Showing posts with label homeless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeless. Show all posts

Shoreline Emergency Cold Weather Shelter activated for Monday night

Monday, December 28, 2020


The Shoreline Emergency Cold Weather Shelter has been activated for Monday night, December 28, 2020.

The Hotline number is 206-801-2797. See previous information about the Shelter HERE

For shelter help at other times, call 211 from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Monday through Friday.
 
Outside of that time, call the King County’s Crisis Line at 866-427-4747 to connect people to the most up-to-date shelter options during severe weather.



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Cold weather shelter will be open Wednesday night

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Photo by Dan Short
The Shoreline emergency cold weather shelter will be open again on Wednesday night, December 23, 2020.

For details, please see our previous story HERE

The shelter is housed at Saint Dunstan's Church.

Severe Weather Shelter Hotline: 206-801-2797





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Cold weather shelter to open Tuesday night in Shoreline

Monday, December 21, 2020

Photo by Dan Short

Severe Weather Shelter Hotline: 206-801-2797

The weather conditions Tuesday night, December 22, 2020 will meet criteria for opening the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter.

The purpose of the Severe Weather Shelter is to ensure that Shoreline residents have access to a warm overnight facility when weather conditions are such that remaining outdoors overnight would be particularly threatening to health and life safety.

The Shelter is located at St Dunstan's Church at 722 N 145th St in Shoreline. It is managed by NUHSA, the City of Shoreline, and volunteers.

It opens at 8:00pm for volunteers and 8:30pm for guests. In the morning, guests will be asked to leave no later than 7:30am and volunteers should be exiting by 8:00am. Guests will be expected to stay through the night.

The Shelter will be open to any adult in need of indoor shelter overnight. Families with children will be referred to Mary’s Place. Unfortunately, pets cannot be accommodated.

A minimum of two trained volunteers will be at the shelter during every activation. In addition, the Homeless Outreach Specialist will open the building each evening and ensure that everyone is settled in.

The Outreach Specialist will return in the morning to ensure the space is clean and safe before locking up, and he will assist those overnight guests who may need help in identifying options for staying warm during the day.

To volunteer,


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Correction: Briarcrest Neighborhood Association delivers 40 bags of goods to Camp United We Stand

Sunday, December 6, 2020

The van was filled with donations, including a chewy box full of blue jeans
Photo courtesy BNA

BNA Director Jean Hilde reports that the neighborhood project to collect clothing and goods for Camp United We Stand, now at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Shoreline, was a rousing success.

BNA had asked people to bring their donations to the Patty Pan Cooperative on 27th NE.

When the van was full, volunteers started packing other vehicles
Photo courtesy BNA

"We had a great turnout from our neighbors for our donations collection for our homeless neighbors this week! The BNA and Patty Pan delivered some 40 bags of needed items to the Calvin Presbyterian site in Shoreline this morning. 

Christmas at Camp United We Stand will be a little brighter
Photo courtesy BNA

"The residents received lots of warm clothes, blankets and comforters, tarps and a cot, a box of nails, foodstuffs and hygiene products and more!

"Thanks to everyone who contributed. Because of your generosity, our homeless neighbors' winter will be a little bit easier!"


CORRECTION: Thanks to the readers who let us know that Tent City 3 is in north Seattle right now and the group at Calvin Presbyterian is Camp United We Stand.



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Solutions: Break the chain of poverty by motivating homeless adults to pursue education leading to employment

Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith and Rev. Dr. Jean Kim
Photo by Larry Vogel courtesy LynnwoodToday.com

By Donna Hawkey 

“It has been a long and difficult process getting my 1st college degree in horticulture, but also very rewarding. I am very proud to be the first graduate of the Jean Kim Foundation…My goal is to go to Washington State University in Everett to attain my degree in organic farming.” 
--Kevin, first graduate of the Jean Kim Foundation, with an AA degree in Horticulture.

In the US, we embrace education as a right for everyone, but their plight to become educated can have insurmountable obstacles for homeless college students.

Many live and sleep in their cars while trying to navigate through challenging subjects. Without a means for basic self-care, such as a daily shower, social distancing is usual for these students. And students who are homeless, or struggling in poverty, typically lived a lifetime of numerous traumas.

Rev. Dr. Jean Kim is a life-long local activist for people who become homeless. She particularly focused on the north end areas when no shelters existed. (See previous article) She knows how hard it is to concentrate on academic work for homeless students, and because she is unstoppable, she had to do something about it.

One day in the fall of 2016, Rev. Dr. Kim visited Nicola Smith, the Mayor of Lynnwood, and asked her about pitching five tents somewhere on city property to help homeless college students. 

Rev. Dr. Kim says this was an “absurd request: the mayor couldn’t fulfill it without a proper city ordinance.” 

But Mayor Smith called her back the next day after successfully contacting Rev. Chris Boyer, the pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Lynnwood. Pastor Boyer was immediately able and willing to allow five tents to be assembled on his property. 

Shepherd's Village on the grounds of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Lynnwood
Photo by Larry Vogel, courtesy LynnwoodToday.com

They created a tent village, but this wasn’t durable enough for rain and snowstorms. Rev. Dr. Kim presented another vision: to build six tiny homes. Just one year later, the tents were replaced by the six miniature homes for a mighty accomplishment. This kind of feat happened because of the “fruit of the effort of the whole community of Lynnwood and out of state community as well. Therefore, it was a product of the whole caring community,” said Rev. Dr. Kim.

Before the City of Lynnwood could finish its ordinance changes to approve the structures, Rev. Dr. Kim had already raised $32,000, which was enough to build five tiny houses, and a sixth one was built because of an anonymous generous donor!

These formidable efforts created “Shepherd’s Village,” housing for homeless Edmonds College students at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Lynnwood. 

