>>> OKAY, HELLO EVERYONE.
WELCOME.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
WE ARE IN.
WE ARE IN 2019, A UNIQUE
COLLABORATION OF
PHILANTHROPIES, BUSINESSES,
PROVIDERS, CONCERNED CITIZENS
AND PEOPLE OF LIVED EXPERIENCES
WITH HOMELESSNESS AND KING
COUNTY.
WE WORK ALONGSIDE GOVERNMENT
LEADERS WITH THE SHARED GOAL OF
SOLVING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH A
COUNTYWIDE APPROACH AND WE
ADVOCATE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE
HOMES.
WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE
TODAY, SOME OF WHOM YOU WILL BE
HEARING FROM SOON.
MAYOR HARRELL, EXECUTIVE
CONSTANTINE AND COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS . THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF
FORMER GOVERNOR WHO HAS WORKED
SO HARD OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS WITH THE MEMBERS OF
CHALLENGE SEATTLE TO ADDRESSED
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE A
GROUND BREAKING INITIATIVE
FUNDED BY WE ARE IN MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS AND IMPLEMENTED
BY THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESS AUTHORITY. BEHIND ME
RIGHT NOW IS THE SKYLINE OF
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, AN ICONIC
SYMBOL OF OUR REGION BUT ALSO
HOME TO ONE OF THE HIGHEST
CONCENTRATIONS OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS,
ONE THAT MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND LEADERS HAVE TACKLED OVER
THE YEARS.
THANKS TO A COMBINATION OF
RISING HOME PRICES, A LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY AND
IT'S OFFICIALLY SKILLED
RESOURCES, THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY
BECOME WORSE.
TODAY WE ANNOUNCED A NEW
APPROACH, AN APPROACH THAT
BRINGS FORWARD THE INNOVATIVE
SPIRIT OF OUR REGION AS
GOVERNMENT, BUSINESSES,
PHILANTHROPIES AND THOSE WITH
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF
HOMELESSNESS COME TOGETHER AS
PARTNERS.
PARTNERS UNITED IN THE BELIEF
THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF KING
COUNTY DESERVE A SAFE, STABLE
PLACE TO CALL HOME.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR
FIRST SPEAKER ON PARTNERSHIP
FOR ZERO, THE VISIONARY CEO OF
THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESS AUTHORITY MARK JONES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON!
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS MARK JONES.
I USE THEY/THEM PRONOUNS.
I AM BLACK AND WE DO BELIEVE IN
GREETING EACH OTHER WHEN WE
SPEAK. I WANT TO FIRST WELCOME
EVERYONE AND SAY THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU --
THESE ARE NOT THE RIGHT TALKING
POINTS FOR ME. I ALSO WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR HARRELL
, EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE,
GOVERNOR GREGOIRE AND EVERYONE
WHO HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS
INITIATIVE BOTH PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SECTOR. I NEED TO BE
REALLY CLEAR. THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS A GOOD HOMELESSNESS
ANNOUNCEMENT. THAT IS NOT A
REAL THING.
THE ONLY GOOD HOMELESSNESS
ANNOUNCEMENT IS THE ONE WHERE
WE SAY EVERYONE IS HOUSED. THAT
IS NOT TODAY.
WHAT WE ARE SAYING TODAY IS WE
WILL COMMIT TO GETTING THERE.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO IS
SOMETHING I AM PROUD OF BECAUSE
IT IS NOT ABOUT ME.
IT IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY
SAYING COLLECTIVELY WE CAN AND
WILL DO BETTER.
THAT IS WHAT TODAY IS.
DOWNTOWN IS HOME TO THE LARGEST
UNSHELTERED IN THE COUNTRY
FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING
UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN THE
COUNTRY.
WHAT TODAY REPRESENTS IS A
GROUP OF FOLKS THAT ARE
UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO COME
TOGETHER AND SAY, THAT IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER.
THEY DESERVE TO KNOW THAT THEIR
COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THEM AND
IS DOING EVERYTHING IN ITS
POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY
NEED TO FIND THE PATHWAYS INTO
HOUSING.
