Earlier this week, Mayor Ed Murray released a map of planned and future homeless shelters located at city-owned sites. I had originally heard that the City Light building at 157 Roy Street was on the list, but when I inquired, I was told that it was undecided – and it is not currently listed on the map or on the Human Services Department website:
However, according to the Queen Anne Community Council, the property at the corner of Warren Ave N and Roy Street, across from Metropolitan Market, is slated to become a men’s shelter for up to 100 men in September. The City Light property is the yellow box in the map below:
I’ve inquired again to get confirmation from the city, so this information could change, but here’s what we know today:
- The hours will be 10pm to 6am
- Residents will be given bus passes at the Downtown Emergency Shelter to get to Queen Anne/Uptown
- Bus passes will be given out again in the morning at the Roy St location
- The shelter will operate for at least 5 years
- It is anticipated that the residents will be ages 50 and over
- Negotiations for rent for the facility are underway – no agreement yet
Meanwhile, a definitive agreement has been reached on the Interbay site at 17th Ave W and W Bertona St. An encampment will open at the City Light substation property “soon” and it will stay at this location for one year. It will house up to 70 residents. The encampment will have the opportunity to renew for a second year, after which, it will then move to one of seven other locations. After a year, it can then return to Interbay.
MyBallard and West Seattle Blog have both covered the sites on the map that correspond to their respective neighborhoods if you’d like to learn more.
I’ve left a message with the Seattle Human Services Department contact, Sola Plumacher to get more information on the planned Roy Street encampment. Due to the holiday weekend, we may not have additional information until Monday. The Queen Anne Community Council has asked Ms. Plumacher to attend the September QACC meeting to answer questions from the community.
September’s meeting is months away and the encampment will likely be up and running by then. In the meantime, if you have questions call the Seattle Human Services Department at 206-386-1001 or contact the Office of the Mayor via a wide variety of social media sites or email form-letter.