`Visionary' plan would put `a roof over every bed in King County' by 2014 (Seattle hasn't learned)

The King County Journal ^ | March 12, 2004 | Jeff Switzer

[Stoat]

`Visionary' plan would put `a roof over every bed in King County' by 2014

2005-03-12
by Jeff Switzer
Journal Reporter
 

A first-ever plan to end homelessness in King County -- not just manage it -- was issued Friday with a target date of 2014.

But the pricetag to meet the vision of ``a roof over every bed in King County'' could be from $680 million to $1 billion.

``If we set our sights high, that everybody in King County would have a house, it sets for us a standard we'll be always chasing,'' said Jeff Natter, newly named program director of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County. ``It's a visionary document that aims very high.''

The plan is the first regionwide attempt to address homelessness and is the culmination of more than two years of work by the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, a coalition of religious groups, governments and social agencies.

The group's 52-page plan was approved Monday and released Friday.

The challenge is mighty, but the enthusiasm is high, Natter said.

``There is so much goodwill invested in this plan,'' Natter said. ``One of my main goals is to expand that goodwill, to all businesses, political arenas and even the person on the street.''

Similar 10-year plans have been adopted around the country and in Pierce County. One such plan also is under way for all of Washington state, Natter said. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has made such plans a requirement.

King County has a broad effort in place to manage homelessness, Natter said, but over time it has become fragmented.

``We're asked to create social change at time when federal and state funding is in crisis in terms of the social programs we know we need to make this plan effective,'' Natter said.

Different organizations throughout the county now have transitional housing, shelter beds, and homeless housing for families and youths. There are also two roving tent cities-- one on the Eastside and one in Seattle -- seen as an interim step between a lack of shelter beds and the street, and also used by homeless couples and working homeless for those who need a place outside of traditional overnight shelter hours.

``The focus of our work has been to manage homelessness rather than end homelessness,'' Natter said. The plan hopes to change that, he said.

Plan supporters hope to lock up 5,000 existing housing units and create nearly 4,500 new houses or apartments for homeless men and women.

``We need to create some new housing stock and manage our current housing stock, and make sure places are affordable, and vacancy rates are nonexistent,'' Natter said.

Some of the needed millions might come from federal funds and grants already flowing into the area, diverted and focused to solve the problem of homelessness and steered away from transitional housing and into permanent housing. The rest will have to be found elsewhere.

A governing board to implement the plan will be created by summertime, Natter said. Such a group will help create the political momentum needed to allocate the needed funds and make the changes.

TENT CITY WINS PERMIT

KIRKLAND-- Tent City 4 can stay on church property across from City Hall for the next 60 days, and the City Council might consider a temporary ordinance to allow 30 days more.

The provisions are part of a permit issued Friday by city Planning Director Eric Shields. Other requirements of Tent City organizers and residents is that they meet health codes, allow safety inspections, follow the camp's code of conduct barring violence, drugs and alcohol, and observe quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Camp organizers must seek identification of residents as they come into the camp and screen for sex offenders and those with police arrest warrants.

The camp is hosted by Kirkland Congregational Church and was set up on Feb. 19. The permit can be appealed by March 25 to the city's hearing examiner.

ENDING HOMELESSNESS

In 2002, the Committee to End Homelessness was created composed of eight groups: the Church Council of Greater Seattle; the City of Seattle; Eastside Human Services Alliance; King County; North Urban Human Services Alliance; Seattle-King County Coalition for the Homeless; South King County Council of Human Services; and United Way of King County.

It is estimated that more than 8,000 people are homeless in King County each night. This includes:

* 420 youth and young adults up to age 24

* 2,475 people in families

* 5,105 single adults, including 2,500 that meet the federal definition for chronically homeless

THE PLAN

By the end of 2014:

* Homelessness will be virtually ended.

* People who become homeless will have immediate access to housing with appropriate support.

* Outreach and emergency services will be reduced, but will continue to aid individuals and families who become homeless; stays in the system will be short.

* There will be no need for tent cities or encampments.

Source: http://www.cehkc.org

 

 

[LRS]

Unless you guys in Washington elect Vlad Dracul as governor, any plan that draws more of the homeless to your state is going to result in bankruptcy...

[Diddle E. Squat]

This is a GREAT plan, I hope they speed it up and expand it!

Godspeed to these idiots creating a homeless magnet, it will draw away lots of the bums we have here in Dallas. Better there than here...

[DumpsterDiver]

But the pricetag to meet the vision of "a roof over every bed in King County" could be from $680 million to $1 billion.

A mere pittance!