I ALSO WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR
THAT WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY
WITHOUT LISTENING TO THE VOICES
OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
. I WANT TO BE ESPECIALLY
GRATEFUL TO DR. LaMONT GREENE
WHO HAS BEEN A COLLABORATOR AND
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER, SOMEONE
WHO HAS YELLED AT ME AND ALSO
HELPED ME OVER THE COURSE OF
NOW ALMOST 5 YEARS FROM HIS
POSITION BOTH IN GOVERNMENT AND
ALSO AS THE FOUNDER OF THE
LIVED EXPERIENCE COALITION.
THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS WHO
ARE HERE TODAY IS AT THE CENTER
OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING.
IN FACT, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING
IS THAT WE MAKE RELATIONSHIPS
THE CENTER OF OUR WORK. THE
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO WILL STAND
UP A UNIFIED COMMAND CENTER
THAT WILL USE A PEER NAVIGATION
APPROACH TO WORK WITH FOLKS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THEY NEED
AND GET THEM THOSE THINGS SO
THAT THEY HAVE A PATH INSIDE.
IT IS NOT ABOUT PRESCRIBING A
THING.
IT IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING WHAT IS
BEST FOR PEOPLE.
IT IS ABOUT BELIEVING THAT WE
KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR OURSELVES
AND THAT EVERYONE DESERVES THE
BASIC DIGNITY OF BEING ABLE TO
EXPRESS THAT AND HAVE IT BE
HEARD.
I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I
STAND HERE AS A NON-BINARY BLACK
PERSON WITH MY OWN LIVED
EXPERIENCE AND THAT IS IN AND
OF ITSELF DIFFERENT.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE TODAY
IS NOT A CULMINATION, IT IS A
BEGINNING, A BEGINNING THAT WE
SHOULD BE DEEPLY PROUD OF AND
WE SHOULD LIFT UP NOT JUST AS A
PATHWAY FORWARD FOR OUR
COMMUNITY BUT AS A PATHWAY
FORWARD FOR OUR COUNTRY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY
AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE MAYOR
HARRELL.
>> OKAY.
I'M GOING TO BOUNCE A LITTLE
BIT.
I'VE GOT TO GET MY JUICES
FLOWING.
IT IS COLD.
NOW YOU SEE WHY WE HIRED MARK.
YOU SEE WHY WE HIRED MARK.
I WANT TO START UP WITH SOME
THANKS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A
VICTORY LAP.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A LAP.
THIS KIND OF PARTNERSHIP, QUITE
CANDIDLY, IS WHAT I RAN ON,
WHAT I BELIEVE IN, PEOPLE LIKE
LaMONT'S HEART AND SOUL INTO
THIS WORK, MARK'S LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE GIVERS HERE. I'M GOING
TO REDOUND SOME LISTS AND I'M
GOING TO ASK YOU TO BEAR WITH
ME.
AMAZON, BALLMER GROUP, BILL AND
LINDA GATES FOUNDATION,
MICROSOFT PHILANTHROPY,
STARBUCKS, THEY ARE PUTTING
SKIN IN THE GAME, PUTTING REAL
RESOURCES AT WORK.
ALASKA AIRLINES, BOEING
COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES, COSTCO,
EXPEDIA GROUP, FRED HUTCHINSON
CANCER RESEARCH CENTER, JP
MORGAN CHASE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,
KAISER PERMANENTE WASHINGTON,
MADRONA VENTURE GROUP, NORDSTROM
, PUGET SOUND ENERGY, REI,
RUSSELL INVESTMENTS, SCHOLZ
FAMILY FOUNDATION, SEATTLE
FOUNDATION, SAINTE MICHELLE
WINE ESTATES, SINATRA, T-MOBILE
, ZILLOW GROUP -- LET ME TELL
YOU, TODAY, BASED ON AN ARTICLE
THAT TALKED ABOUT THIS KIND OF
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT
AND PHILANTHROPY AND OUR
EMPLOYERS, I HAVE ALREADY
SECURED TWO MORE NAMES TO THIS
LIST. TWO MORE NAMES.
A PERSON CALLED AND SAID OUR
COMPANY IS NOT ON THIS LIST AND
I SAID YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON
WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IN
SEATTLE.
