Neighbors, thank you for reaching out to Redmond City Council regarding the recent Plymouth Housing decision to permanently house homeless and low income residents in downtown Redmond. I am responding as the Ombuds for the month of February.
Council and the Planning Commission spent many months studying data and developing code around Permanent Supportive Housing in 2021 and 2022 with community concerns and feedback being taken into consideration all along the way.
Some items of note are:
- Plymouth Housing is not a homeless shelter, it is a downtown six-story supportive housing home for those who qualify.
- To qualify for a home at this location one must:
- be for those exiting homelessness
- earn less than $30,000 a year (0-30% of the Average Median Income)
- may not be a lifetime registered sex offender (all state laws regarding sex offenders registration notification are applicable)
- may not have certain drug-related convictions
- this project is not restricted to only those living with disabilities
- Tenants are required to apply, be screened and selected for approval, sign a lease and abide by it just like anyone else entering into a lease
- Per our regulations, Plymouth Housing only allows up to 100 housing units. This regulation was in direct response to community concerns that Plymouth Housing is able to adequately provide services for those exiting homelessness and low-income residents.
- Plymouth Housing is not a safe injection or safe consumption site.
- To quote Redmond Police Chief Lowe “Illegal things are still illegal.”
- Plymouth Housing will enter into an Operational Agreement with the City which includes:
- Performance expectations and oversite of the Plymouth Housing Operator
- Rules and Code of Conduct
- Safety and Security Plan
- Neighborhood Relations and Community Engagement.
In the development of these plans, Plymouth Housing and their CEO will seek participants and host community stakeholder groups. The Council will be consulted on the final plans / agreements as required.
The City completed a Housing Needs Assessment which you can read here: https://www.redmond.gov/
Additionally, through the city's study and review, Redmond’s affordable housing allocation needs (calculated by the King County Department of Community and Human Services) are 3,694 units of Permanent Supportive for the homeless and low income and 7,025 units in the "Average Median Income" range.
|