IT IS PRECIOUS TIME.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR
PRESENTERS.
IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO
SHARE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT WHERE HOMELESS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE BEING
DEMONIZED AND VILIFIED AND
BASICALLY BEING TREATED LIKE
CRIMINALS.
IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO
TAKE THE MESSAGE BACK TO THE
ESSENTIAL HUMANITY OF ALL OF
OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND FURTHER MORE, TO SHOW THERE
ARE CONCRETE SOLUTIONS.
AND TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE A
BIG COMPONENT OF CONCRETE
SOLUTIONS WITH A PROVEN TRACK
RECORD OF SUCCESS.
I HOPE AS I SAID BEFORE, I HOPE
THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE ARE
VERY NEAR FUTURE, WE ARE ABLE
TO CONCRETELY DISCUSS HOW WE
CAN EXPAND AND EXTEND THE
ABILITY FOR TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
TO EXIST.
AND ALSO, IT BRINGS OUT THE
QUESTION OF HOW DO WE FUND
THEM.
CLEARLY THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
MORAL AND POLITICAL
RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN THE
EXTREME ESCALATION OF THE
CRISIS.
AS YOU SAID, OBVIOUSLY,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS TO BE A
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF
THE DISCUSSION.
THAT HAS TO GO ALONG WITH
TEMPORARY REPRIEVE LIKE TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
AND LIANNA ALSO MADE AN
IMPORTANT POINT.
THAT SELF-MANAGEMENT AND GIVING
CONFIDENCE AND AGENCY AND SELF-
ESTEEM TO THE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING THE DEVASTATING
CONSEQUENCES OF HOMELESSNESS IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
IT SHOULDN'T BE QUESTIONED.
WE SHOULD NOT QUESTION
ANYBODY'S RIGHT TO THEIR
HUMANITY BUT FURTHER MORE,
CONCRETELY, IT PLAYS A ROLE IN
HOW QUICKLY THEY ARE ABLE TO
GET BACK ON THEIR FEET BUT THAT
ALSO MEANS TO THE POWERS THAT
BE, TO THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT, TO THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION, YOU WILL
BECOME INCONVENIENTLY VOCAL.
BUT I WANTED TO SAY AS SOMEBODY
WHO REPRESENTS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND WORKING PEOPLE AND
NOT THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION OR THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE OR JEFF BEZOS, I
APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING
INCONVENIENTLY VOCAL AND I HOPE
THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE
INCONVENIENTLY VOCAL.
IN FACT, IT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT
THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM
HAVE BEEN IN THE VILLAGES, HAVE
TRANSITIONED, AND CONNECTED TO
PEOPLE LIKE ZSA ZSA.
IT IS NO INTENT YOU WERE AN
INTEGRAL PART OF THE AMAZON TAX
MOVEMENT AND THAT WAS ALL OF US
BEING INCONVENIENTLY VOCAL AND
IT IS OUR MORAL DUTY TO
CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE
OTHERWISE, WE WILL NOT SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM.
WE CANNOT PUT OUR FAITH IN
ESTABLISHMENT THAT HAS
COMPLETELY FAILED TO ADDRESS
THESE PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGH WE
KNOW THESE SOLUTIONS EXIST.
WE KNOW HOUSING CAN BE FUNDED.
WE KNOW TINY HOUSE VILLAGES CAN
WORK.
SO LET'S PUT OUR FIFTH IN I
OURSELVES.
LET'S BE A SELF-MANAGED
MOVEMENT WHERE WE DECIDE OUR
OWN DESTINY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ALL ON THAT.
AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW WHO IS MY
COCHAIR HAS AGREED TO CONTINUE
CHAIRING THE REST OF THE
MEETING WHICH IS TWO MORE
ITEMS.
AND, THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT
ITEMS.
THE SECOND ITEM, THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES
WILL SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AND
HOPES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK
EVERYBODY WHO IS AT THE TABLE.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE
BEEN VERY FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES FOR THE
DECADE I HAVE BEEN ON CITY
COUNCIL AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
SHARON FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS
WELL.
AND JOSH, ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT WHEN
WE FIRST BROUGHT THIS UP ABOUT
A DECADE AGO, HOW MANY PEOPLE
SAID IT WILL NEVER WORK.
AND IT JUST IS NOT GOING TO BE
A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
WELL, WE KNOW IT IS NOT THE END
POINT.
BUT, AS WE HAVE JUST BEEN
DISCUSSING, IT IS A TRAN
DIVISIONAL POINT THAT PROVIDES
THAT WONDERFUL SPACE FOR PEOPLE
TO BE RESPECTED AND HAVE THE
LOVE YOU IDENTIFIED.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A WHOLE LOT
MORE OF THESE.
BUT TO HAVE THE MANAGEMENT THAT
YOU IDENTIFIED.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS
ALTERNATIVE DYNAMIC APPROACH IN
CHOOSING WHO WILL GET TO BE
INSIDE OR NOT.
AND WE HAVE THE AMAZING
ACRONYM.
HOW DO YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS?
THERE IS A MAN NAMED MICHAEL ON
THE SIDEWALK IN UPTOWN.
HE HAS BEEN THERE MUCH OF THE
DECADE I KNOW.
JUST WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR
SO, WE SENT SOMEBODY OUT TO
TALK WITH HIM.
BECAUSE HIS STUFF WAS GETTING
MORE AND MORE AND SPILLING INTO
THE STREET.
AND INTO THE SIDEWALK.
AND, HE SAID SIMPLY, I'M AFRAID
TO GO INSIDE.
AND, WHAT DO WE DO IN THIS
MIXTURE OF VI SPEDAT, A VERY
DOCUMENTED NUMBER SPECIFIC
HIGHER NUMBERS GET TO GO FIRST.
VERSUS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING
WHICH IS YOU HAVE SOME PLACES
FOR PEOPLE TO GO.
HOW DO WE GET HIM INSIDE?
>> WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS WHEN
THE POLICE ARE SWEEPING
HOMELESS PEOPLE FROM DANGEROUS
LOW CASTIGATIONS, LOCATIONS,
THEY SAY YOU CAN'T STAY AT THIS
LOCATION.
PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN A TENT
OR IN THEIR CAR, THEY ARE DOING
THAT ALSO FOR PRIVACY.
OTHERWISE, THEY WOULD ALREADY
BE IN A SHELTER.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY WILL
MOVE TO A TINY HOUSE IF OFFERED
A TINY HOUSE.
THEY WILL REFUSE TO MOVE TO A
SHELTER.
SO, WE ARE FINDING OUT THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE SLEEPING OUT
NOW, SORT OF THE HARD CORE, YOU
KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN HOMELESS
FIVE, TEN YEARS.
OUT IN THE WOODS.
FENDING FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY WILL MOVE TO A TINY HOUSE.
ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE A PET,
A PARTNER, OR BELONGINGS.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU MOVE TO A
SHELTER YOU MIGHT LOSE, YOU
HAVE TO STAY THERE AND WATCH
OVER YOUR BELONGINGS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT IN A
TINY HOUSE.
>> AND YOU HAVE A LOCKING DOOR.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WHAT WE ARE FINDING OUT, YOU
COULD HAVE A VERY HIGH SCORE
AND IT IS NOT VERY RELIABLE
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING
COACHED.
SORRY TO SAY THIS.
BUT IF YOU ARE TOLD, YOU HAVE
TO ANSWER A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS
AND IF YOU ANSWER QUESTION,
YES, YES, YES, YOU GET A HI
VISPDAT SCORE.
PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GAME THE
SYSTEM.
THIS IS NOT WORKING VERY WELL.
IN ORDER TO GET INTO A TINY
HOUSE, WE DON'T DO THAT.
BUT ONCE THEY ARE IN A TINY
HOUSE, OUR CASE MANAGER WILL
THEN GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND
THEN, REFER THEM TO COORDINATE
ENTRY.
WE GET VERY FEW PEOPLE
SUCCESSFULLY MOVING INTO
HOUSING THAT COORDINATE ENTRY
IS PROVIDING.
WE FIND IT MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE
TO MOVE PEOPLE QUICKLY.
TO HOUSING THAT IS NOT PART OF
COORDINATE ENTRY.
SO, THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN
VERY EFFECTIVE.
SO WE MOVED OVER 500 PEOPLE
INTO LONG TERM HOUSING WITH
VERY FEW, MAYBE A HANDFUL GOING
THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY.
>> FOR A PERIOD OF WHAT YEARS
SHARON?
>> THE LAST TWO-AND-A-HALF
YEARS.
YES.
SO, THEY ARE NO LONGER ON THE
STREET.
THEY CAN GO TO SCHOOL OR WORK.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING
EMPLOYMENT.
THEY ARE GETTING JOBS.
GOING TO SCHOOL.
AND BECOMING STABLE.
AND THEREFORE, AS YOU CAN TELL,
WE HAD 42% WITH EARNED INCOME.
WE DON'T LOSE PEOPLE IN THE
SHELTER SYSTEM OR ON THE STREET
IN THE TINY HOUSE.
WE ARE ABLE TO GET BACK TO THEM
AND SAY LET'S FOLLOW UP.
LET'S FOLLOW UP ON GETTING YOU
ID.
GETTING YOU SOCIAL SECURITY.
THEY ARE PETITIONING TO GET
DISABILITY.
IT MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE
IN TERMS OF LONG TERM
STABILITY.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE STIPPING OUT
ALL OVER SEATTLE.
WE FEEL THAT WE CAN GET THEM
INTO A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE AND
GET THEM IN A PATH OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS.