“Our testimony is that when our community puts love and compassion together, we see a miracle that otherwise would not have been possible.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

Jean Kim working to get her messages out. Photo courtesy Jean Kim Foundation.

“I met Dr. Jean Kim one Friday night at the homeless dinner of the Nest Mission in Edmonds. It changed my life forever. Dr. Kim had a booth set up with pamphlets explaining how she could help to enhance your education. I took a pamphlet with me.” 
--Karlene, a Criminal Justice student at Northwest University, Kirkland.

The high cost of tuition, rent, food, and childcare, have increased this crisis of student homelessness. Many college students become classified as homeless. 

A survey done in 2019 on the three University of Washington campuses (Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma) uncovered that 5,000 college students are couchsurfing as they cannot afford a place to live, and 160 are residing in their cars or shelters.

Rev. Dr. Kim’s mother inspired her to become educated. She believed it is the most important thing a woman could do to gain life independence. Her mother had suffered domestic abuse from her father.

For her 80th birthday, due to her tireless demanding work and her commitment to higher education, family and friends started the seed of her foundation. The “Jean Kim Foundation for the Homeless Education,” was named by the first Board of Directors in 2015.

In 2017, just two years after the foundation was formed, “205 men and women, homeless or struggling in poverty, expressed to me their desire to pursue a college education. Of 205, a total of 116 enrollments were made to various community colleges or 4-year universities. 116 enrollments were made by 57 unduplicated students. Of 57, 24 students never skipped a quarter since they started. These numbers might sound small but considering their numerous unbearable barriers the number in unimaginably high,” Rev. Dr. Kim.

Rev. Dr. Jean Kim lived in Lake Forest Park
from 1989 to 1998
Photo courtesy Jean Kim Foundation
Below Rev. Dr. Kim talks about her mission behind homeless education.

Please tell me what motivates you in reference to your mission of homeless education?

"I have discovered that many of the homeless people I serve are illiterate and or high school, or a few are college dropouts. Many have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, mental and emotional challenges, and incarceration. They fall easily into unemployment or low-wage jobs that often lead them to homelessness.

"However, I see God’s image in every homeless person (Gen. 1:26-28). I also see that every unemployed mentally, and legally challenged homeless person has God-given potentials, talents, and possibilities in them.  
"I firmly believe that each of them must have an opportunity to discover their hidden potentials and use them at their best ability so that their life can be enhanced and productive and end homelessness. I also firmly believe that each person is qualified for advanced education or job/skill training and can become a productive member of society and a good citizen."

Please describe some of the backgrounds of candidates for college.

"Many were reared in broken homes or by emotionally challenged parental figures or foster parents. They were often involved with substance abuse and abused as children physically, emotionally, and sexually. Therefore, many of our college candidates’ behaviors and coping skills are often a challenge to themselves and society. However, they are not intellectually retarded; instead, they are bright and intelligent. All of them have potential, possibility, and hope as God’s children."

What is the goal of the Jean Kim Foundation?

"Its goal is to break the chain of poverty through education by motivating homeless adults to pursue education for degrees, certificates, and vocational skills which are the essential tools to lead them to gainful employment and permanent housing."

How are they served?

"Our mission is to help achieve our goals by seeking out God-given talents, potentials, and possibilities in every current and potential homeless adult student. We also guide, nurture, motivate, and empower them to utilize their fullest potentials through education and supportive services. This includes but is not limited to active outreach, crisis prevention and intervention, job and housing search, tangible aids, and engagement and partnerships with various community programs and services and government entities." 


“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 
--Nelson Mandela


If you can, please consider a donation to the Jean Kim Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. You can donate at the website, http://www.jeankimfoundation.org/ or send a check to: Jean Kim Foundation, P.O. Box 1835, Lynnwood, WA 98046


Did you know?

Washington State ranks the highest in the US meeting the most criteria indexes across laws, policies, systems, and environment in the State Index of Youth Homelessness. This includes many policies in place to help safeguard youth from living on the street. (From the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.)  

Thank you Rev. Dr. Kim for being one of our local leaders in these giant efforts!



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Briarcrest Neighborhood: Collecting much needed supplies for our neighbors in Tent City

Monday, November 30, 2020

Tent City 3 February 2009, photo copyright Marc Weinberg
We are expecting another cold winter

By Jean Hilde

This week, from Monday, November 30 through Friday, December 4, the Briarcrest Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a collection for our neighbors living in Tent City.

Everyone is invited to participate! 

With winter coming on, we're hoping to help provide much-needed food, shelter, clothing and personal hygiene items from the below list. 

If you'd like to contribute, please bring your donations to Patty Pan, 15550 27th Ave NE in Shoreline (look for the tent in front) from Monday through Friday this week.

What's needed
  • Food: Canned or instant soups, chili, tuna, peanut butter, coffee, sugar
  • Disposable plates, cups and utensils (compostable is best)
Clothing can be used or new
  • Work clothing: for both physical labor and office work, adult men's and women's sizes
  • Long underwear: adult men's and women's sizes
  • Sweaters, wool caps, gloves, scarves, socks, hand and foot warmers
  • Boots
Personal items: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent
  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, hand lotion
  • Aspirin, cold remedies, other over the counter medications
Sleeping bags, blankets
  • Cots, air mattresses, sleeping pads
Tarps and tents (these are in high demand)
  • Pallets and nails


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Rev. Dr. Jean Kim: Mother to the Homeless

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Mother to the Homeless Rev. Dr. Jean Kim
Photo courtesy Jean Kim Foundation

By Donna Hawkey

When a five-foot-tall Korean immigrant changes the world, we should all listen.

Meet 85-year-old trailblazer and “Mother to the Homeless,” Rev. Dr. Jean Kim. She has spent 50 years of her life serving people who become homeless in Seattle, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Brier, Mountlake Terrace, and beyond. 