THIS IS A GROWING LIST.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE -- I
KNOW WE WILL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS IN A MOMENT
. THE CITY COUNCIL, LAST YEAR
IN THE YEARS BEFORE, MANY OF
WHOM I AM MEETING WITH.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
MOSQUEDA, LEWIS, SAWANT,
HERBOLD, PEDERSEN , GONZALEZ,
AND FORMER MAYOR JENNY DURKAN.
THOSE WERE LEADERS IN THE PAST
WHOSE SHOULDERS WE ARE ON TO
CELEBRATE THIS DAY.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE DON'T STAND HERE AND
BEAT OUR CHEST TOO HARD AND WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO NOW IS THE STORY
OF SEATTLE. WE REALIZE WE HAVE
OUR FRIENDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS
AND OUR LOVED ONES AND PEOPLE
WHO CARE ABOUT LIVING IN TENTS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REMOVING
TENTS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
CLEARING OUR SIDEWALKS,
CLEARING OUR PARKS -- YES, WE
WANT TO DO THAT BUT WHAT IS
DRIVING THAT IS WE WANT TO
HOUSE PEOPLE.
WE WANT TO GET THEM THE
TREATMENT THEY NEED AND THEY
DESERVE.
THAT IS SEATTLE AT ITS BEST.
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT
TODAY.
THESE FOLKS HERE ARE PUTTING
THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS INTO
PLAY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO, THAT IS
REALLY A COOL THING TO TALK
ABOUT. THAT IS OUR ASPIRATION.
THT IS THE VICTORY LAP. I AM
PROUD TO SAY THAT IN MY SIX
WEEKS IN OFFICE, THAT I AM ABLE
TO STAND ON THE WORK THAT HAS
BEEN DONE BEFORE ME AND THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.
I BOUNCE AROUND A LOT BECAUSE I
HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY. I HAVE TO
TELL YOU I AM PROUD TO WORK
WITH MY FRIENDS.
I THINK KING COUNTY CONSTANTINE
AND I WERE JOINED AT THE HIP. I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PRESS
CONFERENCES WE HAVE BEEN DOING
ON DIFFERENT THINGS BUT I CAN
SPEAK FOR YOU BUT THIS FEELS
PRETTY GOOD TO ME.
IT FEELS GOOD TO YOU TOO?
IT FEELS VERY GOOD BECAUSE WE
ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THIS FEELS
PRETTY GOOD TO NOT BEAT EACH
OTHER UP IN THE NEWSPAPERS. THE
PUBLIC WANTS TO SEE US WORKING
TOGETHER.
GOVERNOR, THANK YOU.
IT FEELS GOOD TO HAVE FORMER
LEADERS AND CURRENT LEADERS
WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT IS WHAT THIS WILL BE ABOUT
IN SEATTLE.
WHAT YOU SAID, I CAN SAY IT IS
GOOD NEWS.
I WILL FOLLOW YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND SAY THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF GOOD NEWS.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF SOME
GOOD NEWS TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
ONE SEATTLE!
OH, AND NOW, MY FRIEND, DR.
LaMONT GREENE HERE WILL SHOW YOU
WHAT CONTINUED LEADERSHIP LOOKS
LIKE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE
INSIDE SO I AM DRESSED A LITTLE
BIT CHANTILLY TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
DR. KING ONCE STATED, TOO OFTEN
BEING HOMELESS IS CONSIDERED A
PERSONAL AND A MORAL FAILING
WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY A
STRUCTURAL AND POLITICAL
PROBLEM THAT MAKES VISIBLE THE
GROWING INEQUALITIES OF OUR
SOCIETY.
THE INEQUALITY THAT MARTIN
LUTHER KING WAS SO COMMITTED TO
CHANGING INTO RACIAL EQUITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS SO IMPORTANT.
WITH GROWING HOMELESSNESS AND
THE BIASES SURROUNDING OUR
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, WE OFTEN
PATHOLOGY EYES OUR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS WHILE FORGETTING THE
PERSISTENT DRIVERS OF INEQUITY
STEEPED IN THE ROOT CAUSES OF
INDIGENOUS AND VISIBILITY,
RACISM, ABLE IS HIM AND HETERO
SEXISM TO NAME A FEW.