WE REALLY DO.
>> SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO
INTERRUPT YOU.
WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS THAT YOU
USE?
FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT I HAD HEARD
FOR DOWNTOWN RECENTLY WAS THAT
THE NUMBERS WERE ACTUALLY
SMALLER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON
THE SIDEWALKS.
THAN, WHAT WE HEAR SO DSA IS AN
EXAMPLE.
IF WE COULD MAKE A SPACE FOR
100 PEOPLE, RIGHT NOW, THAT WE
COULD GO TENT TO TENT.
WE LIKE TO KEEP THE ACTUAL
SPACES DOWN BELOW 50.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY AT THIS
POINT?
WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION?
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE COSTS ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS?
>> I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
WE COULD TAKE 100 OF THE
HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE CAMPING
OUT DOWNTOWN OR NEAR DOWNTOWN
AND PUT THEM IMMEDIATELY IN
MAYBE TWO, YOU KNOW, TWO
VILLAGES AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME
SITES THAT ARE POSSIBLE
INCLUDING PRIVATE CHURCH OWNED
SITES AND OUR COSTS WOULD BE
MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.
SO I HAVE THE COST BREAK-OUT
DEPENDING ON THE VILLAGES.
AS AN EXAMPLE, KING COUNTY
OPENED UP THE JAIL.
THEY SPENT 2 MILLION OPENING UP
THE JAIL FOR 100 PEOPLE
SPENDING 2 MANAGER PER YEAR ON
OPERATIONS.
OUR VILLAGES, GEORGETOWN
VILLAGE IS SERVING 60 PEOPLE.
AND, THE COST PER YEAR IS
325,000.
OTHELLO VILLAGE IS SERVING 60
PEOPLE.
AND THE OPERATING COST IS
440,000 A YEAR.
AND THEN, WE ARE ABLE TO
INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, WE ARE
ABLE TO SET UP A VILLAGE IN
THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AS YOU
SAW.
TRUE HOPE VILLAGE WAS SET UP
VERY QUICKLY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS
BUILDING THE TINY HOUSES AND
THE LONGEST COST WAS MAKING
SURE THAT THE PLUMBING, THE
WATER, THE SEWER HOOKUP WAS
DONE.
BUT, THE CITY FACILITATED THAT.
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WE
CAN SET UP A VILLAGE AND GET
100 PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS OF
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
>> COULD I CHIME IN?
>> OF COURSE YOU CAN.
>> I WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME
POINTS IN DYNAMIC ASSESSMENT.
IT HAS BEEN CHANGED RECENTLY.
YOU WOULD HAVE HAD IT ONLY
FOCUSING ON THE VI PDAT.
WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE OF
COLOR ARE NOT PRIORITIZED AT
THE SAME RATE.
YOU HAVE AN INHERENTLY RACIST
RESPONSE TO SOME DEGREE.
INCREASING THE AMOUNT THAT WE
FACTOR IN.
THE LENGTH OF TIME A PERSON HAS
BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT HELPS TO MITIGATE SOME OF
THOSE.
AND THE REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE
CASE MANAGERS WHO CLIENTS HAVE
RISEN TO THE TOP OF THE LIST
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE HOUSING.
TO ACTUALLY HAVE DISCUSSIONS
AND KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THE
POINTS YOU RAISED.
LOOKING AT LIKE IF A PERSON
REQUIRES HAVING AN ID IN ORDER
TO MOVE INTO A CERTAIN SETTING,
MAKING SURE YES.
THIS PERSON HAS THEIR IDEA.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME
DELAYS GETTING THAT PERSON.
YOU DON'T WANT A VACANT UNIT
SITTING AS WE WAIT FOR SOMEBODY
TO GET THEIR IDEA.
I WOULDN'T SAY WE HAVE SOLVED
ALL PROBLEMS WITH COORDINATED
ASSESSMENT BUT SOME OF THOSE
FACTORS ARE BEING CONSIDERED
NOW AND CHANGES ARE BEING
IMPLEMENTED.
>> WE WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER INSTEAD OF SHUTTING
DOWN THREE OF THE VILLAGE, THE
MAYOR GAVE THREE VILLAGES A SIX
MONTH EXTENSION TO CONTINUE
THOSE VILLAGES THROUGH THE END
OF THE YEAR.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
VILLAGES EXPANDED SO THAT WE
HAVE 500 TINY HOUSES, WE COULD
HOUSE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOW ON THE STREETS.
>> YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> SO I WOULD LIKE, AND, THIS
IS KIND OF THE BLUE SKY
QUESTION.
BUT, ONE OF THE THINGS I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IS WHY IS THERE A
CONFLICT BETWEEN MANY OF THE
PROVIDERS THAT DO BRICK AND
MORTAR AND THE GROUP AT THE
TABLE?
BECAUSE I SEE BOTH ARE NEEDED.
THAT THESE TINY HOMES ARE
PROVIDING THE SPACE AND THE
DIGNITY WE TALKED ABOUT FOR THE
PARTNER'S POSSESSIONS AND PETS.
AND, SURE.
I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE WANT
TO LIVE HERE FOR FOREVER.
BUT IT IS A STEPPINGSTONE.
AND IT IS HALF THE COST TO SET
AND OPERATE THAN WHAT KING
COUNTY DID AT THE JAIL.
I'M THANKFUL ANYTHING WE DID AS
FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IS A STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
CAN YOU FROM YOUR STANDPOINT
EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IS THIS
CONFLICT AN EITHER OR RATHER
THAN AN AND?
>> WE NEED TO DO BOTH.
WE ARE BUILDING AS MANY
APARTMENT BUILDINGS AS WE CAN.
BUT IT TAKES FOUR TO FIVE YEARS
TO PRODUCE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
CAPITAL.
RIGHT NOW, A PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COSTS
$300,000 PER UNIT.
>> AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST
50 YEAR TO BE FAIR.
>> SURE.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, A TINY HOUSE
IS COSTING A FRACTION.
WITH 300,000, WE CAN PRETTY
MUCH ALMOST HAVE A VILLAGE.
AND THE VILLAGE, THE HOUSING,
THE STICK BUILT HOUSING CAN
LAST 15 YEARS.
OUR TINY HOUSES ARE BUILT TO
LAST.
THEY ARE VERY DURABLE.
WE MAY HAVE TO REFRESH THEM
SOME.
BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE NEW AND
INNOVATIVE.
PEOPLE THINK IT IS A
DISTRACTION.
THEY ARE THINKING WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSING ON PERMANENT HOUSING
AND WE TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
WE THINK YOU HAVE TO DO BOTH.
WE HAD 151 PEOPLE WHO DIED AND
THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP.
WE USED TO HAVE 190, 160 PEOPLE
LIVING ON THE STREETS IN THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.
LAST YEAR, IT WAS 191.
WE SHOULD BE PREVENTING.
NO PERSON SHOULD DIE FROM
HOMELESSNESS.
THEY NEED IMMEDIATE SHELTER.
SO IT IS A HUMANE RESPONSE.
WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE SAFELY
SHELTERED IN A WARM PLACE.
WE USED TO HAVE TINY HOUSES
WITHOUT HEAT.
WE THOUGHT LET'S BRING HEAT.
WAS SIMPLE.
NOW THEY ARE A HIGH STANDARD.
THEY ARE PREFERRED TO LIVING IN
A SHELTER OR SOME PLACES HAVE A
GIANT TENT WHERE YOU PUT 200
PEOPLE UNDER A GIANT TENT.
THAT IS NOT VERY HUMANE OR
DIGNIFIED.
>> WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE ON.
AS MUCH AS WE COULD SPEND THE
REST OF THE DAY TALKING TO YOU.
>> AND THE MEETING THAT WE HAD
WITH TRUE HOPE TINY HOUSES,
THAT QUESTION CAME UP.
I AGREE WITH SHARON THAT WHAT
WE CONTENDED WAS IT WAS AN
IMMEDIATE CRISIS.
AND PEOPLE, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
NEED TO COME OUT OF THEIR CARS
RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS DEPLORABLE TO HAVE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND PEOPLE
SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS.
UNDER BRIDGES.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE SPACES FOR
THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW AND I
DON'T THINK IT IS EITHER OR.
IT IS BOTH AND.
THIS HAS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF
THE EXPOSURE AND THE ABSENCE OF
DIGNITY AND THE ABSENCE OF
CIVILIZED SOCIETY.
>> I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU
MORE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE
INDIVIDUALING SAYING IF YOU
BUILD THEM, THEY WILL COME?
THE MORE WE BUILD, THE MORE
PEOPLE WILL COME INTO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE?
>> THE DATA SHOWS THAT FROM THE
POINT AND TIME COUNT, MAJORITY
OF PEOPLE, LIKE 70 TO 80% ARE
LOCAL.
YOU JUST HEARD FROM JOSE RUIZ
WHO IS GETTING PEOPLE INTO
HOUSING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
SO WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT YOU
HAVE TO RETURN OR LIVE IN
SEATTLE BUT IF YOU ARE FROM
SOME PLACE ELSE, WE WILL FIND
HOUSING FOR YOU.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS
BEEN DOING.
WE ARE TAKING A BIGGER
APPROACH.
IT IS NATIONAL.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON.
NOT BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T LISTEN
TO YOU FOR THE REST OF THE
AFTERNOON.
BUT, I THINK SINCE WE HAVE GOT
TWO OTHER ITEMS.
JUST A MOMENT PLEASE.
THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO
EXTEND OUR THANKS TO OUR KING
COUNTY PARTNERS THAT WE SEE
THAT WE NEED THESE TINY HOME
VILLAGES ACROSS THE COUNTY AS
WELL.
