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

Severe weather shelter to open over the weekend

Thursday, February 29, 2024


With persistent overnight low temperatures in the forecast, King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) is activating the Tier 2 Severe Weather Response Protocols from Friday, March 1 in the evening through Monday, March 4, 2024, with a potential for extension, in accordance with our Severe Weather Policy.

A Tier 2 activation means that the KCRHA is working to coordinate with cities to open additional 24/7 emergency shelters and warming centers, as well as several other activities which are outlined in our Cold Weather Activation Thresholds document.

Locally, the Severe Weather Shelter at St. Dunstan's, 722 N 145th St, Shoreline WA 98133, now staffed by the Urban League, will open.

Learn more about thresholds for cold weather activation, what goes into an activation, review our full Severe Weather Policy, or view the slides from our presentation at the King County Winter Weather Seminar.


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Winter Shelter Update from Lake City Partners

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

During the recent cold spell, Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness (LCP) opened their GLA Day Center over the weekend of January 13th and 14th, 2024 to respond to the freezing temperatures outside. 

It was a welcome respite to those served on those cold weekend days.
 
The St. Dunstan's severe weather shelter was open for eight nights with a capacity of 20 beds and provided a total of 108 bed nights (67% total utilization, with 19 people on one night!). 

We need more investment in the North Seattle King County area to support the over 350 unsheltered people in our community. 

LCP strongly supports efforts to bring more shelter in the Lake City and North Seattle area. We have been working to bring a seasonal winter shelter to Lake City for well over a year. 

Our team favors a seasonal winter shelter solution over severe weather emergency response for a variety of reasons, with effective access to housing pathways being the biggest one. 

We are working closely with KCRHA, King County, and the City of Seattle to advocate for increased funding to support neighborhood-based seasonal winter shelter as a way of creating meaningful pathways to housing.

--William Towey, Executive Director


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KCRHA names Interim CEO

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

L. Darrell Powell, Interim CEO KCRHA
The Implementation Board of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) is pleased to recommend L. Darrell Powell for the position of Interim CEO, pending approval by the KCRHA Governing Committee. Mr. Powell would replace current Interim CEO Helen Howell.
 
“I’m honored to be considered for the role of Interim CEO for KCRHA,” said Mr. Powell. “This is an opportunity to collaborate with partners, drive change, and make a positive impact for our community.” 

Pending Governing Committee approval, Mr. Powell would join the Homelessness Authority on February 14, 2024, and become Interim CEO after two weeks of overlapping service with outgoing Interim CEO Helen Howell.
 
While KCRHA is currently conducting a national search for a permanent CEO, the priority is to provide interim leadership, reiterate a commitment to a regional approach, and ensure no interruption in services. 

“The Regional Homelessness Authority works throughout our County to deliver for the people we serve, and the addition of Darrell’s leadership during this time of transition will be an asset to the region,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. 
“As the search begins for the next permanent CEO, I also want to thank Helen for her service over the last year, bringing stability and focus when the organization needed it most. King County looks forward to our continued partnership in this critical mission to not leave any of our neighbors behind.” 

In her 9 months as Interim CEO, Helen Howell has focused on getting back to basics—reviewing and improving core agency operations—including changes in response to audits, streamlining processes for contracts and fiscal operations, and improving customer service and relationships with front-line service providers. 
 
“My time at KCRHA has been an incredible experience,” said Ms. Howell. “Moving from the early days of start-up through a variety of adjustments and improvements, I believe the agency is back on the right track. I continue to believe that homelessness is solvable, and that the solutions must match the scale of the challenge, with shared responsibility and a regional approach.” 

As the new Interim CEO, Darrell Powell would bring over 30 years of strategic finance experience, with proficiency in not-for-profit management, financial and property management, strategic planning, and business development. 

He is a seasoned financial leader, and comes to KCRHA from Pinnacle Financial Services, a Certified Public Accounting firm specializing in providing professional financial support to growing businesses. 

He previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Treehouse, College Success Foundation, United Way of King County, and the YMCA of Greater Seattle, and serves as the volunteer President for the NAACP Seattle King County Branch. Mr. Powell is a graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle, holds a BA in Accounting from Tennessee State University and an MBA in Finance from Harvard Business School. 



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Catching up - Kenmore council votes down Plymouth Housing project

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Public notice sign about the Plymouth Housing project on the lot, owned by the city, which is currently used to park city vehicles. Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Diane Hettrick

In council meetings during December and January the Kenmore city council listened to hours of raucous comments from community members who were outraged and frightened at the prospect of construction of a six-story Plymouth Housing building for homeless clients on Bothell Way.

The project had been in development over several years. Plymouth had secured full funding for the project, and planned to run it, providing supportive services.


Yet, at their meeting on January 22, 2024, the city council scuttled the project. 

The Seattle Times covered the outfall in their article Kenmore planned to spend millions on affordable housing; then came public outcry


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Volunteer "chefs" needed at St. Dunstan's to help feed the hungry

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Kitchen volunteers at work at St. Dunstan's
Photo courtesy St. Dunstan's

For over ten years St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Shoreline has held a weekly Community Dinner every Tuesday, serving a buffet in the parish hall and delivering hot meals to four homeless encampments in Shoreline and Seattle. 

A dedicated group of volunteers, both parishioners and generous friends and neighbors, puts this on as a way to show God’s love to our community and especially to those in need. Altogether we feed 250-300 people every Tuesday.

A buffet is served every Tuesday in the parish hall
Photo courtesy St. Dunstan's

Our beloved head cook, Dan, needs to take some time off for health reasons. One or two volunteers are needed, perhaps a retired couple with extra time, to fill in overseeing our Tuesday Community Dinners. Experience in a commercial kitchen is not required; we will gladly train you.

Food is delivered to four homeless encampments
Photo courtesy St. Dunstan's

Duties include planning the weekly menu; gleaning food donations from local agencies; meal preparation and cooking on Mondays at the church with a team of volunteers; and supervising cooking, distribution of hot food to homeless camps, and serving of a buffet dinner at the church on Tuesdays. 

This is a substantial time commitment, but Dan will be available some of the time to provide guidance.

Can you and a partner or friend step forward to help? Or do you know someone who fits the bill? Interested people can contact St. Dunstan’s at 206-363-4319 or office@sdchp.org or email Deacon Alan Christensen

St. Dunstan's is located at 722 N 145th St, Shoreline WA 98133


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Severe Weather Shelter hosted nine people its first night open

Monday, January 15, 2024

Urban League shelter staff
Photo courtesy KCRHA

The North King County Severe Weather Shelter up and running for this activation!

Located at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church and staffed by Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, this shelter is the result of months of collaboration that began with 5 cities in North King County signing the Interlocal Agreement that unifies homelessness response under the KCRHA, a grant funding process in the fall of 2023, and MANY people coming together to successfully launch the shelter in time for this cold snap.
 
On its first night open, they were able to offer a warm place to stay to nine unsheltered community members in North King County.

Connections Health Solutions donated 70 blankets
Photo courtesy KCRHA

A major thank you to everyone who was involved in making this happen—including Connections Health Solutions, which donated 70 blankets to keep those in need warm during severe weather.

Get info on shelters around the region on our Severe weather page


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Urban League to operate severe weather shelter in Shoreline starting Wednesday

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

St. Dunstan's to host emergency shelter again

St. Dunstan's Church at 722 N 145th St, Shoreline, WA 98133 will once again house a severe weather shelter but this time it will be staffed by the Urban League instead of local volunteers.

It will open on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 8pm for single adults and couples. Walk-ins are welcome but calling ahead to confirm a bed is available strongly encouraged. (206) 837 - 2746

Urban League can arrange transportation to the shelter for those in need via the shelter phone number (206) 837 – 2746.

As with most emergency shelters, guests will need to leave by 7am the next day.

