>>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE FOR OUR APRIL
SECOND MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE EQUITY AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE.
I AM CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL.
WE WILL HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HERE IN A BRIEF MINUTE
OR TWO AND COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD IS UNDER THE WEATHER,
BUT I'M SURE SHE IS
RECOVERING.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON OUR
AGENDA.
ONE WILL BE THE REAPPOINTMENT
OF RYAN PENCIL, OUR SEATTLE
HEARING EXAMINER, AND THE
SECOND WILL BE AN AND REDUCTION
AND EXPLANATION OF SOME
SOFTWARE AND A TOOL TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, A
GOOD SAMARITAN APP.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT
WORKS.
WE WILL START OFF WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT, AS ALWAYS.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP.
I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE DALE
KIM, SO DALE KIM, COME FORWARD.
>> I KNOW THEY ROLLED OUT THE
$1.50 LOW-INCOME BUS PASS, BUT
IT'S NOT AVAILABLE AT ANY OF
THE PLACES YOU NORMALLY
PURCHASE A BUS PASS.
AND THEN SO IF IT WAS POSSIBLE
TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO
THAT MORE EASIER INSTEAD OF
HAVING TO GO DOWN THERE,
USUALLY IF THAT'S THE CASE, YOU
HAVE ISSUES WITH TIME AND
MONEY, THAT KIND OF STUFF,
YEAH, JUST THE BARRIER OF ENTRY
TO GET THE BUS PASS WOULD BE A
LOT NICER.
THE SECOND ONE -- WELL, THERE
WAS A FEW THINGS ON THEIR.
I AM KERRIS ABOUT THE SEATTLE
REGISTRAR WHO GETS PAID SIX
FIGURES.
IN TERMS OF THE STRATEGY AND OF
WORKING THINGS, THE DIFFERENT
COMPONENTS OF PLAY, THE
SUBCOMMITTEES THAT ARE, I
BELIEVE MIGHT NOT BE
SUBCOMMITTEES ANYMORE, YOU
KNOW?
I DO KNOW THIS IS MORE OF AN
END DISCUSSION INSTEAD OF MORE
OF A WORKING KIND OF DEMOCRATIC
DISCUSSION.
BUT THAT IS JUST SOMETHING IN
TERMS OF THE STRATEGIST, MAYBE
HE CAN WORK ON.
IT'S WEIRD THAT HE GETS
FIGURES, AND ALL OF THIS STUFF
IS GOING ON.
THAT'S MY GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
ITEMS FOLIN AND THE 2nd POINT
BUT THE 1st POINT I WILL PASS
ON.
>> I HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS
ON THE FLY, SO A LOT OF TIMES
IT'S -- THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
THAT GO ON SIMULTANEOUSLY.
>> THANKS FOR COMING IN AND
SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THAT WILL AND WENT PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I THINK WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR
FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RYAN
VANCIL APPOINTMENT, PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
>> APPOINTMENT 01277
REAPPOINTMENT OF RYAN VANCIL
AS HEARING EXAMINER, OFFICE OF
THE HEARING EXAMINER FOR TERM
MARCH 20, 2023.
>> WHEN IT WE START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS?
>> TRACI RATZLIFF, CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> RYAN VANCIL HEARING
EXAMINER.
>> MISTER RYAN VANCIL IS HERE
AFTER A ONE-YEAR APPOINTMENT AS
A HEARING EXAMINER, AND HE IS
NOT HERE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
REAPPOINTMENT TO A FOUR-YEAR
TERM.
>> THANK YOU.
FOR OUR COLLEAGUES AND STAFF
WHO ARE FOLLOWING THIS, I WILL
CALL YOU RYAN, IF I MAY, AS
OPPOSED TO HEARING EXAMINER.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE HEARING EXAMINER DOES, CAN
YOU SORT OF EXPLAIN THE JOB
THAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOUR
SERVICES ARE?
>> THE SERVICE OF THE OFFICE
OF'S HEARING EXAMINER IS TO
PROVIDE A FORUM FOR APPEALS OF
CITY -- SORRY.
CITY DECISIONS AND PERMITS.
WE ALSO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE COUNCIL ON SOME ITEMS SUCH
AS RESUMES, BUT IT'S MOSTLY
THE APPEAL SIDE THAT I THINK
THE PUBLIC SEES AND IS FAMILIAR
WITH.
THAT CAN BE LAND-USE APPEALS OR
ALSO WE HANDLE HUNDREDS OF
CITATION APPEALS, WHICH ARE
MORE LIKE A SMALL CLAIMS COURT
LEVEL OF ADDRESSING DISPUTES
THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH CITATIONS
THEY'VE BEEN ISSUED.
>> VERY GOOD.
AND AGAIN, TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AS THE HEARING
EXAMINER, MAYBE, DESCRIBE YOUR
BACKGROUND STARTING WITH YOUR
ROLE AS THE DEPUTY HEARING
EXAMINER IN YOUR PRIVATE
PRACTICE, AND GIVE US THE
VIEWING AUDIENCE A SNAPSHOT OF
WHO YOU ARE, AND WHY YOU ARE
QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION.
>> CERTAINLY.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE CITY, I
HAD A PRACTICE OF 15 TO 18
YEARS OR SO IN THE WENDY'S.
MOST OF THE APPEALS WE HEAR OUR
LAND-USE APPEALS.
I WAS A PRACTITIONER IN THAT
AREA.
I HAD THE FORTUNATE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRACTICE IN FRONT OF SUE
TANNER, AND THE DEPUTY HEARING
EXAMINER.
I WAS FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE
CITY'S CODES AND PRACTICES BUT
ALSO PRACTICED AROUND THE STATE.
THE POSITION FOR DEPUTY HEARING
EXAMINER CAME OPEN.
I SAW DOES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO PARTICIPATE AND GET A FRONT
ROW SEAT TO LAND-USE
DEVELOPMENT AND THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT IN THE LARGEST
JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, AND
MISS TANNER SAW THAT I HAD SOME
MERIT, SO I JOINED THE OFFICE.
SHE DID TELL ME AT THE TIME I
WAS HIRED, THAT SHE WAS LOOKING
AT RETIRING SOON.
IT DIDN'T ENTER MY MIND -- I
JUST KNEW I WOULD HAVE A NEW
BOSS, AT SOME POINT.
SHE ENDED UP STAYING WITH THE
OFFICE ABOUT A YEAR LONGER THAN
SHE ANTICIPATED.
I GOT VERY INVESTED INTO THE
OFFICE AND ITS ADMINISTRATION,
AND ENSURING THAT IT WOULD BE A
GOOD, FUNCTIONING BODY.
REALLY, A LEADER IN THE STATE,
AS FOR THE HEARING EXAMINER'S
OFFICE.
WHEN SHE DID GO TO RETIREMENT,
I THOUGHT IT WAS INCUMBENT ME
TO MAKE SURE THAT PROCESS WAS
GOOD AND SO, I STEPPED IN AND
THREW MY HAT INTO THE RING TO
BE APPOINTED AS HEARING
EXAMINER.
THE COUNCIL SOFFIT THAT I
COULD SATISFY THAT DUTY AND SO,
STEPPED IN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO
HEAR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR OR
NOT, BUT THERE WAS A LOT TO IT.
WHEN I STEPPED IN, AS I
MENTIONED, WE HAD RETIREMENTS,
AND AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR
TIRE, SO WE HAD DECADES WORTH
OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY STEP
OUT OF THE OFFICE JUST BEFORE I
STEPPED IN.
WHEN I TOOK THE OFFICE OVER, WE
EVEN HAD THE MOST SHORT-TERM
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TOOK
ANOTHER JOB, SO IT WAS ME AND A
LEGAL ASSISTANT TRYING TO KEEP
THE OFFICE FUNCTIONING WITH NEW
HIRES AND THE DEPUTY HEARING
AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, WHICH
THEY NEEDED TIME TO GET UP TO
SPEED.
IT WAS A DYNAMIC, EXCITING TIME
BOTH ADMINISTRATIVELY FOR THAT
REASON AND THEN WE, OF COURSE
HAVE A CASELOAD.
IT'S AT A HISTORIC HIGH RIGHT
NOW WITH THE NUMBER OF CASES WE
ARE HAVING.
LAST YEAR WAS INTERESTING FOR
THE TYPES OF CASES, AS WELL.
WE HAD THE BURKE GILMAN
KICKOFF.
IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGER CASES
I HAD.
THE COUNCIL IS FAMILIAR WITH
THAT PROCESS.
THEN MHA CAME TO US IN THIS
SUMMER.
I IMAGINE, IF I LOOK BACK ON MY
LAND-USE CAREER, SOMEDAY, THAT
WILL BE ONE OF IF NOT THE
LARGEST HEARING I WILL HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN AND/OR HANDLED.
WE ALSO HAVE THE L.A.D.
HEARINGS, WHICH WAS A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT FROM OUR NORMAL
FAIR, BUT IT WAS ALSO VERY
INVOLVED.
IN A NUTSHELL, THAT'S OUR YEAR.
I DON'T THINK FOR THE MOST
PART, WITH EXCEPTION OF THE MHA
BEING THE BIG KID THAT
DISPLACES ALL THE WATER, I
THINK WE WERE ABLE TO HANDLE
OUR COURSE WELL, EVEN THOUGH WE
ARE BEHIND THE SCENES, KEEPING
THINGS MANAGED WAS A CHALLENGE.
>> I THINK YOU DESCRIBED BOTH
WITH BERKEN, TRAIL MHA, AND THE
L.A.D.
ISSUES, AND MANY OF THE LAND-
USE ISSUES THAT WE COPE WITH,
IT AFFECTS ALMOST EVERYBODY.
IT'S WIDESPREAD, AND ITS IMPACT
WILL WORK.
I WOULD SAY TO MANY FOLKS OUT
THERE, THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT
THERE, THEY MAY NOT SEE THE
EFFECT, AND THEY WANT A SOLID
PERSON IN THE JOB, EVEN THOUGH
THEY DON'T SEE THE TANGIBLE
EFFECT.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHO YOU ARE?
YOUR VALUES?
WHY DID YOU MIGRATE TO THIS
KIND OF WORK?
WHO YOU ARE?
I DON'T WANT THE INTIMATE
DETAILS BUT ANYTHING YOU'RE
COMFORTABLE WITH TO DESCRIBE
YOUR DNA IN TERMS OF WHY YOU DO
WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOUR VALUE
SYSTEM AND HOW YOU MAKE THE
DECISIONS YOU MAKE?
>> I WILL GIVE IT A SHOT.
WE DON'T OFTEN GET TOO PERSONAL
ON THE HEARING EXAMINER LEVEL.
>> [ LAUGHTER ] IT'S A WELCOME
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DO THAT.
BUT JUST WHAT YOU ARE
COMFORTABLE WITH, OF COURSE.
>> I ACTUALLY APPRECIATE THAT
AS PART OF THE APPROACH
POSITION I APPRECIATE.
THE POSITION IS THAT WE ARE A
QUASI JUDICIAL FORM.
WE ASKED AS A COURT, AND YET,
WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WE PRESENT
A FACE, I PRESENT A FACE TO
EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT COMES
INTO THE HEARING ROOM, THAT THE
CASE WILL BE HEARD, THEIR VOICE
IS GOING TO BE HEARD, THAT THEY
HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THERE.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THAT.
IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE TO ME TO
APPROACH EVERY CASE THAT WAY.
WE DO SEE A BROAD SPREAD OF
INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO THE
HEARING ROOM, PARTICULARLY IN
THE CITATIONS HEARING, SO I
REALLY NEED TO BE PRESENT TO
LISTEN AND BE ENGAGED WITH --
THIS MAY BE THE ONLY TIME THEY
HAVE A HEARING AND BE PRESENT
WITH THEM.
PART OF WHAT DREW ME TO THIS
ASSEMBLY, AND IS VERY
INTERESTED IN LAND-USE.
I HAD A LONG PRACTICE HISTORY
IN LAND-USE.
A LOT OF THAT WAS ACTUALLY IN
RURAL AREAS, FARMING, PARKS AND
STUFF.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENGAGED
WITH THIS HEAVY AND URBAN
ENVIRONMENT WAS REALLY A JOY TO
ME, AND SOMETHING THAT PRESENTS
NEW CHALLENGES ALL THE TIME.
THERE WAS THAT PERSONAL
INTELLECTUAL INTEREST.
BUT THE THING I THINK KEEPS ME
ENGAGED WITH IT IS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BE
ENGAGED WITH SEATTLEITES ON A
DAILY BASIS, AND REALLY
EXPERIENCE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.
AT SOME POINT, MAYBE WE CAN
TALK ABOUT WHERE I WOULD LIKE
TO TAKE THE OFFICES.
THAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT
RIGHTING THE SHIP AND KEEPING
IT MOVING WAS THE JOB OF THE
LAST YEAR, BOTH FROM AN
ADMINISTRATIVE POINT, AND A
LARGE CASELOAD, BUT MY HOPE IS
THAT THE OFFICE CAN BE
INCREASED IN ITS OPPORTUNITY
FOR TRANSPARENCY, INCREASED IN
ITS OPPORTUNITY FOR REACHING
OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT,
MAYBE IT'S NOT QUITE A MYSTERY
TO EVERYONE AS MUCH, AND THAT
CAN BE TAKEN FROM AN ANGLE OF
EITHER THE WORK WE'RE DOING TO
MODERNIZE SOME OF OUR
TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT IN THE
OFFICE SO PEOPLE CAN MAYBE
SKYPE IN FOR A HEARING, TO BE
ENGAGING WITH DIFFERENT PUBLIC
MEETINGS, OR SOMETHING, GOING
OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND
MEETING PEOPLE, SO IF THEY SEE
A FACE TO THE PERSON THAT IS A
LITTLE MORE NEUTRAL AND A
LITTLE LESS STANDOFFISH AS IT
FOR WHEN I AM PLAYING THAT
ROLE, BUT THEY GET TO SEE IT'S
A HUMAN BEING IN OTHER
CONTEXTS.
>> VERY GOOD.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> WITH YOUR LOVE OF LAND-USE,
ANY CHANCE YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT
4? WE NEED THAT LEVEL OF LAND-
USE.
WE HAVE A SAD HOLE WE ARE
TRYING TO FILL WITH
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON LEAVING.
I AM GLAD YOU HAVE THAT
APPRECIATION OF LAND-USE.
I THINK AS A WHOLE, YOUR
APPROACH TO MANDATORY HOUSING
APPEALS AND FORT LAWTON WERE
PRETTY WELL RECEIVED IN TERMS
OF PERCEPTION FROM THE
COMMUNITY.
I HEARD FOLKS THOUGHT IT WAS A
VERY FAIR PROCESS, SO MY FIRST
QUESTION WAS, IS THERE ANY
THOUGHTS YOU HAVE IN RETROSPECT
HAVING DEALT WITH THOSE PRETTY
BIG ISSUES ALREADY THIS YEAR
THAT YOU THAT ARE LESSONS
LEARNED THAT YOU WILL BE
APPLYING TO YOUR WORK GOING
FORWARD SHOULD YOU GET THE
REAPPOINTMENT?
>> FROM FORT LAWTON?
>> PROCESS WISE FROM MHA AND
FORT LAWTON.
>> MHA, THE WAY WE APPROACHED
THAT CASE IS SOMETHING I WILL
BE ABLE TO TEACH OTHER HEARING
EXAMINERS HOW TO DO.
THAT WAS A PROCESS THAT I HAD
TO WEAN A LOT.
I WAS HONORED AND BLESSED TO
FEEL THAT AND TO HEAR FROM
COUNCIL ON BOTH SIDES, OR IN
OTHER MEETINGS, JUST OUT AND
ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT
REGARDLESS OF HOW I MADE MY
DECISION, THAT THEY FELT THEY
HAD A PROCESS THAT WAS GOOD.
THERE WAS 29 NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUPS APPEALING.
WE NEEDED TO GET IT THROUGH IN
A TIMELY MANNER BUT WE NEEDED
TO MAKE SURE EVERY ISSUE IS
ADDRESSED.
WE HAD LOTS OF MOTIONS IN THE
BEGINNING, AND A LOT OF
EMOTIONS IN THE ROOM, AS WE
WENT FORWARD.
I THINK WHAT I COME BACK TO
WITH THAT AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE
TO CONTINUE EXPLORING AND
DEVELOPING AS WE GO INTO OUR
HEARINGS IS THAT ELEMENT OF
NEUTRALITY AND HELPING
INDIVIDUALS, SOMETIMES LOCAL
PAPERS, UNDERSTAND THIS ISN'T A
POLITICAL DECISION FORMING.
THAT THE EMOTIONS THAT PEOPLE
BRING INTO THE ROOM ARE VALID,
BUT ULTIMATELY THAT'S NOT WHAT
I CAN MAKE A DECISION BASED ON.
THERE IS A LAW IN PLACE, AND
HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT
PROCESS IS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK
PEOPLE ARE CHALLENGED BY, AND I
THINK EVEN OUR GUIDE TO
CITIZENS RIGHT NOW SAYS IT'S
MORE OF A USER-FRIENDLY FORUM.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE
AT ALL.
OUR PRACTICE THIS A LOT FOR
DECADES.
I FIND IT TO BE A VERY
CHALLENGING FORM, EVEN AS AN
ATTORNEY COMING INTO IT, AND SO
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE WAYS
THAT WE CAN MAKE PEOPLE FEEL
COMFORTABLE THERE, BUT ALSO
UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO
COME IN AND REPRESENT A GROUP,
WHICH YOU DON'T GET IN COURT.
THE RULES OF EVIDENCE ARE
LOOSER, BUT THAT MEANS
SOMETHING TO AN ATTORNEY.
IT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN
SOMETHING TO AN INDIVIDUAL
WHO'S NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE SO
HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE IN FOR
AND BE PREPARED IS A DIRECTION
WE NEED TO CONTINUE.
>> THAT SEGUES INTO MY NEXT
QUESTION.
WHEN YOU WERE BEING
INTERVIEWED, I REMEMBER A
QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT HOW
DOES A GOOD HEARING EXAMINER
DISTINGUISH IF A PERSON IS JUST
ON FIXED INCOME, REPRESENTING
THEMSELVES, DON'T KNOW THE
RULES OF EVIDENCE.
THERE IS NOT A SOPHISTICATION
IN TERMS OF PROCEDURAL OR LEGAL
PROCEDURAL ISSUES, VERSUS THE
VERY AFFLUENT, LITIGANT WHO HAS
HIRED AN ATTORNEY FROM A MAJOR
FIRM THAT KNOWS THE EVIDENCE,
KNOWS THE RULES QUITE WELL, AND
YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONE VERSUS
THE OTHER, AND YOU ARE TRYING
TO MAKE GOOD, SOLID DECISIONS
THAT CAN WITHSTAND APPEAL?
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
SUBCONSCIOUSLY, THERE COULD BE
ALL KINDS OF THINGS WORKING AS
YOU ARE LOOKING AT THESE TWO,
PERHAPS ONE LITIGANT ENORMOUSLY
DISADVANTAGED, SO THE QUESTION
IS HOW DO YOU SEE RSGI PLAYING
OUT IN THE THINGS YOU WANT TO
DO IN THE FUTURE?
THE CITY IS BEHIND OUR RSGI
INITIATIVE, AND HAS THERE BEEN
EXPENSES IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO
THAT YOU SAW WE COULD DO A
LITTLE BETTER HERE?
MAYBE, YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE
ABOUT HOW YOUR OFFICE EMBRACES
THAT.
>> THERE IS TWO PARTS I HEARD
IN YOUR QUESTION, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS SOMEONE WHO
IS A PRO SE LITIGANTCOMING IN
AND TRYING TO MAKE THEIR CASE
OF SOMETHING THEY FEEL IS NOT
RIGHT, GOOD OR A PROBLEM WITH
THE SYSTEM THEY'VE EXPERIENCED,
AND THE OTHER SIDE MAY BE VERY
WELL PREPARED AND/OR VERY WELL-
FINANCED AND HAVE A STRONG
LEGAL TEAM.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO MORE
SPECIFICALLY THE RSGI ASPECT.
IN THE HEARING ROOM, TO ADDRESS
THE FIRST PART OF THAT, I DO
HAVE MY HANDS BEHIND MY BACK,
IN A SENSE.
THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR.
I CAN'T HELP SOMEBODY DO THEIR
CASE.
I CAN'T HEAR WHAT THEY SEE AS A
COMPLAINT AND A PROBLEM WITH
THEIR LIVES.
AS A PRIVATE PRACTITIONER, I
HELPED PEOPLE FIX THEIR LIVES
ALL THE TIME AND I CAN'T DO
THAT IN THIS ROLE.
ONE THING I CAN DO IS MAKE SURE
THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS,
SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
IF THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING TO
SEND A MOTION IN TO DISMISS, I
CAN GIVE THEM TWO INSTEAD OF
ONE WEEK TO RESPOND.
THAT'S ALL VERY NORMAL FOR ANY
HEARING PROCESS THAT I CAN MAKE
SURE HAPPENS.
ANOTHER PIECE THAT I WANT TO
KEEP EXPLORING WITH THE OFFICE,
AND JUST DIDN'T GET TO WITH ALL
THE ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES AND
CASES WE HAD LAST YEAR, BUT
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME BABY
STEPS WITH IS IMPROVING THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDIATION AND
MAKING SURE INDIVIDUALS ARE
AWARE OF THAT.
WITH MEDIATION BEFORE THEY COME
TO ME.
WHERE I CAN EXPLAIN IT TO
EVERYBODY.
I'M THUMBS-UP OR THUMBS DOWN.
I HAVE TO DECIDE ON THE LAW BUT
WITH MEDIATION THERE IS LONG-
TERM RELATIONSHIPS, NEIGHBORS
DOOR NEXT TO EACH OTHER,
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
I CAN'T FIX ALL THESE PROBLEMS
BUT IF THEY CAN GO IN FRONT OF
A THIRD-PARTY NEUTRAL THAT CAN
HELP GUIDE THEM THROUGH THIS
PROCESS, THEY CAN ADDRESS ALL
KINDS OF ISSUES THAT ARE NOT
ADDRESSED BY THE LAW.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY I WOULD
LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THROUGH THE
OFFICE, IF I CAN.
SPECIFICALLY, WITH RSGI, AS I
UNDERSTAND, WE ARE HELD TO THAT
UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
BUT ONCE I CAME ON AS A DEPUTY
HEARING EXAMINER, I WAS
ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION
AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CITY
IS DOING UNDER RSGI, SO EVEN AS
A DEPUTY, I TOOK AS MANY OF
THE RSGI CLASSES AS I COULD.
IT WAS AN IMMEDIATE PRIORITY
FOR ME TO HAVE THE OFFICE
FOLLOW THAT CAR REQUIRED OR
NOT.
SO, AT THIS POINT, LIKE WITH
MEDIATION, IT WENT A LITTLE
SLOWER THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED.
I AM NOT IN PRIVATE PRACTICE,
SO I CAN'T GET IT DONE IN A
COUPLE MINUTES BUT ALL OF MY
STAFF HAVE BEEN THROUGH RSGI
TRAININGS AT THIS POINT.
WE JUST FINISHED THE UNDERLYING
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM TRAININGS,
SO WE'VE GOT THE TRAINING IN
PLACE.
THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS WE ARE
HOPING TO SEE PROGRESS WITH.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO SOME
LOCAL LAW SCHOOLS TO TRY TO
DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AT THIS
STAGE BUT ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL
WOULD BE TO HAVE LAW STUDENTS
COMING INTO THE HEARING ROOM,
UNDERSTANDING WHAT LAW ON LAND-
USE IS, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE CONTEXT
OF LAND-USE PRACTICE.
RIGHT NOW, I GOT STATISTICS
FROM THE BAR ASSOCIATION,
ENVIRONMENTAL LAND-USE GROUP.
IT'S A MORE NORDY OF WOMEN.
THEIR NOT PEOPLE OF COLOR
PRACTICING LAND-USE LAW.
I AM TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE
STUDENTS LEVEL AND USE OUR
OFFICE AS A PLATFORM FOR THAT.
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY I AM
LOOKING AT, AND THIS IS WITH
COUNCIL DISCRETION, AND PLEASE
KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
LET ME KNOW IF I'M NOT DOING IT
RIGHT BUT WE HAVE A PRO TEM
BUDGET.
LEGITIMATELY, WITHIN THE COURSE
OF TIME, WE NEED SOME HELP
OCCASIONALLY.
WE GET OVERLOADED.
I HAVE TO CHOOSE WHO THAT PRO
TEM HEARING EXAMINER IS GOING
TO BE.
IN FACT, I THINK IT WAS
COUNCILMEMBER MUSCULAR, YOU
MENTIONED LAST YEAR COHEN IS
LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HIRE A DEPUTY HEARING EXAMINER,
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE OF COLOR TO COME IN AT
THAT LEVEL, AND BECAUSE WE DO
LAND-USE CASES AND THERE AREN'T
PRACTITIONERS PRACTICING LAND-
USE, THERE REALLY WASN'T BUT
HERE, I THINK I FOUND AN
OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE ARE
INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE CONNECTED
WITH ONE WHOSE NAME IS ANTHONY
JONES.
HE IS FOR THE PORT GAMBLE TRIBE
AND HE HAS DONE ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW, SO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO
WITH HIM AND ONE OTHER
CANDIDATES LATER THIS YEAR IS
BRING THEM THROUGH A TRAINING
PROCESS SO THEY REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE HEARING PROCESS
HERE IN SEATTLE.