Before immigrating to the U.S., she spent years experiencing poverty and homelessness while witnessing the devastation of her home and her culture during the Korean War.

Rev. Dr. Jean Kim has been wearing a purple shirt with the printed words “End Homelessness” – every day - since 1997! 

Rev. Dr. Jean Kim at her 80th birthday party
Photo courtesy Jean Kim Foundation

Homelessness is Multi-Dimensional

Her family makes a harrowing escape to South Korea when she is 11 years of age. Throughout her early life, she feels a sense of homelessness beyond the physical needs of shelter; she calls this “multi-dimensional homelessness.” It encompasses physical, emotional, and social homelessness. This definition stems from her half-century of listening carefully to many homeless people and from her personal experiences, too.

Beginning with a wealthy early childhood, she ran through vast orchards on property lined with four estate homes in North Korea. However, inside those homes, she witnessed the terror of her father’s physical and emotional abuse of her mother. She says, “Emotionally, I was born homeless. Whenever my mother cried, I cried with her. I shared her tears, grief, and anger.”

During the Korean War, Rev. Dr. Kim experiences physical homelessness with the loss of all their family’s wealth. Her young life started on a path of further personal heartbreaks that never fully breaks her spirit; it serves to strengthen her resolve. She credits her faith in God for that.

“Jesus carries me on her back,” she says. Throughout her tragic and grueling life circumstances, she always brings herself back to hope through the eyes, words, and wonder of God.

Devoted to bringing dignity to lives traumatized by any of the multi-level aspects of homelessness, she works tirelessly. 

"Many suffer the dimension of “social homelessness. They’ve become estranged by their families and don’t have any relatives nearby or even a single friend to turn to in times of crisis.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

“Purple is the liturgical color for the Seasons of Lent in the Christian tradition. It can symbolize pain, suffering, mourning, and penitence. It is also the color of royalty, so traditionally, it has been used for the season of Advent in the Christian tradition.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

Transforming all “pain-stricken purple people into hope-filled purple people” is her life goal. 

Rev. Kim's first church was housed in the former First United Methodist Church in downtown Seattle.
Photo courtesy the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

Miracle Creator

“Together, we can accomplish miracles.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

She created fifteen miracle missions both locally and nationally, including the seed of the idea for the very successful Mary’s Place, a family shelter. In her book, Jubilee Handbook: An Introduction to the Mission of Ending Homelessness, she provides 106 concepts she gleaned from all her life experiences and ideas for systematic ways to solve serious problems.

After traveling extensively to learn about several hundred homeless programs from congregations across the U.S., she made many lifetime friends and associates while working, studying, and raising a family. With a Doctorate in Ministry (at the age of 71), a Master of Social Work, and certification as a mental health counselor, Rev. Dr. Kim is more than well-qualified.

She has received 25 community awards, including the 2019 Snohomish County Human Rights Award. The award was presented to her on December 8, 2019, to commemorate the 71st U.N. Human Rights Day.

In 1981, before she turned 50, she also received a humanity award from the Seattle Chapter of the United Nations Association. The Korean government awarded her the Medal of Honor, and from the Presbyterian Church U.S., Women of Faith, she received a service award.

For her 80th birthday, after being inspired by her work helping homeless college students find housing, her family and friends developed an educational foundation called “The Jean Kim Foundation,” a 501(c) (3) organization.

Rev. Dr. Kim worked for ten years at Harborview’s mental health clinic and helped many homeless women that fled from domestic violence. They had no money and nowhere to live, and they needed a safe place to go, just as she had experienced in war-torn Korea. Through these eyes and her generous heart, she created her first mission, The Church of Mary Magdalene, in downtown Seattle. This church mission became the nucleus for forming the first Mary’s Place shelter.

“Homelessness for women and children is a life-threatening trauma, just like fires and tornados. Homelessness for women often means robbery, assault, rape, and even murder. Therefore, I named homelessness “the disease unto death.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

When she created the Church of Mary Magdalene, it became a uniquely spiritual place that allows homeless women to feel safe during the week without the threat of male violence. A worship service takes place every Saturday. For the sermon, the preacher and women engage in discussion rather than a traditional sermon format. Rev. Dr. Kim praises women by saying, “You are better than Biblical commentaries.”

Homeless women were given new lingerie free every quarter to allow them to feel some dignity. She says, “Wearing well-fitting, clean, new lingerie helps women to feel their image is being restored, which was created in God’s image.” Once a Seattle Times article called the Church of Mary Magdalene, “A Lingerie Church.”

She brought the healing gift of singing and music to the congregation. Eventually, they hired a music director, and the homeless choir was invited by other churches to sing at their services. Today the choir still sings together every Saturday (until the coronavirus crisis), and their choir has an excellent reputation.

A small number still meets on Saturday, despite the coronavirus threat, for weekly worship in the basement of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, downtown Seattle, under Zoom worship leadership.

Although Rev. Dr. Kim did use old hotels or motels in downtown Seattle for homeless families, the Church of Mary Magdalene never became a family shelter. But when Rev. Pat Simpson took over the mission, she named Rev. Dr. Kim’s weekly day program “Mary’s Place.”

After Rev. Simpson, Marty Hartman was hired, and Mary’s Place became an independent 501(c)(3) inspired by Rev. Kim’s original work and service. Today, Mary’s Place does outstanding leadership work to end family homelessness. But there is much more work to be done.


Public Policy and Attitude Change Needed

Rev. Dr. Kim reminds us that in 1948, the U.S. signed the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” an international document that includes proclaiming housing as a human right; but the U.S. has woefully fallen behind on adhering to this right. https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/files/FactSheet21en.pdf

Everyone needs housing to perform a job well and to live a healthy life, so Housing First is something Rev. Dr. Kim has been working on most of her life. King County is now known as a national leader in the Housing First approach – thanks to trailblazers like Rev. Dr. Kim!

