Showing posts with label human services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human services. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Plymouth Homeless Housing FAQ

  

Plymouth Homeless Housing in Redmond FAQ

The building will contain 100 units for homless residents with ground floor office space, commercial space, and amenity areas. 


Where will the housing be located?
16725 Cleveland Street. This housing will be in Downtown Redmond, close to a light rail stop and cattycorner to Anderson Park.  

Who will live there? 
Single adults exiting homelessness and living on extremely low incomes would be eligible for the proposed Plymouth PSH. Many of these individuals are living with disabilities, seniors, and/or veterans. The income criteria is set at 30% or below Area Median Income (AMI), which means an individual is earning less than $28,800/year. Lifetime registered sex offenders and individuals with certain past drug-related convictions will not be eligible for this housing. 

What services will be on-site?  
Permanent Supportive Housing means in addition to housing, residents have access to a range of onsite services designed to help them achieve stability in their new home, including personalized housing case management services, veterans counseling, health care, 24/7 staffing, and other critical services.

Is this a homeless shelter?  
No, this is Permanent Supportive Housing for single adults. There is an application process, which includes determination of eligibility for the project. After individuals are approved and move in, they will no longer be considered homeless. Residents are responsible for abiding by their lease agreement and building rules, while also having access to onsite support services.  

What about parking?  

Parking is limited at this site. Most Plymouth residents do not own a vehicle. Proximity of this site to the Downtown Redmond light rail station will offer robust transit options to future residents and help the City achieve its Environmental Sustainability Action Plan goals for reduced vehicle emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

Who will operate the building? 
Plymouth Housing will provide property management and wraparound supportive services at the building. 

How many people will be housed at this location?  
Plymouth Housing projects primarily serve single adults. However, as a landlord, Plymouth is required to abide by occupancy standards and fair housing law, which in rare cases requires them to house couples if both individuals qualify for the building. The design in the current Plymouth proposal contains 85 studios and 15 one bedrooms. We expect that the new design will reflect a similar unit mix. 

Will the building have 24/7 staffing? 
Yes, Plymouth Housing will provide 24/7 staffing and support for residents. 

When will the building open for occupancy? 
There is not a specific timeline for construction yet. However, the goal is to break ground in 2025. Typically, it takes about two years of construction prior to opening for operations. 

Sunday, September 10, 2023

"Together Center" Grand Opening, Part Three

The Together Center, Redmond, WA. 
(photo courtesy of Inland Group)

Kiro 7 News Grand Opening clip
Seattle Times coverage

500 people were in attendance at the "Together Center" September 9th to celebrate the completion of its two-year, $106 million campus transformation project that includes:

> A 49,000 sq ft ground floor hub with 20 nonprofits providing critical services

> Five floors with 280 units of urgently needed *low-income and workforce housing

> Coworking spaces for nonprofits to collaborate on client care

> A nonprofit conference and event center

> A community kitchen

> A public art gallery

-- posted by Yoder, 9/10/2023

Together Center press release

* 30% Average Median Income (AMI) units are sold out. 60% AMI units are still available:
Studios: $400-1410, 1x1: $500-1509, 2x1: $600-1806, 2x2: $600-1806, 3x2: $700-2079.

Saturday, September 9, 2023

"Together Center" Grand Opening, Part Two

Together Center Grand Opening - Mayor Birney was present (dressed in green.)  Credit:  Bob Yoder

Kiro 7 News Grand Opening clip


CAMPUS MAP -- NONPROFIT & HOUSING INFORMATION

20-Human Service nonprofits...and counting.
Horizon Housing for Redmond residents is sold out (30-60% of Average Median Income)
Polaris Work Force Housing has vacancies (60% of Average Median Income)



 

UPDATED: "Together Center" Grand Opening Celebration, Part One

Janet Richards
Together Center Board Member - Equity Advocate

"Another friend said, “every city needs a Together Center”. I could not agree more. I’m very proud that my city has made it happen first for other cities to follow.

Huge congratulations to:
👏🏾 the Together Center staff (can you believe a small but mighty team of Four people!)
👏🏾 the TC board who played such an active role in leadership and action
👏🏾 the Redmond city human services staff, Council and Mayor Birney
👏🏾 the corporate sponsors like Microsoft and Amazon (who invested millions)
👏🏾 the many donors
👏🏾 government leaders who put in place funding policies for innovative development (this is what systemic change looks like!! To give other forms of development a chance to compete in creating housing)
👏🏾 the non-profit community who work tirelessly for our communities
This is a dream fulfilled in so many ways, in others it far exceeds my wildest dreams."