THAT THE CITY SPACE IS LIMITED.
THE COUNTY HAS A LOT MORE.
AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR
YEARS THAT IF IF WE COULD LOOK
AT A POPULATION BASIS.
IF WE ARE A THIRD OF THE
POPULATION, IT IS FAIR WE TRY
TO HOUSE A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE COUNTY IDENTIFIED AS
UNSHELTERED BUT WE KNOW THERE'S
A LOT MORE SPACE.
BLACK DIAMOND OR BOTHELL.
THERE ARE SPACES FOR PEOPLE.
THE COUNTY CAN STEP UP AND WE
ARE ASKING FOR THAT HELP AND I
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A PERSONAL
INFORMATION TO GRETCHEN TAYLOR
AND CINDY PIERCE TO SAY I WOULD
LIKE TO BE WITH THEM.
WITH SHARON.
AND WE WILL GO TO ONE OF YOUR
VILLAGES SO THEY CAN SEE AND
MEET THE PEOPLE AND KNOW WHAT
YOU DO.
YES?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
VERY BRIEFLY.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
WHAT PARTNERSHIPS, AS I WAS
LOOKING AT THE SPECIFIC
SERVICES PROVIDED, THERE ARE
SOMETIMES CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE
TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING WITH
REGARDS TO VACATION OF RECORDS.
BUT, I DIDN'T SEE IN THE DIRECT
SERVICES PROVIDED AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT
HAVE EXPERIENCED MISDEMEANOR
CRIME OR SO FORTH.
IS IN A SERVICE FOR THAT?
>> YES.
YES.
I HAVE A DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING
AND ALSO I PRACTICE LEGAL
RESEARCH.
I KNOW HOW TO HELP WITH
WARRANTS.
ESPECIALLY, IF THERE ARE
WARRANTS FOR RESIDENTS OUTSIDE
THE STATE.
TO MODIFY FROM PUNISHMENT TO
COMMUNITY.
ONCE WE GIVE THESE PARTICIPANTS
A HOPE, IT IS WHEN THE WINDOW
OPENS FOR EMPLOYMENT HOUSING.
A PARTICIPANT.
I PLACE THREE RESIDENTS IN
PIERCE COUNTY VOUCHER.
WHEN I TOLD THEM AND THEY TOLD
ME THE E-MAIL THEY PROVIDE, THE
PHONE NUMBER AND THE DAY OF
BIRTH WAS TRUE.
NOW, WE ARE RELYING ON
INFORMATION IN A SCORE I CAN
SAY 60% IS INACCURATE BECAUSE
THEY ARE LYING.
AND THAT MAKES US PLACING THOSE
PEOPLE IN HOUSING HARDER.
THE CAC, I WENT LAST WEEK.
TO THE MEETING.
LEHIGH WASN'T THERE.
WE HAD THE SCORE OVER 16
POINTS.
HOW THEY ARE DOING IT I DON'T
KNOW.
BUT WE ARE NOT GETTING A GOOD
INFORMATION THOUGH IT WAS HUD
WHO DEMAND SOCIAL SECURITY.
ALLOWING THESE PEOPLE TO NOT
DISCLOSE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY
TO COME UP WITH A PHONY NAME OR
DAY OF BIRTH.
AND THEN, THE CITY IS ASKING US
TO PLACE THESE PEOPLE IN
HOUSING IN 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS.
WHEN I CANNOT SEND AN
APPLICATION TO A MAN WITH NO
NAME.
NO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
FOR DOUBLE HOUSING WE CANNOT
TALK TO THEM ABOUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
A JOB.
THE RAPID RESOWING PROGRAM, IT
DOESN'T WORK.
THE ONLY AVENUE AVAILABLE, IF
THAT INFORMATION IS NOT
ACCURATE, IT IS MAKING OUR WORK
HARDER TO DO.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PLACE
CLOSE TO 500 PEOPLE IN
PERMANENT HOUSING.
YOU HAD NO IDEA HOW HARD IT HAS
BEEN.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH NO IDS.
NO SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.
I ASK PEOPLE WHERE ARE YOU
FROM, FROM THE EAST.
THEY HAD NO ID.
I NEED A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
I ASK AGAIN, WHERE ARE YOU
FROM?
FROM THE EAST.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
WITH THAT?
AND THEN, THERE YOU SEE, YOU
SAY HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
HERE?
TWO YEARS?
BUT, THEY ARE NOT COOPERATING.
WHEN I COMPARE THE INFORMATION
THEY HAVE PROVIDED, IT IS NOT
ACCURATE.
WE HAVE FEMALESSAYING THEY ARE
COMING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IT IS NOT TRUE.
BUT YOU SAY YOU ARE USING THIS,
THIS, THIS.
YOU ARE THIS AND THIS.
THEY WILL PLACE YOU FIRST IN
HOUSING.
IT'S LIKE WE ARE SWIMMING
AGAINST THE STREAM.
>> IN SUMMARY, WE WORK WITH
PEOPLE WHO HAVE WARRANTS.
ABSOLUTELY.
YES.
OKAY.
>> WE HAVE 14 IN LIPTON
SPRINGS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SOMEBODY HAS TO.
WE CAN'T LEAVE PEOPLE WITH
WARRANTS OUT THERE WITHOUT
GETTING THE SUPPORT.
IT JUST CONTINUES THAT VICIOUS
CYCLE OF JAIL, BACK ON THE
STREETS, JAIL, BACK ON THE
STREETS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
PLEASE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING.
KNOW HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE
FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND WE
HAVE ANOTHER TWO PANELS.
THE NEXT ONE INCLUDES MELINDA.
I DON'T SEE HER, NEIGHBOR SHE
IS OUTSIDE.
SHARON, IF YOU WILL STAY AT THE
TABLE.
DANIEL MALONE.
I DON'T SEE HIM.
SO IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE COME
UP TO THE TABLE.
IF NOT, SHARON, YOU MAY BE HERE
BY YOURSELF.
WHICH MIGHT MAKE IT A VERY
SHORT PRESENTATION.
>> THAT WOULD SOLVE OUR
PROBLEM.
>> ONE OF THEM.
YEAH.
>> DO IT AS QUICKLY AS YOU WANT
TO.
>> SO ONCE AGAIN, I'M CALLING
FOR MELINDA AND DANIEL?
SHARON, DO YOU HAVE A
PRESENTATION?
>> I HAVE A VERY SHORT
PRESENTATION.
IF THAT IS FINE.
DID YOU WANT ANYBODY ELSE?
OKAY.
>> IF THERE IS ANYBODY ELSE
FROM YOUTH CARE OR FROM
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICES WE
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> HOLD ON.
TED, DID YOU HEAR FROM MELINDA
AND DAN?
>> DANIEL IS ILL.
AND, MELINDA HAD AN EMERGENCY.
AND MARTY HARTMAN SAID SHE HAD
TO LEAVE AT 11:30.
>> I DIDN'T SEE MARTY HERE AT
ALL.
I'M SORRY.
>> MARTY WAS GOING TO BE HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> I CAN BE VERY SHORT.
>> HOLD ON SHARON.
DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
>> THE ONE PERSON WE WERE
ADDING WAS MARTY HARTMAN WHO
HAD TO LEAVE AT 11:30.
SHARON MENTIONED.
WE COULD HONESTLY POSTPONE.
GIVEN THAT MANY OF THE
PRESENTERS NEEDED TO LEAVE.
>> FINE.
SHARON, IF YOU KICK OFF, WE
WILL GO THAT WAY.
>> OKAY.
>> AND IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD.
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN ABOUT
TINY HOUSES AND EVERYONE IS
ABLE TO COME AND VISIT.
>> YOU HAVE PROVIDED A REAL
SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT FORCE HOUSING SEE IF WE
CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THE
DOWNTOWN CORE.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
>> SO, ANYWAY, IN TERMS OF THE
BIG PICTURE, I THINK REGIONAL
CONSOLIDATION NEEDS TO ADDRESS
AND FOCUS ON THE UNSHELTERED
HOMELESS POPULATION.
THERE'S 5,288 UNSHELTERED
HOMELESS PEOPLE FROM THE POINT
AND TIME COUNT.
AND, THAT IS THROUGHOUT KING
COUNTY.
AND, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON
SUCCESSFUL HOUSING PLACEMENTS
OUTCOMES.
I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, JUST TO REPEAT,
THERE IS NO REASON WHY 191
PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS
DIED JUST FROM HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE DYING FROM
HOMELESSNESS THAN THE HOMICIDE
RATE.
SO, I THINK SOMETIMES AND I
HAVE SEEN THIS WITH GOVERNMENT
BUREAUCRACY, THAT DATA
SOMETIMES GETS IN THE WAY OF
COMMON SENSE.
THERE ARE SOME VERY COMMON
SENSE SOLUTIONS AROUND SOLVING
HOMELESSNESS.
AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE THINK
THAT DATA AND PROCESS IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN RESULTS.
AND I CAN GIVE YOU SOME
EXAMPLES.
WE JUST OPENED UP JUNE LEONARD
PLACE IN DOWNTOWN RENTON
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN MAKING
SURE THAT THERE IS HOUSING IN
KING COUNTY OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE.
AND, WE HAVE 48 UNITS.
MAJORITY OF UNITS ARE FOR
HOMELESS VETERANS AND HOMELESS
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
THERE ARE VERY FEW IN THE
SYSTEM.
VERY FEW UNITS FOR HOMELESS
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND ALL
OF OUR UNITS WERE GOING THROUGH
COORDINATED ENTRY.
