Month: April 2020

Seattle, WA – In response to Seattle Mayor Durkan’s Proclamation of Civil Emergency in the fight against COVID-19, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is opening Lakefront Community House, an enhanced shelter located at 600 North 130^th St. in the Bitter Lake neighborhood of Seattle. Lakefront Community House will have 24/7 staff, on-site case management and will shelter homeless individuals and couples referred by the city’s Navigation Team. 

“Many homeless seniors and those with compromised health conditions are living unsheltered on the streets and are at risk of exposure to the coronavirus. They need a supportive place to live during the pandemic. In addition, individuals who’ve had surgery and who have been discharged from a hospital need a safe, warm place to recover and should not be returned to the streets,” states Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director. All shelter residents must test negative for COVID-19 or show no symptoms when admitted. Residents must also sign and abide by a strict Code of Conduct. 

“The opening of this new shelter means that Seattle’s enhanced and tiny house village capacity has increased by nearly 100 spaces since March–an unprecedented effort to create safe places for people living unsheltered,” said Jason Johnson, director of the Seattle Human Services Department. “Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Durkan and all the City departments involved, coupled with the strong partnership with LIHI, we are able to serve more vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Thank you to everyone that made this happen so quickly.” 

In partnership with the Seattle Human Services Department, LIHI opened up 95 tiny houses and beds for homeless people in response to Covid-19. In addition to Lakefront Community House, last week LIHI opened a new tiny house village in the Central Area, T.C. Spirit Village, located at 612 22^nd Ave., and doubled the size of Lake Union Village (LUV) located at 800 Aloha St. in South Lake Union. 

Press are invited to visit Lakefront Community House on Wednesday, April 22, 10am – 1pm, on a first come first serve staggered basis to ensure small groups and physical distance between persons. RSVP required to Josh Castle along with confirmation – (206) 334-0508 / josh.castle@lihi.org. 

Lakefront Community House includes 28 furnished residential rooms with separate rooms for men, women and couples. People with pets are allowed. The 18,000 SF building also includes a community dining room, commercial kitchen, activity rooms, counseling offices, and management and security offices. The building has around the clock staffing and an apartment for an on-site live-in manager. Case management staff will help residents obtain housing, employment, health care, education, and other services. The village is receiving operational support from the Seattle Human Services Department. LIHI owns the property, which was previously leased by another agency to provide residential treatment for women in recovery from chemical dependency and their children. 

In less than a month, LIHI staff, neighbors and volunteers worked together to set up Lakefront Community House quickly—and with careful adherence to social distancing. 

In February, the Seattle City Council voted to amend the original permitted encampment ordinance to allow the continuation of the existing tiny house villages that would have otherwise sunset and permit up to 40 sites which could include tiny house villages, other forms of enhanced shelter, tent encampments, and safe parking to be authorized throughout the city. 

If interested in learning more about LIHI’s enhanced shelter, tiny houses, or other programs or if you wish to donate items, email tinyhouses@lihi.org. If you wish to volunteer, email volunteer@lihi.org. Find more information about enhanced shelter or tiny houses on LIHI’s website: lihi.org/tiny-houses. 

Seattle, WA – In response to Seattle Mayor Durkan’s Proclamation of Civil Emergency in the fight against COVID-19, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is opening a new tiny house village located at 612 22nd Ave (22^nd & E. Cherry) in the Central Area on land owned by The Christ Spirit Church. In addition, LIHI is doubling the size of Lake Union Village (LUV) located at 800 Aloha St. in South Lake Union. A total of 50 new tiny houses will shelter up to 60 people experiencing homelessness including singles, couples and people with pets. 

The new village, T.C. Spirit Village, and the expansion at LUV opens on Wednesday, April 15, and provides shelter, safety, hygiene, food, and on-site case management for vulnerable individuals at risk of exposure to the Coronavirus. T.C. Spirit Village will receive referrals of Native Americans, Alaskan Natives and African Americans who are underserved and over-represented in the homeless population. LUV provides shelter for homeless individuals including those living with mental illness, alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Lifelong provides behavioral health services at LUV. 