“No public will support the establishment of a homeless shelter. The public seems to want the homeless to sink into the earth or evaporate into the air. They want them to disappear. That is the attitude of the public we have in our midst.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

Political will and economic policy changes are the magic keys to ending homelessness.

“The federal government concentrated public housing in segregated inner-city neighborhoods and subsidized metropolitan sprawl. It failed to create enough affordable housing for low-income families and minorities in rapidly developing suburbs. There are four-to-five year waiting lists for housing, and people and families are cut off from decent housing, educational, and economic opportunities.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

We know that homelessness disproportionately affects people of color, so our society continues to discriminate against racial groups similar to redlining.

Many decades of disastrous budget cuts at the federal and state levels have helped cause this unnecessary plight. And now, with COVID-19 and the economic crisis, we are ready for a “volcano eruption.” --Rev. Dr. Kim. 

She believes every person will feel suffering from the financial strain of this pandemic.

“Many city governments want to dump, sweep away, or throw away homeless people just like we throw away trash, instead of solving the problem of homelessness.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

As we move to a technology-driven economy, there are fewer employment opportunities for people without training or formal education. The hourly wage for most lower-skilled jobs does not allow for sustainable living or even cover rent in a one-bedroom apartment.

“Some of you might say that we have made it in our struggles; why can’t they? People who have many problems are still housed if they have financial or family resources. People who have been messed up too deeply can’t make it on their own. They need help.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

Governments everywhere need to step up to ensure that all human beings can exit out of a life cycle of poverty. Jobs need to be created that meet people in trauma where they are at, not our perceived expectations of them. And support services are needed to get them over the bumps and sometimes giant hurdles that someone in trauma goes through to heal.  

People who become homeless have the right to be treated as equal human beings in society. It’s the right thing to do.

Public Education Needed

Contrary to opinion, due to a lack of public education, drugs or alcohol are not the primary reasons for homelessness, although that also can be a reason for homelessness. (The opioid crisis shows us the disease of addiction knows no income, ethnic, or other social boundaries.) Drugs and alcohol are sought out for stress relief for the traumatic effects of becoming homeless and the effects of living without any basic standard of human living.

“Root causes of homelessness are based on racial disparities and historic institutional racism. For instance, behavioral health services for people of color have been almost non-existent along with affordable housing.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

The lack of affordable rents/housing and low-wages or lack of employment ultimately becomes the main reason people become homeless. And it can result in poor health, depression, addiction, and shame. It’s one of the worst human tragedies in modern times. For these people, it feels like “God has walked away and left them hopeless and spiritless.” --Rev. Dr. Kim.

While chronic homelessness does exist, most people are homeless only once, if they receive the necessary and critical services needed. Studies show criminalizing homelessness costs more. For example, one day in jail that costs $87 is compared to one day in a shelter at $28.

(This is a fundamental concept of Shoreline’s Community Court; to provide targeted support services to help people.)

Her Legacy is Published

In the last few years, Rev. Dr. Kim has been encouraged to write and publish what she has learned throughout her over 50 years of experience. She has published a four-book series available on Amazon. 

These books are the bible of homelessness solutions, including her years of serving the homeless and her compelling autobiography. They’re for anyone who desires to become more informed, or are in a place of public policymaking, or curious about a remarkable women’s life. She is currently writing a summary of these four books translated into Korean.

Please consider reading about her work; a healthy society depends upon listening to humanity leaders. We can all work together on solutions no matter who we are. Rev. Jean Kim indeed teaches us that!

Read her hundreds of solution ideas and many that she implemented with much success. She gives us lots of purple hope and reminds us that God loves us all and that Jesus walked the path of homelessness, too.

Rev. Dr. Kim resided in Lake Forest Park during the years 1989-1998.

All proceeds from her books are donated to six homeless missions in the Seattle, Lynnwood, and Edmonds areas, including the Jean Kim Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Its mission is to break the chain of poverty through education. http://www.jeankimfoundation.org/

This article was written from reading Rev. Dr. Kim’s books, websites, and various communication between us. More to come about Rev. Dr. Kim personally and her work. Thank you Rev. Dr. Kim for your time, education, patience, and editorial assistance. It is an honor to be introduced to you!


Update: "Jean Kim is with Jesus where there is no more pain or sorrow." My mother (Jean Kim) passed away peacefully on July 3, 2021 at 3:35am. - Sam Kim



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Shoreline Emergency Severe Weather Shelter seeking volunteers

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Photo by Dan Short

Shoreline Emergency Severe Weather Shelter at St. Dunstan's

For the second winter season, the City of Shoreline is working in partnership with the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) to operate an emergency severe weather shelter.

As the former site of the shelter is unavailable, St. Dunstan’s Church has offered space to house this important program at their parish, located at 722 N 145th Street, Shoreline. 

NUHSA is recruiting and training the volunteers and providing needed shelter supplies. The City managed the permitting process and is assisting with volunteer recruitment and training as needed.

The shelter officially “opened” on November 1. The threshold for activation will be a prediction of four-plus hours of temperatures at or below 33 degrees overnight or snow accumulation or expected accumulation of 2 or more inches. 

When activated, the shelter will be open from 8:30pm to 7:30am. 

A recorded Severe Weather Shelter hotline has been established at 206-801-2797, which will be updated when activated.

Volunteers Needed

To make the shelter successful, we need volunteers to help staff it during activation. Committed and compassionate volunteers must be over 18 years old and commit to being on-call for a certain number of nights each month between now and March 30.

Volunteers will be provided with training and then will be responsible for welcoming guests and supervising the shelter overnight (partial shifts can be arranged). Volunteers will be paired with another person during shelter activation.