It will be open this time from January 10 - 16, 2024.

The King County Regional Homeless Authority has been working with Urban League and St. Dunstan's to set up the North King County Severe Weather Shelter since the previous shelter, staffed by volunteers from NUHSA, closed down at the end of winter weather in 2023 after operating from 2018-2023. (more information here). 

  • Current information about shelter operations can be found at the KCRHA shelter page 
  • Mary’s Place operates an intake line for all family shelter placements. 206-245-1026.
  • Daytime warming centers are at several local libraries: Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell, plus the Kenmore Hanger.

The shelter is not able to accept donations at this time. If anyone is interested in donating supplies, they should contact Camp United We Stand which is currently being hosted by St Dunstan's. Contact information can be found on the camp's website.

--Diane Hettrick

Updated with information about family placements at Mary's Place, and transportation to St. Dunstan's.


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Cold weather forecasted, still no emergency shelter in Shoreline

Monday, January 8, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

Although December saw record high temperatures, this week is forecast to bring a severe cold snap to the region with daytime highs well below freezing. 

With freezing weather forecast from Wednesday, January 10 to Wednesday, January 17, there is concern for the safety of unhoused Shoreline and North King County residents.
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) operates Severe Weather Shelters elsewhere but there is not yet an emergency overnight shelter for unhoused residents in North King County.

Five North King County cities, including Shoreline, have pooled funding for a coordinated severe weather response.

KCRHA posted a request for proposals in September to seek out at least three bids.

After the original site fell through in early December, a different location has been secured and a contract with a non-profit service provider is pending a site location.

In the interim, Anne Martens from KCRHA said the YWCA will be managing a hotel voucher program for people in North King County in need of severe weather shelter.

In comments at a December Shoreline City Council meeting, Mayor Keith Scully said Shoreline Police Officers have been paying for hotel room vouchers out of their own pockets.

Mayor Scully thanked the Shoreline police officers and announced the city would start paying for the vouchers until the KCRHA severe weather shelter is in place.

In addition to distributing vouchers in times of severe weather, Shoreline police also provide transportation to hotels for those in need.



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Recruiting Point in Time (PIT) Count volunteers

Friday, December 29, 2023

Photo courtesy KCRHA

The King County Regional Homeless Authority (KCRHA) is now recruiting community members to help complete the count by volunteering at Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Hub locations.

From January 22 – February 2, 2024, the KCRHA will be completing the annual PIT Count. This is a count of the number of unhoused people across all municipalities, as mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The data collected from this count is used to inform HUD on funding for programs and services.

This year, KCRHA and the University of Washington (UW) have received approval from HUD to use a different method for the PIT that extends the previous one-night count to two weeks.

Volunteer Details: 
  • Shifts of up to 4 hours from January 22 – February 2
  • Locations spread throughout King County
  • Training is provided prior to the PIT Count
  • Positions available: Surveyors/Interviewers, Hub Site Leads, Supply and Tech Support
If you’re interested in volunteering, please click here to learn more, and click here to sign up.

Please sign up to volunteer by January 5, 2023.

2024 PIT Count Information


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Camp United We Stand (CUWS) settled in new location in Shoreline - and here's how you can help sustain them

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Main entrance to camp

Story and photos by Lisa McDonald

Camp United We Stand (CUWS) extends a huge THANK YOU to all that helped in their recent relocation move back to the Shoreline Area in early November. 

The camp residents are now settled in to their new “home” on the east end of St Dunstan’s Episcopal Church campus in Shoreline. The Thanksgiving holiday was much more meaningful being settled into their new living space!

Camp United We Stand, Inc. is a legally sanctioned 501(C)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safe shelter for homeless individuals. 

We work toward this mission by operating a transient homeless encampment for the provision of shelter, the residents’ daily needs and to facilitate their transition to independent living.