OKAY?
SO, COORDINATED ENTRY RIGHT NOW
IS MANAGED BY KING COUNTY.
MY CASE MANAGERS AND STAFF SAID
THEY HAD THE MOST AWFUL TIME.
YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE
EASY TO GET HOMELESS FAMILIES
INTO HOUSING.
THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEVER EVER
DO IT AGAIN.
THIS YEAR, WE LEASED UP 100% OF
THE BUILDING.
WE HAD TO LEASE UP BECAUSE OF
OUR TAX CREDIT DEADLINE.
I ASKED THEM OF THE 24 UNITS
SET ASIDE FOR HOMELESS FAMILY,
DID YOU HAVE A SMOOTH PROCESS
GETTING THE REFERRALS THROUGH
COORDINATED ENTRY SO THAT WE
COULD HOUSE THE FAMILIES?
THEY TOLD ME THAT 18 TO 20 OF
THE FAMILIES WERE PROBLEMATIC
IN TERMS OF IT WAS NOT SMOOTH
SAILING MOVING THEM FROM A
REFERRAL FROM COORDINATED ENTRY
INTO HOUSING.
I SAID WHY?
WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?
AND THEY SAID IT IS BECAUSE YOU
HAVE PEOPLE ON THE COORDINATED
ENTRY WAITING LIST.
AND, THEY REFER TO US AND THEY
ARE NOT HOUSING READY.
THEY ARE REFERRING PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HAVE ID OR BIRTH
CERTIFICATES OR SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBERS AND, THAT MEANS, IF WE
ARE MADLY TRYING TO LEASE UP A
BUILDING, WE HAVE TO SAY, WELL,
HOW CAN SOMEONE BE IN A SHELTER
OR SOMEONE BE IN AN ENHANCED
SHELTER FOR A YEAR AND THEY ARE
NOT HOUSING READY?
SO THEN MY STAFF HAS TO THEN
SPEND DAYS AND DAYS AND DAYS
TRYING TO GET A FAMILY AND THEY
MIGHT NOT SHOW UP.
IF THEY DON'T AGREE TO A
PAYMENT PLAN, THEY CAN'T MOVE
IN.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WHERE
COORDINATED ENTRY REFERS
SOMEONE AND I HAVE THAT UNIT
SITTING THERE MORE THAN 30 DAYS
VACANT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE FRUSTRATION
OF HAVING VACANT UNITS WHEN
THERE ARE HOMELESS FAMILIES ON
THE STREET?
SO, MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE
ARE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE
BUREAUCRACY THAT SHOULD BE
FIXED AND CAN BE FIXED BUT
OFTENTIMES THEY ARE NOT FIXED
IN THE INTEREST OF THE PROVIDER
OR THE CLIENT.
>> JUST IN THE SAKE OF MOVING
US FORWARD, I THINK, SHARON,
THAT YOU ARE TALKING TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND ME
WHO HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN
THIS.
WE UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
PROBLEMS.
WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN FROM YOU
IS WHAT WOULD YOU SEE THE
SOLUTIONS BEING?
>> OKAY, SO I'M CONCERNED WITH
A GOVERNING STRUCTURE THAT EVEN
CREATES ANOTHER BUREAUCRACY
THAT IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE.
WHERE WE CAN'T GET QUICK
SOLUTIONS LIKE THIS.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A
QUICK SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS LIKE
THIS BUT WE HAVE WORKED WITH
COORDINATED ENTRY YEARS AND
YEARS AND THIS CONTINUE TO BE A
PROBLEM.
WE HAVE LOW INCOME AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND VACANCIES BECAUSE
HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE
UNITS BECAUSE OF THE THROUGH
PIT NOT HAPPENING.
SO, MY CONCERN IS THAT, IF
RIGHT NOW, IF THERE IS A CITY
PROGRAM, I CAN GO TO THE HEAD
OF THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT
OR THE MAYOR AND I CAN
COMPLAIN.
RIGHT?
AND I CAN TRY AND GET A FIX.
BUT, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE
GOVERNING STRUCTURE THAT IS
GOING TO GET SET UP WILL REMOVE
IT YET BEYOND THE MAYOR, BEYOND
THE KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
SO, YOU END UP WITH A THIRD
PARTY BOARD.
RIGHT?
THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY
COMPRISED OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND, THAT WILL HAVE ANOTHER
LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY.
I THINK THAT CHANGE NEEDS TO
HAPPEN, BUT I THINK THE
CONSOLIDATION NEEDS TO MAKE IT
SO THE HOMELESS PEOPLE
THEMSELVES AND THE PROVIDERS
ARE TRULY LISTENED TO SO WE
HAVE SOLUTIONS AND
TRANSPARENCY.
THAT IS MY CONCERN.
THE OTHER PIECE I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT IS I THINK THE SYSTEM
SHOULD MAXIMIZE THE DOLLARS
GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AS OPPOSED
TO MORE DATA ANALYSTS.
MORE STRATEGIC ADVISERS.
MORE IN-HOUSE ADMINISTRATORS.
WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE IF YOU
PROJECT GOING TO CONSOLIDATE,
DUPLICATION OF SERVICES, WE
SHOULD BE SAVING MONEY SO THAT
THE MONEY SAVED CAN GO FOR MORE
SERVICES.
>> I'M HEARING YOU SAY TWO
THINGS.
ONE, MAYBE THREE.
YOU DON'T WANT ANOTHER LAYER OF
BUREAUCRACY COSTING US MORE
MONEY AND TIME.
TWO, YOU WANT WHATEVER THE
ENTITY BECOMES TO BE NIMBLE.
SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN THE
HOUSING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
AND YOU WANT TO MAXIMIZE
EFFICIENCY SO THE SIMILAR IS
WORKING AS A SYSTEM AND NOT
WITH THE SILOED APPROACHES WE
HAVE SEEN.
SO HOW DO WE GET THERE?
>> I'M CONCERNED IF ALL YOU DO
IS TAKE ALL HOME, WHICH IS ITS
OWN LITTLE BUREAUCRACY, AND YOU
TAKE ALL OF THE COUNTY PEOPLE,
AND, ALL THE CITY PEOPLE, AND
COMBINE THEM, OR EVEN ADD MORE
MONEY FOR THIS NEW STRUCTURE,
THEN, IT IS A PROBLEM.
IT SHOULD BE FINE TUNED AND YOU
SHOULD GET RID OF SOME PARTS OF
IT THAT ARE NOT NEEDED.
>> WHAT PARTS AREN'T NEEDED?
>> WELL I THINK FRANKLY, THERE
ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING
ADMINISTRATION, STRATEGIC
ADVISING.
CONSULTANTS, MULTIPLE LAYERS OF
CONSULTANTS AND MULL MILLION
LAYERS OF ADMINISTRATION.
SO.
>> AND YOU WOULD JUST AX THEM?
>> WELL I THINK BEFORE THE
COUNCIL ADOPTS LIKE A NEW
THING, YOU SHOULD HAVE, THEY
SHOULD GIVE YOU OPTIONS ON
STRUCTURE AND PRICING.
OPTIONS ON THE CHART, HOW MUCH
IT WILL COST.
TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE GETTING.
AND, I THINK WE SHOULD USE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO GET RID OF THE
INEFFICIENCIES.
LEHIGH IS ASKED ALONG WITH ALL
THE OTHER AGENCIES TO COME MEET
ONCE A WEEK.
WE SHOW UP ONCE A WEEK.
MY CASE MANAGERS SHOW UP ONCE A
WEEK WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AND
THERE'S FOUR UNITS OPEN.
WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT WHO
SHOULD GET INTO THE FOUR UNITS.
RIGHT?
LIKE, IS THAT PARTICULARLY
EFFICIENT?
WHEN IT IS ALREADY BEEN
PREDETERMINED WHO IS GOING TO
GET INTO THE FOUR UNITS?
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE'S
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT THAT COULD
BE MADE AND REALLY HELP AND
COORDINATE ENTRY SHOULD NOT BE
THE BE ALL AND END ALL BECAUSE
VERY FEW UNITS ARE AVAILABLE
FOR COORDINATED ENTRY.
FOR FAMILIES OR YOUNG ADULTS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, HAVE
YOU BEEN INVOLVED OR HAS
ANYBODY REACHED OUT TO YOU
ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS ONGOING
ABOUT A POTENTIAL RESTRUCTURE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE BEEN INVITED
TO A FEW MEETINGS AND WHAT
HAPPENS IS THAT I THINK
PROVIDERS ARE NOT GIVEN
ADEQUATE WEIGHT IN TERMS OF THE
DESIGN OF IT.
THEY HAVE NOT NAMED THE
PROVIDERS.
THERE'S ONLY TWO PROVIDERS AND
20 OTHER PEOPLE.
IT IS NOT FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE
WHO KNOW THE REAL WORK.
SO, WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT
IF YOU INCLUDE ALL THE SUBURBAN
CITIES, ALL THE SUBURBAN
CITIES, SOME OF THE SUBURBAN
CITIES HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT AND
OPPOSED TO HOMELESS HOUSING AND
SHELTERS AND WHY WOULD YOU PUT
THEM ON?
AND THEN, THERE IS ALSO A
PRIVATE FOUNDATION.
THEY ARE NOT ELECTED
INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAVE NO WAY OF IMPACTING
THEM.
I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT ONCE
YOU REMOVE ACCOUNTABILITY AWAY
FROM THE CITY, AWAY FROM THE
COUNTY, WE HAVE LESS ON AFTER
IMPACT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
ACCOUNTABLE TO US.