-- Janet Richards, Sources: Facebook, TC Website
9/9/2023

Special thanks to Janet for sharing this Kiro 7 News clip on the Grand Opening!



Friday, September 1, 2023

Anderson Park Vagrant

I saw this poor vagrant sleeping in Anderson Park landscaping about 1 p.m. this morning.  I've seen homeless sleeping on Anderson Park benches before.  I've notified the city council ombudsman and hopefully the city can find a way to help this man.  Dial 991.

-- Bob Yoder, 9/1/2023 

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

UPDATED: Nonprofits Are Moving Into the Together Center, Mountain Building

 

Together Center (TC) announced today that phase one of construction is complete! Last week the first nonprofits moved into the first of the two buildings on the new Together Center campus and today the new TC campus officially opened its new doors!  Phase two will be completed later this Summer.  


TC Board views corner unit apartments. 280 units of affordable housing managed by Horizon Housing and Polaris Housing are on the 5 upper levels.

Posted, 5/18/2022

Monday, July 25, 2022

UPDATED: Redmond City Council Approves Public Safety Levy Resolution

Redmond police in the library watching over the Community Court.
The Body-worn Camera Program will be funded by the General Fund
not the Levy.  photo credit, Bob Yoder

REDMOND, WA – At their July 19 business meeting, members of the Redmond City Council voted five to two (Fields,Kahn) in support of adding a proposition to the November 8, 2022, King County election. With a majority vote, Councilmembers passed Resolution No. 1560, which places a proposition on the ballot to fund a comprehensive public safety program beginning in 2023.

“Placing a levy on the November ballot empowers Redmond voters to choose the future direction of our public safety programs,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. “Our community has consistently requested alternative public safety approaches to address today’s challenges. This levy goes beyond retaining and expanding police and fire staff. It also funds alternative approaches to crisis intervention while connecting our community members with appropriate services.”

The proposed measure would raise property taxes beginning in 2023 by *$0.366 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which would generate $10.4 million per year. This would cost the median Redmond homeowner $30.50 a month or $366 a year, based on the City’s 2021 average home assessed value of one million dollars.

Redmond voters last passed a public safety levy in 2007. By state law, revenue from the levy is limited to a 1% increase per year, while expenses have increased approximately 5% per year. As a result of expenses outpacing revenue, the City is proposing a new levy to maintain the existing services and fund innovative service enhancements requested by the community.

“The 2007 levy no longer supports the services our changing city needs,” said Mayor Birney. “Now is the time to strategically invest in our growing community and address our evolving public safety needs. The proposal before the voters will strengthen the community through innovative programs that provide safety, stability, and resources for anyone in crisis.”

If approved, the new revenues would fund the traditional and innovative safety approaches outlined in Redmond’s Comprehensive Public Safety Plan, including: Hiring additional personnel to increase mental and behavioral health services, crisis response, and resources to support special need community members.
  • Enhancing mobile health services through the Fire Department
  • Expanding fire personnel to increase fire suppression capabilities within Redmond
  • Adding police personnel to support rapid response to a growing and changing community
  • Reinvesting in the fire and police personnel supported by the 2007 property tax levy lid lift

More information about the levy and Comprehensive Public Safety Plan can be viewed at www.LetsConnectRedmond.com/Safety.  City Press Release, 7/25/2022

###

I am not very happy with this resolution.  Council isn't honest about the Body-worn Camera Program as being entirely funded by the General Fund / One-Time money.  In fact, the ongoing expenses of the program will be on the ballot this year!  Funding 6 mental health specialists to work the streets, including one mental professional and five social workers/case managers is imperative. 

  -- Bob Yoder, 7/25/2022  Updated 10/29/2022

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

UPDATED: Human Services: 1) Redmond Community Court 2) Nonprofit Funding With Construction Taxes

Council discussed human services programs at their Committee of the Whole  meeting on May 17, 2022


Brook Buckingham, Manager of Human Services, said "it's difficult to receive one-time money to fund nonprofits because you don't want to scale up gaping and in operations, then be back in two years needing more funding."  Brook said she didn't want to invalidate the funding but it was a challenge.  Planning Director Carol Helland, agreed saying it was difficult to use the $2.5 million and suggested greater stability through budgeting.  One-time money is collected from taxes on construction.

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Community court participants must not have any violent felony convictions in the last five years; any pending violent felony charges; or a sex offender history.