TOGETHER, WITH KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY, WE
ARE IN AND THE SEATTLE KING
COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE
WASHINGTON STATE LIVED
EXPERIENCE COALITION, WE
RECOGNIZE MORE NOW THAN EVER
THAT THOSE CLOSEST TO THE
PROBLEM ARE CLOSEST TO THE
SOLUTION BUT OFTEN FURTHEST
FROM POWER AND RESOURCES.
THIS IS WHY THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY AND
WE ARE IN WAS FULLY CODESIGNED
BY OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND
PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF
HOMELESSNESS.
THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH
LIVED EXPERTISE IS ESSENTIAL TO
THE SUCCESS OF THIS PARTNERSHIP
. TOO OFTEN, THOSE CLOSEST TO
THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN ON THE
MENU, NOT AT THE TABLE AS AN
EQUAL PARTNER WITH SHARED
DECISION-MAKING POWER. BY
SHARING POWER WITH PEOPLE WITH
LIVED EXPERTISE, PARTNERSHIPS
ZERO IS OPERATING IN A VERY
DIFFERENT WAY THAN WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE BEFORE.
THIS WORK REQUIRES THAT WE
RECOGNIZE THE COMPLEXITY AND
DIVERSITY OF THE HUMAN
EXPERIENCE AND MY OWN PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS
AND INTERACTING WITH THE SYSTEM,
I KNOW THAT PEER OUTREACH AND A
LIST HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE
A TRANSFORMATIVE DIFFERENCE FOR
OUR COMMUNITY.
A BY NAME LIST IS MORE THAN A
DATA POINT.
IT ALLOWS US TO KNOW WHO IS
EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS AND WHAT THEIR
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ARE.
THE EVIDENCE IS REPLETE
REGARDING PEER OUTREACH HAVING
A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE
OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, SUCH
AS REDUCTIONS IN DRUG AND
ALCOHOL ABUSE, INCREASES IN
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND
INCREASING SOCIAL SUPPORT THAT
ALL LEAD TO BETTER HOUSING AND
STABILITY OUTCOMES.
AND, MY OWN RECOVERY FROM
HOMELESSNESS AND CRACK COCAINE
ADDICTION, PEER SUPPORTS HAVE
BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE AN
ESSENTIAL PART OF MY RECOVERY.
WITHOUT THIS, I WOULD PROBABLY
BE DEAD OR IN PRISON.
I AM PROUD OF AND ENCOURAGED BY
THE ROLE THAT THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE COALITION HAS IN
THIS PARTNERSHIP. BY COMING
TOGETHER TO BUILD A MORE
HUMANIZING APPROACH, I KNOW
THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
A TRANSFORMATIVE DIFFERENCE FOR
THE FOLKS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OTHER COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE
TO LOOK TO THIS PARTNERSHIP AS
AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
WHEN WE INVEST IN STRATEGIES
THAT ADDRESS BARRIERS
IDENTIFIED BY RACIALLY
MARGINALIZED AND HISTORICALLY
DISENFRANCHISED GROUPS.
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO MARKS A
CRITICAL FIRST STEP FORWARD
TOWARD GETTING EVERYONE IN NEED
ON A PATH FROM HOMELESS TO
HOUSED AND BUILDING A MORE
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO APPROACH
WILL PROVE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE CORE,
INSPIRING MORE COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS TO BELIEVE IN THIS
WORK AND JOIN THE EFFORT TO
EXPAND THE MODEL ACROSS THE
REGION.
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO IS TRULY A
PARTNERSHIP AND PART OF WHAT
MAKES THAT PARTNERSHIP WORK IS
THAT SOME OF THE LARGEST
BUSINESSES IN OUR REGION ARE
COMING TO THE TABLE TO FIND
SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS
ALONGSIDE OF THOSE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR
NEXT SPEAKER, MICHELLE SEITZ,
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND CHAIRMAN OF RUSSELL
INVESTMENTS AND CO-CHAIR OF
CHALLENGE SEATTLE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, THESE ARE BIG SHOES TO
FILL.
I SPEAK FOR A LIVING BUT THOSE
ARE POWERFUL, POWERFUL WORDS.
