>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF THE HUMAN SERVICES,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND
RENTER RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
IT IS 2:06 PM ON SEPTEMBER 10,
2019.
IN TODAY'S MEETING WE WILL HAVE
TWO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SEATTLE'S
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AND
NEEDLESS TO SAY, ALL THE
DISCUSSION TODAY IS FRAMED IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE
UNPRECEDENTED AND STUDYING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THAT OUR
CITY IS FACING AND IT NEEDS TO
BE MENTIONED THAT THIS CRISIS
IS HAPPENING AT THE TIME THAT
THE CITY HAS NEVER BEEN
WEALTHIER. AND, SO, WE
STRONGLY BELIEVE, AS THOSE OF
US WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR THE
RIGHTS OF THE HOMELESS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BUT FOR A
CITY THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR ALL
OF US WORKING PEOPLE AND
ORDINARY PEOPLE, WE BELIEVE THAT
THE CITY AND THE REGION HAVE
MORE THAN ENOUGH WEALTH TO
SOLVE THIS CRISIS BUT IT HAS
BEEN A SHORTAGE NOT OF IDEAS
THAT ARE WELL-FOUNDED IN DATA.
THERE HAS BEEN A SHORTAGE OF
POLITICAL WILL AND WE ARE HERE,
IN THE FALL, ALMOST AUTUMN 2019
AND IT WAS LAST SUMMER THAT
AFTER HAVING FOUGHT FOR A TAX
ON BIG BUSINESS COME
UNFORTUNATELY THE MAYOR AND THE
MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REBUILD ITS, BUT HERE WE ARE.
THE CRISIS IS NOT GOING TO GO
AWAY AND SO ALL OF US COME UP
BUT ESPECIALLY ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN THIS CITY BEAR A
TREMENDOUS MORAL AND POLITICAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER
SOLUTIONS TO THIS CRISIS.
AND THAT IS WHY THIS DISCUSSION
IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY IN ITSELF
BUT BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THAT
LARGER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS
CRISIS?
AS WE DISCUSSED IN THE CITY
COUNCIL SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS THAT WE HELD ON
MAY 24 OF THIS YEAR AND THAT I
CHAIRED COMEDY TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES IN SEATTLE HAVE BEEN,
PERHAPS, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE FACING
HOMELESSNESS.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
WATCHING THIS EITHER IN
CHAMBERS OR ON VIDEO AND DID
NOT WATCH THAT COMMITTEE, I
WOULD URGE YOU TO WATCH THE
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION.
YOU WILL NOT CATCH ME WATCHING
WHAT SOME COMMITTEE THAT HAS A
VERY BORING TECHNOCRATIC
CONVERSATION THAT IS OFTEN OF
NO CONSEQUENCE TO ORDINARY
LIVES BUT THIS COMMITTEE WAS
VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAD TESTIMONY NOT ONLY FROM
THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN
RUNNING TINY HOUSE VILLAGES BUT
WE HAD TESTIMONIALS FROM THOSE
WHO HELPED BUILD THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND PEOPLE WHO HAD
RESIDED EITHER FORMALLY OR
CURRENTLY IN TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND IT WAS SUCH A
POWERFUL TESTAMENT NOT ONLY
PERSONAL TESTIMONIES BUT ON
NUMBERS OF HOW SUCCESSFUL TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES HAVE BEEN IN
HELPING PEOPLE PROVIDE, HELPING
PEOPLE HAVE HUMANITY AND DIGNITY
LIKE PRIVACY, SAFETY, A LOCK ON
YOUR DOOR AND A PLACE TO STORE
YOUR BELONGINGS.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, AS A WOMAN
MYSELF, IT IS THE MOST PALPABLE
FEELING I FEEL IS HOW MUCH
SECURITY IT PROVIDES FOR WOMEN
AND LGBTQ PEOPLE.
NOT ONLY AWAY FROM THE ELEMENTS
BUT WE KNOW THE ENTIRE
STATISTICS WHEN YOU'RE ON THE
STREETS AND THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE
THAT YOU ARE HONORABLE TOO.
MANY OF THESE VILLAGES HAVE
SELF-MANAGEMENT WHERE RESIDENTS
ARE EMPOWERED TO DEMOCRATICALLY
RUN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
EVEN BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE
METRIC OF SUCCESS, THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE USES, WHICH IS
TRACKIN TRANSITIONS TO
PERMANENT HOUSING, SEATTLE'S
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE FAR
MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN EVEN THE
ENHANCED SHELTERS.
IN REALITY I DON'T THINK THAT
BY ITSELF THIS IS THE BEST
MEASURE TO GO BY BECAUSE IT IS
MORE COMPLEX AND HOPEFULLY WE
WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT
AND I'M HOPING MY OFFICE CAN
BRING IN THIS DISCUSSION IN A
MORE SERIOUS WAY IN TERMS OF
REFRAMING THE METRICS.
AND WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT JUST
HAVING TRANSITION TO PERMANENT
HOUSING AS A MEASURE IS USEFUL
IN THE ABSENCE OF REAL,
AFFORDABLE PERMANENT HOUSING.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
HAVING MADE STRIDES ON THAT
FRONT, YOU CANNOT THEN TURN
AROUND AND TELL THE NONPROFIT
AGENCIES WILL YOU HAVE AND
TRANSITION THEM TO WEAR?
WE NEED HOUSING TO TRANSITION
TO.
EVEN IF YOU USE JUST THAT
MEASURE, ACTUALLY TINY HOUSES
HAVE BEEN REMARKABLY
SUCCESSFUL.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I HAVE A FEW MORE REMARKS
TO START BEFORE WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
I'M BEING JOINED BY MY
COLLEAGUES.
TODAY FOR BEING HERE.
FIRST WE WILL DISCUSS THE
LEGISLATION MY OFFICE HAS
PREPARED TO EXPAND THE OPTIONS
TO BUILD TINY HOUSE VILLAGES IN
SEATTLE AND AS WE HAVE SAID
BEFORE THERE'S NO REASON WHY
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WHICH IS
HOME TO SO MANY MILLIONAIRES
AND BILLIONAIRES CANNOT AFFORD
TO AND HOMELESSNESS.
WE NEED TO TAX BIG BUSINESS TO
FUND THE MASSIVE EXPANSION IN
INVESTMENTS AND PUBLICLY OWNED
SOCIAL HOUSING WHICH, BY THE
WAY, WILL ALSO BE A CREATION OF
THE PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONIZED
LIVING WAGE JOBS.
BUT WE ALSO NEED RENT CONTROL.
WE NEED BOLD POLICIES LIKE THAT
SO PEOPLE HAVE REAL OPTIONS FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOWEVER, WHILE HOMELESSNESS
EXISTS, THERE IS NO REASON WHY
AND THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION
FOR WHY PEOPLE SHOULD BE LEFT
ON THE STREET WITH NOWHERE TO
GO OR ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN
TENTS.
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES CAN BE
BUILT QUICKLY AND INEXPENSIVELY
AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE A CRISIS
OF HOMELESSNESS, THERE SHOULD
BE A TINY HOUSE AVAILABLE FOR
EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE
ANYWHERE MORE SECURE TO GO TO.
I THINK THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
THIS IS NOT, AS I SAID BEFORE,
NOT AN ALTERNATIVE TO MAKING
ACTUAL HOUSING POSSIBLE AND THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE NOT
PRETENDING TO BE A SUBSTITUTE
FOR PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO
HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE GET BACK
ON THE FEET. AS I MENTIONED
THE BILL AND PROPOSING WILL
EXPAND OPTIONS TO BUILD TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES IN SEATTLE AND
WILL MAKE IT TO THAT AGENDA ITEM
A COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF MEMBER
KETIL FREEMAN WILL GO OVER THE
SPECIFIC AND THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS INVOLVED IN OPERATING
AND SUPPORTING SEVERAL TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES IN THE CITY AND
WILL GIVE US A VISION FOR WHAT
THE CITY COULD DO TO BUILD ON
WHAT WE HAVE.
I SHOULD CAUTION THAT PASSING
THIS LEGISLATION ALONE WILL NOT
BE ENOUGH.
WE WILL ALSO NEED TO FIGHT FOR
FUNDING TO EXPAND TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES IN THE BUDGET.
I URGE THE MAYOR TO PUT THIS
FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SHE WILL BE PRESENTING THIS
LATER THIS MONTH AND IF THAT
DOES NOT HAPPEN THAN OUR
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT WHEN
YOU TO BUY TO AMEND THE BUDGET
ACCORDINGLY.
AND OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM WE
WILL BEGIN A DISCUSSION ABOUT
SOMETHING I WAS JUST ALLUDING TO
. WHICH IS PROTECTING THE
RIGHTS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO
RELY ON THE HOMELESS SERVICES
SUPPORTED BY HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE
PAST AND THIS CAME UP IN OUR
SELECT COMMITTEE AS WELL, THERE
HAVE BEEN CERTAIN DISAGREEMENTS
BETWEEN LEHIGH AND NICKELSVILLE
AND HOW THAT SHOULD BE CARRIED
OUT AND MY OFFICE HAS DISCUSSED
THE ISSUES WITH BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS SEVERAL TIMES AND
WE BELIEVE THAT WHILE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE AND
CONTINUE AMICABLY, THAT THESE
ISSUES ARE A SYMPTOM OF A
LARGER QUESTION WHICH IS THAT
THERE IS NO REAL GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURE FOR THE RESIDENCE TO
APPEAL DECISIONS MADE BY
WHICHEVER AGENCY THAT MIGHT BE
THAT IS RUNNING THE SERVICE
THEY RELY ON.
AND IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
IT'S ABOUT H█OMELESS PEOPLE WHO
RELY ON CITY FUNDED SERVICES IN
GENERAL.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO US THAT THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS
PLAYING THAT ROLE, INSTEAD,
PUTTING THE BURDEN ON EACH
AGENCY AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE
THAT'S THE BEST APPROACH.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT AND AS I
MENTIONED MANY TIMES IN THE
SELECT COMMITTEE AS WELL, OUR
GOAL, OUR OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE
UNITED IN MAKING SURE THAT WE
PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE
AND NOT ATTACK ANY ORGANIZATION
BECAUSE ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS
AND QUESTIONS HAVE DONE AMAZING
WORK AND CONTINUE TO DO AMAZING
WORK IN MY OFFICE AND I HAVE
THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR BOTH
AND IN FACT I WOULD SAY THAT IT
IS PRECISELY BECAUSE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES HAVE DONE SUCH GREAT
WORK AND HAVE PROVIDED A REAL
EXAMPLE OF SELF-MANAGEMENT
THAT THE DISAGREEMENTS --
FUNDING ONE AGENCY AND DECIDING
HOW THEY SHOULD RUN IT.
IT'S A REFLECTION OF PEOPLE
FEELING EMPOWERED AND LET'S
BRING THAT IN THE BEST WAY
POSSIBLE.
AND THAT FUNDAMENTALLY THE
ISSUES ARE TIED TO THE FACT
THAT THE CITY MEASURES THE
SUCCESS OF NONPROFIT AGENCIES
IN A VERY NARROW WAY AND
OVERWHELMINGLY BASED ONLY ON
WHETHER THEY FIND PERMANENT
HOUSING IN THE ABSENCE OF
HAVING PERMANENT HOUSING.
EXCEPT FOR THE NAVIGATION TEAM
THAT CARRIES OUT THE SWEEPS OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT AND I HAVE
BROUGHT THAT UP MULTIPLE TIMES
PER COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE
BROUGHT THAT UP MULTIPLE TIMES.
THE SWEEPS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE
WHICH IS THE ONE PROBABLY, THE
ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO MOVEMENT TO
PERMANENT HOUSING HAS NOT BEEN
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT OTHER AGENCIES ARE BEING
HELD TO THAT AND I DON'T THINK
IT IS GIVING US A CLEAR PICTURE
ON HOW HOMELESS SERVICE
AGENCIES ARE DOING. WE NEED A
MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND HUMAN
CENTERED APPROACH TO MEASURING
THE WORK OF HOMELESS SERVICES
THAT THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MY
OFFICE HAS ALL THE STUDIES ON
THIS.
WE KNOW A FEW THINGS BUT I
THINK THE REASON WE ARE HAVING
THIS DISCUSSION AND I THINK IT
NEEDS TO GO FORWARD IS THAT WE
WILL RELY ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
THEMSELVES TO PROVIDE US MORE
INSIGHT ON WHAT THE
COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE WILL LOOK
LIKE BUT TODAY'S DISCUSSION IS
JUST AN INITIAL DISCUSSION.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR FIRST
AGENDA ITEM WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENTS AND I KNOW SEVERAL OF
YOU HAVE SIGNED UP SO TED FROM
MY OFFICE WILL READ OUT THE
NAMES.
TED, PLEASE READ OUT A FEW
NAMES AT A TIME SO PEOPLE ARE
READY TO GO AND WE DON'T WASTE
TIME AND PEOPLE COMING UP.
>> THE FIRST COUPLE NAMES,
DAVID HAINES FOLLOWED BY MR.
BURKART FOLLOWED BY HATTIE
RHODES FOLLOWED BY DONNIE
ANDERSON.
>> CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY WOULD BE A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF TAXPAYERS NEEDED AN
INVESTIGATION OF THE SOCIAL
RIVER INDUSTRIES DONORS AND
THEIR COZY RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE POLITICIANS.
HOW TO SHARE CHERLY OF LEHI
ALSO KNOWN AS LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE ALSO
CONTROLLER OF URBAN REST STOP
OVER CHARGES HER OWN NONPROFITS
RENT TO FINANCE HER DEBT AT
EXPENSIVE SERVICES AND HOURS,
HOW IS IT SHE GETS TO SELL HER
LAND FOR REDEVELOPMENT WITH A
CONTRACT EXEMPTING DEVELOPER OF
ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A
TRADE OF ONE SHACK, TINY
VILLAGE COME OVER EVERY LEVEL
OF THE BUILDING THAT SHE IS
ALLOWING THIS DEVELOPER TO BUILD
AT $8.7 MILLION.
JUST RECENTLY LOW INCOME
HOUSING ALSO, SHARON LEE'S
ALTHERR HEADQUARTERS FOR $8.7
MILLION TO A QUALIFIED
DEVELOPER WITH A GUARANTEE THEY
WOULD HAVE TO BUILD HER A SHACK
OR THE HOMELESS FOR EACH LEVEL
OF THE HOUSING. WE NEED AN
INVESTIGATION AS TO THE REASON
WHY THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN
PROMISING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FROM QUALIFIED DEVELOPERS YET
WHAT IS THE GREEDY COME ON
QUALIFIED DEVELOPER AND OWNER
OF A SHARON LEE COME AND
TRUSCELLI BUILDING THE FOR-
PROFIT MARKET ORIGINALLY PAID
FOR BY TAXPAYERS TO A DEVELOPER
WITH A SPECIALTY EXEMPTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS
DURING THE REDEVELOPMENT BUT
ALSO SHE CAN GET A SHACK, A
TINY VILLAGE, -- THE SUBHUMAN
MISTREATMENT OF A MANAGEMENT FEE
ACTING LIKE SHE'S HELPING THESE
EOPLE IN AN INDUSTRIAL TOXIC
ZONE.
THEY ARE CHEATING THE
TAXPAYERS.
THEY ARE CHEATING THE HOMELESS
AND THEY ARE CHEATING THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY MAKE
IT SEEM LIKE THEY ARE THE
EXPERTS WHO ARE SELF-APPOINTED.
WE REALLY NEED AN INVESTIGATION.
EVER STOP CLOSING EARLY AND
SHARON LEE WHO CONTROLS THAT IS
STILL GETTING $8.7 MILLION IN
THE FOR-PROFIT MARKET WHILE
TREATING THE INTEGRITY OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE
ALL FOUGHT FOR FOR A SHACK.
A TINY VILLAGE TO MANAGEMENT
FEE SKIM.
>> HELLO, I AM DICK BURKART
COME A LONG-STANDING MEMBER OF
A TINY HOPE VILLAGE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THE
EXPANSION OF CITY AUTHORIZED
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES TO 40
INCLUDING THE OPTION OF
RELIGIOUS SPONSORSHIP.
HOWEVER, AM CONCERNED ABOUT AN
ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN
ISSUE.
THAT IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE
OPERATOR OF THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE.
IT HAS BEEN PAINFUL FOR ME TO
WATCH THE WELL-BEING OF THE
VILLAGERS, EVEN THE OPERATIONS
OF THE CAC SACRIFICED TO THE
POLITICS OF SCOTT MORROW.
IT'S NOT JUST HIS CONTINUED
ILLEGAL PRESENCE, BUT HIS
INTERNAL DISRUPTION OF NORMAL
VILLAGE OPERATIONS AND
GOVERNESS.
IN THE PAST SCOTT HAS TOLERATED
DRUGS IN RETURN FOR POLITICAL
LOYALTY.
I SAW A BIG BUCKET FULL OF DRUG
DEALS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT IN
THE COURTHOUSE WHEN LEHI TOOK
OVER LAST SPRING TO END THE
ILLEGAL NICKELSVILLE
OCCUPATION.
NOW, JUST LIKE A CERTAIN
OCCUPANT OF THE WHITE HOUSE,
WHEN AN UNCOMFORTABLE FACT
COMES TO LIFE SCOTT HAS
ATTEMPTED TO ACCUSE HIS
PERCEIVED ENEMY, LEHI COME OF A
SENSE OF WHICH HE IS GUILTY.
TO PRODUCE A NARRATIVE THAT
WILL SATISFY HIS POLITICAL
SUPPORTERS.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
SO I WOULD LIKE THE ORDINANCE
AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE
OPERATOR OF ANY TIES TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE HAVE A DEMONSTRATED
TRACK RECORD OF INTEGRITY BOTH
WITHIN THE VILLAGES OR
ENCAMPMENTS AND RELATION TO THE
CITY AND OTHER AUTHORITIES.
IN ADDITION THE OPERATOR SHOULD
HAVE NO ROLE IN THE SELECTION
OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CAC
TOWARD CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
THANK YOU.
>> AFTER HATTIE RHODES COMES
DON ANDERSON A FOLLOWED BY
HAROLD ODOM, FOLLOWED BY NEDRA
FREEMAN.
>> HELLO.
I AM HATTIE RHODES.
I LIVE AT THE SELF-MANAGEMENT
GEORGETOWN TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
OPERATED BY LEHIGH.
I DON'T HAVE A STATEMENT
PREPARED.
WHAT I HAVE INSTEAD ARE SEVERAL
STATEMENTS FROM FROM VILLAGERS
THAT LIVE AT GEORGETOWN THAT
WISH TO BE HERE UNFORTUNATELY
THEY HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES WHERE
THEY HAVE APPOINTMENTS BUT THEY
STILL WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEIR
VOICES WERE HEARD AND THAT THEY
ALL SUPPORTED MORE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS DON AND I LIVE AT
GEORGETOWN.
I WAS HERE BACK IN APRIL AND
SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL WHEN THE
NEWLY HIRED TRANSITION WAS
HAPPENING.
I CAN SAY NOW LIKE I DID THEN
IT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE
PARTNERSHIP.
I BELIEVE THAT WITH LIHI'S HELP
BAY VILLAGE IS DEFINITELY A
WORKING , SELF-MANAGEMENT ROLE
MODEL FOR CITIES AND TOWNS
ANYWHERE THAT HAVE A HOMELESS
PROBLEM.
I THINK THE HOMELESS PROBLEM
HERE GREW SO FAST, SO BIG THAT
ON THE SCALE OF SOLUTIONS, WE
ARE KIND OF APPEAR SO HOPEFULLY
WITH THIS NEW ORDINANCE AND THE
NEW VILLAGES WE CAN GO BACK AND
GET SOME OF THE BASICS COME AND
MAYBE SOME OUTREACH.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE US TO HELP THE
NAP TEAM AND THE REACH MEMBERS.
PEOPLE IN THOSE SITUATIONS ARE
MORE LIKELY TO TAKE HELP FROM
US THAN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
GOING TO SWEEP THEM.
I THINK THAT'S ONE COMMENT MAY
BECOME A SOLUTION OR HELP.
AND THEN SOMEONE ACTUALLY CAME
UP WITH THE IDEA.
MAYBE THE NAASIC TEAM CAME UP
WITH A CHECKLIST WE CAN TAKE TO
THESE UNSANCTIONED CAMPS IN
SAFETY-KLEEN THESE TWO THINGS
UPCOMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR
WHOEVER SAID YOU COULD STAY
HERE AS LONG AS EVERYTHING WAS
KEPT CLEAN.
STILL UNSANCTIONED BUT MAYBE
KEEPING THEM FROM GETTING
SWEPT.
TO ME THAT WHAT ALEVE PRESSURE.
RELIEF PRESSURE FOR THE CITY
AND LIHI TO HURRY THROUGH THE
PROCESS SO MUCH.
TODAY.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
YOU SAID IT'S BLUNTLY.
LET'S STOP THE BICKERING.
WHAT SICKENS ME IS THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT ONE AGAINST THE
OTHER.
WHAT WHAT SICKENS ME WORSE, I'M
NOT TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS.
IF THEY CAN'T GET ALONG, TELL
THEM TO LEAVE.
TELL THEM TO LEAVE.
WE DON'T NEED THEM.
I WORK WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.
I WAS HOMELESS.
LIVED UNDER A BRIDGE.
I HAD TWO TOES AMPUTATED.TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES OUR SPRINGBOARD
TO PROVIDE LAUNDRY, PROVIDE A
PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET HELP.
UT IF THERE, IF IT'S NOT
THERE, YOU CAN'T GET IT.
PASS THE BILL BUT PASS IT WITH
ROBUST, ROBUST -- I CAN'T EVEN
SAY I'M SO NERVOUS -- WITH A
LOT OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES.
DEMAND THAT THERE IS A RAPID
REHOUSING PERSON THERE.
DEMAND THAT THEIR IS A CASE
PERSON THERE.