Security tent

The homeless encampment houses up to 35 adults, some of whom work outside the camp. They are assured of returning to the same place night after night to lay their heads. To having food and drink. To having their basic human needs met. The camp has garbage and recycling service, porta-potties, water access (for dishwashing), and weekly laundry service by a team of volunteers.

  • All camp residents are screened.
  • No sex offenders or people with outstanding warrants are permitted.
  • No weapons are permitted in the camp.
  • No street drugs or alcohol are permitted in the camp. The rules for CUWS are strictly enforced.

Camp United We Stand provides its own security detail 24/7 to patrol the camp perimeter. If needed, the police are called. 

Neighborhoods near our hosting sites have found there are fewer problems in the area when there is such an encampment as the residents intentionally attempt to be conscientious neighbors to their surrounding area by keeping their hosting site neat/tidy, and noises to a minimum.

Please consider sponsoring the camp this holiday season!

With the upcoming holidays quickly approaching, we are hopeful we can secure some much-needed donations and funding to help with some immediate and ongoing needs. If you or your family & friends are looking for a way to bring holiday cheer to those in need, please consider supporting CUWS residents.

Kitchen pantry
Immediate camp needs:

  • REFRIGERATOR needed (new or gently used) Camp is down to one working refrigerator, so there is limited space to store perishable food donations at this time.
  • BATTERIES (AA and AAA) to power devices in campers’ tents
  • Cash donations to purchase new REFRIGERATOR (unless one is donated!) and 
  • PROPANE for heat source and cooking needs at camp
  • Warm CLOTHING, SOCKS, BLANKETS *Must be donated clean and ready to use in new/gently used condition
Ongoing needs:
  • Sponsor a camper! For a donation of $555.00 you can completely sponsor an incoming camper. See below breakdown of how the funds would be used to purchase personal items for each living space:
  • Wood platform ($90)
  • Tent ($110)
  • Sturdy tarp to secure over the tent ($60)
  • Cot with pad ($75)
  • Sleeping bag/bedding ($75)
  • Propane heater ($100)
  • Heater hose ($25)
  • First tank of propane ($20)
  • Monthly Garbage/Recycling expenses
  • Monthly Honey Bucket expenses
  • Relocation costs (to rent U-Haul and moving equipment)
  • Purchasing replacement items in camp as they wear out – including appliances, tents/tarps, tables/chairs, etc
  • GROUND COFFEE + creamers/sugars are always in need!
  • Laundry detergent and dryer sheets

To donate any of the above listed items you may drop them off at the front entrance (security tent) of CUWS on the lower level of the St Dunstan’s Episcopal church campus 722 N 145th St, Shoreline (enter off 145th street just WEST of the Interurban trail access)

To make a financial donation to CUWS, mail a check to:
  • CUWS c/o RBCC 1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline WA 98177
  • *make checks payable to CUWS - on the ‘for’ line you may denote where you would like your funds to go towards – if no notation is made, your donation will be put towards current camp needs.
  • Donations can also be made through our CUWS website

Meal delivery – please check out our sign-up genius link to sign up for meal delivery.


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Holiday Cheer with Seattle Surabaya Sister City Association and The Horizon School

Friday, December 8, 2023


The Seattle Surabaya Sister City Association (SSSCA) is partnering with The Horizon School preschool, located in the Richmond Beach Congregational United Church of Christ.

They are sponsoring a Holiday Cheer Event to celebrate the season with our unhoused friends in the area. 

The event is being held in the upper parking lot of the church at 1512 NW 195th St in Shoreline on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 9 to 11am.

All are invited.


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Tier 2 Severe Weather Protocols through Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Monday, November 27, 2023


King County Regional Homelessness Authority

The forecast has shifted, with several more days of overnight freezing temperatures. We are extending the activation of our Tier 2 Severe Weather Protocols through Wednesday, November 29. 