I WILL START OFF BY SAYING
BUSINESS IS IN. THIS IS OUR
HOME TOO. WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT
THE HEALTH AND SUCCESS OF ALL
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK MAYOR HARRELL,
EXECUTIVES DOW CONSTANTINE AND
MARC DONES AND ALSO DR. LaMONT
GREEN FOR SHARING SUCH A
POWERFUL STORY. I AM HERE AS CO-
CHAIR OF CHALLENGE SEATTLE. ON
BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS
THAT THE MAYOR RAN THROUGH,
WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL,
WE BELIEVE THE COALITION OF
BUSINESSES, PHILANTHROPIC
ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CAN MAKE TREMENDOUS
IMPACT.
WE LIVE HERE TOGETHER.
WE WORK HERE TOGETHER.
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.
IT IS OUR POWERFUL COMBINATION,
POWERFUL PHILANTHROPIC THAT
MAKES A DIFFERENCE. WE SAW THIS
FIRSTHAND AND WE ARE VERY
ENCOURAGED.
WE ARE A SYMBOL.
I ACTUALLY MET MARC DONES ON A
FORTUNE MAGAZINE CONFERENCE
CALL ASKING HOW WE CAN MAKE
POSITIVE IMPACTS ON OUR
COMMUNITIES AND WE WERE VERY
PROUD TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT
OCCURRED THROUGHOUT COVID. WE
HAVE NAVIGATED SUCCESSFULLY
BOTH FOR EMERGENCY PPE AS WELL
AS FOR MASS VACCINATIONS TO
LEAD THE COUNTRY, CURRENTLY IN
OUR REGION.
WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED.
WE FULLY SUPPORT PARTNERSHIP FOR
ZERO. THE AUTHORITY HAS A
FABULOUS PLAN. IT IS A PLAN
THAT IS SUPPORTED BY STRATEGIES
THAT HAVE PROVEN TO SUCCEED
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE COUNTRY
WITH VERY GREAT RESULTS.
WE DID A REPORT BACK IN THE
SPRING, CHALLENGE SEATTLE,
PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON MANY OF
THESE STRATEGIES AND WE COULD
NOT BE MORE CONFIDENT IN MARC
DONES ' ABILITY TO IDENTIFY
THIS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
SUPPORT.
OUR LEAD FUNDER IS BALLMER GROUP
AND IT IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY
EVERY MEMBER, 100%
PARTICIPATION OF CHALLENGE
SEATTLE MEMBERS AND MANY OTHER
BUSINESS PARTNERS THAT THE MAYOR
WILL GET AFTER VERY QUICKLY AND
WE WILL PUT PEER PRESSURE UPON
AS WELL. NOT TO FORGET THE
PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS SO
MANY OF OUR DEDICATED COMMUNITY
WORKERS HAVE TREMENDOUS IMPACT
ON THIS HOMELESSNESS SITUATION.
WE WANT TO JOIN IN ALL OF THOSE
EFFORTS AND MAKE A SUSTAINABLE,
LASTING POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN AND
WE LOOK FORWARD AND ARE
ENCOURAGED THAT THE GOVERNOR
SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT IS ON
THE TABLE TODAY FOR UP TO $450
MILLION IN ADDITION TO OUR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE A QUICK
IMPACT BOTH WITH OUR MONIES
EFFECTIVE NOW AS WELL AS IN TIME
WITH HOUSING AND CRISIS CENTERS
THAT ARE MUCH-NEEDED.
I JUST WANT TO CLOSE AND SAY
THAT RUSSELL INVESTMENTS HAS
CALLED WASHINGTON HOME FOR 85
YEARS.
CHALLENGE SEATTLE MEMBERS CALL
THIS HOME.
WE RAISE OUR FAMILIES HERE.
AS MARK SAID, EVERY RESIDENT
DESERVES TO HAVE A HEALTHY AND
FLOURISHING ENVIRONMENT IN
THEIR HOME. WE WANT TO HELP
LIFT PEOPLE UP. WE ARE HERE TO
MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTHIER
AND BETTER AND WE WILL WIN.
WE WILL SUCCEED BECAUSE THE
PATH ALTERNATIVELY IS NOT
PALATABLE.
