UPDATED NOTES (Part 1): Silver Cloud Homeless Building - Community Meeting

Lobby of the Overlake Silver Cloud HTH homeless building

Housing for the Eastside's homeless is "desperately" needed owing to King County's decision to spread Seattle's homeless housing regionally.  In 2020, the county purchased the Redmond Silver Cloud Hotel for $28.25M.  The building is being renovated by "Health Through Housing"  into studios for "low barrier"  emergency and permanent supportive housing for 100 chronic, disabled homeless.  The forecast for completion is no sooner than late 2025.  

On July 30, I attended their first Community meeting.  My notes:  

• At least 11 signed-in, mostly nonprofit voluntary support services:  (2) KinderCare,  Bellevue School District, no businesses, Nourishing Networks, 4 Tomorrow, ACS Discovery Shop, Redmond Deputy Police Chief Coats, Community police officer Meora,  Redmond Human Services Manager-Brook Buckingham, Media-Redmond Neighborhood Blog, various community members, Plymouth Housing, and the KCRHA agency.  
• Salvation Army's operator, Matt Garrett presented, and introduced key staff.  Matt is friendly and open to questions.  HTH hotels are funded by a .1% property tax.  KCRHA triages referrals and coordinates their entry.  65% of the residents are targeted to come from Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland and United Methodist Church.  35% or more from the Seattle area.  
• Upon the "Community Advisor Group" recommendation monthly community meetings will be held (the last Tuesday of every month, 6pm.)  Matt emphasized the meetings are targeted for nearby neighborhoods and businesses but are open to all; staff will be present and possibly residents.  
• 10 chronic homeless are currently residing under emergency circumstances. 15 additional homeless will be housed no sooner than October, 2024. According to Ms. Cook, KCRHA manager, the 2-year occupancy delay is attributed to shortage of contractors and materials. 
• Renovation won't be complete until at least late 2025. In the meantime, it's used on an emergency basis and won't become Permanent Supportive Housing until all 100 rooms are completely renovated with studios.
• The address is 2122-152 Ave NE.  It's set-back and behind Goodwill.  Heading south on NE 24th Street take a left onto 152nd.  The Silver Cloud "Haven Heights" HTH building is immediately on the right.  A newer mixed-use apartment building fronts the building.   

PART 2  Services provided

Reported by Yoder, 9/2/2024 

Photo credit Yoder