DEMAND THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE
THERE TO TALK TO WHO WAS
QUALIFIED.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE
BICKERING OF WHO WAS WHO.
WHEN I GOT TO TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES I GOT TIME.
WE ARE GOOD.
THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
IF THEY CAN'T GET BACK TO THERE
, DENNIS HARDING US, THE
HOMELESS.
IT WAS GREAT FOR ME TO GO FROM
THERE TO A JOB. A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT.
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THEIR MEDICAL
ISSUES AND FAMILY ISSUES. I
GOT BACK WITH MY SON.
BUT TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS.
SCREW THE AGENCIES.
BECAUSE IT'S A MILLION-DOLLAR
BUSINESS.
HOW DARE THEY TALK ABOUT
THEMSELVES WHEN HOMELESS PEOPLE
ARE DYING ON THE STREET.
SHAME ON THEM.
AND IF THEY DID NOT HEAR YOU, I
DID.
WE DON'T NEED THEM.
LET'S GET SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN
THERE.
THANK YOU.[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AFTER MR. FREEMAN COMES
REBECCA FOLLOWED BY ERIC DAVIS.
ACTUALLY I THINK PRESENTING,
RIGHT?
SO CASSANDRA.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS A NEDRA FREEMAN.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH WOMEN IN
BLACK.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE COUNCIL
LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE
ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE. IN OUR
ONGOING HOMELESS STATE OF
EMERGENCY, ENCAMPMENTS AND TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES ARE LIFESAVERS.
FEMA HAS DECLARED THE KING
COUNTY IS SO PROSPEROUS NOW
THAT WE NO LONGER NEED THEIR
FUNDING FOR HOMELESS EMERGENCY
SERVICES.
HERE ON THE GROUND, WE KNOW
BETTER.
TOMORROW, REAL WOMEN IN BLACK
STAND VIGIL FOR THE LATEST SEVEN
OF 83 OUTDOOR VIOLENT DEATHS OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE THIS YEAR.
SURVIVAL DOES TAKE MORE THAN
JUST SHELTER. IT TAKES
COMMUNITY AND THE MORALE
BUILDING OF BEING INVOLVED IN
AND CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR
COMMUNITY.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE LONGEST
RUNNING ENCAMPMENTS AND TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES ARE SELF
MANAGED.
WITH OUR LOCAL TENT CITY 3 AND
NICKELSVILLE BEING SHINING
EXAMPLES.
AND SHINING EXAMPLES OF
DEMOCRACY.
I HOPE BOTH WILL HAVE MORE SELF
MANAGED ENCAMPMENTS AND TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES UNDER THE NEW
ORDINANCE . PLEASE SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITY AND PLEASE JOIN US
TOMORROW AS WE VIGIL FOR SEVEN
DEATHS AND LAY FIVE NEW LEAVES
OF REMEMBRANCE OF OVER 300
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS
AND DIED.
IN SEATTLE.
HERE IS YOUR INVITATION AND A
LIST OF THE DEAD.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO MY NAME IS REBECCA AND
I'M A RESIDENT OF CAMP SECOND
CHANCE.
>> CAN YOU COME CLOSER TO THE
MICROPHONE?
>> THIS WIN?
>> THE OTHER ONE.
>> MY NAME IS REBECCA AND I'M A
RESIDENT AT CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
AND I'M HERE AND SUPPORT OF THE
MORE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES AND
JUST IN SUPPORT OF THAT, MYSELF
COME UP FOR WHAT IT'S DONE FOR
ME AND IN MY LIFE THE STEPS
I'VE NEEDED TO TAKE TO NOT BE
HOMELESS ANYMORE.
BEING CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FOR
FIVE YEARS, THIS IS THE BEST
THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME,
BEING IN THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE.
SO I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THAT.[
APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO.
FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER
FOR FIGHTING FOR OTHER PEOPLE
AND FOR THOSE OF US THAT DON'T
HAVE A VOICE FOR OURSELVES.
MY NAME IS CASSANDRA GASPER AND
I HAD A GOOD PAYING JOB AND DUE
TO CIRCUMSTANCES I ENDED UP
WITH THE EVICTION AND
HOMELESSNESS.
I KNOCKED ON TINY HOUSE DOORS
AND I WAS BLESSED ENOUGH TO BE
TAKEN INTO A CLEAN AND SOBER
CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
I'VE BEEN CLEAN AND SOBER FOR
OVER 12 YEARS AND IT MEANS A
LOT TO ME TO BE IN A VILLAGE
THAT ADHERES TO THAT.
I ALSO HAVE A PET AND IT'S HARD
TO BE ON THE STREETS, BEING A
WOMAN AND HAVING A PET.
THAT I LOVE DEARLY.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE
EXPANSION OF TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR
THE BLESSINGS THAT ALL THAT
COMES WITH THE VILLAGES.
SO, THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT UP IS ALLISON TRAVELED
FOLLOWED BY TRAVIS FOLLOWED BY
TERESA, FOLLOWED BY LORI.
>> MY NAME IS RONDEAN. I'M
FROM WHITTIER HEIGHTS.
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE AND I
USED TO LIVE IN A TENT IN THE
SOTO AREA.
I WAS HOMELESS FOR ALMOST A YEAR
WHEN I CAUGHT A NEW CASE AND
HAD TO GO BACK TO JAIL AND
WHILE I WAS IN JAIL THE FATHER
OF MY KIDS WAS MURDERED.
OCTOBER 11 WILL BE A YEAR AND I
WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO HIS
SERVICE. THE NAVIGATION TEAM
APPROACH ME ONE AND WE SAT
THERE TALKING AND HE SAID, ARE
STREETS? NG TO GET OFF THE
AND I SAID YES.
AND I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE FATHER
OF MY CHILDREN AND A WEEK LATER
SOMEONE CAME TO MY TENT TO TALK
TO ME AND I DID NOT KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.
THEY GOT ME INTO WHITTIER
HEIGHTS AND I FEEL SAFE.
I WAS RUNNING FROM A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE RELATIONSHIP.
I'M SAFE.
I'M INDOORS.
I HAVE A JOB.
AND AM SLOWLY, SLOWLY STARTING
TO LOVE MYSELF.
AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE
VILLAGES TO GIVE ME THAT SECOND
CHANCE WHEN NO ONE ELSE WOULD.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS TRAVIS GRANTHAM
AND I'M IN RESIDENT AT CAMP
SECOND CHANCE.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TINY HOMES
WERE UNTIL I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY FIND A
PLACE THAT I COULD CALL HOME.
WHEN I CAME THERE I WAS ASKED,
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
AND I LITERALLY SAID MY TRUCK.
NOW I CAN SAY THAT I'M FROM
CAMP SECOND CHANCE AND I CAN
TELL SOMEBODYWHAT TINY HOMES
AND THE VILLAGES ARE ALL ABOUT.
I FELT LIKE I HAD NO PURPOSE
AND NOW I HAVE A JOB.
I FEEL LIKE I AM OF VALUE AND I
LOVE BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THE
COMMUNITY WHERE I LIVE AND CALL
THEM MY FAMILY.
BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THAT.
AND, EVERYTHING THAT THESE
PEOPLE ARE SAYING UP HERE, IT'S
OUR LIFE.
AND, WITH THAT THAT, THEN WE
STRUGGLE. AND, SO, ALL THESE
HOMES THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED
ABOUT BEING BUILT FOR THESE
FAMILIES IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS TERESA AND I WORK FOR
LIHI AND I AM THE SPECIAL
PROJECTS MANAGER OF WHITTIER
HEIGHTS.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'VE
ONLY BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION
SIX MONTHS.
I'VE WORKED IN PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR 10 YEARS
THOUGH AND TO MOVE INTO THIS
SHELTER, MODEL, I CAN'T BELIEVE
HOW BRILLIANT IT IS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW REALLY
EFFECTIVE IT IS IN TERMS OF
SETTING THE RESIDENTS UP SO
THAT THEY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN
PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE
DO THAT IS THERE IS STUDY AFTER
STUDY THAT SAYS THERE IS
CORRELATION BETWEEN BROKEN
FAMILIES AND HOMELESSNESS.
AND, SO, FOR THOSE THAT NEVER
HAD THE SUPPORT OF BEING LOVED
IN SPITE OF MISTAKES AND BEING
LOVED THROUGH THE VARIOUS
EXPERIENCES OF THEIR LIVES, WE
ARE IN A POSITION TO CREATE A
PLACE THAT IS SAFE, THAT THEY
CAN BUILD COMMUNITY, THAT THEY
CAN BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP.
I WILL TELL YOU REALLY QUICK
ONE THING WE ARE DOING IN THIS
COMMUNITY IS WE STARTED A
TALKING CIRCLE AND WE OPEN UP
OUR MANDATORY MEETINGS WITH
THESE VERY VULNERABLE QUESTIONS
AND THE WHOLE PURPOSE WAS TO
COME UP WITH THE RESIDENTS AND
THE STAFF, AS WE ARE ANSWERING
THE QUESTIONS, WE ARE FINDING
OUT HOW SIMILAR WE ARE.
HOW ARE LIKELY ARE AND IT'S
MAKING THE COMMUNITY STRONGER.
IT'S GIVING THE WOMEN MORE
CONFIDENCE AND IT'S GIVING THEM
MORE COHESION IN THAT THEY HAVE
EACH OTHER'S BACK AND THEY KNOW
IT.
SO, I'M SUPER PROUD TO BE DOING
THIS WORK AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
HAVING BEEN IN THE BUSINESS
THIS LONG, THIS MODEL IS
EXCELLENT.
IT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
SUPPORT OF SERVICES AVAILABLE,
THE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
COUNSELORS, THE CASE MANAGERS
AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AFTER LORI, WILL BE
ALLENB MARTIN FOLLOWED BY EARLY
FOLLOWED BY PEGGY.
>> MY NAME IS RHONDA McMURTRY
COME IN RESIDENT AT WHITTIER
HEIGHTS IN BALLARD.
AND ITS SAVED MY LIFE.
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN
TOMORROW. ANYBODY CAN BECOME
HOMELESS.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT ANY
GIVEN TIME.
I DID NOT KNOW MY FAMILY WOULD
BE KILLED FROM A DRUNK DRIVER
AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER
AND I ENDED UP HOMELESS FROM A
JOURNEYMAN IN THE UNION TO
NOTHING. THE REACH PROGRAM IS
AWESOME BECAUSE THEY GAVE ME A
CHANCE AND TOOK ME TO ONE OF
THE TINY HOUSES AND IT SAVED MY
LIFE.
I GOT HUMANITY LEFT.
MY RESPECT.
MY MORAL VALUES.
BEING A WOMAN OUT THERE ON THE
STREETS IS AN EASY AND BEING A
MAN IS AN EASY.
A LOT OF THE PUBLIC WILL SHUN
US BECAUSE OF STUFF THEY SHOW
ON THE NEWS AND THEY SPENT OVER
HALF $1 MILLION LAST YEAR JUST
PICKING UP TRASH AROUND THE
CAMPUS.
THAT COULD'VE ALL BEEN PUT
TOWARD HOUSING.
THEY ARE DOING ALL THE WRONG
THINGS. THEY ARE MAKING IN
CREATING MORE PROBLEMS FOR THE
HOMELESS AND FOR MORE
HOMELESSNESS WITH THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING.
WHAT IS LOW INCOME HOUSING?
IT'S NOT FOR US.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VOUCHER AND
YOU NEED TO MAKE SO MUCH A
YEAR.
SO, I JUST HOPE THAT THIS GOES
THROUGH.
THAT THERE ARE MORE TINY HOUSES
AROUND BECAUSE THERE ARE EVEN
ONES IN HAWAII AND YOU KNOW
IT'S PRETTY AWESOME WHERE YOU
CAN GET BACK ON YOUR FEET.
YOU CAN GET YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
AND YOUR SAFE.
YOU CAN FEEL A PART OF.
YOU CAN BUILD SOMEBODY UP AND
MAKE THEM SHINE FROM A DULL
PENNY ON THE GROUND.
AND I JUST THINK THAT IT'S
AWESOME, THE REACH PROGRAM IS
AWESOME.
THEY DO THEIR JOB.
THEY DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED
TO DO.
THEY HAVE FUNDING.
IF YOU GET ON YOUR FEET AND YOU
HELP YOURSELF, THEY WILL HELP
YOU.
YOU HAVE TO WANT TO HELP
YOURSELF.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP
YOURSELF, THERE WERE PEOPLE
AROUND THAT WILL HELP YOU HELP
YOURSELF.
TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER AS A
PERSON.
I'M JUST REALLY THANKFUL FOR
THE TINY HOUSES AND I THINK
THEY ARE AWESOME.
THEY ARE LITTLE TINY HOUSES AND
IT'S LIKE A LITTLE TINY HOUSE
WITH NO KITCHEN OR BATHROOM BUT
WE HAVE THAT THERE AND YOU CAN
FIX IT UP TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN.
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN KEY.
YOUR SAFE.
YOU CAN COME AND GO TO YOUR
PROGRAM. ABOUT TWO YEARS AND
IN THAT TWO YEARS YOU HAVE ALL
THE OPPORTUNITY AND HELP AND
RESOURCES TO GET ON YOUR OWN
FEET.
WE JUST NEED MORE HOUSING.
AFTER-THE-FACT.
BUT I THINK THEY ARE GREAT AND
I SURE HOPE THIS BILL PASSES
BECAUSE IT SAVED MY LIFE AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE, IT'S HELPED A
LOT OF PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF
LIHI, NICKELSVILLE, TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE.
LIHI, OVER MANAGEMENT SHOWS AS
THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH US
THEN MAYBE THEY ARE THE PROBLEM.
>> MY NAME IS EARLY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF OTHELLO
VILLAGE.
I'M HERE WITH FRIENDS FROM
NICKELSVILLE OTHELLO PRESENTLY
OCCUPIED BY LIHI.
IT IS AT 7544 MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR. WAY SOUTH.
RESIDENTS AT THE FORMER
NICKELSVILLE OTHELLO HAVE BEEN
LIVING UNDER LIHI OCCUPATION.
24/7 AND AROUND THE CLOCK WITH
PETE SECURITY GUARDS, VIDEO
CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING IS
LOCKED UP.
NO VOTE ON WHO COMES AND GOES
SINCE APRIL.
THAT'S OVER FIVE MONTHS.
THAT'S UNIQUE POSITION FROM
WHICH COMING, NEW DRAFT
ENCAMPMENT ORDER.
THANK YOU, COUNSEL, FOR
PROPOSING THIS AND SUPPORTING
US.
NOW LIHI WANTS TO IMPOSE A
CHURCH ON OPERATIONS . A
RELIGIOUS ENCAMPMENT OPERATOR,
IT'S CALLED.
THE RESIDENTS AT OTHELLO VOTED
TO TURN DOWN THIS CHURCH
BECAUSE THE PASTOR HAS BEEN ON
THE LIHI BOARD FOR THREE YEARS
AND IS AN OBVIOUS CONFLICT OF
INTEREST.
RESIDENTS AT OTHELLO VILLAGE
HAVE FILED MANY GRIEVANCES
AGAINST LIHI STAFF . THEY HAVE
NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE HST
CONTRACT SPECIALIST SAYS LIHI
DID NOT EVEN SHOW UP AT
GRIEVANCES TO HIM.
THE LIHI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.
THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD FOR YEARS
THAT LIHI STAFF GRIEVANCES AND
THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT
IT.
NOW THEY WANT TO PUT LIHI BOARD
OF DIRECTORS IN HERE AS AN
ENCAMPMENT OPERATOR.
WE NEED OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM
THE LOW BARRIER VILLAGE THAT
LIHI HAS TURNED OCCUPIED
OTHELLO VILLAGE INTO.
GIVE US A PIECE OF LAND TO MOVE
FOR TWO YEARS.
THE CITY HAS PLENTY OF PROPERTY
THEY COULD SHARE.
WE WILL FIND OUR OWN RELIGIOUS
ENCAMPMENT, OPERATOR AND MOVE
OUR TINY HOUSES THERE AND BE
DONE WITH LIHI AND HST.
WE ARE TIRED OF BEING ON STRIKE
IN THE VILLAGE.
THAT WE BUILT UP AND NOW HAVE
SEEN THE LIHI RUIN.
IF HSD WANTS TO PRETEND THIS IS
A GOOD WAY TO RUN THINGS AND
SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS, LET
THEM.
THEN LET US MOVE TO SOMEPLACE
WHERE WE CAN LIVE IN A SOBER
ENVIRONMENT.
FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE
AROUND PEOPLE WHO ACT OUT AND
WHO GET LOADED IN CAMP.BUT
THAT'S WHAT LIHI ALLOWS AND WE
KNOW THOSE PEOPLE NEED
SOMEPLACE TOO.
WE HATE TO SEE MONEY WASTED ON
LIHI'S SECURITY GUARDS WHO
DON'T DO THE JOB AROUND THIS
PLACE . WE WOULD RATHER JUST
RUN THINGS OURSELVES THE RIGHT
WAY.
MY FELLOW RESIDENTS NEVER
SIGNED UP FOR THIS.
LIHI AND HSD NONSENSE.
WE SIGNED UP FOR A SOBER, SELF
MANAGED COMMUNITY.
GIVE US A RELIGIOUS ENCAMPMENT
OPERATOR, A PIECE OF LAND FOR
TWO YEAR SO WE CAN GET BACK TO
IT.
IT WILL BE THE BEST INVESTMENT
YOU EVER MADE.
BESIDES THIS I HAVE ONE THING
TO SAY.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR TWO YEARS
AND BEFORE LIHI CAME TO THE
CAMP COME IT RAN PERFECTLY
FINE.
BESIDES THE SUPPLIES YOU SENT
US, WE DID NOT NEED YOUR HELP
BESIDES WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING
BECAUSE I NEVER MET ONE OF YOU
GUYS AND TWO YEARS.
YOU GUYS PAID THE HONEY BUCKET
BILLS, ELECTRICITY, A FEW OTHER
THINGS THE CAMP IS NOT WHAT IT
USED TO BE.
I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS ARE
QUALIFIED TO EVEN RUN A CAMP.[
APPLAUSE ]
>> PEGGY FOLLOWED BY TATIANA
HAMPTON FOLLOWED BY CAROL McCOY
AND THE LAST SPEAKER IS JEAN
DARCY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PEGGY AND I'M A
NICKELSVILLE VOLUNTEER AND
FOUNDER.
IN A WEEK AND A HALF
NICKELSVILLE WILL CELEBRATE ITS
11th ANNIVERSARY.
MOST OF THAT TIME WITHOUT A
STEADY SOURCE OF FINANCING OR
PERMIT.
THROUGH THE YEARS OF THOUSANDS
OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WORK
TOGETHER TO PROVIDE SAFE
SHELTER AND A SELF MANAGED
SETTING.
DESPITE THIS PRESENT PERIOD OF
INTENSE STRUGGLE, THEY ARE
COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO
OPERATE VILLAGES AND
ENCAMPMENTS WERE SOBRIETY AND
SAFETY ARE PARAMOUNT AND
EVERYONE PARTICIPATES IN A
DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY. IN OTHER
WORDS, THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
GOING TO NEED TO WORK WITH US
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.
NICKELSVILLE AND HUNDREDS OF
OUR FRIENDS HAVE WORKED TO
PROMOTE MEDIATION BETWEEN
NICKELSVILLE, LIHI AND HSD BUT
POLICE DON'T NEGOTIATE UNLESS
SOMEONE MORE POWERFUL INSISTS.
WHILE THOSE WHO COULD'VE HELPED
STOOD BY SOME OF THESE HOMELESS
PEOPLE WERE SUBJECTED TO
AGGRESSIVE AND OUTRAGEOUS ACTS
BY LIHI STAFF AND HSD.
RECENTLY AT OCCUPIED OTHELLO
VILLAGE, THE LIHI SITE MANAGER
DECIDED TO ABRUPTLY TOSS 99%
OF THE LARGE MUSCLE TOYS OF THE
10 CHILDREN LIVING THERE
INCLUDING TRICYCLES, WAGONS AND
PEDAL CARS INTO THE DUMPSTER.
AT THE NICKELSVILLE NORTHGATE
LIHI STAFF EMAILED A REFUSAL
TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES THAT AGREED
TO SEND 20 DAYS EARLIER
INCLUDING WOMEN'S HYGIENE
PRODUCTS FOR ONLY HALF A DOZEN
WOMEN THAT LIHI CLAIMS IT CAN'T
AFFORD.
THE PEOPLE OF NICKELSVILLE
VILLAGES HAVE DISCUSSED THEIR
OPTIONS AND HAVE FAIR AND
REASONABLE SOLUTIONS FOR EACH
VILLAGE NICKELSVILLE NORTHLAKE
WAS TO REMAIN ON THE SAME SMALL
PIECE OF UNUSED CITY LAND AND
FIND A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION
AS A SPONSOR.
OCCUPIED OTHELLO VILLAGE ASKED
TO MOVE TO AN UNUSED PIECE OF
PUBLIC LAND AND HAVE A
RELIGIOUS SPONSOR.
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
HAS ALREADY ADMITTED THAT LIHI
HAS VIOLATED THEIR SERVICES
AGREEMENT THAT BOTH OF THOSE
SITES AND SAID THEY ARE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE POWER
HERE.
CERTAINLY YOU HAVE THE POWER OF
THE PURSE.
PLEASE REQUIRE HSD AND LIHI TO
RESPECT THIS SENSIBLE SOLUTION
AND STOP THEIR FUNDING UNTIL
THEY DO.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M TATIANA AND MY PARTNER
JULIE AND I ARE NICKELSVILLE
ALL NIGHT.
NICKELSVILLE SAVED OUR LIVES
TWICE AND THOSE OF COUNTLESS
OTHERS OVER THE PAST DECADE.
AS LONG AS THERE IS
HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY THERE
WILL BE ANY FOR NICKELSVILLE
ENCAMPMENTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO
TO STAY TOGETHER TO STAY SAFE.