If we set our sights high, that everybody in King County would have a house, it sets for us a standard we'll be always chasing, said Jeff Natter, newly named program director of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County.

It sounds like good ol' Jeff Natter wants to create a life long job for himself.

"It´s a visionary document that aims very high."

Maybe if he aims high enough he will quietly float out to sea.

[Stoat]

Maybe if he aims high enough he will quietly float out to sea.

We can only hope.  It would, however, ultimately make no difference because he would be instantly replaced with someone else who is at least, if not more of a hard Leftist than he is.

Don't forget....this is the place that boasts a giant statue of Lenin, continually reelects the likes of "Baghdad Jim" McDermott and Patty "Osama isn't so bad" Murray (not by close margins, mind you, but by MASSIVE majorities) and whose city council is in love with Fidel Castro.

[jec41]

King county must have a population shortage to pass this. Look for a population expolion

[DumpsterDiver]

Don't forget....this is the place that boasts a giant statue of Lenin, continually reelects the likes of "Baghdad Jim" McDermott and Patty "Osama isn't so bad" Murray (not by close margins, mind you, but by MASSIVE majorities) and whose city council is in love with Fidel Castro.

I'd love to do some bragging right now about how much better my city/state is, but what can I say to defend the politicians of Los Angeles and CA? Nothing!

[dearolddad]

Since Mr. Natter seems so concerned about the homeless. Perhaps someone should ask him how many homeless people he has living at his house.

[theDentist]

I understand you musings. I shared them while living in Massatushitts. But now I'm in Virginia, and enjoying it very much.

[Savage Beast]

"It is estimated that more than 8,000 people are homeless in King County each night."

I wonder if it has occurred to them that by the end of 2014 there could be 8,000 more--or 800,000 more--or...??? The word does tend to get around.

[Savage Beast]

These Visionaries remind me of the equally visionary Isadora Duncan and her familiar-to-all request to George Bernard Shaw that he father her child because she wanted a child with her body and his brain--to which Shaw, declining the invitation, replied, "What if it had my body and your brains?"

[gogipper]

I was standing on a street corner in Ft. Worth once when a guy behind me made a wolf whistle at a really attractive woman across the street. Being from the north, I was scared that she would think that I did it and make some nasty remark. Instead when we were crossing the street she looked at him and said "Thank you, Sugar". God Blessed Texas.

[longtermmemmory]

(s)In realizing they will never reach thei goal, the Kign County gove declares it is illegal to have a house with an underutilized bedroom count. Thus forced housing of homeless in private homes will commence. Unless you are in the military, then the third amendment prevents military personel from being housed.(/s)

[longtermmemmory]

But if everyone has a home and is not homeless, where will democrats get their fake homeless voters? Where will snow white, kermit the frog, and Puff Dragon be able to absentee vote?

[abovethefray]

Coincidently, ConAgra is planning to open a huge new Soylent Green manufacturing plant in Seattle. Maybe all the poor, homeless, 'victims' can find something useful to do there...

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

What makes them think that more bums will show up for the handouts?

Clueless in Seattle...

[LRS]

Now that sounds like plan!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

What scares me is all the ballots for which there were no voters, especially the 400 unaccounted for ballots that appeared during the recount, exactly the number of ballots that it took to overturn Rossi's victory.

[Stoat]

I was standing on a street corner in Ft. Worth once when a guy behind me made a wolf whistle at a really attractive woman across the street. Being from the north, I was scared that she would think that I did it and make some nasty remark. Instead when we were crossing the street she looked at him and said "Thank you, Sugar". God Blessed Texas.

What an enchanting place, where women are Ladies, and they don't walk around with a huge militant-feminist chip on their shoulders  "sigh"

I can hardly imagine the thrill I would feel, of being called 'sugar' by a pretty lady passing by on the street.....what an amazing thing....

I think that I may have felt something similar when I visited New Orleans, and at the Maple Leaf  a delightful young lady did three things that women rarely if ever do in Seattle:

1.  She smiled.

2.  She came over to speak with me, and did so with grace and courtesy.

3.  She more or less insisted that I dance with her, and taught me some new steps.

It was the most magical thing.......

Thank you so much for the great post.  More nice things being said about Texas over here:

Feeling Blue Magazine Grades Cities On Depression (Texas Cities Found To Be Happiest)

I MUST 'at least' visit Texas one day, thank you   :-)

[Stoat]

I understand you musings. I shared them while living in Massatushitts. But now I'm in Virginia, and enjoying it very much.

I have heard other people speak very highly of Virginia as well, and I would love to 'at least' visit one day, thank you   :-)