A Tier 2 activation means the KCRHA, in partnership with local service providers, is working to:
  • Open temporary emergency shelters (also known as severe weather shelters), seek expansions to existing emergency shelter programs including 24/7 shelters and night-by-night shelters
  • Update communications materials including but not limited to KCRHA’s Severe Weather webpage, and flyers, to include up-to-date information
Find resources and learn more on our Severe Weather Page


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KCRHA activating Tier 2 Severe Weather Protocols

Thursday, November 23, 2023


With consistent overnight freezing temperatures in the forecast, KCRHA is preparing to activate Tier 2 Severe Weather Protocols on Thursday, November 23, lasting through Sunday, November 26, 2023. 



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County council honors Marty Hartman upon her retirement from Mary's Place

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Marty Hartman and Rod Dembowski holding the proclamation

Rod Dembowski, with the rest of the King County Council, recognized Marty Hartman, Executive Director of Mary’s Place, for her inspirational leadership that has improved the lives and welfare of 1000s of King County residents.

Rod commented, "A dear friend and an incredible change-maker, I was so proud to lead today’s recognition of @MarysPlaceWA’s Marty Hartman, on her 24 years of building a place for women, children and families needing shelter. She’s a saint."

Mary's Place originally had small locations scattered around Shoreline. They were able to consolidate services with their move into the new Amazon corporate headquarters building. Under Marty's leadership, Mary's Place has an extraordinary history of providing shelter and services to thousands of homeless women and children throughout King county. 


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Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness 3rd Quarter update

Monday, November 13, 2023

Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness operates three main programs: the GLA Day Center in Lake City, Community Outreach in North Seattle/King County, and the Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter in Shoreline.

Their organizations hum with activity but Executive Director William Towey took time to report on their 3rd quarter in a newsletter.



By William Towey, Executive Director
Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness

The third quarter of 2023 was a strong example of how our approach of providing direct services through Outreach, Day Center, and Enhanced Shelter that is closely integrated with our Client Services team creates a very productive pathway to housing and shelter.

For example:
  • In Q3 the GLA Day Center assisted 32 unsheltered individuals get off the street into emergency shelter.
  • In Q3 Lake City Partners placed 17 individuals into Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH).
  • Additionally, our close partnerships with Catholic Community Services and Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC) have confirmed 19 individuals in the soon to open St Margaret's Place and another 13 in the soon to open DESC building (Burbridge Place). We anticipate that by the end of 2023 all of these individuals will be moved into brand new apartments!
Currently, 45% of the folks staying at the Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter have an active housing referral. 

We anticipate that 33% of the Oaks census will exit into housing this month.

Congratulations to our Client Services team for their work with the Coordinated Entry for All (CEA) system – which is a complex and challenging system because it is a single access point for many different housing providers and types of housing. Coordinated entry ensures that all folks experiencing homelessness have equitable access to housing resources.

What does this look like qualitatively?

'Ranger' joined the Oaks right before Christmas 2021. Prior to moving into the Oaks he had been living in his truck since 2013. Ranger arrived at Oaks with some serious medical and mobility issues that have gotten more under control as a result of having a stable place to stay that has a Primary Care Clinic just 5 minutes away. Ranger, who is of retirement age, enjoys fishing and being in nature as much as possible. 

The Client Services team sought to incorporate those loves into a housing placement for him, securing an apartment in Magnuson Park and he will soon be able to walk out of his building to go fishing down at the water to his heart's content.

Maintaining a sense of identity and finding joy while being unsheltered for years is difficult. The client services team strives to ensure that participants end up with an apartment that really suits them and meets their specific needs while allowing them to rediscover who they are and what they love.

Lucy arrived at the Oaks in August of 2023. She had been struggling with various health care needs and these were really impacted by her lack of stable shelter since 2016. Within 10 weeks of arriving at Oaks, housing was secured for her. When she was informed of this she was shocked and simply asked where we had been for the last 7 years!

Foundational Community Support

I am thrilled to share that Lake City Partners is now an authorized FCS (Foundational Community Support) provider agency. FCS is a program funded by the Washington State Health Care Authority. 

