Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts

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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Affordable Housing 101 in Shoreline/Lake Forest Park

Saturday, October 17, 2020


Are you interested in learning more about affordable housing options in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park - and the best practices for making sure everyone has a place to call home? 

Join on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 5pm to share your insight on local housing needs and learn the tools and strategies needed to effectively implement policies that will make a difference in OUR community!

Co-hosted by the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) and the Housing Development Consortium (HDC), this presentation and workshop is designed specifically for residents, advocates, community leaders and others in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.

Special guest Mayor Will Hall will provide welcoming remarks and share how Shoreline is working to provide accessible housing options for all.

Please register here. For more information, see here.



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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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Affordable Housing 101

Monday, October 5, 2020


Are you interested in learning more about affordable housing and the best practices for making sure everyone has a place to call home? 

Share your insights on local housing needs and learn the tools and strategies needed to effectively implement policies that will make a difference in our community!

Co-hosted by NUHSA and the Housing Development Consortium (HDC), this special presentation and workshop is designed specifically for residents, advocates, community leaders and others in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.

Special guest Mayor Will Hall will provide welcoming remarks and share how Shoreline is working to provide accessible housing options for all.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 5:00-6:30pm 

Register in advance for this workshop

Additional workshops will be held on October 27th (designed for residents in Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville) and November 10th (geared for the Sno-Valley communities). To sign up for one of these presentations, go to this link.

Questions? Email staff@nuhsa.org



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Housing Washington 2020 registration is now open

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Conference Program Offered Free of Charge in Innovative Virtual Format on October 6, 2020

Housing Washington, the leading affordable-housing conference in Washington state, is going virtual with a free, one-day educational event on October 6, 2020 from 9am to 1pm. 

Registration is now open HERE.

The program will offer a range of live and on-demand learning opportunities, aiming to attract a broad audience to engage in important conversations that drive housing solutions. 

The conference is offered free of charge this year, courtesy of industry conference sponsors who share a strong commitment to advancing affordable housing in Washington.

Housing Washington is also committed to fostering racial equity and social justice across the affordable housing sector, which is reflected in the conference programming and presenters.

Steve Walker 
“Housing Washington is an important annual gathering for our industry to learn and discuss critical issues around affordable housing in our state and across the nation,” said Steve Walker, executive director of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the lead presenting sponsor of Housing Washington. 
“By going virtual, we aim to remove financial constraints to attend and reach a wider array of participants.” 
“With this year’s unprecedented challenges—the pandemic, economic hardship, overdue focus on systemic racism—we have a lot to talk about,” he added.

Dr. Tiffany Manual
Two live keynoters, Dr. Tiffany Manuel, president and CEO of TheCaseMade, and Ijeoma Oluo, Seattle-based writer and speaker, bookmark a range of topical breakout sessions.

All focus on aspects of affordable housing issues during this COVID-19 pandemic and on the systemic racism highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Attendees can join one of 12 concurrent breakout sessions and can return post-event to view additional sessions in an on-demand format.

“Thanks to our virtual format with both live and on-demand sessions, attendees won’t have to miss any session that interests them,” says Walker. 
“They can also share the on-demand sessions with their teams, extending the opportunities for conversations beyond a typical in-person conference of some 850 attendees.”

Ijeoma Oluo

The event includes a virtual exposition of exhibitors, recognition of extraordinary people and organizations that are positively impacting Washington state’s affordable housing industry, and opportunities to connect and network.

Attendance is free, however registration is required to attend the event or view on-demand sessions post-event.

Through a special cross-event collaboration, Housing Washington attendees can also extend their learning at the Conference on Ending Homelessness (COEH), which takes place October 7-8. 

Housing Washington registrants will receive a special code to enjoy a discount on their COEH registration. Details on the COEH conference HERE



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Threatened with eviction? Rent Smart session Wednesday

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Rent Smart - Order of Limited Dissemination

Wednesday, September 16, 2-4pm

In addition to the Solid Ground Tenant Counselors, a visiting attorney from the Tenant Law Center will be on hand to help with answering questions.

If you are currently living in King County and being threatened with eviction, contact the Housing Justice Project for legal assistance at 253-234-4204 or hjpstaff@kcba.org.

Register here before 1pm on September 16. You will receive a Zoom link at around 1pm on the day of the event.

Space is limited to 25 and only a few seats remain.



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King County dedicates $41 million to COVID-19-related rental assistance and eviction prevention

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Photo by Morning Brew on unsplash


Almost half the recent calls to King County’s 2-1-1- hotline were for assistance with housing. 

While eviction moratoriums are still in place, many people worry about how they will catch up on payments when those moratoriums expire. 