If you would like to volunteer, email staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626. For more information about the emergency severe weather shelter, contact Community Services Manager Bethany Wolbrecht-Dunn at bwolbrec@shorelinewa.gov or 206-801-2251.

Other nearby winter shelters  

In addition to this emergency severe weather shelter, there are a few overnight winter shelters that operate at different times over the winter in Shoreline and the surrounding area. These shelters open at 7:30pm each night they are in operation.

WINTER SHELTER DATES AND LOCATIONS 

October 13 – November 29
Lake City Presbyterian Church
3841 NE 123rd St, Seattle 

November 30 – date to be determined
Seattle Mennonite Church, 
3120 NE 125th Street, Seattle, 

For information on space availability
call 425-677-9370. 

FAMILY SHELTER: 

Mary’s Place operates shelters year-round for families with children. 
Contact them at 206-245-1026. 




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Correction - update - Donna Hawkey wrote the story on Stanley Machokoto

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Stanley Machokoto

Donna Hawkey is the author of the story about social worker Stanley Machokoto in Monday's edition of the Shoreline Area News. (Social Worker Hero Stanley Machokoto)

Your sleep-deprived editor managed to tangle up the first two stories in the Facebook and Twitter editions and in the untangling deleted the story completely.

The second version of Donna's story didn't have her byline. It has now been added.


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Social Worker Hero Stanley Machokoto of Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness

Monday, October 26, 2020

Standing with a group of 8 men and women, Stanley jubilantly holds their certificate over his head while they all laugh and smile at him
With much enthusiasm, Stanley accepts the 2019 North Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) Community Service Award on behalf of Lake City Partners


Story by Donna Hawkey

We have many heroes in our community; the police officer, the firefighter, the veteran, and the school teacher. The social worker belongs in that category of hero, too.

Stanley Machokoto is a Shoreline social worker who is a Housing Outreach Specialist with Lake City Partners to End Homelessness, and fondly known to the community as “Stanley.” To make a sustainable living due to our area’s high cost, he works two other jobs. 

Stanley will work sixteen hours a day because it’s hard to say no to someone who calls him at two in the morning in crisis. The teachings and wisdom of the great Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela inspire him.

His mission is “to help end the inhumane practices faced by the marginalized and disabled poor people.” Each long workday he helps fellow human beings who need extra support from the cruel reality of becoming homeless, and especially during COVID-19, it’s been a heartbreaking time.


A bearded man in winter clothes holds a rolled up sleeping bag. He is sitting in a bus shelter and the snow is visible on the ground behind him.
Stanley reaches out to one of his clients during
 a winter storm. Photo by Stanley Machokoto.

Stanley knows too well what human suffering means. He was a victim of Apartheid while growing up in Tegwani’s most impoverished tribe in South Africa.


This was a racist system that “translates to separateness in the Afrikaans language, and it made Africans of color aliens in their homeland. Millions were forced to live in impoverished townships, and they were denied the most basic human rights.
"Apartheid, under the white minority rule, held power over the entire population, imprisoned those who resisted the system; this made many South African blacks remain prisoners in their land for decades or even life,” said Stanley. 
The British ruled like this for 352 years. He grew-up where discrimination was the law.


At the age of fifteen, he said things had gotten so out of control that children were kidnapped, and gun violence killed others. It sounds like a hunt against Africans with innocent humans targeted like animals. Stanley says that growing up in South Africa, he lived in fear but could not show it, “it was a difficult experience which even wild animals could not endure.” During one of the most tragic and shameful racial segregation periods in all world history, he grew up.

In South Africa, he had access to American television and watched series such as Daniel Boone, Dallas, and Dynasty. His image of America was taken from these shows. (Here’s why some people think America is the “Golden Land” of opportunity.) He recalls when he received political asylum in the U.S. and landed in New York and San Diego in 1990. 

 “I was blown away, and everything impressed me, such as the shopping malls, movies, and concrete pools filled with blue water. I grew up in a village where thick bushes surrounded me; mosquitoes infected swamps, and muddy dirt roads were everywhere.”


A person in a wheelchair sits outside a 7-11
As a Housing Outreach Specialist, Stanley sees
needs everywhere. Photo by Stanley Machokoto

After three weeks in San Diego, Stanley was very depressed over the culture shock and language and communication difficulties. For those weeks, no one could understand what he was saying; it was extremely frustrating. But compared to his life in South Africa, he knew he wanted to stay. 

He found an entry-level job and saved several thousand dollars; he thought he was rich. Stanley came here at the age of twenty-eight but said his emotional intelligence was that of an eighteen-year-old. His upbringing, his culture and his childhood were stolen after witnessing the horrors in South Africa.

The cost of living took that money quickly, and he became homeless for a short time, and drank alcohol to ease his pain; he became addicted. 

After some minor infractions with the law, he said drug court was the best thing that happened. That process introduced him to church work through the required community service, and the pastor noticed him.

Stanley is a motivated, enthusiastic, kind man with a witty and beautiful sense of humor. The pastor offered him a job, and he said “yes” immediately, never asking what the salary was. Stanley was so thankful to be offered a job in a safe environment.

Stanley and Pastor Pam in their church robes.
Stanley is a lay leader at Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church assisting Pastor Pam Russell. He has a desk
at the church where he can meet with clients in need.
Photo courtesy Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

And when the pastor handed him keys to the church and the office, he felt like he was so trusted, which raised his self-esteem; and help send him on a healthy path leading him to today’s critical social work. 

He decided to look to education to get out of poverty and received a bachelor’s degree and has finished one class towards a master’s in social work. 

He chooses social work because all his firsthand experiences allow him to empathize with those he serves. The trauma of human suffering stays with you forever, but Stanley never lives with regret or self-pity. 

He knows there is always someone worse off than him. One day he attended an addiction support meeting and was feeling upset about some pain in his legs, and then he saw a veteran who had lost both his feet in a war, and it humbled him immediately.