I WANT TO THANK FOR SPONSORING
THE NEW DRAFT ORDINANCE OVER
LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THE
DISENFRANCHISED YOU ALWAYS MADE
ME FEEL LIKE MY VOICE WAS
HEARD.
AND I'M GRATEFUL.
NICKELSVILLE NORTHLAKE HAS BEEN
UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE THEY HAVE
VOTED DEMOCRATICALLY TO RUN THE
CAMP THEMSELVES WHILE ACCEPTING
CASE MANAGEMENT.
IT'S BECOME CLEAR TO THE
ACTIONS OF HSD AND LIHI THESE
LAST FIVE MONTHS THEY DO NOT
WANT DEMOCRATICALLY SELF
MANAGED CAMPS.
HSD INFORMED LIHI THEY WERE
NOT ABIDING BY THE ORDINANCE
AND THREATENED TO SHUT
NORTHLAKE DOWN.
NICKELSVILLE IS AN AUTHORIZED
ENCAMPMENT OPERATOR.LIHI IS
NOT.
IF LIHI IS NOT LIVING UP TO
THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN THEY
SHOULD BE REMOVED AS FISCAL
SPONSORS OF NORTHLAKE AND ALLOW
THE RESIDENCE TO FIND A
RELIGIOUS SPONSOR TO CONTINUE
RUNNING THE CAMPS THEY HAVE
BEEN.
OTHELLO HAS BEEN OCCUPIED FOR
FIVE MONTHS AND THE 50 PEOPLE
THAT WERE RESIDENCE BEFORE THE
TAKEOVER DO NOT FEEL SAFE NOTED
THEY AGREED TO LOW BARRIER
INDIVIDUAL SHARING THEIR
HOME.THOSE NICKELODEON 70 PLAN
TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM
LIHI IN A WAY THAT SHOULD BE
AGREEABLE TO EVERYONE . ALLOW
THE NICKELODEON'S TO MOVE ON TO
A NEW PIECE OF LAND WITH THEIR
TINY HOUSES AND LET LIHI PUT
WHOEVER THEY WANT IN THE LAND
THEY OWNED.
THESE PEOPLE DESERVE TO FEEL
SAFE AND TO HAVE THEIR RIGHTS
RESPECTED.
YOU WANT TO SOLVE THE CRISIS WE
ARE IN, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE IN
IT TO LIBERATE NICKELSVILLE AND
ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE THE
GREAT WORK THEY HAVE DONE FOR
OVER A DECADE NOW.
THANK YOU.[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS KEIRA McCOY.
I HAVE A MASTERS IN PUBLIC
HEALTH AND WHEN I WAS A
GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, I
HOPED TO CONDUCT A PROGRAM
EVALUATION OF SOME SELF GOVERN
ENCAMPMENTS IN THAT WORK HAS
CONTINUED ON AND I'M HERE TO
SHARE SOME FINDINGS OF A 2018
EVALUATION.
A UW GRADUATE RESEARCH STUDY
THAT LOOKED AT THE RESULTS, THE
GOALS THAT WERE SET OUT BY
NICKELSVILLE.
SO, THEIR METHODS INCLUDED
FOCUS GROUPS AND ALSO DID
INTERVIEWS AND OBSERVED INTAKES
AND DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS AND
THEN THEY ALSO REVIEWED
DISCIPLINARY RECORDS. THE
RESULTS ARE THAT THEY ACHIEVED
THEIR GOALS TO USE
DEMOCRATICALLY RUN GOVERNANCE
SYSTEM. THEY FOUND TO HAVE
BUILT COMMUNITY COHESION. AND
THEN RESIDENTS REPORTED BUILDING
SEVERAL SKILLS INCLUDING
INTERPERSONAL, COMMUNICATION,
CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS, ALL
BECAUSE OF THE SELF-GOVERNING
PRINCIPAL. THEY ALSO LEARN
WRITING, TIME MANAGEMENT,
CARPENTRY, SELF ADVOCACY, AND
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND THE
RESIDENTS ALL AGREED THAT THEY
FELT THAT THE RULES WERE CLEAR
IN TERMS OF SELF-MANAGEMENT.
SO, THE RESULTS OF THIS
RESEARCH STUDY WERE VERY
POSITIVE AND LOOKED AT THE
PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFIT OF HAVING
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND I CAN SHARE
THE REPORT WITH YOU ALL IF YOU
WOULD LIKE.
BUT WE THINK THAT THIS IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT ALTERNATIVE TO
THE CHARITY MODEL WHERE YOU ARE
HAVING THAT CONCEPT OF NOTHING
ABOUT US WITHOUT US WHERE YOU
REALLY ALLOW FOLKS THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO
BUILD POLITICAL POWER AND
TRUSTING THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE.
AS PREVIOUS FOLKS HAVE
MENTIONED, LIHI HAS VIOLATED
THEIR SERVICES AGREEMENT AND SO
WE ARE ASKING THAT LIHI AND
HSD RESPECT THE SELF-
GOVERNANCE OF NICKELSVILLE OR
PLEASE STOP THE FUNDING TO THEM
UNTIL THEY DO SO.
WE THINK THAT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES MEET AN IMMEDIATE
PUBLIC HEALTH NEED AND WE
REALLY NEED TO UPHOLD THE
DIGNITY OF OUR NEIGHBORS BY
MAINTAINING SELF-GOVERNANCE.
CITY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M JEAN
DARCY.
I DID SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE
NICKELSVILLE ENCAMPMENT COME
NOT QUITE A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
WHEN IT WAS ON MARKET STREET IN
BALLARD AND AM CURRENTLY
SERVING ON THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE
WHITTIER HEIGHTS VILLAGE AND AM
VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE
OPERATION OF BOTH OF THESE
ENCAMPMENTS.
NICKELSVILLE WAS VERY
RESPONSIVE WHILE THEY WERE ON
MARKET STREET TO ANY COMPLAINTS
OR PROBLEMS AND WERE ALWAYS
PRESENT AT OUR CAC MEETINGS TO
LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT
MODEL OF SELF-MANAGEMENT.
I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT EXPANSION
OF THE NUMBER OF TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES . I'M HERE TO ASK FOR
YOUR HELP. FOR THE FIRST HALF
OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE I
WORKED FOR A LARGE CORPORATION.
FOR THE SECOND HALF I WORK FOR
A LARGE GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
NEITHER OF THESE WERE DIRECT
DEMOCRACIES. IN FACT, MOST
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED
STATES ARE NOT DIRECT
DEMOCRACIES.
THEY ARE TOP-DOWN HIERARCHICAL
ORGANIZATIONS WHERE DECISIONS
ARE MADE BY A FEW UNELECTED
MANAGERS AND THE WORKERS JUST
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.
FEW OF US IN THIS COUNTRY ARE
FAMILIAR WITH DIRECT DEMOCRACY
ON WHERE THE WORKERS MAKE THE
DECISIONS.
SOME EXAMPLES OF THESE ARE
UNIONS AND COOPERATIVES.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FEW
ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN SEATTLE
THAT ARE SELF MANAGED THAT DO
PRACTICE DIRECT DEMOCRACY.
NICKELSVILLE, CHAIR AND WHEEL
ARE EXAMPLES.
IT'S A RARE AND PRECIOUS
EXAMPLE IN MY OPINION OF PEOPLE
ORGANIZING AND ADVOCATING FOR
THEMSELVES, SHOWING THE REST OF
US WHAT TRUE DEMOCRACY LOOKS
LIKE. MOST OF US ARE UNTIL
YOU'RE WITH DIRECT DEMOCRACY.
SOME MAY VIEW THIS AS
SUSPICIOUS AND PERHAPS
INCONVENIENT. I'M HERE TO ASK
YOU TO SUPPORT MEDIATION
BETWEEN THE SELF MANAGED
DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION WHICH
IS NICKELSVILLE AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
WHICH IS A TOP-DOWN
HIERARCHICAL ORGANIZATION
PLEASE HELP TO BRING THE
PARTIES TOGETHER TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND TO
RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES.
PLEASE DON'T THROW THE BABY OUT
WITH THE BATHWATER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THAT IS OUR LAST PERSON
SIGNE UP TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT.
WERE THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE
-- [ INAUDIBLE ]
>>> KETIL FREEMAN, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> SHARON LEE, EXHIBIT DIRECTOR
LOW INCOME HOUSING LEHIGH.
ERIC DAVIS, CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
>> BARBARA GRACE HILL, NEIGHBOR
AND HUMANITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEMBER FOR THE GEORGETOWN
VILLAGE.
>> MELINDA NICHOLS, BOARD MEMBER
OF THE LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE AND CARPENTER BUILDER
OF TINY HOUSES AROUND THE CITY.
>>
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE THERE
AT OUR SELECT COMMITTEE AND THE
INITIAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES VILLAGES --
>> SORRY.
[ LAUGHTER ]MAYBE THEY WON'T
HEAR.
I WAS JUST SAYING THAT SOME OF
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE
TABLE WERE AT THE TABLE AT THE
SELECT COMMITTEE THAT I CHAIRED
RECENTLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL
BREAK WHERE WE HAD SOME REALLY
GOOD INSIGHTS INTO THE TRACK
RECORD OF TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
AND TODAY, AS WAS SAID IN THE
INITIAL, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
THE BILL THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT
OF US.
AND I WONDER IF, KETIL FREEMAN,
YOU COULD FIRST WALK US THROUGH
THE MEMO THAT CENTRAL STAFF
HAVE PREPARED FOR US TO
SUMMARIZE THE BILL AND THEN WE
WILL OPEN UP THE DISCUSSION FOR
OTHER PEOPLE HERE.
>> SURE.
YOU MENTIONED IN THE
INTRODUCTION THE MEETINGS AND
THAT WHAT MY ROLE IS HERE BUT I
WILL WALK THROUGH THE MEMO AND
DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT OF THE
REGULATORY CONTEXT.
>> THAT IS NOT A COMMENTARY ON
U. THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES
WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS.
>> I WILL DESCRIBE SOME OF THE
REGULATORY CONTEXT FOR
PERMITTING TRANSITIONAL AND
CHEMISTS ARE ALSO KNOWN AS TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES AND THEN
BRIEFLY WALK THROUGH YOUR
PROPOSAL.
I WILL ALSO DESCRIBE THE APPEAL
úWHICH IS BEEN FILED WHICH ACTS
AS A PROCEDURAL LIMITATION ON
FULL COUNSEL ASKED ON THE BOW
THAT WOULD NEED TO BE RESOLVED.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, AS THE
COMMITTEE IS AWARE THE 2019
POINT-IN-TIME COUNT OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
KING COUNTY IDENTIFIED
APPROXIMATELY 3500 UNSHELTERED
PERSONS LIVING IN SEATTLE.
OF THOSE UNSHELTERED PERSONS
ABOUT TWO THIRDS, 2267 LIVED
OUTSIDE OR INTENSE.
THAT INCLUDES FOLKS LIVING IN
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
AS OF JULY 2019, INFORMATION
úMAY NOT BE AS CURRENT AS SOME
OF THE MEMBERS HERE AT THIS
TABLE, THERE WERE EIGHT
AUTHORIZED ENCAMPMENT LOCATED
IN THE CITY AND THE MEMO LISTS
EIGHT OF THEM AND THE LOCATION
IS SHOWN ON A MAP AT THE END.
AS THE COMMITTEE KNOWS, THERE
ARE THREE REGULATORY PATHWAYS
AND THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT FOR
AUTHORIZING TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
OR TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENTS.
THEY CAN BE AUTHORIZED AS
TEMPORARY USES FOR UP TO SIX
MONTHS, AS INTERIM USES FOUR OF
TO ONE YEAR AND AS ACCESSORY
USES TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF
TIME.
THERE IS A TABLE ON THE SECOND
PAGE OF THE MEMO WHICH I WILL
BRIEFLY WALK THROUGH THAT
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE
DIFFERENT PATHWAYS AND COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT, LEGISLATION
WOULD MODIFY ALL OF THESE IN
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
FIRST, DURATION, TEMPORARY USE
AND CHEMISTS CAN BE ESTABLISHED
FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO SIX
MONTHS AND IT CAN BE RENEWED.
INTERIM USING CAMERAS CAN BE
AUTHORIZED FOR UP TO ONE YEAR
AND MAY BE RENEWED ONLY WANTS.
AND ENCAMPMENTS AND OTHER
ACCESSORY TO RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATION CAN BE AUTHORIZED
FOR UP TO ANY LENGTH OF TIME.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT LOCATIONAL
STANDARDS THAT APPLY.
THE DISTRICT IS FOR INTERIM USE
ENCAMPMENTS.
THOSE CAN ONLY BE LOCATED ON
PRIVATE ORE CITY ON PROPERTIES
AND MOST NONRESIDENTIAL ZONES
AND SOME COMMERCIAL ZONES THEY
ARE ALSO NOT PERMITTED SUCH AS
MAYOR BERKE COMMERCIAL 1 ZONES.
YOU MUST BE ONE-MILE FROM OTHER
TRANSITIONAL CABINS.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME LIMITATIONS
THAT GO ALONG WITH THE MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF INTERIM AND CHEMISTS
THAT CAN BE PERMITTED IN THE
CITY.
NO MORE THAN THREE CAN BE
PERMITTED. IT WAS A POLICY
CHOICE THAT WAS MADE MANY YEARS
AGO NOW IN AS A MATTER OF FACT
THE AUTHORIZATION FOR INTERIM
USING CAMERAS AS A WHOLE WILL
EXPIRE UNLESS THERE'S COUNCIL
ACTION IN MARCH 2020.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS,
TEMPORARY USE DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS ARE DETERMINED ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BUT THE
STATE OF THE PRACTICE NOW IS
THAT THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS FOR TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES ESTABLISHES TEMPORARY
USES AS THOSE ESTABLISHED FOR
INTERIM USES.
THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT DOES
INCLUDE SCREENING ON EACH NON-
CITY BOUNDARY, ASPECTS OF THE
ENCAMPMENT THAT ARE CLOSE TO
RESIDENTIAL ZONES MUST BE SET
BACK AT LEAST 25 FEET FROM
THOSE ZONES AND THE SITE HAS TO
BE AT LEAST 5000 SQUARE FEET.
IS ALSO A LIMITATION ON THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTS BUT NO MORE
THAN 100 THAT'S ALSO TRUE FOR
ENCAMPMENT SUCCESS RATED
RELATED TO RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATION.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
PERMANENT REQUIREMENTS AND
OUTREACH I NOTICED THAT GO
ALONG WITH THOSE PERMITS FOR
TEMPORARY USE AND CHEMISTS
ESTABLISHED THROUGH TEMPORARY
USE PROCESS REQUIRE MAILED
NOTICE TO NEARBY NEIGHBORS AND
A 14 DAY COMMENT PERIOD.
ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE
ESTABLISHED AS AN INTERIM USE
REQUIRE AT LEAST 14 DAYS PRIOR
TO THE PERMIT BEING APPLIED FOR
AND WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE
AND EACH ACCOUNT MUST HAVE A
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
FINALLY, WITH RESPECT TO THE
TYPE OF PERMITS, TEMPORARY AND
CHEMISTS ESTABLISHED A
TEMPORARY USE PERMIT ARE A TYPE
II PERMIT FOR THE PURPOSES OF
THE CODE AND IT'S A
DISCRETIONARY DECISION MADE BY
THE SDC I DIRECTOR AND THAT
DECISION IS AVAILABLE TO THE
CITY HEARING EXAMINER.
INTERIM USING CAMERAS ARE
NONAPPEALABLE TYPE I DECISION
SO THERE'S NO DISCRETION
EXERCISED BY THE STC I DIRECTOR
AND FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
TO PERMIT IS REQUIRED UNLESS
THE USE IS NOT ACCESSORY TO THE
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION.
YOU MAY NOTICE THAT A LOT OF
THE REGULATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS ARE LESS
PRESCRIPTIVE THAN THE OTHER
PATHWAYS AND THAT REFLECTS SOME
LIMITATIONS IN STATE LAW TO
PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF
CONSCIENCE OF THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT,
LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE SOME
PROCEDURAL CHANGES AND ALSO
SOME CHANGES TO THE OVERALL
REGULATORY SCHEME.
IT WOULD REMOVE THE CURRENT
REQUIREMENTS AND ENCAMPMENTS OF
PROPERTY OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS BE
ACCESSORY TO AN EXISTING
PRINCIPAL YEARS BECAUSE I
MENTIONED THAT SOMETIMES THE
CASE THAT A PRINCIPAL USE MUST
FIRST BE ESTABLISHED BUT
USUALLY SOME KIND OF A
COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION AND THEN
THE ANNE CAMERON IS ESTABLISHED
AS ACCESSORY TO THAT.
>> SO IN THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION IF A GIVEN
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION LIKE A
CHURCH OWNS A PROPERTY BUT THE
PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN PUT TO
ANY USE OR PRINCIPAL USE THEY
COULD STILL COME IF THEY WANTED
TO, HOST A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE?
>> OR IF THEY HAVE A LEASEHOLD
INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY.
YES.
AND I'M SURE SHARON CAN TELL
YOU MORE ABOUT THIS.
THERE, TO GET TO THE POINT
WHERE IN ACCESSORY USE CAN BE
ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS PATHWAY,
PRINCIPAL USE MUST BE
ESTABLISHED FIRST.
SOMETIMES A CHANGE OF USE
PERMIT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
IS REQUIRED.
IT DEPENDS ON THE SITE
CONDITIONS AND HOW LARGE THE
ENCAMPMENT IS PROPOSED TO BE.
THE REGULATORY BURDEN, THIS IS
SMALLER OR LARGER DEPENDING ON
THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
YOUR PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO PERMIT
TRANSITIONAL ENCOUNTERS ON
SITES OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY
OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES.
THAT COULD BE KING COUNTY OR
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE ESTABLISHED ON COURT
PROPERTY AND IF I COULD JUST
JUMP IN.
WSDOT LAND IS ONE WHICH IS
STATE OWNED LAND.
IT'S ONE THAT OFTEN COMES UP AS
A PLACE THAT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES CONSIDER WANTING TO
SET UP ON.
>> THEY CAN DO THAT LEGALLY.
YOU CAN TELL THE STATE THEY
HAVE TO DO THAT?
>> THE STATE WOULD PROBABLY
HAVE TO AGREE FOR THE CITY TO
HAVE SOME WORD OF LEASEHOLD
INTEREST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
FOR A CAMP TO BE ESTABLISHED.
IT WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT
THAT TRANSITIONAL INCOME IS
BELOW GET AT LEAST ONE MILE
FROM ANY OTHER LEGALLY
ESTABLISHED TRADITIONAL AND
CAN'T MINCE.
AND WOULD AUTHORIZE INTERIM
USING CAMERAS AND RESIDENIAL
ZONES.
THAT'S A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE.
ALLOW UNLIMITED RENEWALS OVER
THE ONE YOUR PERMIT.
INTERIM YEARS ENCAMPMENT COULD
HAVE MULTIPLE ONE-YEAR RENEWALS.
REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT THAT A
CAMPUS MUST BE LOCATED 25 FEET
FROM ANY RESIDENTIALLY ZONED
LOT.
THAT'S A CONSEQUENCE OF
EXPANDING THE AREAS WHERE
INTERIM USING CAMERAS CAN BE
LOCATED.
REQUIRE SCREENING ON ALL
BOUNDARIES.
CURRENTLY THERE IS NOT A
REQUIREMENT THAT THE STREET
FRONT BOUNDARY BE SCREENED.
>> A QUICK QUESTION.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> REQUIRES SCREENING FOR ALL
LOT BOUNDARIES.
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT
THAT?
>> YES.
CURRENTLY, THIS IS REALLY, THIS
IS A PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
STANDARD THAT I THINK I CAN
TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TRACE
IT EXACTLY BUT THE ORIGIN STORY
FOR THIS SUITE OF REGULATIONS
HAS TO DO WITH AN ENCAMPMENT
THAT WAS PROPOSED IN 2000 AND
2001 AND THERE WAS A CONSENT
DECREE THAT THE CITY ENTERED
INTO TO ALLOW THAT AN
ENCAMPMENT TO BE ESTABLISHED
AND A SET OF PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS WERE
ESTABLISHED THROUGH THAT PROCESS
AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS THE
SCREENING REQUIREMENT IS A
CARRYOVER FROM BEST PRACTICES
LEARNED OVER TIME FOR
ESTABLISHING TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
>>> LET'S SEE.
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
AUTHORIZED INTERIM USE
ENCAMPMENTS FROM THREE
CITYWIDE, THE CURRENT MAXIMUM
ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE INTERIM
USE PROCESS TO 40 AND REMOVE
THE SUNSET DATE OF MARCH 2020
FOR INTERIM USE ENCAMPMENTS.
POST MARCH 2020 INTERIM USING
CAMERAS COULD OPERATE IN THE
CITY AND ALLOW FOR RENEWALS OF
ENCAMPMENTS ESTABLISHING THE
TEMPORARY USE PROCESS THROUGH A
TYPE 1 NONAPPEALABLE DECISION.
SO, THAT IS THE GIST OF COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT'S PROPOSAL.
I DID MENTION THERE IS AN
APPEAL.
THERE IS SOME INCORRECT
INFORMATION TO CHANGE
CIRCUMSTANCE HERE.
THERE IS A PREHEARING
CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR
SEPTEMBER 16.
NOT SEPTEMBER 26.
AND AFTER THE PREHEARING
CONFERENCE WE WILL HAVE A
BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THE
SCHEDULE WILL BE FOR THE APPEAL
HEARING.
>> RIGHT.
I'M NOTICING THAT IF THE
LEGISLATION IS TO BE MEANINGFUL
IN TERMS OF REMOVING THE SUNSET
DATE THEN THE LEGISLATION WOULD
NEED TO BE PASSED IN FEBRUARY?
>> YES.
PROBABLY.