TOGETHER, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING
THAT WE PLAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ONE OF THE
MAIN REASONS WE ARE ALL
STANDING HERE TODAY, A LEADER
WHO CHAMPIONED THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL AUTHORITY CREATION
FROM DAY ONE.
PLEASE WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE
COUNTY, DOW CONSTANTINE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT IS AN EXCITING DAY.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING
EVERYONE WHO IS HELPING MAKE
THIS POSSIBLE. KING COUNTY IS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN THE TIES
THAT BIND US TOGETHER.
THAT REALLY DOES MEAN ALL OF US.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TODAY FOR THE
SUPPORT OF SO MANY LEADERS IN
THE BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPIC
COMMUNITY INCLUDING OUR LEAD
CONTRIBUTOR, THE BALLMER GROUP.
THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US THROUGH
A LOT OF EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS
AND IT IS NO SURPRISE TO SEE
THEM ONCE AGAIN AT THE HEAD OF
THE PACK HERE HELPING MAKE THIS
HAPPEN.
AND THANKS TO ALL OF OUR
BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE
FOUNDATIONS FOR STEPPING UP TO
FUND THIS INITIATIVE
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO.
IT BRINGS MORE DIRECT OUTREACH
TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
TODAY.
THE REALITY IS THAT HOMELESSNESS
HAPPENS IN EVERY PLACE, IN
EVERY COMMUNITY AROUND OUR
REGION.
IT MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT HERE IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND IT IS MORE
VISIBLE TO THOSE OF YOU HERE
WITH THE CAMERAS IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE BUT IT EXISTS ON THE
EAST SIDE.
IT EXISTS IN THE SOUTH KING
COUNTY.
I HAVE GONE AND MET WITH PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
THOSE REGIONS.
THEY SHARE THE SAME CHALLENGES
AS THOSE YOU MANAGED TO FILM
DOWN HERE ALL THE TIME.
THEY SHARE THE CHALLENGE OF
NEEDING TO GET INSIDE TO BE
ABLE TO GET THE FEET UNDER THEM
TO BE ABLE TO RECLAIM THE
LIVES.
WE WANT TO HELP THEM DO THAT.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE TODAY
IS PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS
WORKING TOGETHER, SEEKING WAYS
TO MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS A
SIGNIFICANT SHARED CHALLENGE
THAT WE FACE.
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, AND THE
CREATION OF THE HOMELESS
AUTHORITY TO START WITH SHOWS
THAT WE HAVE THE STRENGTH AND
RESOLVE AND DEDICATION TO DO
RIGHT BY ALL THE PEOPLE OF KING
COUNTY.
MICHELLE MADE MENTION OF THE
CREATION OF THE HOMELESS
AUTHORITY, AS DID FELICIA. THAT
WAS AN ACT OF US COLLECTIVELY
SEEKING TO UNIFY OUR EFFORTS
AND IT REQUIRED PEOPLE TO DO
SOMETHING THEY DON'T DO
NATURALLY WHICH IS TO GIVE UP
POWER, TO GIVE UP CONTROL, TO
GIVE UP AUTHORITY. THE COUNTY
AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS,
COUNTY COUNCILMEMBERS, THEY
VOTED TO SAY, WE THINK THAT
THIS COULD WORK BETTER IF WE
UNIFIED OUR EFFORTS IN THAT WE
OPEN THE DOOR AND ALLOW IN AS
FULL PARTNERS THOSE WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE AND ALL OF THE OTHER
CITIES THAT ARE IN VARIOUS
STAGES OF THEIR WORK IN SEEKING
TO HELP WITH THIS CHALLENGE. I
JUST NEED TO MAKE MENTION OF
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE
INSTRUMENTAL FROM OUR SIDE OF
THE STREET IN HELPING MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
SHANNON BRADDOCK, OUR CHIEF OF
STAFF IS HERE TODAY AND OUR
FORMER DEPUTY EXECUTIVE, WHO
ABANDONED ME TO RUN THE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE, RACHEL SMITH AS
WELL IS HERE TODAY.
ALL IS FORGIVEN, RACHEL.