>> AT THIS POINT SINCE IT IS
11:48, COULD WE HEAR FROM YOU
JEFF?
SHARON, WOULD YOU STAY?
BECAUSE, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO
DO IS HAVE JEFF AND WHOMEVER
ELSE WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
THIS TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON
WHERE WE ARE.
BECAUSE EVERYTHING SHARON HAS
SAID, I HAVE HEARD FROM TESS
COLBY HERSELF WHO IS COMING TO
JOIN US NOW.
THAT WE WANT TO HAVE THIS
COORDINATED SYSTEM APPROACH
THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE, NIMBLE AND
EFFECTIVE AND NOBODY WANTS US
TO BE ANOTHER LAYER OF
BUREAUCRACY.
AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
THESE MEETINGS.
OH GOOD.
WE HAVE MARK.
COME ON UP.
WHY NOT COME TO THE TABLE?
OH PLEASE.
SO MARK IS HERE AND HE IS ONE
OF, I KNOW WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT
DUPLICATE CONSULTANTS.
HE IS A REFRESHING BREATH OF
FRESH AIR THAT HAS COME IN.
AND LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM.
SO, IF I COULD TURN THIS OVER,
JEFF, TESS, AND MARK, TO HEAR
FROM YOU.
AND THEN THANK YOU BOTH FOR
WAITING FOR THIS MORNING AND I
WOULD LOVE SHARON'S IMPUT AND
RESPONSE AS WELL.
>> FOR THE RECORD, JEFF SIMMS.
CENTRAL STAFF.
LY DEFER TIME TO TESS.
SHE WAS PREPARE TODAY GIVE THE
UPDATE.
>> IT IS VERY GOOD BY ME.
>> HI.
HI.
TESS COLBY, MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> TESS, YOU NEED TO SLIDE THIS
CLOSER TO YOU.
>> BETTER?
ALWAYS FEELS LIKE I'M ABOUT TO
EAT IT.
I AM HAPPY TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON
REGIONAL GOVERN INDIANAPOLIS.
I WILL WHIP THROUGH.
>> ACTUALLY, I WOULD SAY, THIS
TIMING IS NOW UP TO YOU.
WE HAVE SO BLOWN THE TIME FOR
WHICH MEETING.
I'M WILLING TO STAY HERE AS
LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO.
>> AS A MEMBER OF THE CLIENT
GROUP, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS
PROCESS THE WHOLE TIME.
SO, I WILL SAY THAT THE CLIENT
GROUP HAS BEEN FORMED AND WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO MEET
THE INTENT OF CREATING THE
CLIENT GROUP WHICH REALLY IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS
COLLABORATIVE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP.
AND, TIMELY REPORTING OF
INFORMATION: I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW,
MOSQUEDA, AND O'BRIEN FOR
COMMITMENT.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING EVERY
MONTH.
AND YOU HAVE ALLOWED.
TO BRING YOU QUITE A BIT OF
INFORMATION.
SO, I HEARD SHARON TALK ABOUT
MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK WE
ARE DOING IS CUSTOMER CENTERED.
ONE OF THE KEY AND SUNDAYMENTAL
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE
RECEIVED FROM FUTURE LABS WHICH
IS NOW THE NATIONAL INFORMATION
SERVICES.
AND, MARK AND THEIR TEAM HAS
REALLY, REALLY WORKED VERY HARD
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS,
THIS DISCERNMENT PROCESS AROUND
REGIONAL GOVERNING HAS IN FACT
PLACED CUSTOMERS AT THE CENTER.
THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF
WORK AT PUTTING TOGETHER WORK
GROUPS.
AND, STEERING COMMITTEE.
AND, THAT HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT
MAKING SURE IT FACILITATES
CUSTOMERS AND PERSONS
REPRESENTING MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES TO BE AT THE CENTER
OF THAT.
BE NOT TOKENNIZED BY JUST BEING
SPOKEN TO.
BUT, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR
VOICE IS CENTER IN THAT WORK.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NIS
HAS DONE IS ENGAGE FOLKS IN
WORKSHOPS AND COUNCILMEMBER
BAGSHAW, YOU MAY REMEMBER, THAT
NIS DID WORK AROUND THE
GOVERNANCE.
THOSE KINDS OF WORKSHOPS ARE
BEING CARRIED OUT.
AND AGAIN, NOT JUST IN THE CORE
WORKING GROUPS AND THE STEERING
COMMITTEES.
BUT NIA IS GOING TO WHERE
PEOPLE ARE AND MAKING SURE THAT
SHARE WHEELS IS NOT ABOUT
ASKING FOLKS AND CUSTOMERS TO
COME TO A MEETING THAT IS
DISCONNECTED FROM THE WORK THEY
ARE DOING BUT MOVING TO THEIR
SPACE.
SO VILLAGE OF HOPE FOR EXAMPLE,
THE LIVED EXPERIENCE COALITION.
THE UNDOING INSTITUTIONAL
RACISM COALITION.
THESE ARE THREE EXAMPLES OF THE
DEEP CONNECTION NIA IS MAKING
WITH OUR CUSTOMER.
NIS IS MAKING WITH OUR
CUSTOMERS AND REPRESENTING
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES.
MARK SHARED WITH ME THIS
MORNING THAT THE WORKSHOP SO
FAR HAS BEEN, THERE HAS BEEN
PARTICIPATION OF ABOUT 160
PEOPLE SO FAR.
AND AGAIN, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE
OF MAKING SURE THE PROVIDER
VOICE IS HEARD, THE KINDS OF
PROVIDERS THAT HAVE BEEN
CONTRIBUTING AND PARTICIPATING
IN THIS WORK INCLUDE THE YMCA.
FRIENDS OF YOUTH.
MOCKINGBIRD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKING
GROUPS WERE REPRESENTATIVE
ACROSS STAKE HOLDERS WAS INVITE
PROVIDERS BECAUSE PART OF THIS
IS NOT TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW
OUR STAKE HOLDERS, HOW
PROVIDERS, HOW FOLKS WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE, NOT DETERMINING HOW
THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE, BUT
OPENING THIS UP AND MAKING
SURE THAT THERE'S AGENCY.
AND RESPECTED AGENCY FOR PEOPLE
TO DECIDE HOW THEY ENGAGE IN
THIS WORK.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL DID
WAS ASK PROVIDERS HOW THEY
WANTED TO INCLUDE THEMSELVES.
HOW THEY WANTED TO ENGAGE AND
HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
SO A SURVEY WENT OUT.
A REQUEST TO ALL THE PROVIDERS
SAYING YOU TELL US WHERE YOU
WANT TO BE AND WHAT TYPE OF
WORK AND WHAT GROUPS YOU WOULD
WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN.
AND I WILL SAY THAT FRANKLY,
UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESPONSE WAS
RELATIVELY LIMITED.
THERE WAS ENGAGEMENT OF THE
FOLKS WHO SAID THEY WERE
INTERESTED.
AND, THAT HAS RESULTED IN
PROVIDERS ACTUALLY
PARTICIPATING.
THE FEEDBACK FROM CUSTOMERS AND
PROVIDERS AND MARK CAN TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS,
THEIR FEEDBACK HAS CAUSED NIS
TO RETHINK HOW THEY ARE DOING,
HOW THEY ARE ENGAGING FOLKS
THROUGH WORK GROUPS WHERE IT
WAS THOUGHT THAT PEOPLE WOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO A PRODUCT.
IF YOU WILL.
AT THE END OF THESE GROUPS.
NOW IT IS MORE CULTIVATION OF
VOICE AND OLD STYLE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
>> ONE THING THAT CAME OUT OF
THE GROUP, YOU DID NOT WANT TO
CHOOSE THE PROVIDERS AT THE
TABLE BUT TO LET THEM SELF-
ENGAGE.
IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING
THE PROVIDERS HADN'T BEEN
INVOLVED.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN MY EXPERIENCE
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HEARING
FROM TESS AND MARK.
>> WELL EXCUSE ME.
I WENT TO MANY OF THESE
MEETINGS WHERE JASON JOHNSON
AND EMIL FLOOR HELD AND IT WAS
VERY GENERAL.
AND, THERE WAS NO DETAIL AND
THERE WAS NO SPECIFICS.
AND, THEY PASSED OUT SOMETHING
SAYING WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE
PART OF THIS COMMITTEE OR THAT
COMMITTEE?
AND, THAT WAS IT.
>> I THINK THERE IS A WHOLE LOT
MORE COMING.
SO, TESS, DO YOU WANT TO STEP
UP THERE?
>> YEAH.
AND SHARON, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT.
THERE IS A SERIES OF MONTHLY
MEETINGS THAT THE COUNTY AND
THE CITY COFACILITATE AND THEY
HAVE BEEN GOING ON QUITE A
WHILE AS I UNDERSTAND.
THEY PREDATE ME WHICH A LOT OF
THINGS PREDATE ME.
>> THEY PREDATE JASON.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
THIS IS COMMON IN A LOT OF
COMMUNITIES.
MY OLD COMMUNITY, WE DID THIS
AS WELL.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PROVIDERS AND THEIR FUNDERS TO
COME TOGETHER AND HAVE
DIALOGUE.
AND WALK THROUGH PARTICULAR
SUBJECTS.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PROVIDER
MEETINGS THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO UPDATE FOLKS AND
ENGAGE THE PROVIDERS THAT WERE
IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT REGIONAL
GOVERNANCE AND THERE WAS A
SOLICITATION IN THE MEETING.
ONE THAT WENT OUT BY E-MAIL AND
WENT OUT BROADLY TO ALL OF THE
CONTEXT THAT HSD HAS.