THEY ARE FULLY QUALIFIED TO DO
HEARINGS, SO I THINK I AM
WITHIN THE RUBRIC OF WHAT MY
DISCRETION IS TO HIGHER THAN AS
PRO TEM BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
IT A TRAINING PROGRAM SO
THEY'LL UNDERSTAND SEATTLE LAW.
WE WILL GO HAVE THEM DO
HEARINGS AFTERWARD.
MY DREAM WOULD BE WHEN I STEP
OUT OF THIS ROLE AND OR MY
DEPUTY IS, THAT THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT ARE QUALIFIED THAT
CAN COME INTO THOSE ROLES.
I AM LOOKING FOR MORE EXAMPLES
AND I'M ALWAYS WELCOME TO
INPUT.
>> VERY GOOD.
AGAIN, DURING YOUR INTERVIEW
PROCESS, YOU HAD GREAT IDEAS
ABOUT USING INTERNS AND BEATING
BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT
DIVERSITY.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH THE
PROCESS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE
PROCESS YOU ARE UNDERTAKING.
RATE PATHWAYS FOR GREATER
REPRESENTATION THERE.
I THINK WHEN I ASKED EARLIER
ABOUT LESSONS LEARNED FROM MHA,
AND FORT LAWTON, IT WAS THROUGH
THE LENS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HAS OUTLINED THROUGH THE RACIAL
JUSTICE LENS, SPECIFICALLY, AND
I WANT TO REITERATE OVERALL,
WHAT I'VE HEARD IS VERY MUCH A
SENSE OF FAIRNESS FROM YOUR
OFFICE, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS I HEARD
WAS THE FORT LAWTON APPEAL.
WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL, LIZ
CAMPBELL IN THIS CASE, DELAYS
THE PROCESS BY GOING OUT OF
COUNTRY ON VACATION, AND THAT
HER VACATION IS GIVEN THE
ACCEPTANCE TO DELAY THE
PROCESS, THAT RAISES EQUITY
CONCERNS.
I THINK THE EQUITY CONCERNS NOT
ONLY COME FROM WHO HAS ACCESS
TO THE PROCESS, WHICH YOU
ACCURATELY DESCRIBED, BUT THEN
DELAYS AND MORE DELAYS ON TOP
OF THAT DELAY GIVEN THE APPEAL
RESULTING IN LESS HOUSING AS
QUICKLY AS WE NEED.
SO I THINK, WHAT I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR ABOUT, AS YOU GO
FORWARD, IS A REFLECTION ON
THAT PROCESS, THE ALLOWANCE OF
THAT EXTENSION GIVEN THE FACT
THAT IT'S NOT MOSTLY PEOPLE WHO
ARE HOUSING INSECURE COMING TO
YOUR OFFICE AND CHALLENGING
LAND-USE POLICIES.
IT'S MOSTLY THOSE WHO ARE
HOUSING SECURE, WHO HAVE A FEAR
OF THE UNKNOWN OR
MISCONCEPTIONS, MISPERCEPTIONS
ABOUT PROPOSALS, WHO ARE BEING
PROCESSED WITH EQUITY CONCERNS
JUST AS MUCH AS WHO DOES COME
TO YOUR OFFICE, AND THE
RESOURCES IT TAKES TO FILE
THESE APPEALS, SO AS YOU THINK
ON LESSONS LEARNED IN YOUR
FIRST YEAR, KIND OF TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION WHAT TYPES OF
DELAYS WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW, IF
FOLKS WHO HAVE RESOURCES LIKE
THAT, ARE CHOOSING TO DO THINGS
LIKE GO ON VACATION OVERSEAS
VERSUS BEING PART OF THE
PROCESS THEY INITIATED.
I DON'T WANT US TO BE FUELING
ADDITIONAL INEQUITIES BY
ALLOWING A PROCESS TO GET
DRAGGED OUT EVEN FURTHER WHEN
SOMEONE IS MAKING THOSE
DECISIONS THAT ULTIMATELY DELAY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, SO ON
THE EQUITY ISSUES, I COMPLETELY
AGREE WITH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
GLAD YOU ARE LOOKING
INTERNALLY.
GLAD YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHO HAS
ACCESS TO THE PROCESS AND WOULD
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOU
THINKING ABOUT YOUR INTERNAL,
IMMEDIATE PROCESSES FOR
ALLOWING EXTENSIONS FOR
SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, GIVEN THE
RESULT.
>> MAY I COMMENT?
>> PLEASE, DO.
>> YOUR COMMENT RAISES A COUPLE
INTERESTING THINGS I HAVEN'T
HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUCH ON.
>> AFTER THIS HEARING, YOU'RE
GOING TO GET SOME WRITTEN
QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAN
ELABORATE ON SO GO AHEAD AND
RESPOND.
>> I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR INDULGENCE.
I LIKE TALKING.
>> I AM LOSING MY VIEWER
AUDIENCE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
LAND-USE.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> I DON'T TALK ABOUT MY WORK
AT PARTIES.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THE FIRST TIME ON THE
SCHEDULE IS VERY TRICKY BECAUSE
THERE IS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR
APPELLANTS TO COME IN AND MAKE
úTHE STATEMENT.
IT'S ALWAYS BALANCING FROM THIS
SPOT, AS A DECISION-MAKER,
TRYING TO BALANCE IS SOMEONE
GAMING THE SYSTEM OR ARE THEY
LEGITIMATELY EXPERIENCING A
HEALTH ISSUE?
IS THERE LITTLE LEGITIMATELY
NOT COUNSEL AVAILABLE?
I GUARANTEE I DON'T GET IT
RIGHT EVERY TIME BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
I CAN'T SAY I WILL ALWAYS GET
IT RIGHT, BUT IT'S A CONSTANT
BALANCE MY DEPUTY AND I HAVE TO
EXPERIENCE.
YOU DO START FIGURING IT OUT,
THE LONGER YOU'VE BEEN IN THE
HEARING PROCESS WITH SOMEONE.
MAYBE, YOU'RE ON YOUR SECOND OR
THIRD PREHEARING CONFERENCE,
AND YOU START TO LEARN ABOUT
FOLKS REAL FAST.
THEN YOU CAN START MOVING
ALONG, BUT GIVING OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HEARD IS ESSENTIAL.
IT'S A SERVICE OF THE HEARING
EXAMINER OFFICE.
WHAT I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON, AND
I THINK YOU DID IN MY RSG I
RESPONSE IS WE REALLY DO HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET ACCESS
TO THE HEARING ROOM AND I
DIDN'T SET UP THE MHA APPEAL,
AND I CAN SPEAK TO MY
OBSERVATION OF WHAT I SAW WHICH
WERE 29 NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS,
AND I BELIEVE WHAT I SAW, AND I
DON'T KNOW THE BACKGROUND OF
THE PEOPLE THERE OR THEIR
PERSONAL LIVES OR ORIENTATION,
OR THEIR RACE, BUT I OBSERVED
THE REPRESENTATIVES, THE
ATTORNEYS, EVERYONE AT THE
TABLE APPEARED TO BE CAUCASIAN
TO ME.
WHEN YOU HAVE 29 NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUPS, YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME
PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR AN ISSUE
COVERING THE WHOLE CITY.
THAT'S VERY COMMON IN LAND-USE
CASES.
I SEE DIVERSITY OF FACES OF
SEATTLE.
EVERYTHING FROM A VIETNAMESE
MAN TRYING TO SELL SOMETHING ON
THE SIDEWALK WITHOUT A PERMIT,
TO A CAUCASIAN WOMAN WHO HAD
HER GARDENER CUT THINGS THE
WRONG WAY.
I DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT
YET BUT IT IS PART OF WHAT WE
ARE WORKING ON.
I WENT TO A MEETING LAST WEEK
AT VILLAGE OF HOPE IN SOUTH
SEATTLE.
THEY HAVE TO SEE THE
INDIVIDUAL.
I CAN'T GO TO THOSE COMMUNITIES
AND SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT ME.
I HAVE TO GO TO THEM AND I NEED
TO KNOW THEIR STORY BEFORE I
CAN COME UP WITH THE ANSWERS.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
OKAY, SO WE START WITH
DAYLIGHTING THE PROCESS, SO THE
PUBLIC KNOWS WE ARE FETING YOU.
WE RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON THE LAST
YEAR, AND WHETHER YOU SHOULD BE
CONFIRMED.
YOU WILL GET A FEW WRITTEN
QUESTIONS ON FOLLOW UP
QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS.
I WILL SCHEDULE A VOTE FOR
APRIL 16.
FROM THERE WE GO TO THE FULL
COUNCIL ON APRIL 22nd.
THAT'S THE PROCESS.
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE
STAY IN TOUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
SERVICE.
WE APPRECIATE THAT PUBLIC
SERVICE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHY DON'T YOU READ THE NEXT
ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> SAMARITAN APP PRESENTATION-
UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS,
FINANCIAL CAPITAL AND
RELATIONAL GUIDANCE.
>> JONATHAN AND FOLKS, WHOEVER
IS AFFILIATED, COME FORWARD,
WALK RIGHT HERE AND TRY TO SIT
ON MY LEFT OVER HERE.
WE HAVE JEFF FROM CENTRAL STAFF
JOINING US.
FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, I
LOST A FEW WITH THE LAND-USE
DISCUSSION.
HOPEFULLY,, THEY WILL TWO BACK
IN.
WE ARE GOING TO SHOW SOME
TECHNOLOGY.
I AM ALWAYS NERVOUS WHEN WE USE
TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS THAT WE
HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE BUT WE WILL
BE FINE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION
TODAY IS -- JUST ONE SECOND.
JONATHAN KUMAR HAS BEEN
DILIGENT IN TRYING TO EXPLAIN
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE
BENEFITS OF THIS APP THAT I'VE
BEEN TOLD ABOUT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE.
I KNOW DEALING WITH THE CITY IS
A HUGE BUREAUCRACY SOMETIMES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE WANT TO KNOW TODAY, HOW THE
APP WORKS, HOW IT CHANGES
LIVES.
THERE COULD BE POLICY
QUESTIONS.
I DID INVITE MEMBERS FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND
I.T., WHO I THINK ARE IN THE
AUDIENCE.
WE HAVE HST HERE.
THEY WERE NOT PART OF BRINGING
YOU HERE, BUT THEY MAY HAVE
QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE JEFF FROM CENTRAL
STAFF, WHO IS JUST MONITORING.
THIS IS INFORMAL.
A LOT OF Q&A.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU.
WHY DON'T WE START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS AND THEN YOU CAN
PROCEED.
>> JEFF SIMMS, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> JESSICA McCOY, COO,
SAMARITAN.
>> MICHAEL MacOLA, SAMARITAN
FORMER USER.
>> JONATHAN KUMAR, FOUNDER OF
SAMARITAN.
>> COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
JONATHAN COX
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO
BE HERE.
WE ARE EXCITING TO BE HERE.
HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL BE
ENLIGHTENING AND ENTERTAINING.
I WILL TAKE 10 MINUTES TO TALK
ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY.
WE ARE ULTIMATELY HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE CONTRACT TO PROVIDE
ACCESS TO NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, SO WE WILL TAKE
MAYBE 10 MINUTES TO EXPLAIN HOW
IT WORKS.
WE HAVE A CURRENT BEACON
HOLDER, WHO IS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, AND A FORMER
BEACON HOLDER ALUMNI, WHO HAS
BEEN PERMANENTLY HOUSED.
FROM THERE, WE WILL TALK ABOUT
OUTCOMES WE EXPECT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO EXPERIENCE THROUGH A
PILOT EXPANSION.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE INFORMATION
ABOUT A POTENTIAL BUDGET ROLL
OUT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
I WILL START AT THE BEGINNING.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HOW
THIS ALL CAME TO BE, I WAS
STANDING A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY
FROM HERE IN THE CORNER OF
SIXTH AND CHERRY ON A LUNCH
BREAK, AT MY LAST STARTUP, AND
I WAS WATCHING A BLACK MAN
PANHANDLE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
HE HELD A SIGN THAT SAID NEED
MEDICATION FOR THE DIABETES IN
MY FEET.
I SAW HIM GINGERLY STANDING
THERE AS NOT A SINGLE PERSON
WALKING BY HIM ACKNOWLEDGED HE
EXISTED.
NOT A SINGLE CAR WINDOW OPENED.
HE WAS A FAIRLY IMPOSING
FIGURE, ACTUALLY.
FLAT BRIMMED HAT, TATTOOS,
OVERCOAT, FAIRLY LARGE, SO
EVENTUALLY, I MUSTERED THE
COURAGE TO GO AND TALK TO HIM.
I ASKED, DO YOU MIND IF I ASK
YOU WHAT YOU FEEL YOUR
CHALLENGES ARE IN TERMS OF
RAISING THIS MONEY?
DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE DON'T CARRY
CASH ANYMORE?
HE CUT ME OFF AND SAID I'VE GOT
THE WRONG LOOK FOR THIS,
INCLUDING, THE WRONG SKIN
COLOR.
NOBODY ACTUALLY BELIEVES THAT I
AM HOMELESS.
THAT WAS SORT OF THE GENESIS
MOMENT, WHERE I REALIZED THAT
BEYOND THE FINANCIAL POVERTY
THAT THIS PERSON IS
EXPERIENCING TO THE POINT WHERE
HE WAS BEGGING STRANGERS FOR
HELP, HE WAS EXPERIENCING
RELATIONAL POVERTY.
HE WAS UNABLE TO CUT THROUGH
THE BIASES OR THE PERCEPTIONS
OF PEOPLE TO SHARE HIS TRUE
IDENTITY, HIS TRUE STORY.
PEOPLE PASSING BY IN A COUPLE
SECONDS, NOT HAVING THE TIME OR
ABILITY, OR CAPACITY TO
UNDERSTAND WHO HE WAS WITH A
SIMPLE WAY TO HELP, SO THAT IS
WHY A SAMARITAN EXISTS.
WE FAST FORWARDED TWO YEARS AND
SOME CHANGE.
WE DEVELOPED SMART WALLETS.
PASS THAT AROUND.
THEY ARE CALLED BEACONS.
WE HAVE PROVIDED THEM TO
SEVERAL AGENCIES IN THE CITY,
WHO HAVE USED THEM IN OUTREACH,
RELATIOSHIP BILLING AND
NAVIGATION.
WE HAD A 500 BEACON PILOT THAT
WAS CONTRACTED BY VULCAN,
ACTUALLY HERE IN THE CITY TO
EVALUATE, THIS ACTUALLY HELP
PEOPLE AWAY THEMSELVES OFF OF
THE STREET?
SO WE ARE HERE AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE TWO YEAR
PILOT, THANK YOU, ON THE PATH
OF OVER 10 AGENCIES IN THE
CITY, AND I HAVE WRITTEN
STATEMENTS I WILL PROVIDE AT
THE END FROM THESE AGENCIES WHO
COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US TODAY
TO ASK FOR ACCESS TO MORE OF
THE TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE UP TO
2500 PEOPLE BY THE END OF NEXT
YEAR THAT ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> WHEN YOU SAY AGENCIES, ARE
YOU REFERRING TO ORGANIZATIONS
AND BUSINESSES, NOT CITY
AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS?
>> YES, CORRECT.
NONPROFITS.
SALVATION ARMY, MARY'S PLACE,
ARREST.
ON THE SECOND SLIDE, RIGHT IN
FRONT OF YOU, YOU WILL SEE SOME
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
REQUESTING ACCESS TO MORE
BEACONS TO USE IN OUTREACH,
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND SO
FORTH.
I WILL DIVE INTO HOW THE
TECHNOLOGY WORKS FOR ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
THEN WE WILL HAVE TIME FOR
QUESTIONS FROM SOME OF THE GUYS
THAT ARE HERE.
WE PROVIDE THESE BEACONS AS AN
OUTREACH TOOL.
WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT SEVEN OUT OF
10 PEOPLE WHO ARE INVITED TO
HAVE A BEACON WILL END UP
ACCEPTING ONE.
TO THE PANHANDLERS, PEOPLE ON
STREET CORNERS, PEOPLE AT OFF
RAMPS, PEOPLE AT MILLIONAIRE
CLUB OUTDOOR MEAL SITES.
WHETHER THEY BE IN A CENTER, A
DAY CENTER, OR OUTSIDE, THE
BASIC MESSAGE TO THEM IS THIS
THING HELPS YOU ACCEPT CREDIT
CARD DONATIONS.
YOU CAN SPEND IT AT ANY OF THE
PLACES ON THIS MAP OR SIT DOWN
WITH A COUNSELOR.
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN ONE?
ABOUT SEVEN OUT OF 10 ACCEPT
SERVICES.
ONCE SOMEONE HAS A BEACON, WE
HAVE A GROUP OF ALMOST 10,000
SAMARITANS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WHO HAVE EQUIPPED
SAMARITAN AS A PERSONAL AND
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO SOMEONE'S
HOMELESSNESS.
WE PARTNERED WITH
ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL, THAT
CAN EVEN ADD MONEY TO BEACON
HOLDERS FOR COMPLETING
VOLUNTEER BEHAVIORS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE IF BEACON
HOLDERS ARE INVITED TO COME
CLEAN UP A PARK OR PARTICIPATE
IN SOME SORT OF EVENT, YOU CAN
ADD $10, $20 TO EVERYONE'S
BEACON.
BEACON HOLDERS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR
STORY THROUGH THE PLATFORM, AS
WELL AS A PORTRAIT, AND SO, IF
THE BEACON HOLDER HAS FUNDS ON
THEIR BEACON, WE HAVE A
SAMARITAN THAT STARTS EVERY
BEACON WITH AT LEAST $10.
THEY CAN USE THE MONEY AT
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES, OR
WITH A COUNSELOR TOWARD GOOD
AND SERVICES.
WE HAVE PLACES LIKE GOODWILL,
GROCERY OUTLET, ST. VINCENT DE
PAUL, DIFFERENT COFFEE SHOPS,
RESTAURANTS, AND BECAUSE THE
NEEDS OF THE POPULATION WE
SERVE ARE SO GREAT, WE CAN'T
HOPE TO CANVASS ALL OF THEIR
NEEDS WITHIN THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY HERE IN SEATTLE.
WE EMPOWER COUNSELORS TO ACCESS
THE MONEY IF THERE IS A NEED
THAT THE BEACON HOLDER HAS THAT
IS NOT ON OUR MERCHANTS LIST,
ESSENTIALLY, THE COUNSELOR CAN
ACCESS THE MONEY.
I THINK, CAN ACCESS THE MONEY
AND TARGETED TOWARD A RENT
CHECK, A GREYHOUND TICKET, BUS
FARE.
A CELL PHONE BILL.
REALLY, ANYTHING THAT PERSON
NEEDS.
I THINK ONE OF MY FAVORITE
OUTCOMES TO THE PROJECT IS ONCE
A MONTH, BEACON HOLDERS, THE
BATTERY DIES IN THE BEACON, AND
BEACON HOLDERS HAVE BOTH THE
OPPORTUNITY BUT ALSO THE
RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY HAVE
ENOUGH VALUE FROM THE BEACON TO
WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE IT,
THEY'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE WHAT WE CALL A LIFE CARE
VISIT AT A NONPROFIT, SO IT'S A
10 TO 15 MINUTE CONVERSATION
WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT THE LAST
MONTH.
THEY SET A GOAL FOR THE MONTH
AHEAD AND SET THEIR GREATEST
FINANCIAL NEEDS TO GETTING
THERE.
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE THE PROGRESS UPDATE WITH
SUPPORTING SAMARITANS AND WE
SEE ABOUT 99% OF BEACON HOLDERS
OPTING INTO THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE WITH THE SAMARITAN
COMMUNITY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU FOR WORKING
THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN BITS
AND PIECES OVER THE LAST YEAR
SO HAVING THIS COMPREHENSIVE
ANALYSIS IS VERY HELPFUL,
ESPECIALLY AS YOU WRAPUP TWO
YEARS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR, IF
YOU LISTEN TO THE CONSULTANT
WHO HAS COME TO THE SELECT
COMMITTEE AND PRESENTED
MARKDOWNS AND HIS TEAM HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH
OUR INTAKE PROCESS CAN BE RE-
TRAUMATIZING, ESPECIALLY FOR
FOLKS LIVING UNSHELTERED, AND
THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE
QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED ON AN
INTAKE FORM OR A CONSULTATION
FORM VERSUS THE TYPES OF SERVICE
THAT SOMEONE NEEDS, AND I AM
REALLY SENSITIVE TO THAT, GIVEN
THAT WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO
RETELL THEIR STORY THAT MAY BE
HARMFUL TO THEM EVERY TIME THEY
COME IN.
CAN YOU SORT OF EXPLAIN HOW THE
MONTHLY CONSULTATION THAT YOU
JUST DESCRIBED IS GOING HAND IN
HAND, OR IS COMPLEMENTARY TO
WHATEVER PROCESSES THAT THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE OR
MARY'S PLACE ALREADY ARE
REQUIRED TO DO WITH THE CITY?
OR IF THERE'S OTHER LESSONS
LEARNED, WHERE THIS MORE TYPE
OF RELATIONAL DISCUSSION COULD
SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THE
QUANTITATIVE RESPONSES THAT
MANY OF OUR AGENCIES ARE BEING
ASKED TO DO?
ANY LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR, AND
CAN YOU HELP USHER US THIS
ISN'T BEING ADDED TO THE LIST
OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE INDIVIDUALS, SO WE ARE NOT
RE-TRAUMATIZING FOLKS?
>> TOTALLY, TOTALLY.
A LOT OF THESE INCREDIBLE
AGENCIES ARE ALREADY HAVING
THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE WANT
THIS TO FIT IN THEIR EXISTING
FRAMEWORKS.
I WILL HAVE A DEMO AT THE END
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
EMILY TO SHARE HER EXPERIENCE
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE
HELPED PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR
BEACON.
MAYBE, IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING
TO SPEAK TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S QUESTION?
>> SORRY.
IS THAT BETTER?
I WORK WITH FOLKS THAT ARE
ENGAGING IN SEX TRAFFICKING OR
SEX WORK.
IT'S ALREADY TRAUMATIZING TO
BRING UP THEIR NARRATIVE, BUT
WHEN GOING OVER THE NEEDS,
WHETHER IT'S WEEKLY, DAILY,
BEACON HAS BROUGHT IT UP AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS ENGAGING
IN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, SO
THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT IS
NOT ONLY SOMETHING COMFORTABLE
WITH THEM, BUT ALSO WITH OTHER
PROVIDERS IN OUR AREA.
THEY KNOW WE WANT TO CREATE
SAFETY, SO THESE QUESTIONS OF
HOW DID YOU BECOME HOMELESS?
WE LIKE TO REFRAME THAT AND SAY
DO YOU EVEN WANT TO DISCLOSE
THAT YOU ARE HOMELESS?
AND WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR
YOU TO RECEIVE THAT ASSISTANCE?
THIS IS THEIR LANGUAGE, THEIR
NARRATIVE AND THEY WANT TO
EXPRESS THAT.
WITH MARY'S PLACE, I WORK WITH
AROUND 200 WOMEN ON A DAILY
BASIS.
WE WOULD HAVE CHICKENS MAYBE
THREE OR FOUR TIMES A DAY.
DEPENDING ON THE SCHEDULE OF
THE MONTH, I KNOW IT'S JUST A
QUIET TIME TO JUST SIT AMONGST
ALL OF THE CHAOS, SERVICES
BEING PROVIDED, AND JUST REALLY
INVESTING INTO THEM PERSONALLY
AND FOR THEM TO HAVE A MOMENT
TO BE SEEN AND KNOWN IS SUPER
IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHAT BEACON LIFE CARE
VISITS PROVIDES.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THEY
DO?
A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT BE
FAMILIAR WITH R.E.S.T..
>> R.E.S.T.
ISRAEL ESCAPE FROM THE SEX
TRADE.
WE HELP PEOPLE ESCAPE FROM SEX
WORK AND WORK WITH TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS AS WELL AS FOLKS
ENGAGING IN SURVIVAL SEX OR SEX
FOR SUBSTANCES.
I PRIMARILY WORK WITH GENDER
MINORITIES.
WE WORK WITH IN KING COUNTY BUT
SOME OF MY CLIENTS ARE IN
BELLINGHAM TO EASTERN
WASHINGTON.
WE PROVIDE WRAPAROUND CARE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST TO CONCLUDE THE
TECHNOLOGY, I CAN SEE ON SLIDE
EIGHT, NOR PRINT OUTS, THAT'S A
SCREENSHOT OF THE APP EMILY HAS
USED, IF THE PERSON HAS A NEED
NOT ON OUR LIST OF MERCHANTS
TARGETED AGAIN TOWARD DIFFERENT
MEANS THEY MAY HAVE, THAT'S A
CONVERSATION THAT MARY'S PLACE.
SO, IN CONCLUSION TO THIS
PROCESS OF PROVIDING FOR THESE
REAL CRITICAL EMERGENCY NEEDS
OR POTENTIALLY STRATEGIC NEEDS,
OR THESE WRAPAROUND
RELATIONSHIPS, WE HAVE SEEN
THAT WHEN YOU COMBINE THESE TWO
THINGS, WE ARE SEEING OUTCOMES
OF READINESS FOR HOUSING,
READINESS FOR TREATMENT
ADMITTANCE.
IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE USING
DRUGS, AND READINESS FOR OUR
EMPLOYMENT, JOB TRAINING, AND I
WILL PROVIDE TWO CASE STUDIES,
ACTUALLY.