Stanley understands the many subtleties of cultural differences that can make a tremendous difference in relating well to other people. He says, “you have to understand and accept that others will think differently than you.” 
For instance, he says that having a thin body is desirable in American culture, but in Africa, people will think you are sickly and hungry if you are thin.


You cannot judge someone by their looks, which means nothing compared to who they are -and what cultural and social norms they are accustomed to - or hardships they have endured in their lives. It’s essential to understand the whole person in social work, and that appears to take a keen eye, a generous heart, and a massive amount of patience.

In his job as a Shoreline Housing Outreach Specialist with Lake City Partners, he gets referrals from various places including, city staff, the police, and fire departments. Someone may see a person living on the street and take a picture and send it to him, or a person sleeping somewhere gets reported to officials.

a smiling couple sit on the lawn
A moment of community enjoyment at a summer BBQ
 for those that are homeless. Photo courtesy of Lake City
Partners Ending Homelessness

Stanley’s work is to follow-up to discover how he can help someone exit homelessness or avoid a police confrontation that evening. 

He may have to let that person know where they can park their vehicle legally to sleep in it for the night safely. One woman recently served has physical disabilities and mental health disorders which are challenging cases to help. 

He has to build trust with that person first to assist her properly.

He has lots of support tools to assist him; to help people find shelter or housing, but he still finds he has to regularly make trips in his car because people in distress sometimes need hand-holding.

That is one reason he supports an enhanced shelter idea. He could be more efficient with his time and handle servicing more people in a day with the convenience of being together in one building. The job of any social worker is a very difficult one, but rewards come when success happens.

Stanley sees the injustices each day, and he’ll always remember his roots. After growing up in the turmoil of human injustices and oppression in Africa, and experiencing the prejudices in the U.S. too, at times he has sadly felt “that being Black is the worst thing that can happen to you.”

But he believes that “when the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned everywhere and replaced by basic human rights which will be equally guaranteed to all, then peace will prevail.”


Update: The story was written by Donna Hawkey. Her byline was inadvertently omitted when the story was republished.



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UPDATED Agenda for Shoreline city council meeting October 26, 2020 includes Public Hearing on allowing Enhanced Shelter in R-48 zone

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Shoreline City Council 2020


The agenda for the Shoreline City Council’s October 26, 2020 meeting includes the following:

ACTION ITEMS

8(a) Public Hearing and Adopting Ordinance No. 906 - Interim 8a-1 7:20 Regulations for Adding Enhanced Shelter as an Allowable Use in the R-48 Zone 

All interested persons are encouraged to listen and/or attend the remote online public hearing and to provide oral and/or written comments. Written comments should be submitted to Nora Gierloff, Planning Manager, ngierloff@shorelinewa.gov by no later than 4:00pm local time on the date of the hearing. Any person wishing to provide oral testimony at the hearing should register via the Remote Public Comment Sign-in form at least thirty (30) minutes before the start of the meeting. A request to sign-up can also be made directly to the City Clerk at 206-801-2230. 

STUDY ITEMS

9(a) Discussion of the Proposed 2021-2022 Biennial Budget - Department Presentations and Discussion of the 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Plan (continued)

9(b) Discussing Ordinance No. 907 - Amending Development Code Sections 20.20, 20.30, 20.40, 20.50, and 20.80 for Administrative and Clarifying Amendments

Although most of the proposed Development Code amendments in this group of amendments are aimed at “cleaning up” the code and are more administrative in nature, other amendments are more substantive and have the possibility of changing policy direction for the City.

There are 23 amendments. For ease of analysis, the Planning Committee staff divided these proposed amendments into three separate exhibits. 

Amendments that raised some questions and concerns for the Planning Commission, which have been addressed in the recommendation, included the addition of a provision to assist in the resolution of code enforcement actions by prohibiting permit application when there is an outstanding code violation on the property; establishing emergency temporary shelters as a temporary use; setting a maximum hardscape for school properties; and addressing tree replacement standards when non-significant trees were to be retained but subsequently removed.



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Agenda for the October 12, 2020 Shoreline regular Council Meeting - zoning for shelters

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Shoreline City Hall photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Pam Cross

The agenda for the October 12, 2020 Shoreline regular Council Meeting includes the following study items:

8(a) Discussion of Ordinance No. 906 - Adopting Interim Zoning Regulations to Allow Siting a 24/7 Enhanced Shelter in the R-48 Zone District

The City Council is working on a change to the Comprehensive Plan. This would allow low barrier shelters (aka Enhanced Shelters aka Navigation Centers) in all R-48 zones in the City of Shoreline.

"This is a legislative proposal applicable to the existing R-48 zoning districts in Hillwood, Echo Lake, Westminster Triangle, Highland Terrace, North City, Briarcrest, Parkwood, and Ridgecrest."

You can find the locations where low barrier shelters could be located on the map here (page 17)



8(b) Transmittal of the 2021-2022 Proposed Biennial Budget and Proposed 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Plan

The City Manager is required to submit the 2021-2022 Proposed Biennial Budget to the City Council no later than November 1, 2020. Tonight’s presentation will introduce the 2021-2022 Proposed Biennial Budget document to the City Council, provide policy background concerning its development, highlight key budget issues, highlight the proposed 2021-2022 work plan, and propose a budget review process and schedule.



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City of Shoreline posts answers to community questions about the North King County Enhanced Shelter

Monday, October 5, 2020

Site of planned North King County
Enhanced Shelter on Aurora


The answers to all of the questions submitted through the Q/A feature from the September 22, 2020 community meeting on the North King County Enhanced Shelter have been posted to the project page on the City's website.

View HERE

The North King County Enhanced Shelter will be located in what was previously Arden Rehab / The Oaks at Forest Bay at 16357 Aurora Ave N.