A community court is an alternative problem-solving court. It differs from traditional court in that it seeks to identify and address the underlying challenges of court participants that may contribute to further criminal activity. Its goal is to build stronger and safer neighborhoods and reduce recidivism.

Having court hearings in a safe, neutral and community-centered location (such as the Redmond library encourages the participants to stay engaged and removes the stigma associated with the courthouse. 

A community resource center is an integral component of community court. The specific services available at each community resource center vary by city. Examples of services available to court participants and all other community members, include:

  • Substance Use Disorder Assessment/Support
  • Mental Health Assessment/Support
  • Public Assistance Support
  • Housing Assistance

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Redmond Human Services Update, 2021


Nourishing Networks

In the Council Committee of the Whole - Safety/Human Services meeting of 3/16/2022, Program Manager Alaric Bien gave Council a 2021 summary of activities.  

  • Total 2021 funding was $2.67 million.
  • The regular general fund allocation was $1.4 million.
  • $500,000 went to COVID 
  • Bonus: "one time money" ($1,192,000) from taxes on heavy downtown construction was allocated to community nonprofits many of which support the homeless and behaviorally ill. If my math is right about $15 million one-time money remains this year.  
  • 72 programs were managed through 47 community-based nonprofits.
  • 9 programs for indigenous, black and other minorities.
  • 84% of programs met target outcomes.
One-time money distribution in order of dollar amount:  
  • $310k Together Center campus build-out
  • $300k Hopelink
  • $95k Youth Eastside
  • $70k Congregations for the Homeless
  • $50k Redmond Methodist Church "Food Box"
  • $48k Friends of Youth
  • $37k Youth Adult Shelter
  • $32k Senior Center lunches
  • $30k vaccine equity
  • $28k ARCH (affordable housing)
  • $26k IKRON (behavioral health)
  • $9k NAMI (behavioral health)
  • $8k Overlake Church, homeless car-camping services
For a complete listing of recipients go HERE

-- Bob Yoder, 3/16/2022

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

UPDATED: Light Rail And Homeless People In Redmond

I just got home from a joyful family event in Spokane.  It was tarnished by the presence of homeless people in the downtown next to the Davenport Hotel.  I couldn't believe the multitude of mentally sick and druged homeless walking there. We didn't feel secure. It seemed there was one, or a group, of homeless on every sidewalk and intersection.  So sad.  When winter comes, perhaps the City buys them a bus ticket south?  Some that don't catch the bus could die. Seriously.  Spokane has a beautiful website dedicated to their homeless.  My son-in-law says the plethora of City human services draws them in.  

Redmond doesn't appear to have a serious problem with homelessness because most are unseen.  We are known for our human service resources; our homeless people are well cared for.  According to the City website only 337 were sheltered in East King County in 2019.  I surmise once light rail is built-out (and taxes and rent explodes) the homeless will be more visible.  I'm concerned the Silver Cloud Homeless Hotel could become a magnet for homeless tenting.  I'm bothered the County/City haven't expressed their goals for homeless circulation through the hotel.  For example, when do they "check out" of the hotel? Social workers will need to triage the applicants. What will happen to those beyond rehabilitation? Where will they go?   

It's my understanding the City is studying how to cope with "crime" associated with light rail.  What station will the homeless most use? My guess is the Overlake and Downtown urban centers, where most of the human services and safety resources are centered.    

-- Bob Yoder, 8/25/2021

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

New Challenges For COVID-19 Homeless

Presentations by:  Beverly Mesa-Zendt, Human Services Manager 425-556-2423 Tisza Rutherford, Homeless Outreach Administrator 425-553-7093 Planning and Community Development IV.

DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND While there have been new challenges due to the pandemic and staffing transitions these last few months, the City’s new Homeless Outreach Program Administrator has been working to identify and resolve gaps and barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Current challenges:

• COVID-19 has created many additional barriers, including charging stations for cell phones, lack of places to stay during the day, and closure of state offices and needed services (e.g. ID cards, driver’s licenses). Treatment centers currently are only providing tele-health, which is difficult for those without phones, limited minutes, or little technology skills. 

• With more community members sheltering in place, police have reported an increase in calls from individuals just now “noticing” individuals sleeping outside or in parked cars. These calls have burdened police to respond to situations that are not classified as criminal activity.

• There has been an increase in transient populations arriving in Redmond from Seattle. This is partly due to the current unrest in Seattle, and to reduced or eliminated bus routes.