ONE IS WITH US TODAY.
MICHAEL.
HE RECEIVED A BEACON AND
MENTIONED, I THINK ONE OF THE
MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU
MENTIONED TO ME WAS HOW THE
GOOD SAMARITANS INVESTING IN
YOUR LIFE WAS ONE OF THE WAYS
YOU KEPT YOUR SELF-APPOINTED IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT WASN'T LIKE HE WAS PAYING
FOR HOUSING.
IT WAS MAYBE $50 A MONTH, BUT
IT WAS JUST ENOUGH TO FILL IN
SOME OF THE SMALL GAPS, RAZORS,
WINTER CLOTHING, THE ABILITY TO
GO INTO A RESTAURANT AND PICK
OUT AN ITEM HE WANTED LIKE A
NORMAL PERSON AGAIN.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF SIX OR
EIGHT MONTHS, MAYBE A LITTLE
BIT LONGER, ACTUALLY, THE ONE
ON ONE OR LIFE CARE VISITS HE
HAD WITH HIS COUNSELOR WAS ABLE
TO FIND HIM A PLACE HE WAS
COMFORTABLE MOVING INTO IN
SHORELINE.
THERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE, SO I
THINK THAT POINTS TO THE VALUE
OF THE RELATIONSHIP.
AND THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON WHO
COULDN'T BE WITH US HERE TODAY.
HIS NAME IS JOHN.
HE RECEIVED A BEACON AND OVER
THE COURSE OF THE WEEK RECEIVED
ABOUT $125 AND THAT WAS IN FIVE
DOLLARS TO $10 INCREMENTS.
BEACON RECEIVERS CAN GET TEXT
OR EMAILS WHENEVER SOMEONE
INVESTS INTO THEIR LIFE, SO HE
WAS GETTING REPEATED TEXT
MESSAGES FROM RANDOM STRANGER
SAYING I BELIEVE IN YOU, KEEP
YOUR HEAD UP.
I WANT TO INVEST IN YOUR LIFE.
HE CALLED US ABOUT A WEEK LATER
AND SAID TURN OFF MY BEACON,
WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS BAD NEWS
AT FIRST, BUT HE WAS LIKE I'VE
DECIDED TO FINALLY ENTER
TREATMENT.
I'M GOING TO BE GONE FOR ABOUT
THREE MONTHS.
WE WERE ECSTATIC, AND WE WERE
IN OUR DATABASE TURNING HIS
PROFILE OFF, AND WE SAW HE
ACTUALLY HADN'T SPENT ANY OF
THE MONEY.
$130 SITTING THERE, AND IT
WASN'T EVEN THAT HE NEEDED TO
MEET THESE FINANCIAL NEEDS, HE
JUST NEEDED TO KNOW THAT HE WAS
WORTH INVESTING IN, SO HE COULD
START INVESTING IN HIMSELF.
SO THERE IS ABOUT 43 STORIES
LIKE THAT FROM OUR 500 BEACON
PILOT.
ABOUT 9% OF BEACON HOLDERS HAVE
REPORTED EITHER TO THE
COUNSELOR OR TO US THAT THEY
HAVE GOTTEN HOUSE FOR EMPLOYEE
IT.
OR ENTERED SOME SORT OF
TREATMENT PROGRAM.
THE THING WE CAN CONTROL MOST IS
A BEACON HOLDER GETTING ENOUGH
VALUE FROM THEIR BEACON, SO
MUCH THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO
KEEP USING IT ON A MONTHLY
BASIS, AND ACCESSING OUR WEB OF
CARE.
FROM THERE, IT'S OUR INCREDIBLE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING
THE HEAVY LIFTING IN TERMS OF
PERMANENTLY HOUSING THEM OR
HELPING THEM INTO RECOVERY.
THE HOUSING OUTCOMES ARE NOT TO
BE HOURS.
THEY ARE NOT OURS TO CUT IT.
THIS IS TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS
NONPROFITS INCREMENTALLY ADD TO
THEIR OUTCOMES.
SO, I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A
GOOD STOPPING POINT FOR
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, FOR ANY
OF THE BEACON HOLDERS.
I WOULD LOVE TO TALK FOR ABOUT
10 MINUTES AFTERWARDS ABOUT
SOME OF THE OUTCOMES I WOULD
SEE FROM EXPANSION.
>> THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT
PLAN.
BEFORE I ASK SOME OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE TABLE A FEW
QUESTIONS, I SORT OF WANT TO
KNOW HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS,
A LITTLE BIT.
I KNOW THAT'S PART OF IT.
I HAVE ALL THESE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION
AND THEN I WANT TO HEAR SOME
MORE ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTED
LIVES.
IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN DISPLAY
HOW IT WORKS?
>> I THINK WE HAD AN ISSUE --
>> WOULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHY
YOU ARE PRESENTING?
>> OKAY.
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE OF THOSE
MACHINES IN A LONG TIME.
>> THE KIND YOU SAW WAS NOT
LIKE THAT.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
>> LET'S TURN OFF THE LIGHT.
>> THE TECHNOLOGY BEGINS AND
ENDS WITH THE SMART WALLET
CALLED A BEACON.
IT RUNS ON A BLUETOOTH
TRANSMITTER.
>> SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
>> YEAH, SO THE TECHNOLOGY
STARTS WITH THESE DIGITAL
WALLETS CALLED BEGINS.
THIS IS THE SAMARITAN APP AND
WILL ALLOW VOLUNTEERS, AS WELL
AS NONPROFITS TO CARRY OUT AN
AND TAKE WITH A BEACON HOLDER,
SO IT'S JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS
THAT WILL BE ASKED ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON
THE STREETS,WHAT LED YOU TO BE
HERE, WHAT DO YOU ASPIRE TO BE,
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE, WHAT
WILL YOU BE WHEN YOU ARE NOT
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS?
YEAH.
>> LET ME START RIGHT THERE .
SO, I DOWNLOAD THE APP ON MY
SMART PHONE, IF I AM INTERESTED
IN PARTICIPATING AS A
SAMARITAN, AND WE HAVE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
PARTICIPATED THUS FAR.
ALMOST 10,000 PEOPLE.
HOW WOULD THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT
THE APP?
>> BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS SUCH
A PRESSING ISSUE, THERE IS A
LOT OF WORD-OF-MOUTH IN NEXT-
DOOR COMMUNITIES, THE MEDIA,
AND WE HAVE BEEN INVITED TO
EQUIP EMPLOYEES AT FACEBOOK,
NORDSTROM, BECAUSE THESE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING
DOWNTOWN ARE CONFRONTING THE
ISSUE ON A DAILY BASIS, THEY
HAVE BEEN REAL INTERESTED IN A
TANGIBLE WAY TO HELP.
>> SO EVEN WITHOUT AN EXPENSIVE
MARKETING BUDGET, JUST THROUGH
GRASSROOTS MARKETING, --
>> SOUND TRANSIT DONATED $5000
FOR A PSA.
AND THE METRO BUSES ARE
ADVERTISING.
$5200 PER MONTH, SO FAR.
>> AND STILL, YOU ARE ABLE TO
GET 10,000 SAMARITANS.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I'VE
GOTTEN AS A COUNCILMEMBER, A
LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY WILL SAY
WHAT CAN I DO?
WE TALK ABOUT THE AGENCIES.
THEY CAN'T GIVE THEM ANY
DIRECTIVES TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS PROBABLY
NOT IN SOME OF THOSE FACEBOOK
CIRCLES, NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE
APPS, SO THE GOOD SAMARITA
DOWNLOAD THE APP, AND LEARN
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE IN
PROXIMITY?
THEY SEE MICHAEL -- MIKE OR
MICHAEL?
>> MICHAEL.
>> THEY SEE MICHAEL AND THEY
WANT TO ACTIVATE MICHAEL.
HOW DO THEY ACTIVATE TO GET TO
KNOW MICHAEL'S STORY?
>> SO, SAMARITANS, WE HAVE THIS
COMMUNITY NEWSFEED, WHICH IS
WHAT I AM SCROLLING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW.
IT WILL SHOW YOU NEW BEACON
HOLDERS THAT HAVE RECENTLY
JOINED SAMARITAN, BEACON
HOLDERS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO
SHARE THEIR MONTHLY LIFE CARE
VISIT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
BEACON HOLDERS WHO ARE
REDEEMING THINGS AND DIFFERENT
MERCHANTS AROUND THE CITY,
BEACON HOLDERS OR COMPLETING
GOALS, SO THERE IS A WAY TO
DISCOVER INDIVIDUALS ON THIS
PLATFORM.
WE HAVE A BEACON HOLDER OF THE
DAY.
THERE IS NO PHOTO IN THIS
INSTANCE BECAUSE WE GIVE BEACON
HOLDERS THE OPTION TO NOT SHARE
A PORTRAIT OF THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE A BEACON HOLDER EVERY
DAY.
WE WILL SEND PEOPLE PUSH
NOTIFICATIONS OCCASIONALLY, BUT
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THIS NIFTY
THING WITH THE TECHNOLOGY,
WHERE IF THE BEACON HOLDER HAS
OPTED INTO THIS, JUST BY HAVING
THEIR BEACON, WHICH RUNS ON
BLUETOOTH, IF A SAMARITAN WALKS
WITHIN ABOUT 30 YARDS OF A
BEACON HOLDER, THEY WILL GET A
PUSH NOTIFICATION ON YOUR
ANDROID OR iPHONE THAT SAYS YOU
JUST PASSED BY JARED.
JARED HAS BEEN ON THE STREETS
FOR SIX MONTHS, AND YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO SEE HIS STORY THAT WAY.
>> THAT WAS THE PART I WAS
THINKING ABOUT IS SORT OF THE
AUTOMATIC CONNECTIONS, SO IF I
SEE RAVEN AS AN EXAMPLE, I HAVE
MY BLUETOOTH ON.
YOU HAVE A SAMARITAN HAD, I CAN
SORT OF KNOW IF THEY ARE
CONNECTED IF YOU BRAND, IF THEY
ARE BRANDED OR I CAN PHYSICALLY
SEE THE BEACON.
>> THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PUSH
VACATION JESSICA RECEIVED.
SHE IS OBVIOUSLY NEAR RAVEN, SO
SHE GOT A PUSH NOTIFICATION
THAT RAVEN WAS NEARBY.
WE SEE A FAIR AMOUNT OF
DISCOVERY THAT WAY, THROUGH
THOSE ORGANIC ENCOUNTERS.
YOU WILL BE ON A BUS GOING
DOWNTOWN AND THEN YOU WILL PASS
BY A COUPLE OF BEACON HOLDERS
ON THE CORNER, AND YOU WILL
PICK UP NOTIFICATIONS, SO
BEACON HOLDERS WILL BE WALKING
AROUND, GETTING HIT UP WITH
TEXT MESSAGES SAYING SOMEONE
GAVE YOU $20, WHICH, RAVEN,
MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO WHAT
THAT FEELS LIKE.
>> YEAH.
IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING.
I KEEP MY PHONE ON ME LIKE
MOST, BUT I GET TEXTS ALL THE
TIME SAYING SOMEONE DONATED
THIS MUCH, SOMEONE SAID THIS,
I'VE GOTTEN TEXTS FROM PEOPLE
SAYING DO YOU WANT TO MEET,
HANG OUT OR DO SOMETHING?
WHETHER THERE WAS MONEY OR NOT
DOESN'T BOTHER ME REALLY.
IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY
ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME AND THE
EFFORT TO CARE.
IT'S THAT I HAVE TO CHECK IN
ONCE A MONTH.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE THAT'S
A RESPONSIBILITY.
YES.
MOST HOMELESS PEOPLE WANT
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S HARD FOR SOME OF US
BECAUSE OF THE BACKGROUND,
BECAUSE OF A DRUG ADDICTION OR
WHAT HAVE YOU.
MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT US REALLY
DOWN, BUT A LOT OF US ARE
TRYING TO GET A JOB, GO TO
SCHOOL, DO STUFF.
WE WANT THAT RESPONSIBILITY, SO
HAVING TO WEAR PEOPLE MESSAGE
ME TO HANG OUT, I'VE MET SOME
AMAZING PEOPLE THROUGH THE APP.
I HANG OUT WITH THEM WEEKLY.
>> RAVEN, YOU TALKED ABOUT
MESSAGES OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
I JUST GAVE FIVE DOLLARS TO ONE
OF THE BEACON HOLDERS, ALICIA.
I HAVE THIS OPTION TO ADD A
MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
THIS WILL BE RECEIVED IN A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, SO
THEY WILL GET A TEXT IF THEY
HAVE A PHONE.
IF NOT, THEY CAN GET AN EMAIL.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN EMAIL
ADDRESS, THE NEXT TIME THEY
STOP BY A MERCHANT OR
NONPROFIT, THEY CAN RECEIVE
THAT MESSAGE AND RESPOND.