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Last call for volunteers! Help make this coming winter safe for those lacking adequate shelter

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Last call for volunteers! 

Help make this coming winter safe for those lacking adequate shelter!

After successfully piloting the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter last winter, the City of Shoreline and NUHSA welcome St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church as a partner and host for this winter's emergency shelter.

Volunteers (over 18 years old):
  • are needed to commit to being on-call for a certain number of nights each month between November 1st and March 30th (shelter will open only when weather is below 34 degrees F)
  • will be provided with training and then will be responsible for welcoming guests and supervising the shelter overnight (partial shifts can be arranged)
  • will be paired with another person and can trade off sleeping and being awake as only one person needs to be awake for fire watch between 11pm and 5am
Training is being provided SOON, so don't delay!

COVID-19 protocols and requirements will be implemented. For more information or to volunteer, please email staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626.

Thank you for making a difference!



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Community Meeting on North King County Enhanced Shelter

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Location of proposed shelter


Community Meeting on North King County Enhanced Shelter
Meeting date: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 from 6:30pm to 9pm

The City of Shoreline and Lake City Partners have announced plans to work in partnership with King County to operate a 24/7 enhanced shelter at 16357 Aurora Avenue N. This program would help address an unmet need for single adults experiencing homelessness in North King County. In addition to providing safe shelter, it would provide case management support for each individual focused on long term housing stability.

The City and representatives from Lake City Partners (see previous article) will host a community meeting via Zoom. We will provide information about the project, address many of the concerns we have already heard, and provide an opportunity for people to ask questions and provide comments. Representatives from King County will also be on hand to answer questions.

Visit shorelinewa.gov/NKCEnhancedShelter for more information

Information on how to join the meeting and participate.
Webinar ID: 960 2490 6611
Passcode 722710

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Lake City Partners ending homelessness

Stanley Machokoto holds the 2019 Outstanding Human Services Program award at the NUHSA ceremony last year while the Lake City Partners smile. Photo courtesy North Urban Human Services



Lake City Partners has been named as the lead agency to manage the proposed 60 bed homeless shelter in the former nursing home at 163rd and Aurora. They have a long-time presence in Lake City and were recipients of NUSHA's 2019 Outstanding Human Services Program.

Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness

  • Who Are They?
  • What Do They Do?

By Donna Hawkey

Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness is no stranger to the City of Shoreline. Their work goes beyond the Lake City neighborhood. In 2019, through their Shoreline Housing Outreach program, Lake City Partners helped 73 Shoreline households get into housing, including families with children. 

Just last quarter, they assisted 17 Shoreline children whose parents are struggling. They see the growing needs of both families and individuals, and the City of Shoreline recognizes this trend. Once the infectious disease COVID-19 arrived, another level of caring for everyone’s health and safety was required.

As of January 2020, King County counted 11,751 people experiencing homelessness, a 5% increase over the previous year. 53% of those people are unsheltered. Demographically, this composes 7% of the total population and disproportionately affects people of color. 25% of the homeless individuals counted are Black. Native Americans and Alaska Natives are 1% of the total population and are 15% of the 2020 homeless count. This number, 11,751 is a single night count for King county and is likely an undercount. 
Graph from National Alliance to End Homelessness Report


This graph shows a national picture of all the financially struggling households. 

There is a small percentage of homeless; however, many more households are at risk or live in poverty. 

So households experiencing homelessness are not significantly different than other low-income families.

(40% of the US homeless population are under the age of 18 with the highest rates occurring in Western US.)

This year, Colleen Kelly, Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Director, City of Shoreline, was tasked with finding solutions for homeless individuals. While there are various shelters for families, there is little available for individuals. 

Federal Department of Commerce funds became available to King county at the same time that a local  nursing home with 60 rooms at NW 163rd and Aurora Ave in Shoreline came up for sale. The funds are available to create a shelter but it has to be operational by the end of the year. 

The nursing home is a perfect facility as the individual rooms allow for COVID-19 protection as well as being able to house people in rooms that allow for privacy and dignity to develop stability in their lives.

“The City of Shoreline is deeply committed to taking on the challenge of homelessness in our community, but it is no less committed to ensuring that all of our neighborhoods are safe and healthy,” stated Shoreline Mayor Will Hall. 
“We believe this shelter can provide a needed service to our community while also being a good neighbor.” (See previous article “Shoreline collaborates with Lake City Partners on 24/7 enhanced shelter”)


Lake City Partners had already built a relationship with Shoreline through its successful winter shelter program that runs from November through March. 

The Lake City Partners winter shelter rotates monthly among various congregations including Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Shoreline. They have been a host since the program’s inception in 2012. 

Each community church welcomes up to 30 nightly guests that include hot meals, bus tickets, and trained staff to help with a multitude of support needs. Those needs range from helping someone fill out an application for housing, determining appropriate referrals for services, and providing a crucial human connection through a caring hand and heart during the traumatic effects of becoming homeless. 

Melanie Neufeld, Director
Lake City Partners


Melanie Neufeld is the Director of Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness and a Minister at Seattle Mennonite Church. She has been forging community relationship-building in the Lake City Neighborhood and beyond for 14 years. 

She says that is how the organization evolved, and today it’s mainly word of mouth referrals. It started as a Lake City Taskforce in 2005, and in 2015, Lake City Partners to End Homelessness was established by the Taskforce.

Pastor Pam Russell, Prince of Peace, describes Ms. Neufeld as “tremendously talented, and I am in awe of how wonderful she is.”


Ms. Neufeld has worked in the non-profit sector for 24 years, specializing in social work and community development. 

Her training includes understanding shelter best practices with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She is a Lake City resident who shows an unrelenting passion for those that become homeless and for social justice issues.