• Deferred parks maintenance has led to overgrowth in areas bordering private and commercial property. This sometimes results in development of new encampments. Outreach staff has coordinated with Parks to cut back and maintain identified areas so they are not as appealing for camps to establish. Current work underway: The Homeless Outreach Administrator:

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

"Together Center" Will Be Demolished For Affordable Housing And Human Service Space

Image result for together center images

The "A Regional Coalition of Housing" (ARCH) agency recently discussed an affordable living project during Council's late February study session. The project is a two-phase $2.75 million redevelopment of the Together Center. The current center will be demolished.

Eighty homeless residential units and 200 work-place housing units will be located on the second floor. 14,000 square feet of human service office space will be on the ground floor. Half the units will be priced at 30% average median income.  The applicants are Horizon Housing Alliance and Inland Group.  Hopelink and the Together Center are partners.  Questions?  Try Info@Redmond.gov

 -- Bob Yoder
    3/4/2020

Saturday, May 4, 2019

State Performance Audit on Student Homelessness

Image result for pictures of the homeless
The homeless are not always who you think they are.
Internet
Opportunities to Better Identify and Serve K-12 Students Experiencing Homelessness:

Washington has the eighth-highest rate of identified student homelessness in the country. The number of identified homeless students in Washington’s kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) education system has grown to more than 40,000. This marks more than a 30 percent increase in student homelessness between the 2012-13 and 2016-17 school years.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Commissioners propose $1,234,000 to fund human services

Image result for human services imagesAccording to a City Council 10/9 memo "Every other year, the City accepts proposals from human services agencies seeking grant funding in the next biennium. This past March, Redmond participated with 17 other King County cities, releasing a joint online funding application. This allowed organizations interested in requesting funding support from any of the participating cities to complete a single application. This year Redmond received applications from 91 programs, with requests for almost $2.2 million.

In 2016 Council approved the Mayor’s proposed budget to increase support to the human service fund from $13.25 to approximately $16.90 per capita. This resulted in tangible impacts and improved service delivery in our community. Adjusting for population and 3 percent inflation, the 2019-2020 human services per capita total is now expected to be about $1.21 million each year. Redmond also anticipates about $24,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding to allocate to human services in 2019, bringing total available funds to about $1,234,000/year."


###

The Human Services commissioners recommended an additional $422,534 under "Option 1" to  fund some of the smaller non-profits and in response to community budget requests.  The Council left it up to the commissioners to vet the Option 1 requests.

The bulk of the funding was allocated to 12 non-profits, as follows:  Youth Eastside Services ($152,614) Friends of Youth ($138,227) Hopelink ($115,096) Congregations for the Homeless ($89,617) Sophia Way ($62,555) Health Point ($54,000) Lifewire - survivor advocacy ($50,570.) YMCA ($39,140) Chinese Information Center ($24,643) Catholic Community Services ($23,175) NAMI ($21,177.)

One of the commissioners noted Hopelink's large request even though they haven't added services from the prior biennium.  The same commissioner pointed to the $177,000 chamber video screen suggesting those funds could have been better spent in our community for human services.

The Council thanked the commissioners for their hard work and will vote on the requests at a later date. 

-- Bob Yoder

Sources:  Council Study Session memo, 10/9.  Joint meeting with Human Services Commission.
RCTV.

Friday, August 5, 2011

UPDATED: Redmond Council passes Resolution endorsing Proposition 1: "Veterans and Human Service Levy"

King County Veteran with his family
REPUBLISHED

UPDATED:  In their July 12 meeting, Redmond Council voted on Resolution No. 1363 to support and endorse King County Proposition 1, a 6-year "Veterans and Human Service Levy" renewing and replacing the expiring Levy. After five council members discussed their positions, Council passed the resolution 6-1 (David Carson - opposing).

Bellevue and Kirkland city councils
passed resolutions earlier endorsing the Levy.

In the 2011 August election, county residents will vote on Prop. 1.  The 2011 levy is 5 cents/ $1000 of assessed property value, or $20 in 2012 for the average-priced $400,000 home in King County. A CPI capped-measure is built into the Levy.  Read More >>

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mood Disorders In Women


NAMI-Eastside, National Alliance on Mental Illness - Forum On "Mood Disorders In Women"

Presents An Educational Forum On “Mood Disorders In Women”
Guest: Ioana Diaconu, MD
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 7 PM - 9 PM

Location: Evergreen Hospital, Suite Tan 100, 12303 NE 130th Lane
Kirkland, WA 98034
Forum is free. 

Dr. Diaconu is an attending psychiatrist at Fairfax Hospital in Kirkland and the Medical Director of the Hospitalization Program. Her outpatient practice has a strong focus on addressing mood disorders, anxiety and trauma in adults, as well as women’s issues. She will talk about the diversity and complexity of problems associated with mood disorders in women.