I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY MARCH 31
IS THE EXACT DATE SO IT WOULD
PROBABLY NEED TO BE PASSED 40
DAYS PRIOR TO THAT.
>> 40 DAYS PRIOR TO THAT.
OKAY.
>> IS GOING TO ASK ON THE OTHER
PAGE.
HOW DID WE COME TO WHEN AND HOW
DID WE DECIDE 3? WHAT YEAR AND
WHEN OR WHY?
>> I CAN'T REMEMBER THE AIR
EXACTLY.
WAS PROBABLY AROUND 2015.
2015 OR 2014 AND THAT WAS --
>> 2015.
>> 15.
>> THAT WAS A CHOICE THE CITY
MADE AT THE TIME ABOUT HOW MANY
TEMPORARY YEARS ENCAMPMENT,
INTERIM USE AND CAN'T MINCE
SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
>> IT WASN'T THIS CURRENT
COUNSEL?
>> NEMICK.
>> PARTLY.
>> NOT ME.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
>> FROM WHAT I RECALL AND MAYBE
TED HAS MORE TO ADD, IT WAS NOT
A VERY FAMILIAR THING TO A LOT
OF THE POLICYMAKERS AND I THINK
IT WAS A HUGE THING THAT WE
WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT I
THINK NOW, AND THE NUMBER THREE
COMES FROM THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
DID NOT WANT TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.
ELECTED OFFICIALS DID NOT WANT
TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT
BUT WE HAD A LOT OF CONFIDENCE
THAT THIS WOULD BE THE SENSIBLE
WAY TO GO.
BUT NOW WE HAVE SO MUCH
EVIDENCE.
JUST OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT
IS WORKING.
WE HEARD TESTIMONIALS TODAY AND
WE HAVE HEARD THEM BEFORE SO I
FEEL LIKE --
>> YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT SO YOU KNOW
WHAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED IN
2015 WHEN THEY DECIDED ON
THREE.
QUICKLEY AND IN GENERAL DID
THEY SAY IT WAS JUST THREE
COMMENTED IT STARTED 10?
WAS THERE SOME REASON WHY?
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT.
>> I ALSO REMEMBER A LITTLE BIT
OF THE POLITICAL CONTEXT AT THE
TIME AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT SAID COME AT THIS TIME
THEY WERE OFTEN TENSE, NOT TINY
HOUSES.
THE FOLKS FROM NICKELSVILLE
COME UP AND THEY CAN TALK ABOUT
HOW AT THAT TIME BASICALLY
EVERY TINY HOUSE VILLAGE WAS
ESTABLISHED BY PEOPLE GOING AND
SETTING UP A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
AND THEN FIGHTING TO NOT BE
REMOVED.
SO, THIS LEGISLATION WAS
ABSOLUTELY A STRUGGLE AND WHEN
THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED,
TODAY WE'VE GOT PERSON AFTER
PERSON, PUBLIC COMMENT COMING
UP TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
TINY HOUSES ARE FOR THEM.
AT THAT TIME IN 2015 THE PUBLIC
COMMENT HAD MANY PEOPLE COMING
UP BEING WORRIED ABOUT THESE
VILLAGES AND THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS IN A WAY THAT WE
DON'T SEE NOW WHEN THEY HAVE
REALLY PROVED WHAT GOOD
NEIGHBORS THEY CAN BE.
SO IN THAT CONTEXT THERE WAS A
WHOLE SERIES OF RESTRICTIONS
THAT WERE PUT INTO THE
LEGISLATION THAT MADE IT, THAT
MADE IT MORE RESTRICTIVE AND I
REMEMBER THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT PUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT
THAT AT THAT TIME DID NOT PASS
TO REMOVE THE ZONING
RESTRICTIONS BUT DID PASS AN
AMENDMENT.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET AN
AMENDMENT THAT ALLOWED
UNIVERSITIES LIKE THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TO
HOST SOME.
IT'S A CONSTANT STRUGGLE FOR
WHERE THEY COULD BE.
>> QUICKLY, BACK IN 2015, THOSE
WERE TENTS.
THEY WEREN'T LIKE WOULDN'T COME
OVER ONCE WE SAY NOW THAT WE
HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE
2015.
>> WE HAVE.
ABSOLUTELY WE HAVE AND WE DON'T
WANT TO GO, WE WANT TO GO
TOWARDS THE KIND OF
INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HEER.
DEFINITELY.
BUT I THINK THE POINT ALSO
SHOULD BE MADE THAT THAT WAS
THE NECESSARY STARTING POINT IF
YOU HAD NOT FOUGHT FOR THAT I
DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE HERE
AND I AGREE WITH YOU COUNCILMAN,
THREE YEARS RANDOM SMALL NUMBER
AND WHY THREE IF IT'S GOING TO
WORK AND WENT OUT MORE?
AT THAT TIME THAT WAS THE
CONTEXT AND IT WAS A LITTLE
DISCOURAGING AT THE TIME YOU
HAVE ONLY THREE BUT WE KNEW IT
WOULD GET TO A MUCH BETTER
POINT WHERE A LOT MORE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WOULD AGREE
THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO
GO.
I'M GLAD WE ARE HERE.
>> IF I COULD TALK WITH
WANTING.
AS YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE READING
AND CONSTITUENTS AND MEDIA,
IT'S GOING TO BE COME IF IT'S
IN YOUR MEMO PLEASE CORRECT ME
-- THAT KIND OF HISTORICAL
NARRATIVE AND BACKGROUND TO
EXPLAIN TO US AND PARTICULARLY
SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO WILL LOOK
AT THIS, HOW WE GOT FROM THREE
AREAS IN 2014 AND 2015.
YOU WERE JUST LOOKING AT TENTS
TO A MORE SOPHISTICATED , AND
I'VE BEEN TO SHARON LIHI TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
THE ONE -- AND I FORGOT --
THOSE WERE THE WOODEN
STRUCTURES WITH THE ROOF AND
THE BATHROOM AND A PLACE TO
TAKE A SHOWER.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS. I DON'T
THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE
PROGRESSION FROM A TENT,
SOMEONE PITCHING A TENT TO AN
AREA THAT'S BEEN ENCLOSED.
THAT IS EITHER A LOAD BARRIER OR
NO BARRIER AND TO HAVE SOCIAL
WORKERS, A DOOR, A WINDOW.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THAT HISTORY OR THAT CONTINUE
OF HOW THIS GREW INTO THIS.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL GET
MORE OF THAT NARRATIVE FURTHER
ON.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I WOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT IF
CENTRAL STAFF WOULD LIKE TO
INCLUDE SOME OF THAT NARRATIVE.
>> I CAN LOOK AT AND GO BACK
AND LOOK AT THE CONSENT DECREE
AND WE HAVE OTHER PERMANENT
HISTORY WE CAN LOOK AT TO
CHARACTERIZE HOW THINGS HAVE
EVOLVED SINCE COME IN THE LAST
19 YEARS WHEN THE CITY HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHING ON AN AD HOC BASIS
THE REGULATORY --
>> AND THE FOLLOW-UP TO THAT,
CHAIRWOMAN, IS THAT PEOPLE ASK
WHY 40?
HOW DO YOU GO FROM 30 TO 40
FROM 2015 TO 2090.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY 40?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND TO BE CLEAR THE LIMITATION,
THE THREE INTERIM YEARS
ENCAMPMENT LIMITATION IS NOT A
LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF AND
CAMERAS THAT CAN BE ESTABLISHED
IN THE CITY BECAUSE THERE COULD
BE AS MANY ENCAMPMENT
ASSOCIATED WITH A RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATION AS THERE ARE SITES
AND WILLING HOSTS FOR THOSE
ENCAMPMENTS.
IT'S JUST FOR THIS PARTICULAR
INTERIM USE TRANSITIONAL
ENCAMPMENT.
>> OKAY.
GOOD.
>> SO, I WANTED TO GIVE SOME
BACKGROUND AND THEN I WANTED TO
HAVE ERIC DAVIS TALK ABOUT SELF-
MANAGEMENT AND HOW THAT WORKS
BECAUSE THAT'S HAPPENING IN A
NUMBER OF VILLAGES AND THEN I
WANTED MELINDA TO TALK ABOUT
THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS.
INCREDIBLE SUPPORT.
AND THEN TO HAVE BARBARA HILL
TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND HOW GEORGETOWN
VILLAGE AND OTHER VILLAGES HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO COME UP BECAUSE OF
THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE REQUIREMENT, STAY IN
TOUCH WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND
GET BUSINESS, COMMUNITY SUPPORT
AS WELL.
BUT I THINK YOUR POINT IS WELL
TAKEN.
I WAS THERE BACK THEN AND WHAT
THEY HAD, THE CITY'S IDEA AT
THAT POINT WORD TENTS AND
PLATFORMS FOR WHAT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE CITY BUDGET WAS
GO GET A BUNCH OF TENTS AND
HAVE PLATFORMS AND PORTA POTTY
IS.
THE FIRST FEW VILLAGES OR
ENCAMPMENT'S WERE PRIMARILY
TENSE ON PLATFORMS.
AND AS YOU KNOW THAT WAS SEEN
AS VERY PRIMITIVE AND VERY
BASIC.
BUT AS THE EFFORT, WE WORKED
VERY CLOSELY WITH SHARON
NICKELSVILLE.
THE EFFORT TO HAVE TINY HOUSES
WAS SUCH A TREMENDOUS
TRANSFORMATION AND SO, NOT ONLY
ARE THE TINY HOUSES HEATED BUT
THEN PRETTY SOON THEY HAD
ELECTRICITY.
THEY HAVE AN OUTLET WHERE YOU
CAN CHARGE YOUR PHONE.
THEY HAVE LIGHT. THEY ARE
INSULATED AND THEN THE KITCHENS
BECAME NOT JUST CRATES WITH NO
CRATES WITH THE STUFF IN IT.
NOW THE KITCHENS HAVE RUNNING
WATER.
REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS.
COOKTOPS.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO ELIMINATE
ALL THESE OTHER TENTS.
TENTS HAVE NOW BEEN TRANSFORMED
INTO TINY HOUSES BECAUSE OF
THE QUALITY OF THE LIVING
ENVIRONMENT.
AND ALSO, HYGIENE FACILITIES.
WE NOW HAVE SHOWERS AND LAUNDRY.
WE'VE ADDED LAUNDRY TO MANY OF
THE VILLAGES.
PLUM TOILETS AND SHOWERS AND
COMMUNITY MEETING SPACE.
AND OF COURSE THE SECURITY.
DEFENSE AND SECURITY TO MAKE IT
REALLY SAFE.
SO, THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ARE
SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WAS
INITIALLY ENVISIONED THREE
YEARS AGO . IT WAS, IT'S SO
MUCH BETTER NOW THAT THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE IS NOT
CLASSIFYING PEOPLE LIVING IN
TINY HOUSES AS BEING SHELTERED
JUST LIKE AN ENHANCED SHELTER.
THEY ARE NO LONGER UNSHELTERED
BUT ARE SHELTERED.
SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY SHOWING
SIGNIFICANT, I THINK, ADDED
POINTS WHEN WE ARE COMPETING
FOR FEDERAL FUNDS BECAUSE NOW
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE, HOMELESS
PEOPLE ARE SHELTERED AS OPPOSED
TO UNSHELTERED AND BECAUSE THE
CITY, WE WANT TO THANK THE CD
FOR THE FINANCING FOR THE CASE
MANAGERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.
WE'VE HAD MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE
MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING,
LONG-TERM HOUSING. AND, SO, WE
ARE MAKING THAT EFFORT TO
INCREAE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE PERMANENTLY HOUSED
BECAUSE OF TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
, THEY CAN HAVE PEOPLE STAY FOR
TWO, THREE, SIX MONTHS IN THE
CASE MANAGERS ARE SO GOOD AT
MOVING PEOPLE INTO EMPLOYMENT,
HOUSING AND ALSO SERVICES.
SO, IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL AND
THE THING THAT'S VERY TRAGIC TO
ME IS THAT THE SWEEPS CONTINUE.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SO, THERE SO
MUCH SWEEPING GOING ON AND THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW BEING SWEPT,
THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO MOVE INTO A TINY HOUSE WHERE
AS WE FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE
THEIR FIRST CHOICE.
WHY WOULD THEY GO TO A SHELTER
OR A MAT ON THE FLOOR IF THEY
CAN MOVE TO A TINY HOUSE?
>> AND NOT TO MENTION ALL THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING SPENT
ON THE SWEEPS WHICH COULD
INSTEAD BE SPENT ON PROVIDING
WHATEVER IS NEEDED FOR MORE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES INCLUDING
THE RESOURCES THAT NEED TO BE
SPENT FOR CASE MANAGEMENT.
>> AND WE WANT TO THANK THE
CITY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR
ANNOUNCING THE EXTENSION OF
THREE OF THE VILLAGES.
SO, WE HAVE GEORGETOWN, CAMP
SECOND CHANCE AND A FELLOW JUST
GOT A SIX-MONTH EXTENSION
THROUGH UNTIL MARCH.
AND WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT DOES NOT, LIKE
EVERYTHING DOESN'T JUST CLOSE
IN MARCH.
THAT'S WHY THIS BILL IS ALSO
VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT THE TINY HOUSE MODEL
CONTINUE. IT'S ALREADY, I
THINK, IN THE CITY.
PART OF THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
BUDGET IS IN YOUR BIANNUAL
BUDGETS.
SO, WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN
JUST COME WE CAN ADD ADDITIONAL
VILLAGES MOVING FORWARD.
>> THE SECOND CHANCE IN
WHITTIER?
>> CAMP SECOND CHANCE IS IN
WEST SEATTLE.
>> IT'S NOT ON YOUR --
>> IT'S KNOWN AS MYERS WAY.
AND, SO, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS
HAVE A WAY TO IMPROVE THE
CURRENT VILLAGES AND INNER BAY
JUST ADDED 20 TINY HOUSES WITH
THE EXPANSION AND OTHELLO
VILLAGE IS NOW ADDING 12 TINY
HOUSES INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE
TENTS THAT ARE THERE.
SO, PEOPLE ARE REALLY
APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN MIXED
WITH TENTS AND TINY HOUSES.
GOING FORWARD WE WANT ALL OF
THEM TO HAVE TINY HOUSES FOR
PEOPLE IN TERMS OF LIVING IN A
DIGNIFIED WAY.
WE DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
SOME OF THE VILLAGES, AND WE
WANT TO THANK YOU IN PARTICULAR
FOR FINANCING WHITTIER HEIGHTS
FOR HOMELESS WOMEN, WHITTIER
HEIGHTS IS OPERATED SO IT DOES
HAVE LIHI STAFF . AND SOME OF
THE OTHER VILLAGES ARE
DEMOCRATICALLY RUN IN TERMS OF
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THAT
INCLUDES CAMP SECOND CHANCE,
INTERBAY AND GEORGETOWN.
SO, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT MODELS.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT MODELS.
SUMMER STAFF MANAGED AND SOME
OF THEM ARE DEMOCRATIC,
DEMOCRATICALLY MANAGED, SELF
MANAGED.
AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THAT
ARE FOR WOMEN AND THERE ARE
SOME THAT INCLUDE FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN AND THEN THERE ARE
SOME BETTER SINGLES, ADULT
SINGLES AND COUPLES ONLY.
SO, I THINK WE'VE GROWN TO HAVE
A DIVERSE RESPONSE TO MEETING
THE HOMELESS NEED.
SO, IT'S NOT JUST ONE FLAVOR.
WE HAVE A VARIETY.
AND, ALSO, TRUE HOPE VILLAGE IN
PARTICULAR, WAS DEVELOPED TO
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE
UNDERREPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE
SHELTER SYSTEM.
AND THAT IS WORKING OUT REALLY
WELL WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCHES,
THE URBAN LEAGUE, SEATTLE
INDIAN CENTER AND REACH.
>> WHERE HIS TRUE HOPE THAT?
>> Reporter: 18th AND YES LORD.
>> YES.
AND IT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
>> REVEREND JEFFREY WITH THE
NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH AND
REVEREND WILLIS WITH THE TRUE
VINE BAPTIST CHURCH.
MOVING FORWARD I JUST WANT TO
HAVE MAYBE ERIC DAVIS TALK ABOUT
SELF-MANAGEMENT IN TERMS OF
CAMP SECOND CHANCE.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
>> OKAY.
ERIC DAVIS.
HELLO.
THIS WHOLE SUBJECT, LIKE SHARON
WAS SAYING, THERE ARE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT MODELS, DIFFERENT
WAYS PEOPLE OPERATE.
BUT, ESSENTIALLY IT'S
EMPOWERING FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS
IN EACH ENCAMPMENT TO HAVE SOME
SAY SO OF HOW THINGS ARE RAN,
HOW THINGS HAVE GOT THERE.
THE SECURITY.
THE COMFORT.
WHEN YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE A
POSITION IN THE ENCAMPMENT TO
SAY, HE, WELL, I WANT TO BE
KITCHEN COORDINATOR.
I WANT TO BE DONATION
COORDINATOR.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT
POSITIONS WHICH OPERATE THE
CAMP.
AT THE CAMP MEETING LEVEL,
EVERYONE DISCUSSES EVERY
PROBLEM IF THERE IS A PROBLEM
AND SOLUTIONS.
NO ONE SELFISHLY SAYS, WELL,
THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE.
WE AUTOMATICALLY VOTE ON MOST
THINGS.
AND THEN WE REFLECT TO THE CODE
OF CONDUCT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S
JUST AND FAIR.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE OLD DAYS
AND NOW IS WE HAVE UPPED THE
ANTE A BIT.
WE HAVE MADE SURE THERE IS AN
OUTSIDE SOURCE WHICH IS OUR
SPONSORS, TO HAVE THE GRIEVANCE
PROCESS.
SO YOU ELIMINATE THOSE CLICKS.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE FELT LIKE
THEY WERE KICKED OUTSIDE AND NO
ONE ELSE TO TURN TO.
YOU NEED THAT CHECK AND BALANCE.
SO WHAT WE DO THERE IS WE HAVE
ADDED THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS
WITH OUR SPONSOR.
WE HAVE ALSO ADDED THE CASE
MANAGEMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS
MISSING IN SELF-
MANAGEMENT.THERE WAS THE RIGHT
TO SAY WHO STAYED AND WHO WOULD
GO PICK BUT THERE WAS NO ONE
SAYING WHO WAS TO AN APARTMENT.
NO ONE ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE.
AND SO, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT AND
YOU THROW A SITE CORNER AND
WHAT THEY USED TO CALL THE CAMP
MANAGER IN THERE, ALL THESE
THINGS LINE UP TOGETHER AND
THERE IS A CHECK AND BALANCE.
THE MODEL WITH THE SELF-
MANAGEMENT AND THE DEMOCRACY
PARK, WHEN THEY STARTED TO
SEPARATE THAT, IT GETS A LITTLE
BIT TWISTED.
YOU MUST HAVE THAT LINE OF CODE
OF CONDUCT.
YOU MUST HAVE THAT LINE OF
EMPOWERMENT.
THE NEED TO BE POSITIVE OUTLOOK
, A POSITIVE OUTCOME SO, WE ALL
ARE SITTING HERE TODAY TALKING
ABOUT A MODEL.
IF WE DON'T COME TO AN
AGREEMENT WE SHOULD NOT MOVE
ON.
IN MY OPINION.
WE WOULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT
BEFORE THE MEETING WAS OVER.
OR WE WOULD SAY, LET'S TABLE
THIS FOR NEXT WEEK.
NO ONE GOT TO SETTLE JUST ON
ONE PERSON'S SAY-SO.
YOU ELIMINATE THAT.
IT HAS TO BE SOME EMPOWERMENT
FOR THE RESIDENTS SO THEY FEEL
COMFORTABLE.
THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY ARE
DICTATED TOO.
WHEN YOU GET THAT NOW PEOPLE
WANT TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND YOU WILL FIND YOU GET A LOT
MORE POSITIVE IDEAS THAT WORK
úIF THEY GIVE IT TIME, IT WORKS
LIKE, THE CASE MANAGEMENT.
I GOT TO SPEAK ON THIS.
THE LAST THREE MONTHS, 18 PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN MOVING OUT OF CAMP
SECOND CHANCE.
QUICKLY.
AND INTO HOUSING BECAUSE THERE
WAS SELF-MANAGEMENT.
NOW, THE SELF-MANAGEMENT
WORKING WITH THE CASE MANAGER
MADE IT WORK BECAUSE WE HAD AND
DISCUSSED THESE THINGS AND WE
SAY YOU CAN'T STAY HERE
FOREVER.
WE VOTED ON A. INSTEAD OF JUST
SAYING YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
AND THEN WE SHOW THEM THE
BENEFITS OF IT BY LETTING THEM
SEE APARTMENTS IN DIFFERENT
PLACES.
AND YOU DID NOT HAVE TO BE
ALONE OUT THERE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION
TO DISCUSS IT, THEN IT'S MORE
LIKE DICTATORSHIP.
SO OUR VERSION AT CAMP SECOND
CHANCE IS STILL SELF MANAGED.
IT'S STILL GOVERNED BY THE
PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE COME UP
BUT YOU ADD THE RESOURCES
INCLUDED IN THAT TO HELP.
YOU DON'T JUST SAY, YOU CAN DO
THIS OR THAT WITHOUT ANY OF THE
POSITIVE OUTLOOKS.
AS LONG AS THEY SEE THE OUTLOOK
IS BENEFICIAL FOR HOUSING AND
JOBS, SOBRIETY, THEY SEEM TO
THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU ARE NOT DICTATING TO ME.
YOU ARE ACTUALLY SHOWING ME
THAT I NEED TO LOOK AT THIS
BEFORE I DISMISS IT.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF SELF-
MANAGEMENT WE DEAL WITH THERE.
SOBRIETY AND SAFETY BEING FIRST
AND, OF COURSE, HOUSING. THOSE
THREE THINGS WE ALL TALK ABOUT
IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT DOESN'T
SEEM LIKE YOU WERE BEING
DICTATED TO OR FORCED.