SO.
NO OUTREACH IS PERFECT.
AND I THINK WHAT THEY HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO DO IS REACH PEOPLE
IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO THAT THEY HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SELF-SELECT.
A BIG PIECE OF FEEDBACK WE HAVE
GOTTEN FROM PROVIDERS HAS BEEN
TO THE GROUP.
WHAT THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT IS
THE REGIONAL ACTION PLAN.
SO THAT WORK BECAUSE THE
REGIONAL ACTION PLAN WILL BE
THE PLAN THAT MOST IMPACTS HOW
THEY DO THEIR WORK GOING
FORWARD.
AND SO, WE HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A
BIT OF INTEREST IN
PARTICIPATING IN THE ENGAGEMENT
AND OUTREACH THAT THE
CORPORATION, NOT THE
CORPORATION FOR SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING ANYMORE.
ANALIVA AND CHS WILL BE DOING
IN ADVANCE OF DEVELOPING THAT
REGIONAL ACCESS PLAN.
WE WILL ALSO SEE MORE TARGETED
PARTICIPATION FROM PROVIDERS IN
THAT AREA WHERE THEY ARE MOST
SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED.
BUT, THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT
PROVIDERS ARE NOT PARTICIPATING
IN THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND
OTHER WORK GROUPS.
IT IS LOGICAL.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT WHERE YOU
WANT YOUR INPUT TO BE IS WHERE
THE WORK WILL MOST IMPACT YOU.
YOU CAN ADD WHATEVER YOU WANT.
>> MARK, DID YOU HAVE
SOMETHING?
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
ADDRESS WHAT SHARON WAS SAYING.
THE EARLY MEETINGS WERE
GENERAL.
I WAS THERE.
AND NOW, WE ARE STARTING TO
DIVE INTO DETAIL.
SO MAYBE YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT.
>> SURE.
SO, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I
THINK ARE IMPORTANT.
ONE TO TESS' POINT, OUR TEAM
HAS PIVOTED OUR APPROACH AND
GONE BACK TO AN APPROACH WE
USED IN THE FALL WHICH IS TO
TESS' POINT, REALLY JUST
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WHERE WE
WORK WITH FOLKS AT ALL LEVELS
IN TERMS OF ADMINISTRATORS,
PROVIDER, CUSTOMERS, TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE'S
CONCERNS ARE, SYNTHESIZE THAT
INFORMATION AND BRING IT TO
Y'ALL.
IT WAS IN PART, IN LARGE PART
IN RESPONSE TO AS TESS
MENTIONED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS
CLEAR IN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK
ABOUT THE STRUCTURE THAT HAD
BEEN STOOD UP.
RIGHT?
SO, WE HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM
PROVIDERS ACROSS THE REGION.
AGENTS AND STAFF ARE.
AND SO, IN HEARING THAT
FEDBACK, WE DID AN IT RATION.
RIGHT?
A NUMBER OF FOLKS WERE THERE.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WERE BUT WE
HAD A CONVERSATION WHERE I WAS
THERE TO SAY WE HEARD FEEDBACK.
THE NEED FOR US TO COME TO
THEM.
RIGHT?
AND, THAT IS REALLY PART OF THE
GENESIS OF WHY WE HAVE BEGUN
THIS SERIES OF PROVIDER BASED
WORKSHOPS.
I'M HEADED TO YOUTH CARE TO DO
ANOTHER ONE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT SPACE.
THAT IS, I THINK, FRANKLY A LOT
OF POINTS AROUND, JUST LIKE
TIME AND CAPACITY, AS I HAVE
OFTEN HEARD.
IT ALLOWS FOR US TO CONNECT
WITH PEOPLE HERE AND SYNTHESIZE
IT AND MAKING SURE IT IS
GETTING TO DIVISION -- DECISION-
MAKERS IN THE RIGHT FORMAT
WITHOUT OVERBURDENING STAFF AND
CREATING DYNAMICS WHERE PEOPLE
ARE EXECUTING THE LIFE-SAVING
WORK THEY ARE ALREADY DOING.
>> I WILL SAY FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE PERSPECTIVE, THEY ARE
USING QUALITATIVE DATA ABOUT
WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE
AND THE GOVERNMENT IN THE
REGIONAL AUTHORITY AND HOW IT
IS STRUCTURED AND HOW IT MAKES
DECISIONS IN WHAT THE OUTCOMES
OF THAT WILL BE.
WITHOUT THE BOYS, WITHOUT THAT
DATA, WE WILL ALL BE MAKING
DECISIONS BASICALLY IN A VACUUM.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL WE
NOT ONLY SUPPORT THIS PROCESS,
BUT BRING IT IN TO OUR
COLLECTIVE DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS.
>> WHAT IS YOUR TIMING ON ALL
OF THIS?
WHAT IS YOUR TIMING?
>> FOR THE WHOLE REGIONAL
AUTHORITY?
>> YES.
THE BEST INTENTIONS, THE BEST
WORK WE ARE DOING, WHERE DO YOU
THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE?
>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD POINT.
I WILL ANSWER THAT, IF YOU WILL
ALLOW ME TO WALK THROUGH ALL
THE WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE
AND YOU WILL APPRECIATE HOW
BREAKNECK FAST THIS IS GOING.
AT THE CLIENT GROUP, WE BEGIN
TO TALK ABOUT WITH THAT
AUTHORITY WILL LOOK LIKE.
WE HAVE HAD PLENTY OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LEGAL
STRUCTURES.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ALL LANDED
ON THE PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY.
THAT IS GOOD.
THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO DO IS
BOTH, AT THE SAME TIME BEGIN TO
DRAFT THE DOCUMENTS AROUND
THAT, BUT ALSO ENGAGE OUR HR
PARTNERS, HR LABOR AND UNION
PARTNERS AND THEY CAN'T BEGIN
TO DO THEIR WORK AROUND WHAT
MIGRATION OF STAFF LOOKS LIKE
INTO THE AUTHORITY AND HOW THAT
AFFECTS, BENEFITS PENSIONS AND
THE THING WE MOST CARE ABOUT
FOR STAFF WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT
THE ENTITY IS.
LIKEWISE, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF STARTING THE CONVERSATION
WITH CBO TO TALK ABOUT THE
BUDGET PROCESS THROUGH THE
COUNCIL, NOT THAT, BUT WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE TO CONTRACT WITH
THIS NEW AUTHORITY.
AND, WHAT THE MIGRATION OF
FUNDS LOOKS LIKE.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MIGRATION
OF FUNDS AND MIGRATION OF STAFF
ARE INTERTWINED.
THAT WILL BE A COMPLEX
CONVERSATION TO HAVE.
WE NEED TO BE MOVING ON THAT
NOW SO THAT WE CAN GET TO
COUNSEL WITH AN ORDINANCE. THE
GOAL IS TO GET TO COUNSEL WITH
AN ORDINANCE IN AUGUST.
WE WILL WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN
TO GET THERE.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS, THE
OTHER LAYER OF ALL THIS WORK AS
I HAVE ALLUDED TO IS THE
REGIONAL ACTION PLAN.
THE REGIONAL ACTION PLAN IS
CONNECTED TO THE WORK OF THE
REGIONAL AUTHORITY BY REALLY
SERVING AS A GUIDE, IF YOU
WILL.
>> COUNSEL, WITH AN ORDINANCE,
THE GOAL IS TO GET TO COUNSEL
WITH OUR GOALS.
IN AUGUST.
>> THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO
SEE.
THIS IS A PROCESS OF AGAIN,
COLLECTIVELY DETERMINING WHAT
THOSE PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES,
THE LARGE, THE BIG LEVEL
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES SHOULD
BE.
AFTER THAT, THINKING OUT HOW
THE AUTHORITY CAN GET THERE SO
THAT REGIONAL ACTION PLAN
SHOULD ALSO BE COMPLETED AROUND
AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT REGIONAL
ACTION PLAN AND THE ACCEPTANCE
AND PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE
AROUND THE AUTHORITY ITSELF ARE
INTERTWINED.
THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THEM, TO
TRY TO KEEP US ALL ON A
PARALLEL TRACK.
THE THIRD FACTOR IN ALL OF
THIS, OF COURSE, IS THE
PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING AND
COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY.
THEY ARE MOVING ON A SIMILAR
TRACK TO BEGIN TO STRUCTURE THE
AUTHORITY AND TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THEIR PROCESS, WITH THEIR
HR, THEIR BUDGET, SO WE ALL
COLLECTIVELY GET TO THIS END.
IDEALLY, IN AUGUST, IN A NOT A
WORST CASE, BUT AS A SECOND
OPTION, SEPTEMBER.
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FOCUSED ON
AUGUST.
>> GREAT.
JEFF, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?
>> YES.
BECAUSE YOU ARE VERY ENGAGED IN
THIS ALREADY, THIS IS REDUNDANT
FROM WHAT YOU ARE PARTY BEEN
TOLD, BUT FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
AT THIS POINT, THE STAGE AROUND
THAT AUGUST ORDINANCE, BEING
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS AND VARIOUS STEPS
OF THAT PROCESS, TODAY IN
PARTICULAR, WE WANTED TO DELVE
MORE INTO THE ACTUAL LEGAL
MECHANISM THAT WOULD BE USED,
AS WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH
DEPARTMENTS, WE WERE USING IN
PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR USING JOINT
POWERS OR LOCAL AGREEMENTS TO
MAKE A NONPROFIT, GENERALLY, AT
A VERY HIGH LEVEL, THERE IS NOT
A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE IN
EITHER OF THOSE ROUTES.
TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE
DECISIONS THAT ARE NEXT THAT
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE PRESENTED
AT ITS NEXT MEETINGS, THE
EXECUTIVE WILL BE MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE ASSUMPTION OF
A PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
BEING THE MECHANISM THAT WOULD
BE USED, THAT HAS BEEN AN
ASSUMPTION OF SOME PARTIES
ALONG.
WE HAVEN'T FOUND A SUBSTANTIAL
REASON NOT TO GO WITH THAT AT
THIS STAGE.
NONE OF THIS IS OFFICIALLY
FINAL UNTIL THE COUNCIL PASSES
AN OFFICIAL ALTERNATES EITHER
IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER.
>> I AGREE, JEFF, THERE IS
SCANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
ENTITIES THAT CAN BE UNDER THE
COOPERATION AT THE RCW THAT
TALKS ABOUT THE PDAS.
I WILL SAY, ONE OF THE, I
THINK, IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES
THAT EXIST IS THAT APD I --
EIGHT PDA CAN ISSUE DEBT.
ONE OF THE THINGS SOMEONE CAN
ISSUE THROUGH THIS WHOLE
PROCESS IS, WE CAN BUILD A
REGIONAL AUTHORITY, BUT IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ACT
ON THAT REGIONAL AUTHORITY, IT
WILL MAKE IT MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET THEIR
GOALS.
I AM NOT TRYING TO PROJECT THAT
THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY WOULD
ISSUE DEBT FOR ITS OWN CAPITAL
USES, BUT A JIK1, MUCH LIKE A
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, CAN
ISSUE DEBT ON BEHALF OF OTHER
PROJECTS.
IT IS A FLEXIBILITY.
I AM NOT SAYING OUT OF THE CHUTE
THE PDA, THE AUTHORITY WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY USE THAT OPTION.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT FLEXIBILITY
THAT A PDA HAS.
IT IS, I THINK, A PART OF THE
CONSIDERATION.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT ALL
OF YOU WERE JUST SAYING.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COUPLE
OF THINGS.
FIRST IS, WE REALLY CARE ABOUT
WHAT THAT FORMAT LOOKS LIKE AND
WHAT THE FOUNDATION WILL BE.
WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS IS,
FRANKLY, A LITTLE MORE OF WHAT
SHARON WAS SAYING.
ARE WE SEEING MORE PEOPLE
GETTING OFF THE STREET AND INTO
HOMES, OF SOME KIND, WHATEVER
THEY ARE, WHETHER THEY ARE TINY
HOMES, MODULATORS OR SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING.
SECOND, THEY WANT TO SEE, FOR
OURSELVES, THE CITY FEELS
PLANAR AND PEOPLE ARE HEALTHIER
AND THE STREETS FEEL SAFER.
LAST, THAT NIMBLENESS SHE
MENTIONED, WE WANT TO BE ABLE
TO FIND, I AM USING MY FRIEND
MICHAEL, WHO WAS ON THE
SIDEWALK UPTOWN AND HAS BEEN
THERE FOR YEARS, USING HIM AS
AN EXAMPLE, HE HAS SAID, I
DON'T WANT TO GO IN.
HE DIDN'T CONNECT WITH ANYBODY.
HE IS BACK OUT ON THE STREET
WITH ALL OF HIS STUFF.
HIS TARPS AND HIS SHOPPING BAGS
ARE RIGHT ON FIRST AVENUE.
THAT IS NOT OKAY WITH ANYBODY.
EXCEPT MAYBE MICHAEL, WHO
DOESN'T WANT TO GO INSIDE.
WE ARE TRYING HARD TO FIND OUT
WHAT HE NEEDS.
THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPING THIS
REGIONAL APPROACH WILL ALLOW US
. WE DON'T HAVE TO CALL THE
COUNTY.
IN THE CASE OF MICHAEL, JUST
USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, I
ENDED UP, I COULDN'T REACH
ANYONE ON THE TEAM BECAUSE IT
WAS 5 PM.
I GOT A HOLD OF UNION GOSPEL
MISSION.
THEY HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN
20 MINUTES THAT WERE TALKING
WITH HIM.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
PROVIDERS NEED TO BE PART OF
THIS.
THEY WILL BE PART OF IT.
AS WE SET UP THE GOVERNING
STRUCTURE AND AGAIN, I WANT TO
SAY THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE
FOUR OF YOU AT THE TABLE, ME
AND THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT WHAT
THE STRUCTURE IS AND WHAT THE
PUBLIC WANTS.
THE PUBLIC WANTS A REAL
DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THEY SAY.
>> I THINK, I THINK THAT IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE AND A POIGNANT
EXAMPLE OF WHY, IN FACT, WE DO
NEED REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED BY THE AUDITOR AND
BY OTHER CONSULTANTS IS THAT
THERE IS A DISCONNECT IN THE
WAY THE CITY, THE COUNTY, OTHER
SUBURBAN CITIES ARE RESPONDING.
THERE IS EVEN DISCONNECTS
WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY
IN TERMS OF HOW PROGRAMS ARE
CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER AND
COLLABORATING.
THE GOAL OF REGIONAL
GOVERNMENTS AND THE REGION, THE
REASON WE HAVE RECEIVED
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FOCUS
STRATEGIES, FROM THE FOCUS
AUDITOR AND CONSISTENTLY ACROSS
THE BOARD, THAT WE NEED TO
COMBINE AND COORDINATE AND
BETTER COLLABORATE THROUGH SOME
SORT OF SINGLE ENTITY.
THE REASON IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU
DESCRIBED.
THERE SHOULD BE BETTER
COORDINATION ACROSS THE REGION
IN MAKING SURE THAT OUTREACH IS
AVAILABLE AND APPROPRIATE AND
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES AND
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
INDIVIDUALS.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE AT THE
CITY ONE, WE KNOW THE COUNTY
WANTS, WE KNOW OUR PARTNERS AT
YOU DM, PARTNERS OF LIFE AND
OTHER FAITH BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK REGIONAL
GOVERNANCE GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH ONE
VOICE ABOUT SPEAKING WITH, FOR
EXAMPLE, HOW OUTREACH AND HOW
ENGAGEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT,
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, IS DONE
úIN A MUCH MORE COORDINATED
FASHION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SHARON HAVE BROUGHT UP
SOMETHING I THINK IS REALLY FOR
US TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS AND
ADDRESS.
SHE SAID WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
BASED ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT WITH AT LEAST
THREE OF YOU HERE THE TABLE, MY
SENSE IS, NOT ONLY WILL IT BE
ACCOUNTABLE, IT WILL BE MORE
ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THERE IS
ONLY ONE ENTITY TO GO TO AS
CONTRASTED TO FIGURE OUT WHO IN
HST OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS WILL
RESPOND TO THIS OR CALL MY
FRIEND AT THE COUNTY AND GET
DOWN IN PUBLIC HEALTH BUT HAVE
A PLACE AND A CORE WHERE PEOPLE
CAN GO AND WHERE THEY CAN CALL.
I KNOW THAT IS ONE OF YOUR
GOALS, TOO.
CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT.
>> ONE ASPECT OF THAT CONCERN,
IF THAT ONE ENTITY IS AN
APPOINTED ENTITY, IF IT IS NOT
AN ELECTED ENTITY, FOR MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS 1
DEGREE OF REMOVED FROM THE
ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE BALLOT
BOX.
>> YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IN A
DEMOCRACY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO ADDRESS THAT. CAN YOU TALK
ABOUT THAT?
WILL WE BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
VOTERS?
>> YES.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION I THINK
WE HAVE ALL HAD.
WE ARE CERTAINLY HAVING THE
CITY AND THE COUNTY, THEY ARE
HAVING IT.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY WILL COME
FOR THE RELATIONSHIP, AND
FRANKLY, THE FUNDING
RELATIONSHIP THE CITY AND
COUNTY HAVE WITH THIS ENTITY.
MY BACKGROUND IS IN FINANCE.
AS WELL AS REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT.
THERE WAS NO GREATER
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE WORK THAT
I DID THAT AND KNOWING THAT
SOMEONE HELD THE PURSESTRINGS
OVERS -- OVER WHAT I WAS ABOUT
TO DO AND THEY HAD REQUIREMENTS
AND I NEEDED TO MEET THOSE
REQUIREMENTS.
IT WILL BE NO DIFFERENT WITH
THIS AUTHORITY.
THE AUTHORITY WILL BE SPECIFIC
TO OUTCOMES WITH THE CONTRACT
THE CITY WILL HAVE AND THE
COUNTY WILL HAVE WITH THE
ENTITY ITSELF.
THAT WILL GIVE US THE RIGHT AND
THE OBLIGATION TO SAY WE ARE
INVESTING IN YOU AND WE EXPECT
THIS KIND OF A RETURN ON OUR EX-
DISTRICT INVESTMENT.
IF YOU DON'T PRODUCE AND GIVE
US THIS KIND OF RETURN AND THIS
GOES ON FOR WHATEVER PERIOD OF
TIME, THE CITY DEEMS ACCEPTABLE
TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT,
WE WILL BE ABLE TO PULL OUR
DOLLARS BACK AND REESTABLISH
HSI AND THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AND GO BACK TO THE
WAY WE WERE DOING IT.
IT IS A WAY OF PROVING THE
CONCEPT.
THIS REALLY IS ABOUT PROOF OF
CONCEPT.