It was a long and technical process to obtain the qualification to become authorized for Medicaid billing, but we are grateful to be able to tap into this resource for our participants that helps offset operational costs and can provide direct financial benefits to those moving into housing. 

The ability to begin to access Medicaid funding to support interventions and programs for our clients is truly exciting and game-changing!

To learn more, or if your company, congregation or place of work promotes “giving days” leading up to the holiday season or provides tabling opportunities for local nonprofits, please contact chitra@lakecitypartners.org 

11-16-2023 Correction to first line to more correctly describe their services.

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Sew Thoughtful Sews Backpacks

Sunday, November 5, 2023

Cedar Valley Grange
The Clothing and Textile Advisors invite community members who sew to join them to sew backpacks for Cocoon House.

Cocoon House is located in Everett. They provide housing for 40 residents, teens through 24 years and an outreach program making available basic resources to street youth.

They also meet the needs of young people in their drop-in center. The backpacks help the youth manage their possessions.

We will meet from 10am to 2pm at the Cedar Valley Grange in Lynnwood20526 52nd Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98036 on Friday. November 17, 2023.

Kits will be provided. Bring your sewing machine and accessories, lunch and beverage.


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Camp United We Stand returns to St. Dunstan's in Shoreline the weekend of November 3-5, 2023

Friday, November 3, 2023

CUWS Main entrance
Photo by Lisa McDonald
By Lisa McDonald

Camp United We Stand returns to St. Dunstan's in Shoreline the weekend of November 3-5 and they would appreciate some help.

Did you know they have designated hosting sites in the greater Shoreline/North Seattle/Kirkland/Bothell area for the homeless to reside in community in a safe, protected space?

Camp United We Stand, Inc. is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safe shelter for homeless individuals. They work toward this mission by operating a transient homeless encampment for the provision of shelter, the residents’ daily needs and to facilitate their transition to independent living.

This encampment was formed in 2014 in order to focus on finding housing, keeping employment, and getting the support needed to move forward.

CUWS staffed 24/7
Photo by Lisa McDonald

Camp United We Stand provides its own security detail 24/7 to patrol the camp perimeter. If needed, the police are called. Neighborhoods near our hosting sites have found there are fewer problems in the area when there is such an encampment as the residents intentionally attempt to be conscientious neighbors to their surrounding area by keeping their hosting site neat/tidy, and noises to a minimum.

The homeless encampment houses up to 35 adults, some of whom work outside the camp. They are assured of returning to the same place night after night to lay their heads. To having food and drink. To having their basic human needs met.

The camp has garbage and recycling service, porta-potties, water access (for dishwashing and showers), and weekly laundry service by a team of volunteers.

In addition:
  • The residents are screened.
  • No sex offenders or people with outstanding warrants are permitted.
  • No weapons are permitted in the camp.
  • No street drugs or alcohol are permitted in the camp.
  • The rules for CUWS are strictly enforced.
  • CUWS has a volunteer Board of Directors.
If interested in more information or in joining their efforts, please visit the CUWS website and contact us.

Donation tent.
Photo by Lisa McDonald
Moving back to Shoreline


Due to city permitting regulations, the CUWS hosting site needs to relocate every 90 days. Their current hosting site is Kirkland Congregational Church (106 – 5th Avenue)

On the weekend of Nov 3 - 5, 2023 they will be relocating to St Dunstan’s Episcopal Church 722 N 145th St, Shoreline.

It takes a village to move the entire camp! There are many “moving parts” in getting things packed up, loaded onto trucks, unloaded at the new location, then setting everything back up again.

Volunteers needed to help with the move. Any amount of time you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Click here to sign up to volunteer if you’re able to help in any way.

Choose from either work site:
  • Current Hosting Site: Kirkland Congregational Church: 106 5th Ave, Kirkland. Site moving coordinator: Chris K
  • Moving to NEW hosting site: St Dunstan’s Episcopal Church 722 N 145th St, Shoreline. Site moving coordinator: Christopher
Kitchen tent. Photo by K Taylor
Meals needed

They are also in need of meal delivery throughout the moving process, as the kitchen items will be packed up during the transition – so the residents will not have access to food items.