WHAT YOU ARE BEING INFORMED OF
IS HOW TIMES ARE CHANGING AND
HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU AT ANNA
CAMERON FOR YEARS BUT YOU'RE
NOT MOVING FORWARD.
BACK THEN IT WAS OKAY BECAUSE
YOU DID NOT HAVE A CASE
MANAGER.
NOW, CASE MANAGEMENT IS THERE.
WE NEED TO USE IT.
THERE ARE APARTMENTS THERE.
THERE ARE PROGRAMS THERE.
THERE IS MORE FUNDING.
AN HOUR SELF-MANAGEMENT MODEL,
WE TEACH GOVERNING ON THE
ISSUE.
IN OTHER WORDS WE MAKE IT WHERE
IT'S A SUBJECT THAT YOU JUST
DISCUSS ALL THE TIME.
SO, WHEN THEY SAY HEAD OF
SECURITY AND ALL THAT, WE DON'T
DO ALL THAT.
WE HAVE A SIMPLE MODEL.
THERE IS A SITE COORDINATOR.
THERE IS A SELF-MANAGEMENT, I
MEAN, A CASE MANAGER.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR KITCHEN
COORDINATOR AND YOUR SECURITY
GUARDS.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE INSIDE
DECIDE HOW THE CAMP RUNS WITH
YOU AND YOU AS INPUT.
YOU DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S A
SELF-MANAGEMENT ENCAMPMENT,
IT'S MORE OF A COMMUNITY
SITTING DOWN AND HAVING A
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE WILL
DO FOR NEXT WEEK AND.
WILL HELP THIS PERSON WHO JUST
CAME IN A WHEELCHAIR?
THAT DEMOCRACY HAS TURNED INTO
A DISCUSSION LIKE WE ARE HAVING
CARE.
YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU
ARE DISCUSSING A PROBLEM.
WE HAVE TO KEEP THE REAL
ANSWERS UPFRONT.
THE CASE MANAGEMENT.
THE APARTMENTS AND THE HOUSING
AND SOBRIETY, THOSE THINGS ARE
INCLUDED BECAUSE THE RESOURCES
ARE HERE.
I THINK WHEN IT GETS TWISTED IS
THEY WANT THE OLD MODEL WHERE
NO ONE STEPS IN AND CAN TELL
THEM WHAT TO DO, WEATHER AND
TALTY WERE NOT.
THAT'S NOT HEALTHY FOR THIS
POPULATION.
NOW THEY ARE SELF MANAGED, I
MEAN, THEY ARE HAVE GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS AND
APARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT
VOUCHERS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE
SEVEN OR 10 YEARS AGO.
WE HAD TO JUST LAY IN A TENT.
THERE WAS NOT EVEN A CASE
MANAGER COMING TO THE TENT
CITIES.
I AM TEACHING THEM, ALONG WITH
THE REST OF THE STEP THERE, WE
NEED TO USE THESE PROGRAMS THAT
ARE GIVEN TO US FREELY.
THIS IS HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
THESE MODELS, THESE TINY HOUSES
ARE SO COMFORTABLE MY GUESS,
BUT THEY ARE NOT THE END.
THIS IS MEANT TO BE TRANSITION
BUT I ADDRESS IT IN A SOFT,
SUBTLE MANNER AND LET THEM KNOW
THAT YOU NEED TO DO THIS.
THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT THERE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THERE.
THE POINT THAT IS BEING MADE IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE, AND THIS
IS ALSO -- THAT WE HAVE TO
SHARE THE HISTORY AND THE
EVOLUTION OF THESE SERVICES
BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO A WAY OF
CLARIFYING A LOT OF THE
CONFUSION THAT MAY EXIST OUT
THERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, FUELED BY
CORPORATE MEDIA, THAT SOMEHOW
IF A CERTAIN TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
, THAT SOMEHOW PEOPLE WILL COME
AND STAY THERE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK IT'S MYTHOLOGY.
I THINK PEOPLE WANT THEIR OWN
HOMES.
IT'S DEHUMANIZING TO THINK THAT
PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE THERE
AND NOT HAVE THEIR OWN HOME.
NOT ACCORDING THEM THE RESPECT
THAT THEY WOULD WANT THAT.
BUT NEVERTHELESS IT'S HELPFUL
FOR US TO HAVE ACTUAL EVIDENCE
TO SHOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.IT'S
NOT THAT TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ,
BECAUSE THEY OFFER CERTAIN THE
SERVICES TO ALLOW YOU TO HAVE
YOUR HUMANITY AND DIGNITY, THAT
YOU WILL STAY THERE FOR EVER.
ACTUALLY THE FRAMEWORK IS SUCH
THAT ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE
CASE MANAGEMENT THAT YOU ARE
PROVIDED WHATEVER YOU NEED IN
ORDER TO MOVE TO PERMANENT,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT'S
WHAT WE WANT FOR EVERYBODY AND
THAT'S WHAT THE RESIDENTS ALSO
WANT.
I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO
CLARIFY BECAUSE WE HEAR SO MUCH
OF THAT AS PART OF THE
DEMONIZING OF HOMELESS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
>> MULIN.COM IF YOU COULD GO
NEXT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> CERTAINLY.
IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO BE
BUILDING SO MANY TINY HOUSES
AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS
ABOUT HOW THEY ARE BUILT IS
THAT THE PUBLIC HELPS BUILD
THEM.
AND NOT ONLY DOES THE PUBLIC
HELPED BUILD THEM BUT OUR
STUDENTS COME IN OUR PRE-
APPRENTICES, COLLEGES, THE
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM HAS
BUILT 20 OF THEM.
THEY WILL BE BUILDING THE FIRST
SMALL HOUSE.
THEY WILL BE DOING A SAMPLE OF
THAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL
PARTNERS AND PEOPLE WILL CALL
ME UP ON THE PHONE.
I WANT TO BUILD A TINY HOUSE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO INDIVIDUALLY
WILL BUILD A TINY HOUSE EVERY
MONTH.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO LEARN TO DO
TINY HOUSE BUILDS THAT THEY
HAVEN'T DONE ANY CONSTRUCTION
BEFORE PREDICAMENT BUILD ONE
AND PRETTY SOON THEY ARE
STARTING TO DO THAT KIND OF
WORK.
WHEN WE DIT WHITTIER HEIGHTS,
IT WAS FOR WOMEN ONLY SO I SAID
TO SHARON, LET'S HAVE WOMEN
BUILD IT THEN BECAUSE THOSE TWO
THAT WAS REALLY EXCELLENT BY
THE WAY.
>> -- I'VE BEEN A CARPENTER FOR
46 YEARS.
AND THERE WEREN'T ANY WOMEN
THEN.
>> AND I DON'T KNOW IF I ASKED
YOU THIS BEFORE, YOU ARE A
UNION MEMBER?
>> I WAS.
YES.
AND THEY ALSO WORK FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN ON THE
WASHINGTON STATE APPRENTICESHIP
AND TRAINING COUNCIL.
I INITIATED THE DENSITY -- AS A
RESULT OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
ANYWAY, WE HAD 225 WOMEN
VOLUNTEER TO DO WHITTIER
HEIGHTS.
>> AND CAN I ASK A QUESTION.
NOT PERTINENT TO THE MAIN
DISCUSSION.
I WANT TO ASK.
THE WOMEN WHO CAME, WHO
VOLUNTEERED, WERE MANY OF THEM
EXPERIENCED IN CARPENTRY?
>> PLUMBERS.
CARPENTERS.
ELECTRICIANS.
YOUR NAME IT.
WE HAD SOME WOMEN THAT WE
HELPED GET INTO THE
APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.
WE HAD ONE WOMAN WHO WAS AN
ELECTRICIAN APPRENTICE RIGHT
NOW.
YES.
IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING.
THE CREATIVITY OF WHAT WE ARE
DOING AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORKING ON THESE ARE
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
WE NEED MORE OF THEM IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SO THIS
IS A POSITIVE THING THERE AS
WELL.
SO WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE.
WE REALLY NEED MORE PLACES TO
BUILD TINY HOUSES AND WE HAVE
VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE READY TO GO
ANYTIME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I SHOULD MENTION ONE OTHER
THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME
FROM OUR LAST DISCUSSION OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE WAS I THINK
SLIDES THAT YOU WERE RUNNING
THROUGH AND JOSH WAS THERE AS
WELL AND JOSH IS THERE IN THE
AUDIENCE.
THERE WAS ONE PICTURE FROM A
TINY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION THAT
YOU HAD DONE.
THIS WAS AT -- WHERE WAS A?
>> CENTURYLINK.
>> I KNOW JOSH MENTIONED THAT
DURING THAT TIME THE NIGHT
BEFORE, WHO HAD PERFORMED?
>> TAYLOR SWIFT.
YES.
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
TAYLOR SWIFT PERFORMED IN THAT
HALL AND THE NEXT DAY THERE
WERE BUILDING TINY HOUSES THERE.
>> THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
[ LAUGHTER ] . I WANT TO ASK A
QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF A TINY
HOUSE?
>> THE LIFESPAN OF A TINY HOUSE
I WOULD ESTIMATE TO BE BETWEEN
8-10 YEARS.
CONSERVATIVELY.
WE'VE HAD ONES, FRANKLY ABOUT
ONE AT HOME AND IT STILL THERE
AND IS 30 YEARS OLD.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
DOESN'T LEAK AND YOU HAVE TO
DO;'S BUT THEY COST $2700 FOR
THE MATERIALS.
AND WE HAVE DONATIONS FOR ALL
KINDS OF THEM ANYWAY.
BUT I WOULD SAY CONSERVATIVELY
8-10 YEARS.
>> THE ONES WE HAVE NOW ARE
STILL GOOD.
>> YES.
>> LONG TERM LIFE ON THEM.
>> THEY WILL LAST A LONG TIME
AND WE DO NEED TO MAINTAIN THEM
AND BE AWARE OF IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
AT EACH VILLAGE WE HAVE ONE OR
TWO CASE MANAGERS AND THE GOAL
IS TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE INTO
PERMANENT HOUSING. SO, WE
ACTUALLY HELP PAY FOR THE U-
HAUL, THE MOVING EXPENSE.
FIRST AND LAST MONTH RENT,
SECURITY DEPOSIT.
AND BECAUSE LIHI OWNS 2300
UNITS OF HOUSING, REPRIORITIZE
PEOPLE MOVING FROM TINY HOUSES
INTO OUR HOUSING BUT THEY DON'T
HAVE TOO.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE
ELSEWHERE , THERE ARE OTHER
HOUSING AVAILABLE LIKE PUBLIC
HOUSING, SECTION 8, NONPROFIT
OWNED OR EVEN MARKET RATE
HOUSING BUT THEY HAVE TO GET
>> IF YOU ARE OUT THERE IN YOUR
CAR OR ON THE STREET, HOW CAN
SOMEONE EVEN FIND YOU TO SAY
THAT, OH, IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO
MOVE INTO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE
SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE
GETTING HOUSING, SUCCESSFULLY
GETTING HOUSING AND MAINTAINING
HOUSING.
>> WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY A
VARIETY OF OTHER CITIES, TO SAY
HOW DO YOU DO TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES.
SEATTLE IS INCREDIBLY INNOVATIVE
, NOT ONLY ARE WE INNOVATIVE
ABOUT DOING SUCH A WONDERFUL
THING BUT USING OUR VOLUNTEERS,
CREATING OPTIONS FOR DIVERSITY
AND OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY,
EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING AROUND
THIS REALLY IS BILLING OUR
COMMUNITY AND IS A WONDERFUL
THING.
OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR WE
CAN HELP 1000, 1000 SEPARATE
HOMELESS MEN, WOMEN, AND
CHILDREN.
OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR.
IF WE HAD MORE TINY HOUSES ...
>> I AM TALKING ABOUT IF YOU
LOOK AT NOW WE NOW HAVE NINE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES IN SEATTLE.
PEOPLE ARE STAYING 2 TO 6
MONTHS, OR THE AVERAGE IS
PROBABLY MORE LIKE FIVE MONTHS.
A TINY HOUSE CAN SERVE MULTIPLE
PEOPLE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE FAMILIES WHO
ARE SHARING A TINY HOUSE.
WE CAN HOUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I KNOW THAT HOMELESS
INDIVIDUALS, EVEN THOSE LIVING
UNDER -- IN THEIR CARS AND THEY
OPT TO COME INTO A TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE.
THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE
SOLUTION WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN
THEIR CARS.
IS TO OPEN UP MORE VILLAGES.
>> SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF THE
TINY HOUSE, TINY HOUSES,
PRESUMABLY YOU HAVE LARGER ONES,
TO HOUSE A FAMILY OR HOW DO YOU
DO THAT?
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
LEGAL AND WHAT WE ARE DOING.
THE TINY HOUSES ARE ALL EIGHT
BY 12 FEET.
>> THAT IS BY LAW?
>> YES.
OCCASIONALLY WE WILL BUILD TWO
HOUSES, THERE WILL BE A LITTLE
BIT APART AND A WINDOW BETWEEN
THEM SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE
IT AS FLEXIBLE AS WE CAN BUT AT
THIS POINT, THEY ARE ALL SMALL.
>> GOOD TO KNOW.
>> BARBARA GRACE HILL WAS A
LONG-TERM MEMBER OF THE
GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND IT WILL BE GREAT
IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT YOUR
EXPERIENCE.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US
AND LISTENING AND IT HAS BEEN
AN HONOR ACTUALLY TO SIT HERE
TODAY AND LISTEN TO WHAT
EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY INCLUDING
THE RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE IN
PARTICULAR AND THEIR
EXPERIENCE.
IT IS THE THING THAT I THINK
MATTERS THE MOST, IS THAT ABOUT
COMMUNITY.
I KEPT HEARING IT OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, WE ALL DID TODAY FROM
THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES.
BUT ALSO AROUND THIS TABLE
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNITY BUILDING AND HOW IT
AFFECTS NOT JUST THE RESIDENTS
IN THE VILLAGE, BUT THE
COMMUNITY AROUND THEM IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE
COMMUNITIES AROUND THEM AND THE
BUILDING COMMUNITY OR IN THE
GIVING COMMUNITY.
MY BACKGROUND AS I HAD THE
GREAT FORTUNE OF MY LIFE TO
LEAVE CORPORATE AMERICA AND
HELP START FAIR START, WHICH IS
A JOB-TRAINING PROGRAM IN
SEATTLE.
I WAS SITTING HERE TODAY
THINKING ABOUT HOW, AND I HAVE
THOUGHT ABOUT THIS OVER THE
LAST COUPLE YEARS OF BEING ON
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL, ON HOW
WHEN THERE IS A GREAT IDEA, I
KIND OF KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT
NOW.
I KNEW IT WITH FAIR START, MY
PARENTS WERE TOTALLY UPSET THAT
I LEFT CORPORATE AMERICA TO
LEAVE MY MONEY AND ALL OF THAT
STUFF BEHIND AND GO DO THIS
THING AND IT WAS THE SAME KIND
OF PASSION AND COMMITMENT FROM
THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE
INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION
AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE
TO HELP THEM FROM THE CHEFS TO
THE CASE MANAGERS TO THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
I AM SEEING THE EXACT SAME
THING HAPPEN HERE WITH THE
VILLAGES.
THAT IF WE CAN AS A COMMUNITY,
COME TOGETHER, AND TALK TO EACH
OTHER, AND REASON THINGS OUT,
AND LET THERE BE NO GOSSIP OR
CRITICISM, BUT INSTEAD, JOIN
TOGETHER ON THE COMMON
COMMITMENT THAT WE ALL HAVE, TO
HOUSE PEOPLE, TO HELP PEOPLE
WHO WANT HELP, I HAVE NOT MET A
PERSON IN THE VILLAGE WHO DID
NOT WANT TO HAVE A GREAT LIFE.
WHO DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE A
GREAT LIFE.
I HAVE ALSO MET A LOT OF PEOPLE
IN THERE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A
LOT OF TRAUMA.
THERE ARE MANY OF US IN THE
WORLD THAT EXPERIENCED A LOT OF
TRAUMA, AND IF YOU CAN GET TO A
PLACE IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE A
LITTLE SAFETY, A LOCK ON YOUR
DOOR, A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP AT
NIGHT, A LITTLE COMMUNITY AND
COMPANIONSHIP, A WARM SMILE, A
HANDOUT FROM A FRIEND OR CASE
MANAGER, MIRACLES HAPPEN.
IT IS THAT SIMPLE BECAUSE WE
ARE ALL HUMAN AND WE HAVE ALL
HAD HEARD STRUGGLES AND THE
VILLAGES CREATE THAT, THE PIECE
ABOUT HOUSING IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
I AM A BIG BELIEVER IN NOT.
THAT THE VILLAGES ARE A
CONTINUUM.
THAT THEY ARE ON A CONTINUUM
AND THERE HAS TO BE A
CONTINUING.
WE CAN'T JUST GO FROM ON THE
STREET TO FULL APARTMENT LIVING
WITH A JOB AND INCOME, IT IS
NOT INSTANTANEOUS FOR ANY OF
US.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
OTHER ISSUES.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO A PLACE
WHERE THEY CAN BE SAFE.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AT GEORGETOWN
VILLAGE IS WE HAVE SEEN THAT
HAPPEN.
THAT GOT BUILT, AND IT CAME
FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE
INSIDE, OUR COMMUNITY WAS
UPSET.
WHEN WE FIRST WERE TOLD THAT
THIS VILLAGE WAS COMING.
AND SOMEBODY MENTIONED IT A DAY
EARLIER, THE INITIAL
CONVERSATIONS WHERE THIS IS
GOING TO BE TERRIBLE, AND WHAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT THE ARGUMENT WERE REALLY,
FRANKLY.
THEY WEREN'T MINE.
YOU REMEMBER THEM.
SO, NOW, IN JANUARY OF THIS
YEAR, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COUNCIL FOR OUR VILLAGE DID A
SURVEY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
GEORGETOWN IS A SMALL BUT
MIGHTY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE ARE
QUIRKY, WEIRD, A LOT OF
ARTISTS, IT IS INDUSTRIAL, IT
IS NOT YOUR NORMAL AVERAGE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN THE VILLAGE CAME IN, THE
NEIGHBORS REALLY TRULY
IMMEDIATELY EMBRACED IT.
WE DID DIFFERENT KINDS OF
EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHERE
THE GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY VILLAGE
FOLKS CAME AND VOLUNTEERED.
WE HAVE CARNIVALS AND ALL KINDS
OF EVENTS, AND THEY CAN
DISTANTLY OVER THE YEARS, HAVE
COME AND SIGNED UP AND HELPED
WITH CLEANUP AND VOLUNTEERISM
AND MADE THEMSELVES KNOWN ON
OUR COMMUNITY CLEANUP DAYS AND
THEY DO REGULAR WALKS
THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO
CLEAN UP AROUND THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WITH THEIR VILLAGE T-SHIRTS ON
SO THAT THEY ARE RECOGNIZABLE
TO ME TO NEIGHBORS, AND CLEANUP
AND KIND OF MAKE THEIR PRESENCE
KNOWN, WHICH HELPS, WE HAVE A
LOT OF CRIME IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE IN AN INDUSTRIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE IS A LOT
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PETTY
MISCHIEF IN PARTICULAR.
THAT HELPS THAT THE VILLAGE HAS
BEEN THERE AND THEY ARE WALKING
AROUND DOING THOSE THINGS.
IN JANUARY, WHEN WE WERE
LOOKING AT THE END OF THE TWO-
YEAR PERMIT, WE, AS THE
COUNCIL, WANTED TO GO OUT TO
OUR COMMUNITY AND ASK THEM, HOW
DO YOU THINK THIS HAS GONE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN
NEXT?
DID YOU SUPPORT THE VILLAGES
MAY BE STAYING LONGER?
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO DO THAT?
THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS.
OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS
REALLY BEEN ONLY ABOUT 1500
PEOPLE, WE GOT OVER 100
RESPONSES WHICH IS A VERY LARGE
VALID SAMPLING, 6% RETURN ON
ANY SURVEY IS CONSIDERED GOOD.
THIS IS WELL OVER THAT.
OUT OF THOSE SURVEYS, 71% OF
THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS PEOPLE
WHO LIVE THERE, PROPERTY
OWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS,
RENTERS, 71% WERE IN FAVOR OF
EXTENDING THE VILLAGE AND
KEEPING IT THERE.
MANY PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
SAY WHY WOULD YOU, WHY WOULD
THE CITY SPEND MONEY CLOSING
DOWN A VILLAGE?
WHY DON'T WE SPEND THAT MONEY
MAKING ANOTHER VILLAGE.
WHAT IS THE FISCAL POINT OF MY
TAX DOLLARS GOING TO CLOSE DOWN
SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING SO
WELL?
THEY ARE REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT
THAT.
WE ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH
THEM, THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT HAS GOTTEN BETTER IN
LISTENING TO US OVER THE LAST
COUPLE MONTHS AFTER US BEGGING
AND PLEADING, PLEASE TALK TO US
AND LISTEN TO US, WE HAVE THE
PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE HAVE
GREAT INFORMATION, AS WE HEARD
TODAY.
THERE IS GREAT INFORMATION IN
THE SURVEY WHICH I WILL LEAVE
FOR YOU ALL, SO SOME
STATISTICAL DATA BUT ALSO SOME
REALLY AMAZING ANECDOTAL DATA,
THAT I THINK WOULD BE VERY
HELPFUL.
TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT
WORK AND THE THINGS THAT NEED
TO BE BETTER, AND HAVE YOU ALL
AS A COMMUNITY MET WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS?
>> ACTUALLY, THE WAY YOU SAID
THAT, THAT IS A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION, WHY WOULD THE CITY
USE RESOURCES TAKING DOWN THE
VILLAGE? AFTER YOU RESPOND TO
THAT, WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> WE WERE HOPING TO MEET WITH
THE MAYOR, THERE WAS A RECENT
WALK-THROUGH OF GEORGETOWN WITH
A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AND WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE THERE BUT SHE
WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND.