Individuals and families throughout King County economically impacted by COVID-19 due to illness, lost wages, and unemployment may apply for assistance through the King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program 

The new program dedicates $41.4 million for emergency housing aid and is expected to assist 7,700 to 10,000 households across the region. 

King County will use several approaches to serve as many households as possible, as quickly as possible. Funding is prioritized for the highest-need areas and individuals in King County. 

To be eligible for assistance, all tenants must have an income that is at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income over the past 60 days, and must be partially or fully behind at least one month of rent since March 1, 2020. 

Tenants must also meet one of several secondary criteria, such as having high rent burden, a history of homelessness or eviction, or a disability. Details are available HERE 



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Shoreline Housing Action Plan Online Open House - Provide your input

Thursday, August 20, 2020



The City of Shoreline is developing a Housing Action Plan.

The goal is to support the construction of more affordable and market rate housing of different housing types at prices that are more affordable to people with a variety of incomes.

The Action Plan will identify tools to address Shoreline’s specific set of needs and provide guidance on how to implement those tools.

Visit the online open house to learn more about Shoreline’s current and future housing needs and to share your priorities and concerns.




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Shoreline council to consider a new 60 bed homeless shelter on Aurora

Friday, August 7, 2020

The Oak Tree on Aurora (formerly Arden Rehab)
could become a King county homeless shelter


By Diane Hettrick

In April, Council adopted Council Goal No. 5, Action Step No. 7: Begin a process of developing partnerships with North King County cities and other key stakeholders in support of siting a 24/7 shelter/navigation center to serve homeless single adults in North King County.

In response to this Council direction, staff has been working to explore options for the siting of a 24/7 shelter for single homeless adults to serve the North King County area. 

A convergence of recent events has created an opportunity for the siting of a shelter much more quickly than could have been anticipated.

In June, staff became aware that The Oaks at Forest Bay Nursing Home (The Oaks), (formerly Arden Rehab) located at 16357 Aurora Ave N, was closing and the property was going to be offered for sale. 

Since that time, King County has expressed interest in obtaining the property and partnering with the King County Housing Authority for potential acquisition.

King county would be able to take advantage of funds recently released by the federal Department of Commerce to purchase the property. Part of the requirements for getting the funds is that the shelter has to be up and running by December of this year.

As the facility is already in operation, this would require very little work for compliance.  

The facility could serve as an emergency shelter for 60 single adults in the short term (likely three to seven years), and permanent supportive housing in the long term.

Even though it is a "study" item on the council agenda for Monday, August 10, 2020, it really is a decision. Shoreline's part in this is to change the zoning for the site. If they instruct staff to proceed, then it's a "go" for King county. 

Shoreline would not own the site and would not be part of the purchase.

The King County Housing Authority owns multiple properties in Shoreline from apartment complexes to low income senior apartment buildings. Their mission is to buy property and keep rents affordable.

Lake City Partners would also partner with King county and the Housing Authority to run this shelter. They are a coalition formed to combat homelessness. Before COVID-19 they managed a homeless shelter that rotated among partner organizations. Many of the sites have since ceased to participate because of the pandemic.

If you have comments on this item, here is the information on how to contact city council.



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County Council passes new protections for King County renters during COVID-19 crisis

Thursday, June 25, 2020

The King County Council on Tuesday passed new legislation protecting tenants who are unable to pay their rent due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The ordinance, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Claudia Balducci, Girmay Zahilay, and Jeanne Kohl-Welles, extends protections to residential tenants, including manufactured homeowners, and small commercial tenants in unincorporated King County.

When Washington closed all non-essential businesses in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, many King County residents suddenly found themselves without a job. King County residents filed over 398,000 new unemployment claims between March 1 and June 13. While Gov. Jay Inslee signed an eviction moratorium to prevent immediate loss of housing, tenants and advocates have expressed fear of a wave of evictions when the moratorium ends.

“While the governor’s moratorium headed off an imminent avalanche of evictions, we are still at risk of hundreds or thousands of families losing their homes once the moratorium ends,” Balducci said. 
“The intention of this ordinance is to give people impacted by COVID-19 an opportunity to catch up on rent and stay in their homes. Along with the additional funding for direct rental assistance we passed today, this measure will help keep families from sliding into homelessness due to forces beyond their control.”

Modeled on similar legislation already passed in the city of Seattle, the ordinance provides residential tenants with a defense to eviction if an unlawful detainer (eviction) action is based on the tenant's failure to pay rent, if the nonpayment was because of circumstances occurring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The defense to eviction will be available to residential tenants if the eviction was initiated because of unpaid rent that was due before or by March 1, 2021. The second protection allows a residential or small commercial tenant who fails to pay rent due before or by March 1, 2021 to pay the overdue rent on a reasonable repayment plan if the nonpayment was because of circumstances occurring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides an additional defense to eviction if a landlord does not offer a reasonable repayment plan.