Important: Press are invited to visit the two villages on Thursday, April 16, 10am – 1pm, on a first come first serve staggered basis to ensure small groups and physical distance between persons. If interviewing, please bring boom mic to ensure minimum 6-10 feet distance during these. No footage allowed of persons without prior consent. RSVP required to Josh Castle along with confirmation – (206) 334-0508 / josh.castle@lihi.org. 

T.C. Spirit Village includes 28 tiny houses; a community kitchen, a hygiene building with restrooms, showers, and laundry, staff and counseling offices, and a security pavilion. There is 24/7 staffing and case management on-site to help up to 32 residents obtain housing, employment, health care, education, and other services. Members of The Christ Spirit Church will provide donations, services, food and other support. The village is receiving operational support from the Seattle Human Services Department. “We The Christ Spirit Church are our brother’s keeper. We have been longtime advocates for ending homelessness, and this is an opportunity to continue in collaboration with LIHI and the City,” stated Rev. Willie Seals. 

The pre-apprenticeship students in the Tulalip Tribes TERO Program constructed 13 tiny houses at T.C. Spirit Village. Art completed by artist Ty Juvinel decorates the doors. “We applaud the significant contribution of the Tulalip Tribes TERO Program. The students have built over 10% of all the tiny houses in Seattle,” said Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director. “The partnership with LIHI has not only allowed us to build tiny houses for the homeless, but has helped us navigate lives and futures. Our students have been honored and grateful to contribute to helping those in need,” remarked Summer Hammons, Tulalip Tribes TERO Program Director. 

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner donated funds to build 9 of the 22 new tiny houses at Lake Union Village. Burrard, a real estate development company, donated funds to help construct both T.C. Spirit Village and LUV. LIHI staff, neighbors and volunteers worked together to set up the villages quickly—and with careful adherence to social distancing—in less than a month. See below for a list of volunteer groups, students and businesses who built and contributed tiny houses. 

“Thank you to Mayor Durkan for declaring a Civil Emergency and providing resources quickly to stand up new villages. There are too many unsheltered homeless men and women who are vulnerable and sleeping outside in the cold. Many are in the high risk group for Covid-19 and have compromised health and weakened immunity. We appreciate the generous contribution of Burrard who made a donation of $250,000 to help build 41 tiny houses,” said Sharon Lee. The gift of 41 tiny houses symbolizes the 41 stories of Burrard’s new NEXUS tower in downtown Seattle. 

LIHI operates 12 tiny house villages in Seattle, Olympia, and Tacoma sheltering over 1,000 homeless individuals each year. Villages offer a safe and dignified place for those living outside. Each house is 8 by 12 feet, costs about $2,700, and has insulation, electricity, heat, windows, and a lockable door. The villages include plumbed on-site facilities with showers, toilets, laundry, and a community kitchen. Each village includes on-site case management staff to help residents obtain housing, employment, and other social services. 

In February, the Seattle City Council voted to amend the original permitted encampment ordinance to allow the continuation of the existing tiny house villages that would have otherwise sunset and permit up to 40 sites which could include tiny house villages, tent encampments, and safe parking to be authorized throughout the city. 

Tiny House Builders: Those who built or donated tiny houses at T.C. Spirit Village include: Burrard, Tulalip Tribes TERO Program, Newport Covenant Church, Mercer Island Methodist Church, Fauntleroy United Church of Christ Church, Sound Foundations Northwest, Annie Wright School, Arlington High School, Ingraham High School, Mountlake Terrace High School, Sawhorse Revolution, Walsh Construction, Dale Hoff and friends, Lane Dorcy and friends, and many wonderful Central Area, International District and Capitol Hill neighbors. 

Those who built or donated tiny houses at LUV include: Burrard, Bobby Wagner, Northwest School, Arlington High School, Rainier Beach High School, Snohomish High School, The Green Hill School, Seattle YouthBuild Georgetown, Thurston County YouthBuild, The Shelton Washington Corrections Center Carpentry Program, volunteers from The Butterfly Effect, The PACT Program, Seattle Pacific University, Sno-King Technical College, 84^th Street Cares volunteers, Rugby for Good, Bill Duvall and friends, and many wonderful local neighbors. If interested in learning more about the tiny house program or if you wish to donate items or build a tiny house, email tinyhouses@lihi.org. If you wish to volunteer, email volunteer@lihi.org. Find more information about tiny houses on LIHI’s website: lihi.org/tiny-houses.