SO, NO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD JUST TO GET THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IT HAS BEEN HARD.
I WANT TO SAY IT HASN'T BEEN.
WE HAVE BEEN REALLY STRUGGLING
TO BE HEARD.
AND THE THING THAT IS IRONIC
ABOUT THAT TO ME, IS THE SAME
THING AS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE
TODAY.
WHEN YOU GET ALL OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE INTERESTED AND
COMMITTED TO SOMETHING AT THE
TABLE, AND EVERYBODY IS
COMMITTED TO THE SAME THING AND
I DON'T BELIEVE FOR A SECOND
THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS NOT
COMMITTED TO ENDING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY.
AND THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE INVOLVED ARE COMMITTED TO
ENDING HOMELESSNESS, THAT THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE STREETS
ARE COMMITTED TO ENDING THEIR
OWN HOMELESSNESS.
THE VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE ALL
COMMITTED TO THE SAME THING.
SO IT HAS BEEN OUR PLEA WITH
THE CITY, TO PLEASE SIT DOWN
WITH US AND TALK TO US AND
LISTEN TO US, WE HAVE SOME
REALLY SMART PEOPLE OUT THERE.
WHO HAVE BACKGROUND AND
EXPERIENCE IN THINGS THAT CAN
BE VERY HELPFUL.
THEY ARE FINALLY STARTING TO
LISTEN, WE HAVE OUR CHALLENGES,
WE HAVE HAD OTHER CHALLENGES
THAT I WON'T EVEN BRING UP AT
THIS POINT BUT WE FEEL LIKE
THEY ARE STARTING TO LISTEN.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCILS ARE
KEY TO ALL OF THAT, WE WEREN'T
SURE AT FIRST WHAT WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO DO OR WHAT OUR ROLE
WAS OR WHY WE WERE THERE
SITTING AT THE TABLE AND IT
TOOK US A WHILE TO GET UP TO
SPEED.
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM.
IT TOOK FAIR START A WHILE TO
GET UP TO SPEED.
NOW IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAM.
>> CAN I JUST INTERRUPT YOU?
JUST QUICKLY, ARE YOU DONE?
>> YES.
>> YOU STARTED TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT MY QUESTIONS ARE.
SO WERE YOU ON THE GEORGETOWN
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
BEFORE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS TRANSITIONED OVER
UNDER DIRECTOR NYLUND?
BEFORE HAND?
>> LET'S SEE, WHEN DID THAT
HAPPEN?
>> IT HAPPENED IN 16.
2017, 2018 WAS THE VILLAGE,
RIGHT YOU GUYS?
>> NO, IT WAS AFTER, RIGHT
AFTER THAT.
>> YOU CAME AFTER WE DID THE
RESHUFFLING.
>> YES, JUST AFTER.
>> THERE IS A DIFFERENT VERSION
BEFORE THEY MADE THAT CHANGE,
BUT LET ME JUST COME BACK TO
THAT.
I AM JUST GOING TO BE REAL
CANDID WITH YOU.
SO THAT HIS DISTRICT TO
GEORGETOWN.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS
IN THE LAST YEAR COMING OUT OF
DISTRICT 2, I WILL JUST FOCUS
ON GEORGETOWN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR BACKGROUND
AND YOUR NARRATIVE AND
UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERTISE
PARTICULARLY IN STARTING FAIR
START, SO HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO
COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND SOME OF
THE MEDIA NARRATIVES OUT THERE,
THAT DISTRICT 2 IN PARTICULAR
GEORGETOWN, IN PARTICULAR TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES DID INCREASE YOU
KNOW, SO TO SPEAK PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES.
>> IT DID HAPPEN THAT AND
GEORGETOWN, HOMELESSNESS AND RVS
AND TENTS HAPPENED AT THE SAME
TIME THE VILLAGE HAPPENED TO
COME IN, BUT THEY ARE TWO VERY
DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND WHEN PRESSED, AND I HAVE
HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH
NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS, THAT IS MY
, I FEEL LIKE THAT IS MY
RESPONSIBILITY ON THE ADVISORY
COUNCIL IS TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND TO LISTEN AND
SORT THROUGH THAT AND HAVE
THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
THE VILLAGE, IT IS WHAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE DO.
THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE
PICTURE.
IT IS ABOUT EDUCATION AND
TALKING AND REALLY EDUCATING
PEOPLE AROUND WHAT HOMELESSNESS
IS ABOUT.
BECAUSE THE VILLAGES WERE NOT
THE ISSUE.
WHAT WAS THE ISSUE IN THIS
CITY, THAT HAPPEN TO BE
HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME, WAS
THE DISPARITY IN THE ECONOMIC
DISPARITY AND HOUSING, THE RISE
OF AMAZON AND THE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES THAT
CAME IN WITH SIX-FIGURE INCOMES
AND RENTS INCREASING AND IT
WASN'T JUST TINY HOME VILLAGE
PEOPLE, MY SON LEFT THE CITY.
HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE AND
LEFT EAR, HE CANNOT AFFORD TO
STAY HERE, YOU KNOW?
THAT IS NOT RIGHT, BUT IS OKAY,
HE IS DOING ALL RIGHT.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
VILLAGES, THAT HAD TO DO WITH
THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE OF THE
CITY, OF THE STATE, OF THIS
COUNTRY, PROBABLY THE WORLD.
JUST HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME.
THE VILLAGES DID NOT CAUSE AN
INCREASE IN CRIME IN THE
GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE MAY BE A FEW PEOPLE THAT
LIKE TO SAY THAT, AND SOME OF
THEM MAY EVEN YOU KNOW, BE SOME
OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS ON THE
COMMUNITY YOU KNOW, WHATEVER,
COUNSEL OR THERE MAY BE, OR
BUSINESS PEOPLE OR WHATEVER.
THE SURVEY WE DID, THAT IS WHY
WE DID IT.
WE WERE WONDERING OURSELVES AND
IT WAS LIKE ARE WE YOU KNOW,
ARE WE JUST BEING BLEEDING
HEART YOU KNOW, OR ARE WE
MISSING SOMETHING HERE?
NO, 71% OF OUR COMMUNITY, SAID
THEY APPRECIATED THE VILLAGE
BEING THERE THAT IT WAS FINE
THAT WE WERE PROUD TO HAVE THEM
AS NEIGHBORS, AND THAT WE WOULD
LIKE TO KEEP THAT.
AND IN THIS STUDY, YOU'LL ALSO
SEE THERE IS CAVEAT THAT WE
WOULD LIKE MORE ATTENTION FROM
THE CITY, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE
AT THE TABLE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE
CRIME, THE ARBY'S COMEDY AND
CONVINCE.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN AN
INDUSTRIAL AREA SO WE ARE KIND
OF YOU KNOW, IT IS A
COMPLICATED NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT IS ALL IN THERE.
THERE IS A LOT IN THERE.
DID I ANSWER THAT QUESTION?
>> I THINK SO.
THIS IS A GENERAL ONE, AND I AM
SURE SHARON CAN RESPOND OR ONE
OF YOU, I DON'T WANT TO DICTATE
WHO, SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE
WHEN WE HEAR FROM PARTICULAR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THIS IS
HERE CITYWIDE, WHERE WE SHOULD
JUST TAKE AN ABANDONED LET'S SAY
STORE OR A HUGE BIG BOX STORE
OR GROCERY STORE WHICH WE SEE
IN OUR DISTRICT, JUST BIG
HOLDINGS THAT HAVE LEFT.
I COULD NAME SIX OFF THE TOP OF
MY HEAD.
THEY ARE EMPTY NOW.
AND SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE,
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT
ABOUT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THAT YOU DON'T JUST FIND
SOMEBODY ON SHELTERED WHERE
THEY ARE AT AND SAY HERE IS A
PLACE TO GO, YOU NEED TO GO.
AND THEN PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT
TAKES A WHILE TO GET THERE.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE WHEN WE
HAVE PEOPLE SAY WELL THE ANSWER
AND THE REMEDY TO HOMELESSNESS,
WHEN YOU HAVE THESE BIG BOX
STORES OR BUILDINGS OR
WHATEVER, WE HAVE SEEN THEM
EVERYWHERE, WHY CAN'T WE JUST
PUT IN BEDS?
WHY CAN'T WE JUST CONTAIN THESE
PEOPLE AND JUST PLUG IT IN THAT
WAY AND THEN HAVE NURSES AND
SOCIAL WORKERS JUST COME THERE?
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO, AND I'M
SPEAKING FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN
HEARING FOR THE LAST 3 1/2
YEARS.
SO IF WE CAN CONTAIN THIS
GROUP, THAT NEED SERVICES AND
BRING SERVICES TO THEM, SOME
PEOPLE FEEL IT IS MORE COST-
EFFECTIVE TO DO THAT THAN TO
HAVE THESE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE CITY,
AND DEPLOYING RESOURCES TO
THOSE AREAS.
>> SO, I THINK WHAT WE ARE
LEARNING, IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE
A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN HOMELESS OR COMICALLY
-- OR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND
YOU PUT THEM IN ONE LARGE
SPACE, YOU ARE SETTING YOURSELF
UP FOR LOTS OF PROBLEMS.
THE FIRST, IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
PROBLEM.
THERE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES AROUND
THIS SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES, SO FOR INSTANCE,
HEPATITIS A IS A SERIOUS
PROBLEM.
SOME COMMUNITIES ARE EVEN HAVING
TYPHUS, TYPHUS THAT HAS NOW
RESURFACED, BECAUSE OF LOTS OF
PEOPLE CONGREGATING, LOTS OF
STUFF CONGREGATING, LOTS OF
PEOPLE'S BELONGINGS, RIGHT?
AND THEN YOU END UP WITH
CRITTERS THAT SPREAD DISEASES.
SO ONE REASON WHY A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING SO LOW,
THEY ARE LIVING SO LOW IN A
TENT ON THE STREET IS BECAUSE
THEY WANT PRIVACY AND THEY WANT
TO HAVE THEIR BELONGINGS SAFE,
IF YOU SAY TO THEM, MOVE INTO A
SHELTER, THEY DON'T WANT TO
MOVE INTO A SHELTER WITH 100
OTHER PEOPLE, AND THEY WANT TO
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DO
ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY WERE
EITHER STUFF WILL BE STOLEN.
HOW COULD YOU EVEN SLEEP AND
FEEL SAFE ABOUT SLEEPING WHEN
YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE
STEALING HER BELONGINGS?
SO I THINK WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT
THE TINY HOUSE IS YOU DON'T
HAVE EVERYONE SHARING THE SAME,
LIKE IF SOMEONE HAS SOME
TERRIBLE DISEASE OR WHO IS
SICK, YOU ARE NOT BRINGING, YOU
ARE NOT SHARING OR BREATHING
THE SAME AIR.
EVERY TINY HOUSE IS OPEN TO THE
YOU KNOW, SO I THINK IT MAKES A
BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF
PEOPLE'S PRIVACY, YOU CAN LOCK
THE DOOR, YOU HAVE WINDOWS, YOU
HAVE HEAT, NO ONE WILL STEAL
YOUR STUFF.
SO IT IS A BIG, AND IF YOU LOOK
AT THE COST, KING COUNTY OPENED
UP THE JAIL AND THEY OPENED UP
HARBORVIEW HALL, THOSE WERE
VERY EXPENSIVE SO IF YOU LOOK
AT HAVING TO FIND A BUILDING,
RENOVATED UP TO STANDARD,
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY
YEARS, IF YOU LOOK AT BELLEVUE,
THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CITE A
SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN, IT
HAS TAKEN YEARS, RIGHT?
WHEREAS A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
CAN BE PUT TOGETHER IN THREE
MONTHS, AND YOU HAVE THE
VOLUNTEERS, YOU HAVE THE
COMMUNITY PEOPLE AND THEN THEY
ARE ON SKIDS SO YOU CAN MOVE
THEM, TAKE A FLATBED TRUCK AND
MOVE THEM TO THE NEXT VILLAGE
IF YOU WANT.
SO YOU CUT THROUGH ALL OF THE,
SOME OF THE BUREAUCRACY AROUND
BUILDING CODES, AND HAVING YOU
KNOW, A LARGE SHELTER, LIKE
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN ONE
SPACE.
>> SORRY, WE NEED TO ...
>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING REALLY
QUICK?
>> WE ARE VERY OVER TIME.
>> TO WHAT SHARON WAS SAYING
ALSO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT,
IF YOU PUT HOMELESS PEOPLE IN
ONE LITTLE YOU KNOW AREA, INTO
A BOX, INTO A GHETTO, WE KNOW
THAT GHETTOS DON'T WORK.
IT IS THE COMMUNITY THAT DOES
NOT GET TO SEE AND LEARN AND
GET MYTHS BROKEN ABOUT WHAT
HOMELESSNESS IS.
AND WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE,
BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS
AND IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, IT
COULD HAPPEN TO ME.
>> AT THIS RATE, THAT IS NOT
EVEN A MEDICAL -- A
METAPHORICAL THING TO SAY.
>> NO, IT IS NOT.
>> IT BREAKS THAT MISSED DOWN
AND PEOPLE START SEEING THAT
THIS IS NOT A BIG SCARY DEAL.
THESE ARE THE NEIGHBORS AND THE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE VALUE AND ARE
FUN TO HAVE AROUND.
>> THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, THE EXPERIENCE OF
HOMELESSNESS, IS DEVASTATING.
WE HAVE A MORAL AND POLITICAL
OBLIGATION AS A SOCIETY TO DO
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF THOSE
EXPERIENCES AND WHILE THAT
EXPERIENCE IS BEING HAD, TO
MAKE IT AS LAST LESS DRAMATIC
AS WE CAN.
THAT IS WHY THE TINY HOUSES ARE
PLAYING A ROLE.
I THINK YOU ALL AND ALSO PEOPLE
FROM I MEAN IF YOU WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE DON'T MAKE THIS
ABOUT LIHI, I THINK ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE PLAYED A
TREMENDOUS ROLE OVER THE YEARS
AND HUMANIZING THE STORIES OF
HOMELESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND
SPECIFICALLY DOING THE WORK
THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING ON THE
GROUND.
I THINK THAT, THE MOST POWERFUL
THING YOU ARE BRINGING IS THE
COMBINATION OF THE HUMANITY AND
THE ACTUAL EVIDENCE,
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE THAT THIS
WORKS.
AND ONE OTHER POINT I WOULD
ADD, OF THE QUESTION THAT
SHARON AND YOU'RE RESPONDED TO,
I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT THAT
THE QUESTION CAME UP, ONE OTHER
POINT I WOULD ADD, WHY YOU
SHOULD NOT JUST HAVE LIKE A BIG
BOX STORE AND HAVE BEDS THERE,
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE
POWERFUL ARGUMENTS THAT YOU MAY
SHARE ABOUT COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES, AND SECURITY FOR YOUR
BELONGINGS AND ALL OF THAT.
IT IS WHAT ABOUT WOMEN?
AS A WOMAN, IF I EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS, I WOULD BE
DEVASTATED IF SOMEBODY TOLD ME
THE BEST YOU CAN DO FOR ME IS
YOU KNOW, SLEEP IN THESE PUBLIC
ORDERS WHERE I DON'T KNOW IF I
WOULD BE SAFE OR NOT.
I MEAN I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS
IN ANY WAY OKAY FOR US TO SAY
THAT IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU
WOULDN'T WANT ON YOURSELF, YOU
HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THAT
SOMEBODY ELSE SHOULD PUT UP
WITH IT.
SO I THINK THAT TOGETHER, THIS
HAS MADE A STRONG CASE AND I
THINK THOSE QUESTIONS SHOULD
COME UP AND I WONDER IF IT WILL
MAKE SENSE TO PUT ALL OF THIS
INFORMATION TOGETHER ALSO SO
THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SEE IT,
AND REALLY ELIMINATE THIS KIND
OF PHOBIA, WHICH HAS NO BASIS
IN REALITY, I REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL OF THE ELOQUENT POINTS THAT
WERE MADE.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND OUT
OF RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE IN THE NEXT ITEM, JUST TWO
POINTS.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO OTHER
POINTS BEFORE BECAUSE THIS ITEM.
ONE, I WAS JUST MENTIONING
THIS, BEFORE WE STARTED OUR
MEETING, I WONDERED IF SHARON
WANTED TO BRIEFLY COMMENT ON
THIS, THE KING COUNTY SUPERIOR
CODE HAS DISMISSED THE LAWSUITS
FROM SAVE SEATTLE AGAINST THE
SOUTH LAKE UNION TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE, I THINK WHICH IS A
REALLY POSITIVE THING.
I APPRECIATE THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SHARING THIS
INFORMATION WITH US, ESPECIALLY
AS WE WERE IN ADVANCE OF THIS
MEETING.
I WONDERED IF YOU WANTED TO
COMMENT ON THAT, AND THEN
BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS ITEM, IF
YOU COULD BRIEFLY JUST TELL US
WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE, WHAT
TO EXPECT.
>> SURE, THE LEGISLATION IS AN
AMENDMENT TO THE LAND USE CODE
AND AS WITH EVERY AMENDMENT,
THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
PROCEDURAL FRICTION.
I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE
INTRODUCED THIS COMING MONDAY.
IS NOT, PROBABLY THE MONDAY
AFTER THAT.
EVERY PIECE OF LAND USE
LEGISLATION REQUIRES A PUBLIC
HEARING IN 30 DAYS NOTICE, IF
THAT HEARING IS BECAUSE THERE
IS A APPEAL, THEY CANNOT ACT
UNTIL THE APPEAL IS RESOLVED
AND THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME
UNCERTAINTY THERE AND WE WILL
HAVE MORE CLARIFICATION AFTER
THE 16th.
>> SEPTEMBER 16?
>> YES.
>> IN THE MEANWHILE, ALTHOUGH
THE COUNSEL IS NOT IN A POSITION
TO DO ANYTHING LEGISLATIVE, IN
TERMS OF WORDING ON THIS BILL,
WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION TODAY AND WE ARE
ABLE TO SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC
HEARING WHILE THE HEARING
EXAMINER IS DOING HIS WORK.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD TO
THE SCHEDULE.
MONDAY, AT THE PREHEARING
CONFERENCE, WE WILL FIND OUT
WHEN TO EXPECT THE HEARING,
COUNCIL WILL CONNECT AFTER THAT.
IN ORDER TO SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC
HEARING, COUNCILMEMBER SWAN HAS
PUT OUT A REQUEST TO SCHEDULE
THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
BECAUSE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NEEDS TO APPROVE IT OVER THESE
COMING MONTHS.
IT IS TENTATIVE, IT NEEDS TO BE
APPROVED.
IF IT IS APPROVED, THAT WOULD
BE ON OCTOBER 17.
THAT PUBLIC HEARING, SO PEOPLE
CAN START MARKING CALENDARS FOR
THAT.
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WORKING
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO COME.
>> YES.
AND I HOPE WE CAN YEAH, WE HAVE
THE PERMISSION FROM THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, BUT WE FEEL THAT IT
IS IMPORTANT TO DO IT NOW
BECAUSE IT ALSO HAS RELEVANCE TO
BUDGETARY ITEMS.
IT IS GOOD IF WE GET THE
CHANCE, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON
THIS.
AND CLOSING SHARON IF YOU
WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE
LAWSUIT.
>> YES I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE
LAWSUIT BUT I ALSO WANT TO
EMPHASIZE WHAT BARBARA HILL HAS
SAID.
YOUR PROPOSED ORDINANCE, ALLOWS
FOR UP TO 10 PEOPLE FOR THE
ADVISORY COUNCILS, RIGHT NOW,
THE ORDINANCE HAS SEVEN PEOPLE.
SO YOUR BILL WILL EXPAND IT, SO
THAT 10 PEOPLE WILL BE AN
ADVISORY CAPACITY INCLUDING
BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORS AND
CHURCH GROUPS, THAT CAN ASSIST
AND SUPPORT AND MONITOR THE
VILLAGES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT
COMMUNITY INPUT AND
PARTICIPATION IS GOING TO BE
EVEN GREATER UNDER YOUR
ORDINANCE.
WE WERE VERY PLEASED THAT THE
SAVE SEATTLE LAWSUIT, WAS
DISMISSED.
THERE WAS SUMMARY JUDGMENT, IT
WAS DISMISSED.
AND BASICALLY, SAVE SEATTLE HAD
FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY
AND LIHI AND WE DID A JOINT
DEFENSE, AND IT WAS AGAINST
LAKE UNION VILLAGE.
AND SO ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS
THEY MADE, WAS TO SAY THAT WE
WERE RUNNING AN ASSISTED LIVING
FACILITY WITHOUT STATE LICENSE
AND OF COURSE WE ARE NOT
RUNNING AN ASSISTED LIVING
FACILITY.
SO ANYWAY, IT WAS, THIS IS THE
SECOND TIME THAT A NUISANCE
LAWSUIT HAS BEEN DISMISSED.
AND SO IT IS A HASSLE, RIGHT?
IT IS A NUISANCE.
BUT WE ARE HAPPY THAT WE
PREVAILED.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
VERY IMPORTANT VICTORY FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY
WHO IS ADVOCATING FOR THEM.
AND YES, SO PLEASE STAY TUNED
FOR US TO CONFIRM THE DATE AND
TIME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT
WILL BE HERE OF COURSE AND
CHAMBERS.
AND TENTATIVELY, IT IS OCTOBER
17 AND LIKE I SAID, THOSE OF
YOU WHO ARE WATCHING THIS,
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THAT WE
WANT TO PUSH FORWARD THIS
ORDINANCE, BUT THIS WILL NOT
PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES WILL NEED
ESPECIALLY FOR CASE MANAGEMENT.