“This ordinance centers on the principle that housing is a human right and as such it’s an important measure in protecting that right” Kohl-Welles said. 
“This legislation is critical in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic with many of our residents not having adequate resources to pay their rent. 
"However, we have many more steps to take to ensure King County residents have accessible, affordable and stable housing. 
"I look forward to continuing this important work with my colleagues and community partners that have been advocating and organizing on these issues long before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.”


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Geo apartment community opens pre-leasing for spring move-in

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Geo Apartments has opened pre-leasing


Geo is a brand new apartment community, located in Shoreline’s Town Center District on Midvale and 180th, that just opened pre-leasing for move-ins to begin this spring.

Drawing inspiration in both name and design from the beauty of geology, the 164-unit project offers high-end, downtown Seattle style living at a Shoreline price point (including a number of MFTE program affordable units).

The storage court next door belongs to the City of Shoreline

Set back just off Aurora, on Midvale, the community is ideally situated for a quick commute to work (or play) by car, Rapid Ride E Line bus or the upcoming Light Rail extension, scheduled for completion in 2024. 

Nearby access to the Interurban Trail, well-respected schools and Shoreline’s ever-growing list of dining and shopping options are also a significant perk, with on-site, ground floor retail tenants poised to add to that list in the coming months.



Residents at Geo will enjoy attractive amenities including a state-of-the art fitness facility, an off-leash dog park with grooming center, a rooftop lounge with Seattle skyline/Rainier views, co-working collaborative spaces and a beautifully landscaped courtyard.

Geo Apartments are pre-leasing now

The studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plan options include high ceilings, extra-large windows, designer lighting, ceiling fans and modern, soft-close cabinetry. All of these features are more common in the more urban Seattle market, but less frequently found north of the city limits.

The project was designed to provide a high-quality housing option for those who love the city but prefer the warmth and interconnectivity of Shoreline’s close-knit, “small town” feel when it comes to where they call home.

The Geo team is excited to welcome their first residents and to get to know neighboring community members as they prepare to open their doors this spring. If interested in learning more about the community, neighborhood and how to reserve one of the first apartments, readers can visit geoapts.com or call 206-876-7775.



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Guidance for managers, staff and residents of apartment buildings

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Linden Highlands is one of dozens of
multifamily buildings in north King county


Updated Public Health Guidance for Managers, Staff, and Residents of Apartment Buildings, Condominiums, and Similar Residential Communities:

Public Health Seattle/King County issued updated guidance for landlords, property managers, and residents that provides information on actions site managers, property managers, and residents can do to stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The guidance encourages the hanging educational flyers in common areas, and providing in-language materials to residents with limited English language proficiency.




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Shoreline's Recovery Center makes the news

Friday, March 20, 2020

Recovery Center in Shoreline

The temporary, 200 bed King County Recovery Center went up in two days on one of the soccer fields north of the Shoreline Center, behind the tennis courts.

There are two fields and the Recovery Center is on the field by the Shoreline Center north parking lot. The field by Shoreline Park is still open.


KING 5 reporting on site

Neighbors report that the news helicopters were buzzing overhead the minute the structure started to go up on Wednesday and were there again on Thursday.

Photo by Karen Tynes

The Rachel Maddow show did a segment on it Wednesday night. She said that it was an example of King county not waiting for the federal government but taking action now to be prepared for what may come when the hospitals are full. She couldn't understand why this wasn't a national story. Joyce Taylor and the reporters got some nice air time.

King county also bought a motel in Kent and leased a motel in Issaquah for overflow patients.

--Diane Hettrick




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Woodsy Lake Forest Park home featured in Seattle Times article

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Woody Lake Forest Park house

“If the rule is you don’t mix wood, this home breaks that many, many times,” Wallace says. 
“There’s probably some species of wood I missed, but I don’t know what it is.”

Architect Roger Wallace designed a home - and furniture - for himself in Lake Forest Park and used every kind of wood he could lay hands on.

Waterfall Bubinga from Africa
Curly cherry from Maine
Paldao (from Indonesia and New Guinea), with African Zerbrawood trim
Santos Palisander, from South America
African mahogany
Rosewood
Jatoba, from South America
Western Tiger maple
Walnut burl and teak
Sapele from Africa
Caribbean mahogany

Read the article here



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Building Connections: “A Community starts by just saying ‘Hello’”

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

LFP Community members with Rex Hohlbein and Bernard Troyer


By Sally Yamasaki


On February 8, 2020 a group of Lake Forest Park neighbors visited the open house of Block House number 6 in north Seattle. It was a joyous and emotional occasion for all who participated in the day of celebrating, welcoming, and bearing witness to the new home the community built for Tony, who has been experiencing homelessness.


