King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn issued the following statement Wednesday after the King County Regional Homelessness Authority issued its 2024 Point-in-Time count of the number of people experiencing homelessness in King County, which tallied 16,385 people:
“King County’s homeless population has surged nearly 50% since the King County Regional Homelessness Authority was first formed five years ago and a shocking 23% since 2022, despite the millions of dollars spent. Leaders need to face the fact that the KCRHA’s current approach doesn’t work. Lives depend on leadership’s ability to change course.”
-- CONTACT: Daniel DeMay, 206-265-9197
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"To qualify for a Bellevue Plymouth Crossing studio potential residents must come through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority’s Coordinated Entry process, which determines who is prioritized for permanent supportive housing."
Update: Presently, the Redmond Silver Cloud permanent housing hotel is only used for emergencies until kitchenettes are installed. 35% of chronic homeless individuals go through a King County Coordinated Entry. 65% will be locally placed through Coordinated Entry by Tisza Rutherford as well (from Redmond, Kirkland and Bellevue referrals.) "The hotel has a capacity of 184 units and will house 100 after renovation is completed in 2025. Those in need of permanent housing are sent elsewhere." So far, there are 10 referrals and the facility is currently unoccupied. Tisza is doing a fantastic job finding homes and shelters for Eastside residents.
-- Source: Tisza Rutherford, Redmond Homeless Outreach Coordinator, 425-553-7093 (mobile.) 6/5/2024
Redmond Councilmember Melissa Stuart said earlier this week that until KCHRA gets a new CEO and reorganizes, the Silver Cloud housing hotel could start moving forward. On 6/5/2024 they hired hired Kelley Kinnison.
-- posted by Yoder, 6/6.