>> MICHAEL, I WOULD ALSO LOVE
TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS ON THE RECEIVING END
AND HOW THAT HAS BEEN FOR YOU?
>> WELL, AS JONATHAN ALREADY
SAID, I'VE GONE TO PERMANENT
HOUSING AND BEEN THERE FOR JUST
OVER A YEAR, BUT BEFORE THAT,
IT WASN'T SO MUCH WHAT I WAS
BUYING WITH THE BEACON AS MUCH
AS JUST WHAT IT REPRESENTED.
IT REPRESENTED A FEELING OF
NORMALCY.
I WOULD GO TO A RESTAURANT AND
I CAN ORDER SOMETHING OFF THE
MENU SPECIFICALLY.
I WOULD GO TO ONE OF MY
FAVORITE STORES, THE ARMY-NAVY
STORE AND JUST BROWSE BECAUSE I
COULD.
I FELT LIKE A REGULAR CUSTOMER.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY WHO
WAS IN THE SYSTEM, SOMEONE WHO
NEEDED TO BE HELPED.
OR IN GETTING A HANDOUT FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
THAT TO ME WAS THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE
BEACON.
JUST HOW IT CHANGED MY OUTLOOK
ON THE SITUATION I WAS IN, AND
HOW I FELT ABOUT MYSELF, AT THE
TIME.
REALLY, IT TRULY WASN'T ABOUT
THE PHYSICAL THINGS I COULD DO
WITH IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, IF I
MIGHT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING
THAT.
AS YOU'RE TALKING, I CAN'T HELP
BUT THINK ABOUT A FEW
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
MAYBE, HELP US WITH THE PROCESS
YOU WENT THROUGH TO ADDRESS
THIS.
>> POLICY QUESTIONS?
CAN I ASK A TECHNICAL QUESTION?
I WANT TO GET THAT OUT OF MY
SYSTEM.
THE APP RECEIVES SOME FORM OF A
DONATION, THE VENDORS -- SO,
IT'S LOADED ON THE BEACON.
HOW DOES IT TRANSFER TO THE
STORE THAT'S RECEIVING IT?
>> RIGHT.
EVERYONE -- WE CALL THEM LIFE
CARE PROVIDERS, WHETHER THEY BE
MERCHANTS OR NONPROFITS.
WHEN THE PERSON WALKS INTO A
BARBERSHOP OR MARY'S PLACE,
THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME APP,
AND SAMARITAN BRINGS UP THE
BEACON BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE
LOGGED IN AS A LIFE CARE
PROVIDER, THEY CAN SEE
ADDITIONAL THINGS LIKE BATTERY
LIFE, BALANCE, AND CHARGE A
GOOD OR SERVICE TO IT.
>> SO THE VENDOR, THE STORE,
THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE APP.
THEY ARE ABLE TO WITHDRAW THE
COMPENSATION RIGHT FROM THE
APP, AND IT GOES TO THEIR TILL.
>> YES.
>> IF IT'S A BARBERSHOP, LET'S
SAY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE APP,
THEY CAN'T TAKE IT . SO, PART
OF YOUR TASK WOULD BE TO GET AS
MANY VENDORS AS POSSIBLE TO
RECEIVE THE UP?
>> ONE OF THE LESSONS WE HAVE
LEARNED OVER THESE TWO YEARS IS
THAT IS A FOOL'S ERRAND.
IT'S PRETTY TOUGH WORKING WITH
DIFFERENT BUSINESSES TO CANVAS
THE NEEDS OF BEACON HOLDERS.
WE LOOK TO FURTHER EMPOWER THE
NONPROFIT TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY
TOWARD WHATEVER IS NEEDED, SO
THE NONPROFIT CAN PUT MONEY
TOWARDS AN O.R.C.A.
CARD, TOWARDS A PHONE BILL, AND
IF THEY FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE,
THEY CAN GIVE A VISA PREPAID
CARD TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
WE TRY AND MAKE IT AS SIMPLE
FOR THE NONPROFIT TO BE.
>> I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW THE 10 NONPROFITS CAME INTO
THE PICTURE.
SO THAT'S HOW THEY COME IN
BECAUSE THEN THEY ARE LIKE A
WHOLESALER.
THEY WILL COME IN AND TRY TO
LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF
THE BEACON HOLDER AND PURCHASE
WHAT THEY NEED.
>> THERE IS SO MANY INCREDIBLE
PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
AT THE ORGANIZATIONS LISTED,
AND OUR JOB IS JUST TO HELP
PEOPLE GET CONNECTED, GET
PLUGGED IN.
AND SO, AND WE WILL GET TO SOME
OF THE OUTCOMES, WHICH RELATES
TO THIS, BUT THE BEACON IS A
WAY FOR THEM TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND GET THEM TO
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE MUCH
GREATER THAN THE BEACON.
>> WHAT IF A SAMARITAN AFTER
SIX MONTHS, LET'S SAY, THE
RECEIVER STARTS TO BUG THE
SAMARITAN, CAN THE SAMARITAN GO
BACK AND JUST CUT IT OFF?
WHAT CONTROL DOES THE SAMARITAN
HAVE ON THE CONTACTS?
>> SURE.
NO PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
IS SHARED THROUGH THE PLATFORM.
IF YOU MESSAGE A BEACON HOLDER,
THEY ARE NOT SEEING YOUR CELL
PHONE, YOUR EMAIL.
WE ARE MONITORING RESPONSES.
WE ARE TRACKING POTENTIAL
ABUSE.
WE HAVEN'T HAD REPORTS OR SEEN
ANYTHING DAMAGING TO DATE.
NOT TO SAY THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN
BUT THERE WILL BE WAYS FOR A
SAMARITAN TO CLOSE A CHAT.
>> USUALLY, IF I TEXT SOMEONE,
THEY CAN SEE MY NUMBER.
>> THIS IS DONE WITHIN
SAMARITAN, SO IT'S LIKE --
>> IT COMES FROM A SAMARITAN
ADDRESS?
>> IF YOU WERE USING WHATSAPP
OR FACEBOOK, LIKE YOU HAVE
MESSAGES WITH PEOPLE, YOU CAN
BLOCK THEM IF YOU DON'T WANT TO
TALK TO THEM.
>> I WAS JUST LOOKING AT HOW
SOMEONE CONTROLS IT ON THE
GIVING AND THAT.
WHAT INTERFACE THEY HAVE.
>> THEY WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CLOSE A CHAT.
>> THAT ACTUALLY GETS TO THE
QUESTION I HAD REGARDING THE
RECEIVING AND THAT.
THE POPULATION YOU TALKED ABOUT
HAVING WORKED ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS BEFORE THE
STOP, WE KNOW HOW VULNERABLE
FOLKS ARE, AND I THINK SOME OF
THE FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ARE EXTREMELY
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
YOU SAY YOU'RE MONITORING THE
CHAT.
DO THE RECEIVERS ALSO HAVE A
CHANCE TO SHUT DOWN A
CONVERSATION?
I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A POWER
DYNAMIC AT PLAY IF SOMEBODY IS
OFFERING YOU FIVE DOLLARS OR
$20, AND THAT MEANS YOU CAN GO
TO A SHOP OR GO GET FOOD,
FINALLY, NOT JUST HAVING THE
ABILITY, BUT THE REQUIREMENT TO
SHUT DOWN ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE
PREDATORY IN THIS PROCESS, OR
TRYING TO ENGAGE AND CREATE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE FOR
NON-SAMARITAN REASONS.
SEEMS REALLY IMPORTANT.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
IN TERMS OF BOTH YOU MONITORING
THE TYPE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
ENSURING THAT THERE IS NOT
PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE USING
THAT POWER OR THAT PRIVILEGE IN
THEIR ABILITY TO MANIPULATE A
RELATIONSHIP?
>> WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR BOTH
SIDES TO REPORT, INAPPROPRIATE
CONVERSATIONS OR MESSAGES, AND
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BAN
EITHER A SAMARITAN FROM SENDING
A MESSAGE OR A BEACON HOLDER
FROM SENDING A MESSAGE.
>> BUT YOU ARE MONITORING,
RIGHT?
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT LABOR
PROTECTIONS, ANY WORKER CAN
REPORT WAGE THEFT, RETALIATION
IN DAILY WORK, BUT A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T REPORT WHEN THERE
IS A VIOLATION, WAGE THEFT,
INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENT,
ASSAULT BECAUSE OF THAT POWER
DYNAMIC, SO ARE YOU SAYING IN
ADDITION TO THE RECEIVER BEING
ABLE TO REPORT IF THERE IS A
VIOLATION, YOU ARE ACTIVELY
MONITORING?
>> AT THIS TIME BECAUSE IT'S AN
EXPERIMENTAL FEATURE, THE
ABILITY TO SEND A MESSAGE OF
ENCOURAGEMENT TO A BEACON
HOLDER, AS WELL AS A RESPONSE
BECAUSE WE JUST INTRODUCED
THAT, WE ARE PROACTIVELY
MONITORING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
>> I SAW SOME SUGGESTED TEXTS,
BUT THEY COULD ALSO SEND
INDIVIDUAL ONCE?
>> THEIR OWN, CORRECT.
>> I LOVE THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN
AND I LOVED THE EXAMPLES YOU
SHOWED ABOUT THE INVESTMENT,
THE VALUE, THE ENCOURAGEMENT
YOU SEEN WHEN PEOPLE HAVE
WRITTEN TO YOU, SO THANK YOU
FOR SHARING THOSE EXAMPLES.
JUST AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
THE WAYS IN WHICH,
UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE ENGAGE
WITH ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS, THAT WAS A MAJOR
CONCERN.
THE OTHER THING, MISTER CHAIR,
IF I MAY.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP BUT GO
AHEAD.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSCORE IS
HOW IMPORTANT I THINK THIS
COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN IN
ADDITION TO RELIABLE PUBLIC
REVENUE, RIGHT?
FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT NEEDING
ACCESS TO FOOD STAMPS,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS, COUNSELING,
AND I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS
REQUIRE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, AND
A RELIABLE PUBLIC REVENUE.
I DON'T HEAR YOU SAYING THIS IS
IN ANY WAY SUPPLANTING THAT.
WE NEED PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT
WILL BE NONDISCRETIONARY AS A
BUILDING BLOCK.
THE CONCERN I MIGHT HAVE IS IF
THIS WERE STANDALONE, TO SOME
DEGREE, IT IS STILL
DISCRETIONARY.
THE EXAMPLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL
THAT YOU TALK WITH FIRST, WHO
PROBABLY WAS EXPERIENCING
RACISM, STEREOTYPING, AND BASED
ON SKIN COLOR, TATTOOS, AND
APPEARANCE, THAT, I ASSUME,
STILL HAPPENS, SO HOW DO WE
AVOID DEALING WITH THE TYPE OF
STEREOTYPING, OR DISCRETIONARY
NATURE, IF AT ALL IN THIS APP?
OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT WILL
ALWAYS HAPPEN, AND WHAT WE NEED
TO DO IS BACKFILL SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS WITH RELIABLE
NONDISCRETIONARY PUBLIC
REVENUE?
>> THE DISCRETIONARY USE OF THE
FUNDS IS A CORE IDENTITY TOO, I
THINK, SAMARITAN AND BEACON
HOLDERS.
>> I DON'T MEAN DISCRETIONARY
USE OF THE FUNDS, WHICH I THINK
IS PHENOMENAL.
I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY
NEEDED AND GOES HAND-IN-HAND
WITH WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM
EXPERTS.
SOMETIMES, PEOPLE JUST NEED
$200 FOR THAT MONTH, WHICH
COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
LIFE AND DEATH, AND THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING THAT
HOUSE OR NOT, SO THE
DISCRETIONARY NATURE IS
SOMETHING I APPRECIATE.
I MEAN THE DISCRETIONARY NATURE
OF THE SAMARITAN TO PICK AND
CHOOSE WHO THEY GIVE FUNDING TO
PICK
>> I SEE.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE
EXPLORING.
WE HAVE AN INTERNAL GOAL.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS SWEET SPOT
AROUND $800-$1000 A YEAR IN
TERMS OF BEACON HOLDER
RETENTION, MEANING THOSE LIFE
CARE VISITS WILL CONTINUE TO
USE BEACON AND SO THAT IS ABOUT
$80 A MONTH, AND SO, WE WANT
EVERY BEACON HOLDER TO HAVE A
GUARANTEE OF TWO THINGS.
ACCESS TO ABOUT $1000 A YEAR,
AND ACCESS TO THE
TRANSFORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
IF WE CAN DO THOSE TWO THINGS
AND PROVIDE PEOPLE A SOCIAL
HOME BEFORE A PHYSICAL HOME,
AND THEN DO IT THROUGH THE WORK
OF THOSE NONPROFITS, WE DO IT
THROUGH OUR JOB.
WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS WHERE
IT'S NOT AS DISCRETIONARY AS TO
WHO GETS THE MONEY.
WE WILL HAVE A FUND.
WE CALL IT THE SAMARITAN
GENERAL FUND, BUT THAT WILL
ACTUALLY BE DISSEMINATED TO
BEACON HOLDERS SORT OF
AUTOMATICALLY.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE WAYS FOR
PEOPLE TO GIVE TO GEOGRAPHIES
AND IF PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH A
NEIGHBORHOOD, LIKE I HANGOUT
MOSTLY IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
OR BALLARD FOR BALLARD DONORS
TO GIVE TO BALLARD, AND FOR
THAT TO GO TO ALL PEOPLE WHO
ALL IDENTIFY AS HANGING OUT IN
BALLARD.
>> ACTUALLY, YOUR QUESTION, YOU
ARE ASKING A QUESTION I SORT OF
HAD IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
LET ME TELL YOU MY THINKING.
IF THE RECIPIENT WANTS TO TELL
THEIR STORY, A LOT OF THEM MAY
NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO KEY IT IN.
THEY MAY STRUGGLE WITH TELLING
THEIR STORY.
DO YOU HELP THEM TELL THEIR
STORY?
>> THE INTAKE HAPPENS THROUGH
THE SAMARITAN APP.
THERE IS A FORM ON THERE THAT
WILL JUST HAVE SOME OPTIONAL
QUESTIONS
FOR THEM TO RESPOND TO LIKE HOW
DID YOU GET TO THE STREETS?
WHERE ARE YOU ASPIRING TO GO?
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST NEEDS?
JOB SKILLS, INTERESTING LIFE
FACTS, SO THE VOLUNTEER IS
KEYING IT IN ON THEIR PHONE ON
BEHALF OF THE BEACON HOLDER.
>> OKAY.
BECAUSE TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S POINT, I WAS
THINKING THESE FIVE FOLKS ARE
CONSTANTLY GETTING FIVE
DOLLARS, $10, BUT THIS PERSON
ISN'T GETTING ANYTHING BECAUSE
THEY ARE STORYTELLERS.
THE WAY TO ADDRESS THAT IS
BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT THEIR
STORY.
THERE COULD BE GEMS IN THIS
PERSON'S STORY THAT NO ONE
PULLED OUT, AND THEN IT'S LIKE
YOU USED TO DO THIS, AND YOU
WANT TO DO THIS?
BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THERE'S
ALWAYS SORT OF WINNERS AND
LOSERS IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS
THE VOLUNTEER HELPS, BUT THAT'S
A VOLUNTEER OF YOUR
ORGANIZATION.
>> THAT'S THE VOLUNTEER OF THE
NONPROFITS OR THE NONPROFIT
STAFF THEMSELVES.
>> EVERYONE IS CHANGING THAT
USES FACEBOOK AND THOSE KINDS
OF TOOLS, CHANGING THE PROFILE.
>> UPDATES, YEAH.
>> DOES THE RECIPIENT
OCCASIONALLY CHANGE THEIR
STORY?
>> WE HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT
REALLY HARD ON THE NONPROFITS
TO CHANGE THE PROFILE OF BEACON
HOLDERS, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON
THAT.
THEY WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO
UPDATE THE PROFILE WITH THE
NEXT MONTH'S GOALS THAT THE
PERSON HAS SET, WITH THE NEXT
MONTH'S FINANCIAL NEEDS.
DURING THAT MONTHLY LIFE CARE
VISIT.
>> I AM JUST GOING TO HAVE TO
ASK.
IS IT A 501(C)(3) DONATION TAX
DEDUCTION?
>> YES.
WE HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR THAT
WE PROCESS THE DONATIONS
THROUGH, WHICH MAKES EVERY APP
TRANSACTION TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
>> OKAY.
INTERESTING.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> FEEL FREE, ANYBODY AT THE
TABLE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I AM JUST
BRAINSTORMING OUT LOUD.
>> THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS
SESSION.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BOTH,
AGAIN, TELLING YOUR STORY ABOUT
HOW THIS HAS HELPED, AND THE
STORIES YOU'VE BROUGHT UP ABOUT
THE WAYS YOU SEEN FOLKS NOT
ONLY GET INTO HOUSING, BUT ALSO
TREATMENT, AND ADDITIONAL
SUPPORTS THAT ARE NECESSARY
BECAUSE THEY HAD ACCESS TO THIS
BEACON.
AGAIN, ON THE SORT OF
TECHNOLOGY, UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES SIDE, I THINK WE
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS
COMMITTEE, TALKING ABOUT DATA
PROTECTION.
I WORRY A LITTLE BIT IF SOMEONE
IS ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION,
FOR EXAMPLE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY DECIDE ONE
INDIVIDUAL HAS GONE FROM A
WORTHY DONATOR TO NOT WORTHY,
AND HOW FOLKS ARE BEING
TRACKED.
THE CONCERN I HAVE IS THE
PROTECTION OF THE DATA AND THE
LOCATION OF FOLKS.
THE TYPE OF HATE WE'VE SEEN IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND THE VOLUME
THAT HAS BEEN TURNED UP ON BOTH
RACISM, CLASSISM AND SEXISM,
AND HOMOPHOBIA, I THINK IN
TERMS OF VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS, I KNOW FOLKS WHO
ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED HAVE
EXPERIENCED INCREASED NUMBERS
OF HATE VIOLENCE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL
IT.
HOW DO YOU PROTECT AGAINST
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRACKING
FROM WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT AND
WHO PROTECT YOUR DATA?
>> WE USE SOME OF THE BEST
SECURITY IN THE INDUSTRY IN
TERMS OF DATA PROTECTION AND IN
TERMS OF TRACKING THERE ISN'T
ANY FUNCTIONALITY POSSIBLE FOR
REAL-TIME LOCATION AWARENESS OF
BEACON HOLDERS, SO THE BEACONS
RUN ON BLUETOOTH, WHICH THE
RANGE IS FROM MAYBE ME TO THAT
WALL OVER THERE, SO IF YOU ARE
OUTSIDE THE RANGE, YOU WOULDN'T
KNOW WHERE THE BEACON WAS.
THERE IS NO GOOGLE MAPS OF
BEACON HOLDERS RUNNING AROUND
IN REAL TIME.
THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN DO THAT.
THERE IS NO GPS, WI-FI, RFID,
AND THE DISCRETIONARY THING I
THINK IS IMPORTANT, IT'S
SOMETHING WE ARE LEARNING, I
MENTIONED BRIEFLY THAT WE WANT
TO EMPOWER ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
TO AWARD BEACON HOLDERS OR ADD
MONEY TO BEACON HOLDERS, AND
ESPECIALLY.
IT MAY BE COMPLETES ACTIVE
SERVICE, OR ALL BEACON HOLDERS
IN THIS AREA OR JUST ALL BEACON
HOLDERS WILL RECEIVE $50, THAT
YOU GUYS KNOW WILL BE MONEY
WELL SPENT BECAUSE OF SPENT IN
CONCERT OF SOMEONE LIKE EMILY.
>> I MOVE AROUND QUITE A BIT,
SO I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH
ISSUES, BUT THE FACT THAT LIKE
JONATHAN SAID, THEY CAN'T
REALLY TRACK US, UNLESS WE HANG
OUT WITH THEM PERSONALLY AND
TELL THEM WE WHERE WE ARE AT,
WHICH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE
WITH YET, THANKFULLY, AND I
DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS, BUT
IT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR THOSE OF
US WHO ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE I
HAVE DEALT WITH A TON AND STILL
DO TO A POINT, SO I HAVE NEVER
MET ANYONE WITH THE SAMARITAN
APP THAT HAS BEEN AT ALL
THREATENING.
I HAVE FOUND PEOPLE HELPFUL.
WAY MORE HELPFUL THAN ANYTHING.
>> MAYBE JUST SPEAK TO PRIVACY
OR FEELING TRAPPED OR
MISTRUSTED
>> I DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAY AT
ALL.
>> THERE WAS A COUPLE OF
OCCASIONS WHERE ONE OF THE
BIGGEST THINGS ABOUT BEACON WAS
ANONYMITY.
YOU COULD DONATE THERE IF YOU
DIDN'T FEEL" GIVING THEM MONEY
DIRECTLY.
I KEPT FINDING PEOPLE, ONCE MY
PROFILE CAME UP ON THEIR APP,
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ME.
IT WAS LIKE I WANT TO MEET THIS
GUY NOW.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE UNINTENDED
THINGS.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT LIKE
THAT, IT'S REALLY COOL BECAUSE
NOW, IT'S ACTUALLY BRIDGING THE
GAP.
BECAUSE NOW, THE PERSON WAS
USING SAMARITAN BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO APPROACH
SOMEONE, BUT NOW THEY ARE
WILLING TO DO THAT.
THEY READ THE PROFILE, THEY
KNOW THEY ARE HELPING AND THEY
SEE THIS PERSON.
THEY ARE LIKE THE GUY IS RIGHT
THERE, I WANT TO GO TALK TO HIM.
IT'S HAPPENED TO ME AND OTHER
BEACON HOLDERS.
>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
FACING HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF
OUR ADVISORS AND HE PROPAGATED
THIS MOVEMENT OF JUST SAYING
HELLO, AND SO, CERTAINLY, THERE
IS WORK THAT CAN BE DONE FACE
TO FACE, BUT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY
ENCOURAGING PERSONAL FACE TO
FACE INTERACTION AS MUCH AS WE
CAN.
>> LET'S LOOK AT THE BUDGET
PIECE.
WERE THERE OTHER PARTS?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO, YEAH.
>> WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS YOU
WANTED TO ASK?
OKAY, VERY GOOD.
LET'S GO AHEAD.
>> BEFORE WE GO INTO THE
BUDGET, I WILL LOOK OVER, LIKE
THE FIVE CRITICAL OUTCOMES THAT
WE WANT TO DELIVER ON AN
EXPANDED PILOT.
I THINK THAT IS STARTING AT
SLIDE 12 AND 13.
I KNOW ONE OF THE KEY METRICS
THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
NAVIGATION TEAM REPORTS ON IS
THE SERVICE ACCEPTANCE RATE, SO
FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNION GOSPEL
MISSION CONTAINS THESE SEARCH
AND RESCUE VANS, FOR WHICH
THERE ARE SPOTS EVERY NIGHT FOR
PEOPLE TO COME INTO SHELTER.
THEY ARE TURNED DOWN 99% OF THE
TIME, SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE
UNWILLING TO COME IN FOR A JOB
OPPORTUNITY OR FOR A SHELTER
OPPORTUNITY, OR A TREATMENT
OPPORTUNITY, THEY HAVE BEEN
WILLING TO ACCEPT A BEACON,
WHICH IS A VERY LOW BARRIER
FORM OF SERVICE.
TAKE THIS THING.
IT'S GOT $10 ON IT.
GO GET A MEAL.
PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD
MONEY.
IF IT'S HELPING YOU, COME IN
AND TALK TO US AT THE END OF
THE MONTH, WE WILL GET IT
STARTED BACK TO YOU.
IT'S A VERY LOW BARRIER WAY TO
HELP PEOPLE THINK ABOUT
ACCEPTING SERVICES THAT
NORMALLY DON'T ACCEPT SERVICE.
SO, WE EXPECT THAT, GIVEN AN
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICE,
WE WILL SEE GROWTH AND SERVICE
ACCEPTANCE RATES ACROSS PLACES
USING GOOD SAMARITAN IN THE
WORK.
THE SECOND OUTCOME WE SEE IS
REDUCED RECIDIVISM FROM
PROGRAMS, SO LESS NO-SHOWS,
LESS DROPOUTS, AND IF I AM
DOING MY JOB, AND MY TEAM IS
DOING OUR JOB, AND WE ARE
MAKING SURE THAT THE BEACON
HOLDER HAS ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL
CAPITAL, THEY WILL BE MORE
LIKELY TO CONTINUE ACCESS CARE
WHICH IS THE TRUE
TRANSFORMATION CARE.
MEETING PEOPLE LIKE EMILY,
ACCESSING EMPLOYMENT AND
TREATMENT RECOVERY IS THE
TRANSFORMATION, BUT WE CAN HELP
PEOPLE STAY IN TRACK UNTIL THE
LIFE-CHANGING OUTCOME IS
ACHIEVED.
WE WOULD LOOK TO SEE THAT
PEOPLE ENTERING A PROGRAM OR OR
IN A PROGRAM ARE MORE LIKELY TO
STAY IN THE PROGRAM IF WE
PROVIDE A BEACON.
THE THIRD OUTCOME WE SEE, AND
OBVIOUSLY CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT,
SO JUST THROUGH PRIVATE MEANS,
OUR BUDGET FROM BOOKING WAS
ROUGHLY $100,000.