The BLOCK Project is part of Facing Homelessness that was founded in 2013 through the inspiration of Seattle architect Rex Hohlbein. One day in 2010, Rex befriended a person who was living homeless near his office in Fremont. This experience showed him that the stereotypes we often hold regarding those facing homelessness were the opposite of what he experienced. He began sharing stories in a Facebook group which eventually led to starting Facing Homelessness.

“Often when we talk about the homelessness crisis, we talk about those people over there. We need to change that. 
"It is not a homelessness crisis; it is a community crisis
"The moment you say ‘community crisis’ you include yourself in that, and that right there is the beginning of tearing down the ‘other’ and including community in the answer to the issue of homelessness,” said Hohlbein.



According to Hohlbein, “The power in humanizing homelessness is that it allows all of us to see the beauty of each person living on our streets, rather than fixating on the complexity of an issue that overwhelms us,” and can be as simple as just saying, ‘Hello’.”

With the BLOCK Project, neighbors need to agree for a homeowner to host a Block home in their backyard and the surrounding neighbors all need to be in agreement. The homes are a fully-equipped, 125 square foot, environmentally-sustainable home.



Lake Forest Park community member, Mike Dee, noticed that the stories about Tony and his amazing cooking skills touched a number of people at the event. Dee relayed the story. 

 “One time, a friend who met Tony at a shelter and then invited him to stay at his house asked Tony to go camping with him. 
Tony agreed and to everyone’s delight and amazement, on a little cook stove, Tony created a most sumptuous meal for them all. 
Evidently, before Tony became homeless, he would go to the various shelters and cook for the residents there.”

Another LFP resident, Dan Benson, said that he was impressed by the way the BLOCK Project was largely about community building by bringing people together as neighbors, businesses, and volunteers, and working together to enrich all of their lives. 



“On the surface it could look like Tony was the one who was receiving a ‘gift’ today, but when I heard the stories of the various people who were directly involved I saw how they were all equally touched by the opportunity to practice their common humanity,” according to Benson.

Julie Hungar, also of LFP, noticed the impact of community. 

“I was impressed with the love and the depth of community kindness evident in everyone from Tony, excited about his new home, to Rex Holbein and his staff, to the host and the other block hosts and everyone who came to support and learn more about the BLOCK Project.” Hungar continued, 
“I am also ecstatic about the potential of this project for the world, the brilliant ideas for scaling up and being green. This has tremendous promise.”



As a group of us stood around a table enjoying delicious Mighty-O donuts, coffee, and Rachel’s Carrot Ginger Beer, ‘I asked Tony if he will be moving his things in soon? 

 He replied, “Oh, yes!” I said, looking up at the rare sunny day we had, "it looks like you will have good weather to be moving in." Tony replied, “Any weather is a good day to be moving in.”

For more information about the BLOCK Project and Facing Homelessness, or how you can contribute, see the website.



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KCHA to open Section 8 Housing Voucher waiting list lottery Feb 12-25

Tuesday, February 4, 2020


Low-income households encouraged to apply; 2,500 will be placed on waiting list


The King County Housing Authority will open a lottery for places on a new waiting list for its Section 8 rental assistance program. Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers help more than 10,200 households with low incomes rent homes on the private market.

People will be able to apply online starting at 7am on February 12, 2020 until 4pm on February 25. 2020. Applying is free. A link to the application is only available at kcha.org/lottery, which will take applicants to WaitListCheck.com. The only way to safely apply and avoid misleading websites that may seek to charge fees for applying is to type “kcha,org/lottery” into a web browser.

“With housing costs in the Seattle region among the highest in the nation, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers are a crucial tool for low-income families struggling to afford the rent,” said KCHA Executive Director Stephen Norman. 
“While the need is vastly greater than the resources available to address the problem, opening the waiting list will offer much-needed assistance to an additional 2,500 families, reducing poverty, ending or preventing homelessness, and providing the stability that allows children to succeed in school, and seniors and people with disabilities to live independently and with dignity.”

Eligible families can apply online 24 hours a day during the application period using a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.

In addition, free online computer access will be available at King County and Seattle libraries, as well as at the following local location, weekdays only with the exception of Feb. 17, President’s Day:

Ballinger Homes, 9am – 4:15pm. 206-574-1243
2200 NE 201st Pl, Shoreline 98155

Check here for additional locations.