If you’re interested in providing a meal please visit the Meal Service link and sign up for the many ways you can help. 

We also offer a hot dinner service each Friday and Sunday night, so those slots are also available to sign up for.

Laundry service
Photo by Lisa McDonald
Laundry Service


Finally, we offer a weekly LAUNDRY SERVICE for each of the residents at CUWS. If you are interested in learning more about our service, or would like to join our team of “Laundry Angels” please contact Lisa McDonald for additional information at: lisa_mcd@comcast.net


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UW dorm mattresses recycled for homeless shelters

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Mattresses loaded in van for delivery
Photo courtesy KCRHA
Local homeless shelters and service providers just got a mattress upgrade, reusing old mattresses from University of Washington dorms.

The mattresses came to KCRHA (King County Regional Homelessness Authority) through the furniture and mattress recycling company, LP Recycling, were stored by King County DCHS (Department of Community and Human Services) at a warehouse in SODO, and are being picked up by nonprofit service providers.

Of the over 770 mattresses that were donated, there are about 340 remaining, with another pick up scheduled at the SODO warehouse this Friday afternoon.

So far, nonprofit service providers who are putting these mattresses to good use include Riverton Park UMC (currently hosting asylum-seekers), REACH Mobile Medical, Mary’s Place Seattle, Bailey-Boushay House Emergency Shelter, Reclaim Stability (formerly Snoqualmie Valley Shelter), Restoration Refuge, Lake City Partners, Brazilian Community Service, Share/WHEEL, Atlantic Street Center, and Communities In Schools of Greater King County.


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Tier 2 Severe Weather Response Protocols Friday to Sunday

Due to freezing overnight temperatures, KCRHA (King County Regional Homeless Authority) is activating Tier 2 Severe Weather Response Protocols from Friday, October 27 – Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Severe Weather Response

As we prepare for colder weather, all information about KCRHA severe weather activations will be posted on our website Severe Weather Response page.

Severe weather protocols activate at certain temperatures, and actions range from providing access to life-sustaining supplies like hand-warmers and blankets, to opening and operation of severe weather shelters.


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Memorial ceremony October 25, 2023 for King County residents who died without resources or family to claim their remains

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Gone but not forgotten
Photo courtesy King County Medical Examiners Office

Every few years, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) hosts a unique memorial to ensure that every King County resident is remembered. 

The KCMEO’s Indigent Remains Program provides burial for King County residents who have died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial. This program serves people whose families either could not be located or could not provide for the proper disposition of remains.

The next ceremony to remember these individuals will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 1:00pm at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Renton, 100 Blaine Ave NE

It’s open to any member of the public who wishes to pay their respects.

Answers to common questions about the program: 

How long has King County provided this service and how does it work? 

The first ceremony took place in 1993, and they are held on an as-needed basis. When someone dies but lacks the necessary means for burial, the KCMEO Indigent Remains Program looks after their remains. 

The KCMEO exhausts all efforts to identify family members who may be able to take the remains, but when no one can be found who can do this, the remains are cremated and buried. In some cases, the KCMEO is able to find family, but the family can’t always bear the cost of burial services. 

What does the ceremony involve? 

Clergy from several denominations are invited to read the names of each individual decedent. The Indigent Remains Program also works with local organizations and agencies to reach out to people in the community who may have known the person to invite them to the ceremony. Each burial is marked with a stone plate, which includes the date and an inscription. 

How are the remains buried? 

All remains are cremated, placed in individual containers, and buried in the same area of the cemetery. Each individual’s remains are separated and identifiable by a unique number inside the tomb. A 3-D map is used for reference. 

What do we know about the people being buried? 

The names of the decedents who are part of the 2023 ceremony can be found online. Some were people living homeless at the time of death, while others had housing but did not have funds or family to cover a proper burial. 

--Kaila Lafferty, Public Health Insider


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