IN THAT SENSE IT DOES RELATE TO
THE BUDGET DISCUSSONS THAT THE
COUNSEL IS GOING INTO, AND I
INVITE EVERYBODY TO BRING THOSE
POINTS UP, THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
RALLY, THAT WE WILL BE DOING, I
DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A DATE
FOR THAT YET BUT WE WILL BE
ANNOUNCING NOT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE COMING NEXT FOR THE
DELAY BUT I HOPE YOU ARE STILL
ABLE TO FOR THE NEXT ITEM, IF
YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
THANK YOU ALL, IT WAS A REALLY
GOOD DISCUSSION.
>> ONCE AGAIN, APOLOGIES TO YOU
ALL, WE WERE LATE, BUT I
THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY USEFUL
AND EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSION.
APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS INCLUDING FROM
NICHOLASVILLE WHO ARE STILL
WAITING HERE.
CAN WE HAVE A BRIEF ONE
SENTENCE INTRODUCTION AND THEN
YOU CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
>> ELIANA, I AM THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
>> I AM SEAN SMITH, I AM THE
ELECTED EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
COORDINATOR FOR OCCUPIED
VILLAGES.
>> WHEN I DID THE AGENDA ...
I SAID I WAS A NORTHLAKE.
FOR THE RECORD.
>> HE DID CORRECT IT IN THE
NOTES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE
MEETING.
>> THEY ARE A LOVELY GROUP OF
PEOPLE.
IT IS AN HONOR TO GET
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, HOWEVER
BRIEFLY.
>> I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS SOME
ASPECTS OF THE TINY HOUSE
PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF MOVING
TESTIMONY TODAY.
ABOUT WHY TINY HOUSES ARE
NEEDED.
ESPECIALLY FOR COUPLES AND
FAMILIES.
AND PET OWNERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE
ABLE TO USE TRADITIOAL
SHELTERS.
AS YOU HAVE ALSO HEARD, THEY GO
REALLY FAR BEYOND THOSE ISSUES
OF CAPACITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT COST-
EFFECTIVENESS, BUT FAR BEYOND
THAT, WE HAVE SEEN THE AMAZING
HARM REDUCTION THAT COMES FROM
IT, AND WE HAVE HEARD
ESPECIALLY FROM SOME OF THE
WHITTIER HEIGHTS RESIDENTS
TODAY, WHOWERE TALKING ABOUT
SOME OF THE TRAUMA THEY HAVE
EXPERIENCED AND HOW AMAZING IT
WAS FOR THEM TO BE FINDING
COMMUNITY, FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE
FROM ON HOUSE TO HOUSE AND
BARBARA WAS REFERRING TO THIS
AS WELL.
THERE OFTEN REALLY NEEDS TO BE
HEALING AND SKILL BUILDING AS
WELL AS ALL OF THE PRACTICAL
PIECES THAT CASE MANAGERS MIGHT
HELP WITH AND THE ISOLATION
TRAUMA AND DISEMPOWERMENT OF
HOMELESSNESS ARE PROFOUND.
AND OFTEN NEED TO BE REPAIRED.
SOMETHING THAT PARTICULARLY THE
SELF MANAGED VILLAGE MODEL HAS
PROVEN AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE AT
ADDRESSING.
WE HEARD SO MUCH TODAY ABOUT
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.
AND THE COMMUNITY BUILDING.
SO WHAT I HAVE SEEN THE MOST OF
IS I HAVE OBSERVED HOW
NICHOLASVILLE APPROACH HAS
SUPPORTED RESIDENCE DEVELOPING
A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND
WE TALKED ABOUT THE SELF-
MANAGEMENT, I AM HOPING THAT IN
A MINUTE SEAN WILL SPEAK ABOUT
SOME OF THE SPECIFICS ABOUT
WHAT MAKES THE NICHOLASVILLE
DIRECT DEMOCRACY AND THEIR
APPROACH TO SELF-MANAGEMENT
UNIQUE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTCOME I
HAVE SEEN FROM THE VILLAGES, IS
THE GROWTH AND EMPOWERMENT THAT
COMES FROM HAVING REAL AGENCY
IN ONE'S LIFE AND FUTURE.
MENTORSHIP FROM THOSE WITH
EXPERIENCE AND MEANINGFUL WORK
BUILDING, SO SEAN, DO YOU WANT
TO?
>> SURE.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT
MANY YEARS AGO, I HAD THE GREAT
FORTUNE OF WORKING WITH HIM, HE
BECAME A MENTOR OF MINE.
WHEN I FIRST REACHED HIM, I WAS
SUBJECTED TO THIS IDEA OF
COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING THAT WAS FOREIGN TO
MY EXISTENCE.
AND I REMEMBER THAT SITTING IN
A FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING THERE,
HOW INCREDIBLY EMPOWERING IT
FELT, HOW LIBERATING AND
RELIEVING IT FELT TO BE HAVING
MY VOICE HEARD.
I FOUND OUT AGAIN IN
NICHOLASVILLE, BOTH DEMOCRACIES
OR PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN THEIR
COMMUNITIES, THEY ARE MAKING
THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR
LIVES.
THIS GIVES THEM SELF AGENCY.
THAT SELF AGENCY GIVES THEM THE
SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO SELF
MANAGE.
SELF-MANAGEMENT IS WHAT IS
NEEDED WHEN THEY MOVE ON TO
PERMANENT HOUSING.
THEY NO LONGER HAVE THE SUPPORT
OF A VILLAGE AND BEHIND THEM
ONCE THEY ARE INTO AN
APARTMENT, THEY NEED THOSE
SKILLS.
IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT STARTS WITH THE SIMPLE
THINGS, LIKE SECURITY.
SECURITY GIVING THEM A SENSE
THAT THEY ARE PART OF SOMETHING.
THAT NOTHING IS FOR FREE.
AND THAT WORK MOVING FORWARD,
AND THEN THEY GET TO HELP MAKE
DECISIONS REGARDING HOW THAT
SECURITY WORKS.
THEN THEY GET TO MAKE DECISIONS
ON HOW THAT VILLAGE MOVES
FORWARD, IT IS INCREDIBLY
EMPOWERING, AND IS SOMETHING
THAT IS UNDERESTIMATED.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
MEASURED.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT, A NUMBER
OF US ON THE DIFFERENT BOARDS,
WE HEAR PEOPLE COME AND TELL US
WHAT IT WAS FOR THEM, TO BE
WORKING SECURITIES AND TAKING
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELL-
BEING OF THE VILLAGE, AND
MAKING THE DECISIONS ABOUT IT.
AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO
WATCH.
THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE SEEN
FROM THE OUTSIDE HERE, WATCHING
WITH NICHOLASVILLE, IS THE
EFFECT NOT JUST OF THE
COMMUNITY AT ONE VILLAGE, BUT
OF BEING PART OF A UNION SO TO
SPEAK.
THE NICHOLASVILLE, FOR MANY
PEOPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN
ISOLATION, EXPERIENCING TRAUMAS
IS A PLACE WHERE THEY COME
TOGETHER AND HAVE BUILT
COLLECTIVE POWER.
AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME AS A
GROUP AND ADVOCATE FOR THE
NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IT IS ALSO BEEN REALLY AMAZING
TO SEE HOW THE DIFFERENT
VILLAGES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
THROUGH HAVING THE COLLECTIVE
ORGANIZING.
AND BE ABLE TO SHARE TOOLS AND
APPROACHES THAT WORK FOR THEIR
VILLAGES.
>> SPECIFICALLY ON THAT, CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW
DO THE RESIDENCE ACROSS
DIFFERENT TINY HOUSE VILLAGES
GET TOGETHER, LIKE WHAT ARE
THERE, LIKE DO THEY HAVE
REGULAR OCCASIONS LIKE
BREAKFAST MEETINGS?
WHAT CONTEXT, DO THEY COME
TOGETHER?
>> ON A WEEKLY BASIS, WE COME
TOGETHER AS AN ORGANIZATION.
WE CALL IT THE NICHOLASVILLE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
IT IS WHEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM
ALL OF THE VILLAGES COME
TOGETHER, AND COLLECTIVELY WE
DISCUSSED WHAT IS AFFECTING AN
ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.
WHAT WEAKNESSES, OR PROBLEMS
ARE FACING EACH VILLAGE?
AND HOW AS A COMMUNITY, AS A
WHOLE, WE CAN RESPOND?
IT GOES BACK TO WHAT ELIANA WAS
SAYING, THAT FAT IN IT SELF,
GIVES AGENCIES IN A BROADER
CONTEXT, THEN JUST WORKING IN
THE VILLAGE.
>> I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO BE
ABLE TO ATTEND SOME OF THOSE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND
GET TO SEE MESSY DEMOCRACY IN
ACTION, WHICH IS ALWAYS VERY
BEAUTIFUL.
AND SEE PEOPLE WORKING THROUGH
THEIR SHARED CONCERNS AND THE
CONCERNS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL
VILLAGES.
IT HAS BEEN AMAZING.
>> THAT IS GREAT.
>> THE POINT YOU ARE RAISING
THAT IT IS LIKE A UNION, I
THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE I MEAN IN THE LAST
DISCUSSION WE TALKED ABOUT HOW
INNOVATIVE THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE THAT SEATTLE HAS ARE
AND HOW PEOPLE AROUND THE
COUNTRY ARE COMING AND LOOKING
AT THEM.
IT IS NOT LIKE SOMETHING LIKE
THAT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE.
THERE WAS THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF
BECAUSE NICHOLASVILLE, WE ARE
EMPOWEREDPEOPLE AND WE ARE
LIKE A UNION, IT WAS A PLACE
THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE COULD COME
AND FIGHT FOR A MODEL THAT
WOULD WORK.
AND IT WAS A FIGHT.
NICHOLS WILL PROBABLY WOULD NOT
HAVE HAPPENED IF NICHOLASVILLE
HADN'T BEEN THERE TO FIGHT FOR
IT.
NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
EXPANDING IT, I MEAN THAT SAME
ORGANIZED FORCE IS NEEDED.
>> THAT DEMOCRACY GOES BACK
SEVERAL DECADES.
IT STARTED AT THE BASE OF THE
KINGDOM.
THE MAYOR, RICE, WAS SHUTTING
DOWN SERVICES IN THE CITY.
AND TRYING TO FORCE POOR FOLKS
OUT.
PEOPLE BANDED TOGETHER, BECAUSE
WE ARE SAFE AND SECURE TOGETHER.
AND WE FOUGHT.
WE STAYED IN FOR BROKEN DOWN
MASS STYLE ARMY TENDS, TRUDGED
THROUGH SIX MONTHS OF RAIN AND
MUD AND FROM THAT, THE A LOW
HOT AND WAS BORN.
THE INDOOR SHELTERS WERE BORN.
AND ACTUALLY, LIHI WAS BORN.
WITH PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SHARE
AND THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
SERVICES.
I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IN THE
RHETORIC, WE FORGET THAT
HISTORY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER.
AND THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING
TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE
I DON'T FORESEE ANY SHORT TERM
AND TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR
STATE, OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HOMELESSNESS IS ON THE RISE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IS AN EPIDEMIC, DUE TO HIGH
PRICING.
>> YES.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT
ONE OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT
HAS HAPPENED AS WE HAVE HAD
MORE SANCTION OPPORTUNITIES
COME OUT IS WE HAVE SEEN
DIFFERENT MODELS HAPPENING,
THAT MEET DIFFERENT NEEDS.
BEFORE I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE
CAC I DID A LOT OF WORK
SUPPORTING UNSANCTIONED
ENCAMPMENTS AND YOU PROBABLY
SEE ME IN HERE WITH HOUSING FOR
ALL AND OPPOSING SWEEPS AND
OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE COULD HEAR FROM PEOPLE ON
THE STREETS, A RANGE OF
EXPERIENCES FOR WHAT TYPES OF
SUPPORTS THEY FELT WOULD WORK
FOR THEM AND HOW THEY FELT
ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT
PROVIDERS.
AND SO I THINK IT IS A STRENGTH
HERE, THAT WE ARE SEEING
MULTIPLE MODELS.
IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
HOPE WE CAN PRESERVE AS WE
SCALE UP THIS MODEL.
WHITTIER HEIGHTS HAS A VERY
UNIQUE APPROACH AND THEY ARE
DEALING WITH A HIGHER NEED
COMMUNITY, AND WE HEARD AMAZING
TESTIMONIALS TODAY AND SOME
TESTIMONY FROM JEAN, ON THE CAC
ABOUT HOW AMAZING THAT HAS AND
FOR PEOPLE.
WE HAVE HEARD THINGS WITH HELP
HAPPY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WITH
GEORGETOWN'S MODEL.
WE HAVE ALSO HEARD THE
PASSIONATE STATEMENTS FROM
FOLKS AT NICHOLASVILLE WHO WANT
THE CHANCE TO MAINTAIN THEIR
FORM.
OF SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THEIR
MODEL OF CARE.
I AM EXCITED TO SEE US TRY TO
SCALE UP SOMETHING THAT HAS HAD
SO MANY AMAZING SUCCESSES, BUT
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE DON'T TRY TO TURN INTO A
COOKIE-CUTTER MODEL.
>> YES, THAT IS A VERY
IMPORTANT POINT YOU ARE MAKING.
>> SOME DIVERSITY OF TAXES.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THE MANY IDEAS THAT ARE BEING
TRIED OUT AND THEY ARE
WORKING, IT IS NOT JUST ONE
THING.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I FEEL
LIKE WE COULD HAVE A VERY LONG
DISCUSSION ON THE HISTORY AND I
DON'T ME NOT IN A BAD WAY.
IT WOULD BE VERY ENJOYABLE TO
ACTUALLY HAVE YOU KNOW, A
BIGGER DISCUSSION ON HISTORY AND
THEY MADE A GOOD POINT, THAT
THE BRIEF POINTS AND THE MEMO
DON'T ACTUALLY CAPTURE WHERE
THIS IS YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAME
FROM YOU KNOW, BASICALLY A
GROUP OF COURAGEOUS PEOPLE
OCCUPYING CITY LAND WITHOUT
PERMISSION FOR THE TENT
ENCAMPMENTS, FOR SOMETHING THAT
IS WORKING BETTER BUT WITHOUT A
STARTING POINT WE WOULDN'T BE
HERE.
HOWEVER, IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, TWO POINTS WE SHOULD
COVER TODAY BEFORE WE ADJOURN,
IS 1, AS WE HAVE SAID BOTH LIHI
AND NICHOLS WILL HAVE DONE
AMAZING WORK.
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO DO IMPORTANT WORK.
AND WE NEED TO FIND SOME
RESOLUTION TO THE CURRENT
SITUATION THAT WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD.
AND I WANTED TO GIVE SOME TIME
TO YOU ALL, TO SEE, FOR US TO
HEAR I BELIEVE NICHOLASVILLE
HAS A PROPOSAL TO EXPLAIN THAT
PROPOSAL AND THEN THIRD POINT
WE SHOULD COVER BEFORE WE
ADJOURN, IS SOMETHING I HAD
MENTIONED IN MY INITIAL REMARKS
WHEN WE STARTED THE MEETING,
WHICH IS THAT ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS TO WHICH ALL OF THIS
DISPUTE IS EMERGING, IS THE
FACT THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
IS NOT PLAYING A MUCH MORE
ACTIVE ROLE IN CONFLICT
RESOLUTION AND GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURES AND THERE IS REALLY
NO PROCESS BEING SET UP FOR
THAT AT ALL, AND MAYBE YOU HAVE
IDEAS FOR THAT.
AND SO IF YOU CAN BOTH WEIGH IN
ON BOTH TOPICS.
>> SURE.
I WILL START WITH NICHOLS BILLS
PROPOSAL.
WE HAVE HAD A LONG RELATIONSHIP
WITH LIHI.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE BOTH
KNOW THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP HAS
REACHED ITS FRUITION.
AND AS SUCH, IT IS TIME FOR US
TO PART WAYS.
WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU GIVE US
CONTROL OF NORTHLAKE.
WE WILL FIND A RELIGIOUS
ENCAMPMENT SPONSOR AND RUN THE
CAMP THE WAY IT HAS BEEN
RUNNING, SINCE IT'S INCEPTION.
HELP US FIND A PIECE OF LAND
FOR THOSE OF US AND WE WILL
FIND A RELIGIOUS SPONSOR AND
START ANEW WITH THE FOLKS THAT
WANT TO LEAVE AND WORK IN THE
NICHOLASVILLE MODEL.
WE ARE ASKING THAT WE CONTINUE
TO OPERATE THE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE AT 22nd AND UNION.
THE WAY THAT IT HAS BEEN
OPERATING FOR YEARS.
WHICH IS UNDER THE RELIGIOUS
ENCAMPMENTS ORDINANCE.
AS FAR AS THINGS THAT NEED TO
HAPPEN, THERE NEEDS TO BE A
CLEAR-CUT GRIEVANCE PROCESS
BUILT INTO THE CITY AND PRESENT
HSD HAS NO CLEAR CAN'T
GRIEVANCE PROCESS.
THERE IS NOBODY TO FIELD
QUESTIONS OR GRIEVANCES
REGARDING HSD VENDORS.
MOVING FORWARD, THERE NEEDS TO
BE SOMETHING AS SUCH.
EACH OPERATOR SHOULD BE REQUIRED
TO HAVE CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT
GRIEVANCE PROCESSES.
AND BENCHMARKS SHOULD BE MADE.
REQUIRING THOSE FOLKS TO
UTILIZE THOSE PRACTICES.
>> I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR THE
PROPOSAL THAT NICHOLASVILLE IS
MAKING FOR A RESOLUTION.
I REALLY HOPE FOR MEDIATION, I
HAVE PASSIONATELY BELIEVED THAT
WITH A REALLY GOOD MEDIATOR,
THAT FOLKS COULD DIG DOWN AND
ADDRESS THE DIFFERENT NEEDS AND
FEARS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF
LIHI AND THEIR ROLE IN THE
MIDDLE WITH THE PRESSURES THAT
THEY HAVE FROM HSD FOR CERTAIN
PERFORMANCE METRICS.
AND THE FACT THEY ARE HOLDING,
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ON
THE LINE.
FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE.
BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME, THE
COUNCIL HAS BEEN THANK YOU,
AMAZING, AND SUPPORTING THE
RESIDENCE CALL FOR MEDIATION,
BUT I UNDERSTAND IT IS A
DIFFICULT THING TO MAKE HAPPEN
AND THERE ISN'T SUPPORT FROM
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR
THAT.
AND WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, LIHI
WILL CONTINUE AS THEY ARE SO I
AM EXCITED THAT WE COULD FIND A
RESOLUTION THAT LEAVES LIHI TO
CONTINUE MANAGING THE SITE THAT
THEY ARE ON RIGHT NOW FOR A
FELLOW VILLAGE AND FOR THERE TO
BE A SPACE FOR THE RESIDENCE
WHO WISH TO LEAVE TO BE ABLE TO
LEAVE AND CONTINUE THE
MANAGEMENT STYLE THAT THEY
SIGNED UP FOR IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
NORTHLAKE IS AN AMAZING
COMMUNITY.
I AM NOT ON THEIR MIDI AS WE
SAID BUT I HAVE HAD A CHANCE, I
WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A CHANGE OF
RESIDENCE TO QUALIFY.
BUT, THAT IS AN AMAZING
COMMUNITY THEY HAVE BUILT THERE
AND THE RESIDENCE THEY ARE
STILL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT
CONTINUING WITH THE COMMUNITY
THEY HAVE BUILT AND THE STYLE
THEY HAVE BUILT IT.
SO I THINK FINDING A RELIGIOUS
SPONSOR AND ENABLING THEM TO
CONTINUE, I DON'T THINK THEY
ARE ASKING FOR CITY FUNDS FOR
THAT, IT WOULD BE TO RELY THEN
ON THE SUPPORT OF THE LARGER
COMMUNITY.
THAT WOULD MEET THOSE NEEDS.
>> I THINK WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM
A, FROM A RELIGIOUS SPONSOR OR
SOMEBODY WHO WAS VOLUNTEERING
TO BE THE RELIGIOUS SPONSOR FOR
THE NORTHLAKE SITE.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMEBODY
WHO IS VERY INTERESTED.
>> OH GOOD.
>> TO ADDRESS THE OTHER ISSUE,
THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK
GOES A LITTLE DEEPER THAN THAT.
AND IS THE THING THAT I FELT I
HAVE SAID THE MOST OFTEN SINCE
I HAVE BEEN ON THE CIC, WHICH
IS THAT THE VOICES OF THE
PEOPLE PRIMARILY IMPACTED HAVE
NOT BEEN BEING INCLUDED, THIS
IS AMAZING THAT SEAN IS HERE AT
THE TABLE AT THE LAST MEETING I
WAS AT THE TABLE AND A RESIDENT
FROM A FELLOW VILLAGE WAS NOT
FOR TALKING ABOUT A FELLOW
VILLAGE ISSUES AND ALL THROUGH
THE PLANNING PROCESS, THERE
WILL BE TALK WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO WILL GET BROUGHT
INTO THE CONVERSATION, NOT WITH
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRIMARILY
IMPACTED.
WHEN WE DEAL WITH QUESTIONS
THAT COME UP ALONG THE WAY,
ABOUT HOW THE VILLAGE IS
WORKING, THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT WILL NOT TALK TO THE
RESIDENCE.
THEY WILL ONLY SPEAK TO THE
SERVICE PROVIDER.
AND THAT IS REALLY SHOCKING TO
ME.
THAT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE GOOD
PRACTICE FOR HOW THESE THINGS
SHOULD WORK.
AND WHEN WE DEAL WITH GRIEVANCE
PROCESSES ALSO, WE ARE NOT
GETTING ADEQUATE VOICES OF THE
COMMUNITIES.
BARBARA ALLUDED TO THE
FRUSTRATIONS THAT MANY OF US
FEEL, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO THE
CITY.