I WOULD SAY THIS AUTHORITY WILL
UNDERSTAND ITS POSITION,
PARTICULARLY, SPECIFICALLY AND
PARTICULARLY IN THE FIRST FEW
YEARS, BUT THROUGHOUT ITS
EXISTENCE THAT IT IS YEAR AFTER
YEAR PROVING ITS VALUE, PROVING
ITS ABILITY TO DELIVER, PROVING
IT EFFECTIVENESS BY MAKING SURE
IT IS DRIVEN BY THE FUNDING
REQUESTS, FUNDING REQUIREMENTS
AND DRIVEN BY ITS REQUIREMENT
TO MAKE SURE THAT CUSTOMERS ARE
INCLUDED IN AND AT THE CENTER
OF THE WORK THEY ARE PRODUCING.
I THINK THAT COMBINATION OF
WORK REALLY WILL GUARANTEE
TRANSPARENCY.
CERTAINLY, OUR PROVIDER
COMMUNITY IS NOT SHY.
OUR CUSTOMER COMMUNITY, IF YOU
WILL, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE COMPOSED OF AND REPRESENT,
AGAIN, FOLKS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN MARGINAL IN
THIS PROCESS, THEY ARE NOT
SHRINKING FLOWERS.
WE WILL HAVE ANY NUMBER OF
PARTNERS WHO WILL BE HELPING US
TO HOLD THIS AUTHORITY
ACCOUNTABLE IN A WAY THAT I
THINK GREATLY EXPANDS ITS
ABILITY TO IMPACT HOMELESSNESS
AND TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO
THE PUBLIC, AS A WHOLE.
>> ONE THING THAT IMPRESSED ME
AT A MEETING ABOUT TWO WEEKS
AGO IS THAT WE HAD CONFERENCE
CALLS WITH LEADERSHIP IN LOS
ANGELES AND PORTLAND, ASKING
THEM ABOUT THEIR SIMILAR
PROJECTS THEY HAVE. CAN YOU
TALK A LITTLE ABOUT ABOUT HOW
ACCOUNTABILITY WORKED IN THOSE
TWO CITIES?
>> I WILL HAND THIS OVER TO
MARK.
HE HAS HAD MORE DIRECT
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH
PORTLAND AND L.A.
>> BOTH MODELS USE A GOVERNING
BOARD OVER A JOINT ENTITY.
IN THE CASE OF PORTLAND, IT IS
A NINE ORGANIZATION BOARD, I
BELIEVE IT IS ACTUALLY 12
MEMBERS.
THEY REPRESENT THREE
JURISDICTIONS, TWO CITIES IN
THE COUNTY.
THEY ARE ELECTED DIRECTLY ON
THE BOARD.
IN ADDITION TO OTHER KING --
KEY CONSTITUENCIES, IT IS A 10
MEMBER COMMISSION IN L.A..
FIVE MEMBERS ARE SUPPORTIVE --
APPOINTED FROM THE COUNTY.
ANY SUPERVISOR COULD PUT
FORWARD ANYONE THEY BELIEVE
SHOULD BE ON A COMMISSION, THAT
PERSON NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY
THE ENTIRE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS.
THAT IS ON THE CITY OF L.A.
TSAI.
THE MAYOR WILL PUT FORWARD A
PERSON AND THAT PERSON NEEDS TO
BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
IN ANYWAY A CITY APPOINTMENT
GENERALLY WORKS.
IN THE BUDGET CONTROLS, THERE
IS NO GOVERNANCE MODEL, FRANKLY
I WOULD RECOMMEND OR THAT
ANYBODY USE THAT DOESN'T STILL
FLOW THROUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE
ELECTED TO REPRESENT
COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS JUST HOW WE DO STUFF.
THE OTHER THING I THINK IS
IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY ABOUT
THE L.A.
MODEL, THERE IS THE ABILITY TO
PUT PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION
WHO HAVE VERY SPECIFIC
EXPERTISE.
IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT TESSA
WISHES SAYING, THERE IS A WOMAN
NAMED JACLYN WAGNER ON THE TRAN
NINE BOARD, IF THERE IS A
HOUSING CONVERSATION.
>> SHE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT.
>> I AM SORRY.
>> VICE PRESIDENT OF ENTERPRISE
HOUSING.
ANYTIME THERE IS A HOUSING
CONVERSATION, YOU ALLUDE TO
THOSE OF US THAT CAN BE
FRUSTRATING COHOUSING
CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE
NOT FACT-BASED.
PEOPLE THINK WE NEED MORE
HOUSING AND WE SHOULD POUR MORE
MONEY IN HOUSING, YES, BUT IT
IS AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX
SYSTEM.
YOU HAVE ZONING ISSUES, FINANCE
ISSUES, DEBT ISSUES, IT IS NOT
JUST DO MORE HOUSING.
JACKALYN BEING ON THAT
COMMISSION MEANS WHEN THERE IS
A HOUSING CONVERSATION, THERE
WERE SOMEONE IN THE ROOM THAT
COULD SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING, THIS IS WHAT I AM
HEARING AND THESE ARE THE
ACTUAL THINGS I CAN DO TO
ADDRESS THE CONCERNS YOU ARE
RAISING.
IT ALSO MEANS THEORETICALLY,
SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THE CONNECTIVITY TO OTHER
SYSTEMS IS ENHANCED BY THINKING
CAREFULLY THROUGH THE SKILLS
AND THE REPRESENTATIONS YOU
WANT TO HAVE ON THAT GOVERNING
BODY?
THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY,
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT OFTEN IS A
DIFFUSE TERM THAT I BELIEVE IS
FRANKLY, FAR TOO GENERAL.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS TO WHOM,
WHICH COMMUNITY ARE WE
ACCOUNTABLE?
IN THIS INSTANCE, WHAT I WOULD
PUT FORWARD AND OUR DESIGN PUTS
FORWARD IS THAT THIS IS A
SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT
NEEDS TO BE CREATED.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESS ARE ABLE
TO ACCESS WITH REGARD TO
ACCOUNTABILITY, IT IS, FRANKLY,
INSUFFICIENT AND INADEQUATE.
PEOPLE CAN SWARM COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, TRY TO FORM
INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIPS, BUT
THERE IS NO MECHANISM BY WHICH
THEY CAN HOLD WHO IS SUPPOSED
TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
THEM WITH LIFE-SAVING SERVICES,
ACCOUNTABLE, IF THAT IS NOT
WORKING.
IN OUR DESIGN, WE PUT FORWARD A
NUMBER OF THINGS AND
STRUCTURALLY, WE ALSO PUT
FORWARD AN ON BUD'S --
OMBUDSMAN OFFICE THAT HAS THE
SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF HEARING
FROM AND ROUTINELY GOING ON AND
LISTENING TO PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
USING THAT TO SET STANDARDS, TO
EVALUATE HOW THINGS ARE GOING
AND, FRANKLY, I AM RELIEVED
ALSO TO REPORT A LITTLE BIT
EARLY THAT IN ALL OF THE
GOVERNANCE WORKSHOPS WE HAVE
DONE SO FAR, ONE THING THAT HAS
BEEN NEAR UNIFORM IS THE
INSISTENCE THE BOARD NEEDS TO
HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS ON IT.
IN SOME WORKSHOPS, WE WANT 50%
EXPERIENCE.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN ASSERTIONS
I THINK ARE GOOD SENSE TO HAVE
THE OMBUDSPERSON ON THE BOARD
SO THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCING A
POWER DYNAMIC IN TERMS OF
HAVING TO ASSERT.
THIS IS WHAT I AM HEARING AND
WE NEED TO RESPOND TO IT.
THERE IS REAL COMMUNITY WORK
HAPPENING THAT WILL, I HOPE,
END IN A FINAL DESIGN THAT
CENTERS THE PEOPLE WE REALLY
SAY WE ARE HERE FOR AND PUTS
THEM IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN
DESTINY IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AND
NOT MERELY IN RHETORIC.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SOMEBODY NEEDS TO JUST
RECORD WHAT YOU JUST SAID, TYPE
IT UP AND PUT IT UP AND SAY,
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
I KEEP HEARING THESE BATS
BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, FRANKLY,
I THINK HAVING THE EXPERTS ON A
BOARD LIKE THIS THAT ARE
REPORTING TO THE COUNCIL THAT
WE ESTABLISH A BUDGET AND THE
POLICIES AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT
WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
THEN NIMBLENESS WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT, ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
PEOPLE WHO NEED THE HELP, BUT
ALSO ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
TAXPAYER SHOWING WE HAVE BETTER
EFFECTS.
WHAT IS MAKING PEOPLE CRAZY IS
THAT WE ARE PUTTING MORE AND
MORE MONEY INTO A SYSTEM AND
PEOPLE ARE STILL SEEING FOLKS
OUTSIDE AND NOT GETTING THE
HELP THEY NEED.
THAT DUAL CONNECTION IS WHAT I
KNOW YOU ARE ALL WORKING ON.
I THINK IT IS GREAT TO MAKE
SURE THAT AS WE ARE MOVING
FORWARD THESE MULTIPLE GOALS
ARE LOUD AND CLEAR AND FRONT
AND CENTER.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.
WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE AT
12:30 PM BECAUSE THERE IS A
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD
LIKE ANY FINAL REMARKS IN THE
NEXT FEW MINUTES?
>> ACTUALLY, NO.
>> THE TIMING LOOKS GOOD.
THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU.
I KNOW WE WERE DELAYED AN HOUR
BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEMS.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT
HAPPEN.
WE WENT LONG, JUST BECAUSE
THERE IS ALWAYS SO MUCH TO TALK
ABOUT AT THESE COMMITTEES.
JEF, DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL
WORDS?
>> NO.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR
COMING.
I KNOW I WILL BE SEEING YOU ALL