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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Nickels announces $3.5 million to help end homelessness
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/5/2007 10:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Mayor Nickels announces $3.5 million
to help end homelessness
Money provides permanent supportive
housing units for homeless people
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced his 2008 proposed budget includes
$3.5 million to help fund 84 permanent supportive housing studio apartments
for chronically homeless people. Half the units at the Plymouth Housing Group’s
First and Cedar project would use a “Housing First” model, which
combines homeless housing with important in-house medical and mental health
services and other support programs.
“For too long, we attempted to manage homelessness through a system
that in many cases provides little more than a mattress for the night,” said
Nickels. “Housing First seeks to break the cycle of homelessness by offering
a safe, clean place to call home - and much more.”
There are an estimated 500 to 700 chronically homeless individuals in Seattle
frequently using emergency services for treatment of mental illness or addiction
to drugs and alcohol. The Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness has outlined a
strategy to shift from a shelter-based, emergency response system to an approach
that promptly moves people into housing with necessary services. Stabilizing
this population through a Housing First strategy will reduce costs or increase
access to those systems for homeless people who can achieve stability through
less intensive interventions.
“We appreciate Mayor Nickels’ support in the effort to end chronic
homelessness,” said Paul Lambros, Plymouth Housing Group executive director. “By
providing people with a safe and supportive place to call home, this funding
will help people regain control of their lives and begin the work towards self-sufficiency.”
“We are grateful to the city of Seattle for the continued support of
the Ten-Year Plan and for the new funding to create additional units of supportive
housing for homeless individuals,” said Bill Block, director of the Committee
to End Homelessness in King County. “The participation and commitment
of our many regional partners helps us to maximize our resources and achieve
the greatest return on our investments, allowing us to create not just new
housing but also hope and healthier futures for individuals and families across
King County.”
Combining services with housing reflects a shift from the “reactive” emergency
shelter approach to the “proactive” housing first model. National
studies have shown homeless families and individuals are more responsive to
interventions and social services after they are safely in permanent housing.
Providing on-site services reduces the use of emergency services and improves
both tenant health and the efficient use of public resources.
The mayor presents his 2008 budget proposal to the City Council on Sept 17
at 2 p.m.. Watch it live on the Seattle Channel.
Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation,
public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for
The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
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Office of the Mayor
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