AND WE HAVE TROUBLE GETTING HSD
TO EVEN HEAR WHAT WE ARE SAYING
AND RESPOND TO IT LET ALONE
ACTUALLY TAKE ANY OF THE ADVICE
OR INSIGHTS THAT WE HAVE TO
SHARE, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE AT
THE 30,000 FOOT VIEW, WHERE YOU
ARE LOOKING AND POLICY-SETTING
AND THE BUDGET AND ALL OF THE
BIG PICTURE LOOK, THE RESIDENTS
ARE THERE ON THE GROUND WITH THE
LIFT EXPERIENCE, THOSE OF US
WHO WERE THERE TRYING TO
SUPPORT THEM ARE SEEING A LOT
OF THAT IN THE WEEDS THINGS AND
I THINK HAVE INSIGHTS TO OFFER
THAT AREN'T BEING INCLUDED IN
THE GRIEVANCE POLICY ISSUE IS
ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THOSE.
>> IT IS FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE.
>> IT IS A MATTER OF PROCESS.
>> ABOUT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A
GOOD PROCESS THAT INCLUDES
PEOPLE IN THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
WHAT IS HAPPENING, RATHER THAN
TELLING PEOPLE WHAT YOU ARE
GOING TO DO TO THEM OR FOR
THEM.
I KNOW THAT IS A VALUE, THAT
THE COUNCIL HOLDS.
IT IS A MATTER OF HOW DO WE SET
UP GOOD PROCESS TO ENACT THOSE
VALUES, THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS
ISSUE IS ONE THAT IT IS HARD
FOR ME TO TALK CALMLY ABOUT.
IT WAS REALLY SHOCKING TO ME.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CALM.
>> I AM GOING TO TRY TO BECALM
BECAUSE IT IS EASIER TO BE
COHERENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET THESE
POINTS ACROSS.
IT WAS SHOCKING TO ME TO COME
ONTO THE CIC AND HAVE RESIDENTS
TELL ME THAT THEY WOULD REACH
OUT TO TRY TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF
STAFF MEMBER MISCONDUCT BOTH
WITHIN THE AGENCY AND TO THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND
NOT BE ABLE TO GET A WAY TO
HAVE THAT, TO HAVE THE ACTION
BE TAKEN ON THAT IN A TIMELY
SATISFYING FASHION.
AND I LOOKED AT THAT AND I SAID
HOW IS IT THAT WE HAVE CITY
FUNDED SERVICES AND RECIPIENTS
OF THOSE SERVICES DON'T HAVE A
WAY TO COMPLAIN IF THEY ARE
EXPERIENCING WHAT THEY BELIEVE
IS MISCONDUCT.
I THINK IT IS SHOCKING THAT IT
IS BEING PLACED ON, IT IS IN
THE CONTRACTS FOR THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS THAT THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO HAVE A GRIEVANCE
POLICY, THERE HAS NOT BEEN
ADEQUATE OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE
THAT THERE IS A GOOD POLICY AND
úTHAT IT IS BEING FOLLOWED AND
HOW ARE THOSE THINGS WORKING
OUT?
I THINK IT IS REPREHENSIBLE, TO
PUT THAT ON THE ALREADY PRINTED
SERVICE PROVIDERS WITHOUT
HAVING THEIR ALSO BE A
COMPREHENSIVE CITY PLAN WAY OF
ENSURING THE GOOD PRACTICE IS
HAPPENING.
SO THERE IS THAT.
I KNOW THAT SHE SPOKE ABOUT
WANTING TO SEE SOMETHING ABOUT
THAT COME INTO THIS NEXT BUDGET
CYCLE TO BE LOOKING AT
SOMETHING THAT IS EXTERNAL TO
THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES, I HEAR
FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN
SHELTERS OR ON THE STREET AS
úWELL.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE
COMMUNITIES.
WHO HAVE THEIR BACKS.
TO BE ABLE TO FEEL MORE
CONFIDENT IN RAISING THEIR
CONCERNS.
BUT AS WE SCALE UP, AND ARE
PROVIDING SERVICES, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO
PROTECTING THE PEOPLE RECEIVING
THE SERVICES AND ALSO FRANKLY,
PROTECTING THE REPUTATIONS OF
THE SERVICE PROVIDERS AS WELL.
WITHOUT A WAY TO DO A FAIR
APPROPRIATE INVESTIGATION OF
GRIEVANCES WE END UP WITH
SWIRLING RUMORS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT SEEMS LIKE BASIC FRAMEWORK
THAT NEEDS TO BE, THAT NEEDS TO
EXIST.
>> YES.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
WITHOUT THAT KIND OF FRAMEWORK,
EVERYTHING DISSOLVES INTO JUST
PROBABLY NOT VERY HELPFUL
CONVERSATIONS BUT STILL
LEGITIMATE THAT PEOPLE ARE
COMPLAINING BUT THEN THERE HAS
TO BE A CHANNEL FOR THE
COMPLAINTS TO BE ADDRESSED.
>> YES, A TRANSPARENT ONE.
THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT ARE
THE COMPLAINTS, HOW ARE THEY
BEING ADDRESSED.
THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT AND SAY
HEY, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS.
HOW IS THAT HAPPENING?
>> IT MAY SEEM A LITTLE
GRANULAR, BUT PATHWAYS HOME SAYS
THAT WE SHOULD BE UTILIZING A
PERSON CENTERED APPROACH.
HOW CAN YOU SAY WE ARE USING A
PERSON CENTERED APPROACH, YOU
ARE NOT TALKING TO THE PEOPLE,
WHEN YOU'RE NOT HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF
MISCONDUCT?
>> I AM GOING TO GIVE AN
EXAMPLE FROM A VILLAGE THAT IS
NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE.
THERE IS A VILLAGE THAT HAS NOW
BEEN CLOSED DOWN WHERE THERE
WERE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE
BROUGHT OUT, THIS IS A MATTER
OF PUBLIC RECORD AT THIS POINT
WHICH IS WHY I AM CHOOSING THIS
EXAMPLE.
YOU HAD ONE OF A STUDENT WHO
WAS SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT THE
RESULTS OF THE STUDY THAT THEY
WERE DOING.
AS PART OF THAT STUDY THEY
UNCOVERED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT BY A CASE MANAGER.
AND THEY WERE TRYING TO GET
THOSE ALLEGATIONS ELEVATED.
AND RAN INTO A LOT OF
DIFFICULTY.
AND HAVING THEIR BE A GOOD
PROCESS, FOR HOW THAT WAS
INVESTIGATED, AND HOW PEOPLE'S
CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED AND
THAT PERSON WERE MADE EMPLOYED
FOR SOMETIME AFTER THAT, THEY
NO LONGER ARE EMPLOYED BY ANY
SERVICE PROVIDER, THAT I KNOW
OF, BUT IT WAS A VERY LONG TIME
AND THERE WAS A POINT IN THE
EXCHANGES THAT GOT SHARED WITH
THE CITY, AND PUBLICLY, WHERE
IT MIGHT'VE BEEN THE DOCTOR AND
HERSELF, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN ONE
OF HER STUDENTS, SAID YOU DO
REALIZE THAT TALKING TO THE
PERSON ACCUSED DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN INVESTIGATION OF
THESE ALLEGATIONS.
AND THAT SHOULD NEED TO BE SAID
IS VERY TROUBLING.
AND I PLACE THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THAT, NOT ON ANY INDIVIDUAL
SERVICE PROVIDER ORGANIZATION,
BUT ON THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN
ENSURING THAT THERE WAS A WAY
FOR THESE TO BE ADDRESSED.
THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT
SOMEBODY AT A FELLOW VILLAGE
THAT WERE BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO
HSD EMPLOYEES, AND THERE WAS NOT
NODDING AND THE REST OF IT BUT
THERE WAS NO HERE'S A PLAN FOR
HOW WE WILL INVESTIGATE THESE
CONCERNS.
AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE
PROPERLY ADDRESSED.
AFTER THE FACT THERE WAS NO
COMING BACK AND SAYING HERE IS
HOW WE RESPONDED TO YOUR
CONCERNS, HERE IS WHAT WE
DISCOVERED, HERE ARE THE
REMEDIES WE ARE GOING TO PUT IN
PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN FEEL SAFE
MOVING FORWARD.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I
WOULD EXPECT.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I
THINK WHEN WE SET UP PROGRAMS,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET BUILT
INTO THEM, THAT WE DON'T FARM
IT OUT, TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
CONTRACTORS, TO EACH COME UP
WITH THEIR OWN PROCESS FOR IT.
WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HARD IF
PEOPLE MOVE FROM PROGRAM TO
PROGRAM, IT IS HARD ENOUGH TO
ACCESS THESE.
>> IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT
FOR TRANSPARENCY.
>> VERY DIFFICULT.
>> LIKE YOU SAID, ULTIMATELY IT
ALSO ENDS UP PUTTING A BURDEN
ON THE REPUTATIONS OF THE
AGENCIES, MANY OF WHOM ARE
TRYING TO DO REALLY IMPORTANT
WORK, BUT VERY SINCERELY, SO
...
>> I'VE NOT ENCOUNTERED ANYBODY
IN THE WORK I AM DOING THAT I
DON'T BELIEVE IS SINCERELY
DEDICATED TO TRYING TO ADDRESS
THE PROBLEMS.
I HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
ABOUT STRATEGY OR APPROACH WITH
SOME OF THEM BUT THE SINCERITY
OF PEOPLE'S DESIRE TO BE TRYING
TO ADDRESS THINGS AND ADDRESS
THEM FAIRLY IS GENUINE I
BELIEVE.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO I KNOW WE NEED TO TALK
MORE ABOUT THIS AND I WILL BE
PLANNING TO SCHEDULE THIS IN
UPCOMING COMMITTEES, BUT JUST
VERY QUICKLY BEFORE WE CLOSE,
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR NICHOLS WILL
AND ANYBODY ELSE, ANY OF THE
OTHER ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS,
WHO WANT TO JOIN IN THIS EFFORT,
CAN YOU WRITE A MEMO OR LETTER,
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT
AND SEND IT TO MY OFFICE
EXPLAINING I MEAN I AM TALKING
ABOUT TWO SEPARATE LETTERS OR
MEMOS.
ONE ON WHY YOU THINK THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IN THE HUMAN
SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT
PLAYED THE KIND OF ROLE THEY
NEED TO PLAY.
AND NOT OFFLOAD ALL THE BURDEN
ON AGENCIES IN TERMS OF REALLY
GIVING VOICE TO THE RESIDENCE
OR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING
THESE SERVICES, YOU NEED TO BE
HEARD THE MOST.
AND WITH THE GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURE BEING ONE EXAMPLE,
BUT ALSO IN THAT LETTER IF YOU
COULD HIGHLIGHT SEAN MADE A
VERY IMPORTANT POINT WHICH IS
THAT IT SAYS WE NEED A PERSON
CENTERED APPROACH BUT WE DON'T
HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED
TO BRING THAT OUT.
IF YOU COULD WRITE THAT AND THE
OTHER THING I READ WHAT CREST
YOU SEND ME ALSO, IS YOUR
PROPOSAL IN WRITING, LIKE WHY
YOU BELIEVE THAT AT THIS MOMENT,
THE PROPOSAL AS YOU STATED IN
TERMS OF SORT OF PARTING WAYS
FOR NOW, BETWEEN NICHOLASVILLE
AND LIHI BUT ALSO STATING THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY
TO GO AND THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WORKS TOGETHER IN THE PAST,
AS SEAN SAID, WE BELIEVE THEY
WILL BE WORKING IN THE FUTURE.
ALSO TOGETHER, BECAUSE THIS
PROBLEM IS NOT GOING AWAY BUT
RIGHT NOW, YOU FEEL THIS
PROPOSAL IS THE MOST SENSIBLE
THING FOR US TO HAVE.
>> I WANT TO THROW OUT ONE
THING THAT WASN'T ON YOUR LIST
THAT I KNOW I MENTIONED.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED IN
THE COMING BUDGET CYCLE IS TO
LOOK AT THE METRICS OF SUCCESS
FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND I
BELIEVE THE COUNCILMEMBER
ALLUDED TO IT, EARLIER AND I
KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS PARTICULARLY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED IT, THAT RIGHT NOW WE
ARE MEASURING, SOLELY BY EXIT
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.
THAT IS LEAVING OUT A LOT OF
THE GOOD WORK THAT IS BEING
DONE.
>> YES.
>> IT IS ALSO CREATING
PRESSURES ON THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO MAKE CHOICES THAT
MIGHT NOT BE IN THE BEST
INTEREST ULTIMATELY.
>> YES.
>> SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS TO
CONCENTRATE ON CLIENTS WHO ARE
MORE EASY TO TRANSITION
THROUGH, BECAUSE THERE IS SO
MUCH PRESSURE, TO GENERATE
THOSE METRICS.
>> BECAUSE OF THAT PROBABLY THE
MORE VULNERABLE PEOPLE END UP
FACING LONGER BOUTS OF
HOMELESSNESS OR WORSE
EXPERIENCES THAN THEY WOULD IF
THE AGENCIES WERE FREE TO
PROVIDE SERVICES.
>> THE CASE MANAGERS THEMSELVES
ARE PLACED IN A VERY DIFFICULT
POSITION FOR THE SUCCESS OF
THEIR WORK.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT IS
IMPORTANT IN HELPING PEOPLE
RESUME THEIR EDUCATIONS.
TO GET A JOB, TO GET MEDICAL
CARE, ALL OF THOSE CRITICAL
THINGS THAT WILL MOVE PEOPLE
FORWARD IN THEIR LIFE.
AND MEASURING IT JUST, WHAT I
WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THAT THAT
CONNECTS TO THE PERSON CENTERED
APPROACH, IS THERE WAS A GREAT
LIST THAT WAS IN A PREVIOUS
SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING THAT
WAS GENERATED BY SUGGESTIONS
FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS.
IT WAS REALLY MOVING IN A GOOD
DIRECTION, I WANTED TO SUGGEST
TO THAT THERE ALSO BE OUTREACH
TO SOME OF THE IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES, IN THE SHELTERS IN
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, OTHER
RECIPIENTS OF THINGS UNDER THAT
CATEGORY TO LOOK AT WHAT METRICS
ARE MEANINGFUL TO THE PEOPLE
RECEIVING THE SERVICES, THAT
MAKE THEM FEEL THIS AGENCY,
THIS CASE MANAGER, IS DOING AN
INCREDIBLE JOB HELPING ME FEEL
SUPPORTED.
CONNECTED TO THAT, HSD RECENTLY
DID A PROGRAM REVIEW, ON THE
SUCCESS OF THE VILLAGES.
TO DO THAT, THEY SPOKE WITH A
SERVICE PROVIDER EMPLOYEE, AND
CASE MANAGERS AND THEY REVIEWED
CASE FILES, AT NO POINT WAS
PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION OR
EXPERIENCE A MEASURE THAT WAS
BEING LOOKED AT, TO DETERMINE
THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.
AND I FIND THAT SHOCKING.
>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING,
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
AND IN FACT, IF YOU COULD
INCORPORATE THESE POINTS ALSO
IN THE FIRST MEMO OR LETTER I
MENTIONED, BECAUSE LIKE YOU
SAID IT IS NOT JUST THE
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING
AS FUNDAMENTAL AS THE METRICS
OR MEASURES USED TO EVALUATE
EFFECTIVENESS AND IF WE HAVE A
PROBLEM THERE, WE HAVE A VERY
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM, AND WE
KNOW WE DO.
WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM AND SOME
OF THESE THINGS THAT WE FIND
OUT OUR SHOCKING, THAT THIS
EVEN EXISTS, AND I ALSO FIND IT
DEEPLY AND IT MAKES, THIS MAKES
ME UNHAPPY, DEEPLY IRONIC THAT
AT TIME WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT
SAYING WE NEED DATA OR
DIFFERENT APPROACHES, WE NEED
DATA.
I HEAR DATA DATA ALL THE TIME.
I AM ALL FOR DATA AND IS AN
ECONOMIST, I AM STRONGLY FOR
DATA.
BUT WHAT ARE THE DATA YOU ARE
USING?
LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU ARE NOT
GOING, IF YOU ARE NOT CARRYING
OUT ANALYSIS YOU KNOW, OF
SURVEY BASED ANALYSIS THAT
INCLUDES THE IMPORT OF THE
PEOPLE THAT NEED MOST TO GIVE
INPUT, THEN OUR DATA ARE NOT
USEFUL, AND MEASURES THAT WE USE
, THAT WE SET UP BASED ON THE
DATA ARE NOT GOING TO BE VERY
INDICATIVE AND IN FACT THAT IS
ALSO, PLAYS AN INSIDIOUS ROLE
IN ALLOWING ANTI-HOMELESS, ANTI-
POOR AND RIGHT-WING VIEWS TO
SAY WELL, NONE OF THIS IS
WORKING, JUST SHIP OFF HOMELESS
PEOPLE SOMEWHERE, LIKE
COMPLETELY DEHUMANIZING
VIEWPOINTS BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE BETTER MEASURES AND YOU
KNOW, PERSPECTIVES FROM THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THESE
SERVICES ACTUALLY WE COULD ALSO
DISPEL SOME OF THOSE REALLY
NEGATIVE MYTHOLOGIES.
>> WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
WHAT WE MEASURE IS NOT ONLY
WHAT WE VALUE.
IT IS WHAT WE ARE REINFORCING.
I LOOKED AT WHAT I AM TESTING
AND IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT I
ACTUALLY MEAN I WANT THEM TO
LEARN AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING
TO FOCUS ON AND I THINK WHEN WE
LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE ASKING OF
SERVICE PROVIDERS WE GIVE THEM
A REALLY LONG LIST.
THIS REALLY LONG LIST IS WHAT
THEY ARE THEORETICALLY SUPPOSED
TO BE COVERING.
BUT WHAT GETS TESTED, THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE REALLY SAYING, THE
BOTTOM LINE ABOUT RESOURCES AND
ENERGY.
AND WE ARE BUILDING OURS SYSTEMS
OF SUPPORT ON THE BACKS OF
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND AGENCIES
WHO ARE MAKING ENORMOUS
SACRIFICES.
WHO ARE VERY STRETCHED IN TERMS
OF ENERGY AND DOLLARS AND THERE
IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY CAN
HUMANLY DO.
WE NEED TO BE REALLY CLEAR
ABOUT WHERE WE WANT THOSE
PRIORITIES TO BE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS
OF ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS WE
HAVE HAD ABOUT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES IS THE INCREDIBLE
SUCCESS RATE THAT WE ARE
SEEING, WE WANT TO HAVE THAT
KIND OF SUCCESS RATE WITH OTHER
AGENCIES AND WITH OTHER
SERVICES, OTHER TYPES OF
SERVICES FOR OUR HOMELESS AND
OTHER VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND WE
DON'T HAVE THAT.
I HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE THE
BEGINNING OF THAT.
I WOULD ALSO IN CLOSING, I
WOULD ALSO URGE THAT
SPECIFICALLY ON THE QUESTION OF
ELIANA, YOU BROUGHT UP FUNDING
AND OUTREACH TO RESIDENTS AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE USING
THESE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, DOING
THAT STUDY, AND IS QUITE
STUNNING THAT THEY DID NOT AT
ALL REACH OUT TO THEM, SO, WE
WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE ONE OF THE
DEMANDS WE BRING UP TO THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT, SO
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL
ARE CONNECTED WITH MY OFFICE SO
THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT AUNT, I
AM REALLY HAPPY THAT OTHER
COUNSEL NUMBERS ARE INTERESTED
IN IT.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
ON THAT IN A CONCRETE WAY.
>> USUALLY YOU WILL CATCH ME
SAYING WE HAVE ENOUGH STUDIES,
LET'S DO IT.
BUT THERE ARE STUDIES THAT
WOULD BE USEFUL ACTUALLY AND
THIS IS ONE OF THEM, I THINK
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS NOT
BEEN DONE SO FAR AND WE SHOULD
BE DOING IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SEAN, DID YOU WANT TO SEE
ANYTHING, ANY LAST COMMENTS?
I KNOW THERE IS A LOT TO BE SET
UNFORTUNATELY I AM RUNNING UP
AGAINST MY NEXT THING.
>> I HAVE PLENTY OF COMMENTS.
I COULD REALLY GO BACK TO SOME
OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNSEL
WAR IS RAISED, LIKE THE
SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.
I WAS THERE TENT CITY THREE
WHEN THE DECREE WAS MADE AND
PART OF THAT WAS TO SIPHON OFF
THE CAMP FROM THE REST OF THE
WORLD, SO THAT THERE WERE CLEAR
BOUNDARIES AS TO WHERE THE CAMP
LIED.
THAT IS WHERE THAT REQUIREMENT
CAME FROM.
THAT IS FROM THAT DECREE THAT
WAS MADE IN 2003.
>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
>> HE HAS AN AMAZING WEALTH OF
HISTORY TO SHARE ON THIS.
>> WE NEED THAT TO BE
DOCUMENTED, BECAUSE I KNOW A
LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> SEE THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT
OVER THERE?
RAISE HER HAND.
>> YOU SEE THAT MAN RIGHT OVER
THERE, THAT IS THE MAN WHO HAS
THE MOST CONTINUOUS HISTORY
THAT I KNOW OF OUR ENCAMPMENTS
WITHIN THE CITY.
>> WE SHOULD PROBABLY FIND A
VIDEO DOCUMENTARY, SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE THAT.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> NO, I AM NOT EVEN JOKING!
>> ARE YOU OKAY IF WE ADJOURN
FOR NOW AND THEN WE WILL STAY
IN TOUCH WITH OUR OFFICE TO
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION?
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THIS, ALL THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED
IN THIS.
INCLUDING NICHOLASVILLE AND
LIHI.
WE HAVE OTHERS THERE AS WELL.
>> HE IS ON THE NORTHLAKE CAC.
>> HE IS ACTUALLY.
NOT BY TYPO.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
I THOUGHT YOU BROUGHT UP SOME
VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT
WE SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
COUNCILMEMBER WHEREAS FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
>> IT IS ESPECIALLY HEARTENING
WHEN WE CAN SEE THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE WATCHING US.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THANK YOU ALL.
MEETING ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.