Forced relocation is next.
Via WACH:
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan will announce an aggressive plan on Wednesday that would increase the number of temporary housing and shelter units for the homeless by 25 percent in the next 90 days.
The plan, if approved by the City Council, would serve an additional 525 people every night.
“This is a surge to move as many people as we can so they can get services from the city,” Durkan said during a briefing to reporters on Tuesday. “This is the largest increase of shelter capacity since the emergency has been declared.”
The biggest increase would be in enhanced shelter capacity, a more desirable option to many homeless who have complained of issues with the overnight shelters.
The plan would include expanding enhanced shelter capacity to serve an additional 180 people.
Durkan said she believes those who refuse to accept the city’s offer of shelter do so because they basically get just a bed.
An enhanced shelter, like the Navigation Center near the International District, offers showers, laundry, storage, meals and counseling services. The homeless selected to stay there are not kicked out every morning, as is the case in overnight only shelters.
“I expect more people to accept shelter because it’s better shelter, an enhanced shelter with services,” said Durkan.
The plan would also create temporary or bridge housing at Haddon Hall, an apartment building in the Belltown neighborhood. It would serve 100 people through a master lease with the city.
“We need to find new ways to use places for safe housing, that can be set up immediately,” Durkan said. “Take as many people off the street as we can into safer places.”
The Bridge Housing Investment Strategy aims to create new shelter options to move people inside as permanent housing comes online.
The mayor said she met with experts who have handled refugee crises, and she spoke with the Mayor of Vancouver, B.C. to understand how to shelter a lot of people all at once.