According to an October 2017 King County Housing Affordability Task Force report, about 118,000 low-income households in King County were severely cost burdened, meaning they spent more than 50 percent of their income on housing. 

The January 2019 Point-in-Time count found 11,199 individuals were experiencing homelessness in Seattle/King County, and in 2018, Schoolhouse Washington reported that King County had 9,854 students in K-12 public schools who were experiencing homelessness.

The Section 8 program enables low-income families to find a home in the private rental market. Generally, KCHA pays the difference between the rent charged by a landlord and the assisted family’s rental income, which is set at approximately 30 percent of the household’s income.

Because the demand for vouchers is very high and applicants are only pulled from the waiting list when a currently participating household exits the program, the waiting list is usually closed to new applications. 

KCHA last opened the Section 8 waiting list lottery in April 2017. The last households on that list will be served by April. 

KCHA expects thousands of families to apply in February over this two-week period. At the end of the application period, KCHA will use a computer-randomized lottery to select 2,500 applicants for placement on the Section 8 waiting list.

As long as an applicant signs up during the waiting list lottery period, they have an equal chance of being placed on the waiting list; this is not a first-come, first-served process.

KCHA will notify applicants if they have been selected for placement on the waiting list by March 31.

Visit kcha.org/lottery for information about eligibility and answers to other frequently asked questions about the process. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) have been translated into 11 languages in addition to English. Applicants needing assistance in applying can call 206-214-1300 weekdays between the hours of 8am and 4pm, with the exception of Monday, February 17, 2020 when the office will be closed in observance of President’s Day.

KCHA, an independent municipal corporation established under state law, assists over 21,000 households (more than 50,000 individuals) in the Seattle metropolitan region, including 20,000 children, on a daily basis. The agency administers rental housing assistance, develops and manages affordable housing and works closely with community stakeholders to address local priorities such as ending homelessness, improving educational outcomes for the region’s low-income youth and assuring that disabled and elderly households can live with dignity.



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Shoreline architect now thrives as result of senior program

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Fred Chen 
By Cynthia Flash

Fred Chen is so devoted to his architecture career that he’s still working on projects – despite health issues that have significantly slowed him down.

“I still have my dreams,” he says of the 30-unit Beacon Hill apartment building he is working on at the drafting table in his room at 1st Ammanuel, the Shoreline adult family home where he moved after his health declined to a point where he could no longer live independently.

Last December, Chen was down to only 95 pounds. He’s put on 45 pounds since then, having joined an innovative program of healthcare and social services for older adults that is part of the national Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Ten months ago Chen moved to Shoreline and joined Providence ElderPlace, which works with adult family homes and other senior living facilities to care for seniors who want to continue to live in the community, despite qualifying to live in a nursing home.

Chen, a 72-year-old architect and urban planner who was born in China in 1947 and came to the United States at age 13, has had some minor strokes and is battling lung cancer. But his health is improving. In addition to seeing his doctors regularly at Providence ElderPlace, he benefits from weekly physical therapy and other exercise therapy to help him regain his strength and balance.

“They pay a lot of attention to the individual, giving you care,” he says. “From the physical therapists to the nurses, the medical program is well done. It’s helped with my getting stronger. I hope to regain my ability to walk on my own.”

The non-profit Providence ElderPlace keeps older adults as healthy as possible in the community by providing comprehensive healthcare and social services including: primary and specialty medical care, a day health program, social work services, rehabilitation, housing (if necessary) and more.

Participants attend the Providence ElderPlace centers on a regular basis and transportation is provided. The Providence ElderPlace team of health care and social service professionals and affiliates provide comprehensive integrated care to participants.

The program includes four stand-alone centers – in Seattle’s Rainier Valley, West Seattle, Kent and Redmond - in addition to two centers inside assisted living facilities. It plans to expand to Spokane and further into South King County next year.

September is National PACE Month, a time to raise awareness of this program that keeps seniors healthy and in their homes.

Chen hopes more people learn about Providence ElderPlace so they too can enjoy a renewed joy for life. “I’m relearning how to do different functions,” he says.

Providence ElderPlace accepts individuals age 55 and older who qualify under the state’s Community Options Program Entry System (COPES) – or Medicaid - program. COPES is designed to allow individuals who qualify for and require long-term care to receive the necessary care while living in their homes or other community living environments, such as assisted living facilities or adult family homes.

Anyone who is interested in finding out if they qualify to be enrolled in Providence ElderPlace should contact Jenny Kentta at 206-320-5325 or jennifer.kentta@providence.org.



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