She says, “Harms need to be addressed and especially as we look through a racial equity lens. If we can’t help our most vulnerable population, how can we ever become a healthy society? COVID-19 has also given us a lens as to how we are all so connected; this disease knows no city, state, or country boundaries.”


Here are Ms. Neufeld’s answers to several interview questions.

What does the word “Partner” in your organization name stand for?

We are made up of many organizations working together. We refer to these groups as partners and they are represented on the board of directors and participate through the Lake City Taskforce on Homelessness which continues to meet monthly.

Your mission is to end homelessness. How do you do that?

We do that by housing one person, one family at a time. Affordable housing is at the forefront of solving homelessness. Without shelter, it’s difficult for a person to get restorative sleep, so how can we expect this person to go to work when they live in survival mode? And when people get the kind of services they need, a large portion of people will self-resolve to exit homelessness for good.

How did the Lake City Neighborhood initially respond about the development of the congregation of shelters?

At first, as most communities do, there are many fears about shelters. Public safety is always a top concern. As we build trust and strong relationships through community dialog and unity, we become an asset as the residents see positive results. As a community partner, I attend monthly neighborhood task force meetings and meetings with groups such as Building Lake City Together. We work together to solve the challenges towards a very worthy goal.

What are some examples of how you go about finding permanent housing?

First, we ask that person where they slept the night before and whether they can go back to that place, and we start the dialogue from there. Sometimes it is just a matter of helping that person get back to their family living outside our state, but a homeless person has no money to return.

Or that person lost their job and could no longer pay the rent, or they need to buy their car tabs. We work a lot with United Way’s Streets to Home program, which has established flexible funding that provides a bridge of solutions for various situations. There are many reasons a person becomes homeless, and there are numerous programs out there to help, but access can be difficult for someone who doesn’t own a computer or even own a mobile phone. And the system can be quite complex to navigate.

Every community is concerned about drug use and appropriate behavior. Please comment.

Let me be clear; there is no tolerance for drug use at our shelters or disrespectful behavior! We expect all residents to be home by 10:00pm. We follow the harm reduction theory, which allows for a tapering of drug use through pharmaceuticals and is overseen by their medical providers. But there is no usage of illicit drugs at our shelters. If that happens, that person is not a good fit for our program, and we quickly find them another place with the support they need.

Shelter staff


Then how do you go about finding a “good fit” for your program?


That happens in various ways, including referrals from Shoreline Police, fire and parks department. About 2-1/2 years ago, we started a program called Shoreline Housing Outreach. A full-time housing specialist, Stanley Machokoto, assists in this public work to walk the streets of Shoreline with the purpose to connect people to housing and other services necessary for survival.

How is the Housing Outreach funded, and when did it start?

The program started in May 2018. King County jointly funds it with 20% of matching funds from the City of Shoreline. Housing Outreach started with a small group of concerned citizens, including Pastor Russell, a current board member. It’s been very successful.

Was this King County’s answer to moving homeless people from Seattle to the nearby suburbs?

Absolutely not. King County is a national champion making housing the first priority, and they have done a lot in the Seattle area to establish this reputation. For instance, in Lake City, we have McDermott Place (75 apartments), which includes 38 units for veterans and Valor Apartments, 21 units for veterans.

McDermott Place by Eugene Shibayama

Mc Dermott Place is named in honor of Washington state congressman Jim McDermott, a strong and successful advocate for affordable housing. Services here include not only housing but the means to access education and employment services.

Is there a religious component to your programs?

No, there is not. It is the churches that have welcomed these shelters, and with a built-in volunteer congregation base, it’s easy to get things like emergency meals made and delivered in a flash. It’s incredible support that we require in these times and are so lucky to have.

How did Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness evolve?

We started as a group of faith-based and neighborhood organizations that saw the needs right before our eyes. Labor Ready had moved into the Lake City community, and suddenly, there was a need for showers, backpacks, and sandwiches to bring to work.

God’s Li’l Acre Day Center

That is how the program God’s Li’l Acre got started. 

Today, we oversee the God’s Li’l Acre Day Center that provides a hot shower, laundry facility, a community kitchen, internet and phone access, resource referrals, nursing care, clothing.

Beyond this work and our other programs mentioned, relationships and financial support from the Cities of Shoreline, Kenmore, and Bothell have developed due to increased community needs.

Do you think you are the right organization to manage an enhanced shelter, such as the one in consideration on Aurora Ave?

I feel we are a good match as we understand the single adult population, and we’ve had lots of neighborhood experience in Lake City. 

We are a small non-profit that has accomplished a lot with little staffing, so I feel confident we are ready and able. And I would look forward to working further with the City of Shoreline and neighbors and residents to make an enhanced shelter a safe place for all.

What would you do if you had unlimited funds?

I would buy housing, housing, housing, that is the first step. We don’t have enough of that, and with the price of housing now, I would need unlimited funds for sure.

Do you have any other future goals?

We are very concerned about a homeless person when discharged from a hospital setting and have no physical and mental health support when they leave. We have partnered with Seattle University College of Nursing and have a vision of working with hospitals to assure that released patients will get the help they need. It is very distressing for the health care workers as well, and some say it is the most stressful part of their job when they have to release a patient who has no home or family.

Leaves memorial - a leaf for each person who dies on the streets


Is there anything else you want the community to know?

Yes, the Leaves of Remembrance initiative started by Women in Black that has unfortunately grown, too. Bronze leaves embedded into city right of ways/streets with an inscription of the names of those who have died while living outside have 17 locations throughout King County. Each Leaf is to honor that person, and a website tells their story in honor of their life. 

Tree of Life sculpture

There is a Tree of Life sculpture north of Pike Place Market in Victor Steinbrueck park, the Leaves' companion. I hope one day we won’t ever need any more Leaves. 

In 2019, 58 human Leaves fell. Here is a list of the people who died.

More information about Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness here





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