Wallingford Community Council "Kite Hill" logo

Monthly Meeting, Wednesday November 1

Location: Room 202 of the Good Shepherd Center4659 Sunnyside Ave N.
Time: 7:00 PM

Program: George Scarola, Permitted Homeless Encampment coming to Wallingford from Ballard.

Agenda:
7:00 PM – Welcome / Call to Order.
Approval of Minutes.
Committee reports.

Special Guests:
George Scarola, Department of Homelessness
The permitted tiny house homeless encampment in Ballard is moving to Wallingford in December.  George Scarola will explain the program and answer questions.  See below for more information on the Northlake area legal encampment.

NOTE: There will be another community meeting later in November; the Department of Homelessness is working to confirm a venue larger than Room 202.

Zach Carstensen, Director, Outreach & Engagement, Office of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07).

Good of the Order (anything people want to bring up).
Announcements:

  • The next Monthly Meeting will be Wednesday December 6, 2017.
  • Emergency Preparation, City-wide Communication Hubs: To learn more about gathering and supporting each other in the event of earthquake, storm, or other large-scale emergencies, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/emergency-management/prepare/prepare-your-neighborhood.
  • The ADU EIS Scoping Comments are due 5:00 PM, November 1, 2017.
  • KOMO News and KING 5 covered the Thursday October 26 “Funeral of the Neighborhood Voice”.
  • The Roof is Now Open! As a result of a SEPA appeal by the WCC, public access to the roof of the new Tableau building at Woodlawn Avenue N & N 34th Street is open during business hours.  The Entry door is located next to Cafe Acadia. If the door is locked, ask at the Tableau reception desk for the door to be unlocked.

9:00 PM – Adjourn.


Permitted (a.k.a. legal) Tiny House Encampment, Northlake – more information:

How many tiny houses?  25- 30 people – tiny structures (25-30) – this number may change.
What is the goal of tiny house encampment: Transition homeless individuals to alternative solutions by providing a stable situation to get them out of survivor mode, so that they can begin to work on issues: employment, mental health assistance, etc…
How long does someone live in the encampment?  Average 3-4 months for people to cycle through the tiny house to an alternative solution.

How was this property selected? The City of Seattle looks for available properties that meet the needs of community members, businesses and permitted encampment residents. The Northlake property is owned by Seattle City Light, has the physical capacity to support an encampment community, is close to public transit, and located in a non-residential zone.
How long does the permitted encampment stay in one place? Permitted encampments can operate for 12 months with an option for an additional 12-month extension. Each site must be vacant for 1 year between use. The City is currently hosting six permitted encampments in Othello, Ballard, West Seattle, Interbay, Georgetown and North Seattle for 300 people on any given night. The Northlake (Wallingford) site will host the Nickelsville encampment community that has been located in the Ballard neighborhood for two years.
What is the Timeline for this project? The city expects to have the residents move onto the property during the month of December, 2017.
Who do I call if I have a question or concern? While the Northlake site is being planned, please contact George Scarola, Director of Homelessness (george.scarola@seattle.gov). Once the encampment is opened, the community should contact the operator directly. The contact information will be shared at the community meetings.
Who makes up the rules for each encampment? The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is contracted to operate the permitted encampments, and they select a subcontractor to oversee the day-to-day management of the program. The encampment is governed by a set of rules and a Code of Conduct which each resident is required to read and sign an agreement to abide by these rules. The Code of Conduct for each site is posted on the City-Sanctioned Encampments web site.
What oversight will be provided at the encampment? LIHI and its subcontracted organizations are responsible for safety and security within the camp. Residents are screened for acceptance and must follow camp rules to stay. Banned residents will not be allowed to return to camp or to illegally camp in proximity to the City-owned sites. Residents have access to necessary services like case management and medical treatment to help them transition out of homelessness into permanent housing.
What happens if there is a problem at the camp? Two security workers (members of the camp) are on duty at the front desk 24/7, for three-hour shifts. Security workers monitor activities in the camp and respond to inquiries from both residents and interested community members. They also perform scheduled perimeter checks, neighborhood patrols and trash cleanups.
How can I help? Neighbors and businesses have generously supported other managed encampments in the City through donations of food and clothing. The camp operator will share information at the community meeting about how best to get involved.

The Camp will also establish an on-going Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that will provide input on encampment operations. Members of the CAC will include the operator, business and community members and encampment residents. The Committee meets monthly and meeting notes are posted on the City of Seattle’s Homeless Response website (www.seattle.gov/homelessness/sanctioned-encampments).

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