For more information: info@nami-eastside.org, http://www.nami-eastside.org/ , 425-885-6264

Pamela Schulenburg
NAMI-Eastside Volunteer
NAMI Eastside is located in "The Together Center"
16315 NE 87th Street, Suite B-4, \
Redmond, WA 98052

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Youth Eastside Services (YES) Counselor Describes Drug Trends

On Saturday, November 20, some 45 people gathered at YES for a workshop on Drug Awareness and Prevention. "The best prevention is being involved with your kid and educated about what drugs they may come across," said Noble Erickson, a substance abuse counselor at YES and the workshop leader. "It's equally important to let your kids know you won't tolerate alcohol or substance abuse of any kind and set clear consequences," she added.

Following are some drug trends Noble shared at the class:  Read more...

Read More >>

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

UPDATED: Please Vote NO on I-1100 and I-1105.

Drop off your ballot at City Hall !
UPDATED OPINION:  The City Council and Mayor worked their tails off last night - for over three hours.  A Budget Hearing took up a lot of their time.  (The final Budget Hearing is November 16).
Over six human services organizations lined up to request funds or thank Mayor Marchione for funds budgeted. Every presentation stirred emotions and elicited concerns. The one that touched me the most was Therapeutic Health Services (THS). They treat folks with severe drug, alcohol and mental illness. My younger brother, Rick, had all three, including prescription drug addiction, and died in his 40's.

Manager Joellen of THS rattled off some startling statistics:  A least 10% of the general population is afflicted with either mental illness or drug abuse (or both). Mothers Against Drunken Drivers say every 45 minutes someone is killed by a drunk; and for every one DWI conviction, the violator will have driven an average of 87 times without getting caught.

So how does the Council help fund these human services to treat the afflicted and get them safely back to a normal life?   One citizen*  recommended eliminating the 1% Cost of Living increase ($680,000) that's budgeted for 624 city staff -- to help fund requests (and keep down property taxes.)  This election offers another possible source of funding:  If voters defeat state liquor store privatization measures I-1100 and I-1105 the city will  save over $350,000 in tax revenue/year. 

I've lived in New York, Florida, Ohio, and Arizona where liquor sales were privatized and a bottle could be had at any street corner; please not here. The TV ads show giggling, liquor-toting youth, jumping into cars after tricking convenience stores into a sale. Yes, my brother would remember these times, if he were alive.

Please vote NO on I-1100 and I-1105.

Opinion By Bob Yoder*
CC:  Council
Letter to:  Redmond Reporter

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Get the School Year Off to a Good Start

Past Chair Beth Angelo of LWSD PTSA Special Needs Group passed the torch this year to Julie Shalaby.  This is one of many informative pieces from the recent LWSD PTSA Special Needs Yahoo News Group distributed by Julie Shalaby.

Get the School Year Off to a Good Start (Wrightslaw)

10 Tips for a Successful School Year:  Parents and kids are anxious about return to school. Click this link http://www.wrightslaw.com/howey/10tips.sch.yr.htm for 10 tips from Advocate Pat Howey, to help you get off to a good start at the beginning of the new school year.

Parents & Kids: Rise and Shine:  What can you do before your children walk out the door to help them feel they can conquer anything? Making a few simple changes before the bus arrives can have a big impact on how your children handle events at school.

No-nonsense pointers from Jackie Igafo-T'eo:
to help you remove a large portion of the last-minute stress that comes with every weekday morning.  Click here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.tips.attitude.jigafoteo.htm for “9 ways to boost your child’s attitude before the bus arrives.”

Back to School Tips & Supplies - for Parents
Have you made contact with school staff, including the school nurse? Do you have a baseline picture of your child for the beginning of the school year? Are you prepared to monitor progress? Are you aware of the newest federal regulations about parental consent?

Click here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.school.tips.krizman.htm for back to school tips by Lisa Krizman, Esq.

Friday, April 23, 2010

"Last Saturday" Special Needs Matinee

On the last Saturday of each month, the North Bend Theatre is proud to offer a Special Needs Movie matinee for families with children with special needs.  The next matinee is Saturday, April 24, 11 am - 1pm. 

The lights in the auditorium will be on and the volume will be lowered to make this an event the entire family can enjoy.  $5.00/person. Location: North Bend Theater, 125 Bendigo Boulevard North, North Bend. Phone: 425.888.1232

By Beth Angelo
Chairperson, LWSD PTSA Special Needs