SO, WE WILL EXPECT THAT MANY
MORE SAMARITANS IN SEATTLE,
PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN
ASKED, HOW DO I HELP?
WILL SEE THIS AS LOW HANGING
FRUIT.
EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE KOMO NEWS
DOCUMENTARY.
THIS IS THE NEXT STEP.
>> AND I THINK TO FACT CHECK
THE DOCUMENTARY WOULD BE A GOOD
FIRST START.
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT'S AN
ACCURATE NEWS COVERAGE PIECE.
NOR WHAT I CALL IT A
DOCUMENTARY PURCHASED PUTTING
THAT OUT THERE.
>> FAIRPOINT.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN US
AT THE TABLE.
I UNDERSTAND WE ARE LIMITED ON
TIME HERE.
>> JUST MAKE SURE THE GREEN
LIGHT IS ON FOR THE MICROPHONE.
CAN WE SEGUE TO THIS YOUNG LADY
FOR A SECOND?
CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
TALK ABOUT WHY YOU SIGNED UP,
AND HOW IT HAS WORKED FOR YOU?
>> SURE.
I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS.
>> I AM, TOO.
JUST TALK TO ME AND WE WILL BE
ALL RIGHT.
>> MY NAME IS ASIZ ASASARI.
I DOWNLOADED THE APP. I CAN'T
REMEMBER MY NUMBER.
IF IT GOES LIKE 3490 SOMETHING.
I DECIDED TO DOWNLOAD IT
BECAUSE I HAD DONE THE UNION
GOSPEL MISION SEARCH AND
RESCUE.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, I
HAVE SEEN THE HOMELESS, HOW
MUCH IT HAS EXASPERATED, AND SO
I GOT INVITED TO DO THE SEARCH
AND RESCUE.
THAT WAS A REAL TOUGH -- IT
TOOK AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON ME.
I REALIZED IT WAS A GOOD
EXPERIENCE, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, IT WAS TOO MUCH, YOU
KNOW?
AND I WAS TALKING ABOUT IT WITH
A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, AND SHE
HAD HEARD ABOUT THE SAMARITAN
APP THROUGH A NEWS PIECE AND
FOR ME, I FELT THIS WOULD BE A
BETTER WAY, HOW I CAN ENGAGE
BECAUSE I WANT TO DO SOMETHING,
YOU KNOW?
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FOR ME, I
WANT TO DO SOMETHING BUT I WANT
TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IT'S NOT
TOO MUCH OF AN EMOTIONAL TOLL
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE MENTAL
STRENGTH.
YOU LEARNED SO MUCH.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO THE STORY.
THEY ARE NOT JUST SOMEONE ON
THE STREET.
THERE IS MORE TO THEM.
FOR ME, THIS APP HAS ALLOWED ME
TO LEARN EVERYONE'S STORY.
IT'S A WAY TO ENGAGE.
LIKE OH THAT'S INTERESTING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PERSON.
THAT'S WHY I DOWNLOADED IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
THAT'S VERY IMPACTFUL.
GREAT, GENTLEMEN.
>> THAT IS THE CITIZEN
ENGAGEMENT PIECE WE ARE REALLY
THANKFUL FOR.
OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO GIVE
PEOPLE ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND
RELATIONAL GUIDANCE, BUT ONE OF
OUR SECONDARY OUTCOMES IS
GIVING PEOPLE A WAY TO WALK
WITH INDIVIDUALS ON THE STREET.
SO, THE FOURTH OUTCOME WE WOULD
SEE FOR THE CITY IS WE WILL BE
ABLE TO DE-IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE
A RICH SOURCE OF REAL-TIME DATA
ON HOW TO HELP PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
MONTHLY LIFECARE VISITS PROVIDE
INSIGHT AS TO WHAT PEOPLE'S
GOALS ARE AS WELL AS THEIR
GREATEST NEEDS.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE ON A
MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS WHAT IS
MOVING PEOPLE FORWARD.
INTO PERMANENT HOUSING OR
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, WE ARE
LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO
PROVIDE HOPE, HOUSING, BETTER
HEALTH OUTCOMES.
BY THE END OF THE YEAR THREE,
OF OUR CITY'S MOST HONORABLE,
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN EARLIER, WE
HAD CALLED OUT THAT WE WOULD
LOOK TO PERMANENTLY HOUSE 500
INDIVIDUALS, AND SO WE WILL
TALK ABOUT WHY THIS NUMBER IS
2000, SO GOING ONTO THE NEXT
SLIDE OF OUR BUDGET, WE SEE
THAT TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR 2500
PEOPLE TO ACCESS A BEACON BY
THE END OF NEXT YEAR, WE ARE
LOOKING AT -- WE HAVE 500 NOW,
AND WE WILL LOOK TO PROVIDE IN
THE NEXT NINE MONTHS, ACCESS
FOR 750 THIS YEAR AND 1250 NEXT
YEAR.
WE WILL PREDICT, WE WILL SEE
THAT OF THE 750 THIS YEAR, THAT
75 OF THOSE WILL REACH SOME
SORT OF LIFE-CHANGING OUTCOME,
WHETHER IT BE HOUSING,
EMPLOYMENT, TREATMENT, AS WELL
AS AN ADDITIONAL ABOUT 250 AT
LEAST MEETING CRITICAL NEEDS IN
THEIR LIVES, WHICH I DON'T
THINK SHOULD BE UNDERSTATED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT
NECESSARILY THE OUTCOME THE
CITY IS TRACKING BUT FOR PEOPLE
LIKE RAVEN, WHO IS NOT YET
HOUSED, NOT YET EMPLOYED, BUT
AT LEAST IS CONNECTED IN THE
COMMUNITY MEETING CRITICAL
NEEDS TO KEEP HIS SPIRITS UP,
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO CALL
THAT UP, AS WELL.
SO, OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LOVE TO
LEAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE
BUDGET.
YOU WILL SEE SOME OF OUR
EXPENSES FROM THE HARDWARE, THE
DATA PROVISION AND THE
PLATFORM, WE ACTUALLY PLAN ON
GRANTING ONE OF OUR LEAD
AGENCIES, A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE
FOR HELPING TRAIN ORGANIZATIONS
AS WELL AS TRAINED VOLUNTEERS
TO PROVIDE BEACONS TO FOLKS WHO
ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING ONE,
AS WELL AS TRAINED PEOPLE TO
EFFECTIVELY USE THOSE MONTHLY
OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THERE IS A SMALL ADVERTISING
BUDGET, AS WELL.
SOME OPERATIONAL ITEMS.
ULTIMATELY, WE KNOW THAT EVERY
PERSON WHO ENTERS HOUSING
DOESN'T NECESSARILY SAVE THE
CITY HARD, OUT-OF-POCKET
DOLLARS.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT
I ALSO REALIZE WHEN ONE PERSON
EXITS THE SYSTEM, IT PROVIDES
THAT OPPORTUNITY, THE SHELTER
BED OR THE PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT
PERSON THAT NEEDS IT, AND THAT
HAS VALUE.
SO IT'S REALLY UP TO THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE TO SEE WHAT THAT
VALUE CAPTURE PER HOUSING
PROCESS IS, BUT BECAUSE THIS
ISN'T INHERENTLY TECHNOLOGY-
BASED, WE SEE THIS PILOT AS
HAVING GREAT ARE WHY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY.
>> THUS FAR, YOUR INTERACTION
HAS BEEN WHAT, HAVE YOU MET
WITH SOME DEPARTMENTS, OR
TALKED TO SOME OF THE AGENCIES
WE FUND?
OR CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR
INTERACTION WITH THE CITY THUS
FAR OUTSIDE OF THIS
PRESENTATION?
>> THE MOBILE MEDIC FAN, WHICH
I BELIEVE IS CITY INITIATIVE,
THESE BEACONS IN THEIR OUTREACH
AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING.
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF OTHER
CITY FUNDED AGENCIES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
NONPROFITS TO TRY AND EMPOWER
THEIR OUTCOMES FIRST AND
FOREMOST, AND THEN WE HAVE HAD
EXPLORATORY CONVERSATIONS WITH
DUSTY AND BASICALLY CITY
COUNCIL, AND I WILL SOON MEET
WITH DAVID MOSLEY, THE DEPUTY
MAYOR.
>> THAT'S FORTHCOMING?
VERY GOOD.
OKAY.
A FEW THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND
SHARING.
AS I EXPLAINED OFF-LINE, I
PERSONALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN
THIS TECHNOLOGY.
I DON'T SEE IT AS CURING
CANCER, BUT I SEE IT AS A
POSSIBLE TOOL, AS SORT OF
TAPPING INTO AN UNUSED RESOURCE
OFTEN FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT
TO HELP AND THEY DON'T KNOW
WHERE THEIR ENTRY POINT IS.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAD,
THAT COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
RAISED, THAT I HAD, AS WELL,
WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE
AREN'T UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES,
EVEN WELL INTENDED,
INVESTMENTS.
SO FROM THIS POINT, I AM HOPING
TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE DEPARTMENT THAT IT WOULD
FALL UNDER BOTH HST, INT AND
MAYBE I WILL TALK OFF-LINE WITH
YOU TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET
IMPACTS BUT I SORT OF WANTED TO
SEE HOW IT WOULD WORK AND I
THINK YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING
JOB TELLING THE STORIES BEHIND
IT.
WHEN I HEAR GOOD PEOPLE LIKE
THIS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT
THAT IT WORKS LIKE THAT, YOU
HAD ME AT HELLO, I SEE THIS
STUFF WORKING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
OUR DISCUSSION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAD
OF THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS
BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
SO WE WILL TALK OFF-LINE ABOUT
A GAME PLAN AND WE WILL TALK TO
THE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
>> ONE MORE THING OUT LIKE TO
POINT OUT IS THE PILOT
EVALUATION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONVEY
THAT WE WANT TO FIND OUT THE
IMPACT THIS CAN MAKE, AS BADLY
AS YOU DO.
WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE MORE TO
PROVE AND THE BURDEN IS ON US.
WE HAVE SHOWN SOME ANECDOTAL
OUTCOMES BUT THERE IS MORE TO
SHOW THAT THIS CAN MAKE A
SCALABLE DIFFERENCE.
SO, WE EXPECT WERE WE TO DO A
CONTRACT THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE A STRUCTURE FOR THREE
YEARS, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE
2nd AND 30 OR MAYBE
CONDITIONAL.
WE ARE TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH
THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT
TO LEARN IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A BEACON HOLDER
POPULATION AND A NON-BEACON
HOLDER POPULATION, SO A
RANDOMIZED CONTROL GROUP WOULD
BE PART OF OUR INITIAL PILOT.
IF THERE ARE 750 BEACONS GOING
TO INDIVIDUALS, WE WOULD
DEVELOP A CONTROL GROUP OF 750
PEOPLE WITHOUT A BEACON AND WE
WOULD LOOK TO GATHER DATA ON
BOTH POPULATIONS AND BE ABLE TO
SEE IF THIS REALLY MAKES A
DIFFERENCE OR IF THIS JUST IS
CONFLATED WITH DIFFERENT
OPPORTUNITIES, SO I JUST WANTED
TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE EXPECT
TO BE REVISITING METRICS
QUARTERLY.
WE EXPECT TO BE LOOKING AT THE
PERCENTAGES OF BEACON HOLDER'S
THAT ARE ELEVATING THEIR LIFE
VERSUS A NON-BEACON HOLDER.
WE LIKE TO TEAM UP WITH THE
CITY ON ACCESS TO HISTORICAL
DATA, ON EMERGENCY SERVICE
USAGE, JAIL RATES, ARREST
RATES.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE WOULD BE SOLICITING FEEDBACK
FROM DIFFERENT NONPROFITS.
ALL TO SAY THAT WE WANT TO
PILOT THIS WITH YOU GUYS, AND
CONTINUE TO EVALUATE, DOES THIS
MAKE A DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE?
WE FEEL WHAT WE HAVE DONE, SO
FAR, JUSTIFIES THE RAYS TO GIVE
MORE PEOPLE ACCESS AS WELL AS
GIVE US ACCESS TO HISTORICAL
DATA AND A RANDOMIZED CONTROL
GROUP TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO DO THIS HAND-
IN-HAND WITH YOU GUYS MOVING
FORWARD.
>> YOU ARE WEIGH IN ON TOP OF
THINGS THE CITY OF THAT
OUTSTANDING DESCRIPTION OF THE
KINDS OF THINGS THE OUTCOMES
AND THE DATA TO SUPPORT
SOMETHING THAT IS SUSTAINABLE,
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT,
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS STUFF IS
JUST REALLY WORKING.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING MINDFUL
OF THE KINDS OF OUTCOME
MEASUREMENTS THE CITY TYPICALLY
DOES LOOK AT, SO OUTSTANDING
PRESENTATION, GENTLEMEN.
OUTSTANDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT REST OF
THE DAY.
WITH THAT, WE STAND ADJOURNED.