Kirkland Homeless Women’s, Family Shelter to Serve the Eastside 24/7

Homeless families are able to utilize the amenities provided by the New Bethlehem Day Center six times per week from 2 to 8 p.m. The New Bethlehem Project is one of the primary organizations involved with the permanent shelter. Courtesy of New Bethlehem Project

The facility will be the first of its kind on the Eastside  |  Thursday, April 19, 2018  |  Courtesy of KirklandReporter.com

Last month, the Kirkland City Council unanimously cast two votes that included the purchase of land for a shelter intended to house and support women and families experiencing homelessness on the Eastside.

The purchase marks a step forward in a collaborative effort between the city and several homeless shelters and facilities operating in the area.

The purchase of the property acts as part of a city work program that partners with A Regional Coalition for Housing and other nonprofit organizations to build a permanent, 24/7 women’s and family shelter in Kirkland. The property was purchased from the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church for $600,000 and is part of an area presently occupied by the Salt House Church.

The city and the current property owner hope to close the transaction in the next few months.

The 100-bed shelter will offer services that are currently either not provided or only limitedly offered by the various facilities on the Eastside, including on-site case management, housing navigation, access to several service providers and other amenities.

Organizations involved with the project include Catholic Community Services, the New Bethlehem Project (which helps families with children), The Sophia Way (which supports single, adult women), the Salt House Church and the City of Kirkland. Other partners also include Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Louise Catholic Church and the Lake Washington Methodist Church.

“It is a rare thing to have all these groups and the larger groups — the state, the county, ARCH — all pulling in the same direction,” Tracey Dunlap, Kirkland’s deputy city manager, said. “Everybody has been so open to it.”

Last month, the Kirkland City Council unanimously cast two votes that included the purchase of land for a shelter intended to house and support women and families experiencing homelessness on the Eastside.

The purchase marks a step forward in a collaborative effort between the city and several homeless shelters and facilities operating in the area.

The purchase of the property acts as part of a city work program that partners with A Regional Coalition for Housing and other nonprofit organizations to build a permanent, 24/7 women’s and family shelter in Kirkland. The property was purchased from the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church for $600,000 and is part of an area presently occupied by the Salt House Church.

The city and the current property owner hope to close the transaction in the next few months.

The 100-bed shelter will offer services that are currently either not provided or only limitedly offered by the various facilities on the Eastside, including on-site case management, housing navigation, access to several service providers and other amenities.

Organizations involved with the project include Catholic Community Services, the New Bethlehem Project (which helps families with children), The Sophia Way (which supports single, adult women), the Salt House Church and the City of Kirkland. Other partners also include Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Louise Catholic Church and the Lake Washington Methodist Church.

“It is a rare thing to have all these groups and the larger groups — the state, the county, ARCH — all pulling in the same direction,” Tracey Dunlap, Kirkland’s deputy city manager, said. “Everybody has been so open to it.”

Those involved with the project do not necessarily see the shelter as a solution to homelessness but rather a positive and necessary step. Angela Murray, executive director of The Sophia Way, said it is a reaction to a crisis-response system.

“Crises don’t always happen during business hours,” she said.

Dunlap added that, even once the shelter is built, it will not necessarily be “complete.” They will consider how it will continue to running effectively.

“This isn’t an event,” she said. “This is a continuum.”

In addition to the purchasing of the property for the shelter, the Kirkland council vote also involves the Houghton Court Apartments, which are owned by the city. This property includes 15 spaces between two apartment buildings located at 6705 and 6711 106th Ave. N.E.

Part of this deal entails there be a building swap with the King County Housing Authority, which oversees a building the city leases and uses for park maintenance. Ultimately, the swap will give the city ownership of the parks maintenance building, with KCHA owning the Houghton Courts Apartments.

KCHA intends to attend to repair needs and necessary upgrades while still operating the apartments for public housing.

Through this, council is hoping to push affordable housing in Kirkland forward and keep the city moving toward achieving a 2017-18 work plan item, which seeks to expand maintenance center capacity to fulfill the service needs of the larger city.

The shelter, though, is of particular interest. To city personnel and organizations involved with its eventual construction, the purchase of the property signifies a major step in the right direction.

“It’s a great story about how much this entire community cares and wants to do something,” Kathy Cummings, the city’s communications program manager, said. “Their values are what drive it and enable all of us to work together.”

To contribute financially to the shelter, visit eastsidecares.org.