MANY OF THOSE HERE TODAY HAVE
BEEN CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH
BRINGING THE REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY INTO BEING. WHAT WE
HAVE IN COMMON IS THIS. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO TAKE ON THESE TOUGH
CHALLENGES TOGETHER.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE
PROPOSITION THAT UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS IS INHUMANE, IS
UNACCEPTABLE, AND THAT IT MUST
AND WILL BE SOLVED. WE MUST DO
ALL WE CAN TO END CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN.
IT DOESN'T STOP HERE.
WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE
AUTHORITY ON EXPANDING
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO TO MORE
COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE.
THIS APPROACH, ROOTED IN
COMPASSION AND EQUITY, AS WELL
AS DETERMINATION AND DATA WILL
PROVE ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
WE WILL CONTINUE IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE NEW REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE
STREETS, TO GET PEOPLE INTO
HOUSING, AND TO GIVE THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RECLAIM THEIR
LIVES.
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENTS, THE
PARTNERSHIPS, THE INVESTMENTS,
THE COLLABORATION REALLY ARE A
TESTAMENT TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE
WHEN PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GIVE
UP SOME OF THEIR POWER AND
AUTHORITY TO WORK COLLECTIVELY
TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.
LET'S CONTINUE THAT WORK WITH
OUR PARTNERS IN OLYMPIA, WITH
OUR PARTNERS AROUND KING COUNTY
TO MEET THE MOMENT WE HAVE IN
FRONT OF US. LET'S BUILD ON
TODAY FOR MEANINGFUL PEOPLE
CENTERED CHANGE FOR OUR REGION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A
REMARKABLE DAY OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HERE
REPRESENTING THE ENORMOUS LEVEL
OF SUPPORT FROM PRIVATE
PHILANTHROPY THAT HAS MADE
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO POSSIBLE.
NUMEROUS FOUNDATIONS AND
BUSINESSES HAVE MADE CRITICAL
CONTRIBUTION BUT THERE ARE
SPECIAL THANKS GOING TO CONNIE
AND STEVE BALLMER.
THEIR GENEROSITY, ALONGSIDE
FELLOW FUNDERS HAS SUSTAINED WE
ARE IN FROM DAY ONE.
ON BEHALF OF BALLMER GROUP,
PLEASE WELCOME WASHINGTON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDI SMITH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
LET ME TAKE A PAGE FROM YOUR
BOOK AND JUMP.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I NAME IS ANDI
SMITH.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
BALLMER GROUP WASHINGTON, THE
PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY OF CONNIE
AND STEVE BALLMER.
THANK YOU TO MAYOR HARRELL,
EXECUTIVE MAYOR HARRELL,
COUNCILMAN LEWIS AND ALL OF OUR
EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS WORKING ON
A FANTASTIC CAPITAL BUDGET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
IN THIS WORK.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT
WHY PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY AND
THE BALLMER GROUP ARE A LEAD
IVESTOR IN THIS APPROACH PUT
FORWARD BY THE AUTHORITY. I
BASICALLY HAVE FOUR THINGS.
FIRST, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE
A REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY AND ARE EAGER TO
SUPPORT ITS WORK. PHILANTHROPY
HAS WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS
NOW TO ALIGN OUR THINKING AND
RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF A
COMMON GOAL, ENDING
HOMELESSNESS IN KING COUNTY.
YES, WE COULD ALL DO OUR OWN
THING AND INVEST IN THE
APPROACHES THAT EACH OF OUR
PHILANTHROPIES THINKS IS BEST
BUT INSTEAD, WE HAVE DECIDED TO
ALIGN OUR WORK AND WORK TOGETHER
. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE
AUTHORITY DOES.
IT POOLS AND ALIGNS RESOURCES
FROM THE CITY AND FROM THE
COUNTY TO INVEST AND RESPOND
COLLECTIVELY TO THIS
HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY.
BALLMER GROUP INVESTS IN THIS
NATIONWIDE.
WE HAVE SEEN IT WORK ACROSS THE
NATION AND WE BELIEVE IT CAN
WORK HERE.
SECOND, WE ARE IN AN EMERGENCY
AND WE NEED PROVEN APPROACHES
THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY
. THE MODEL THAT THE AUTHORITY
IS PUTTING FORWARD, CREATING A
BINDING LIST AND A UNIFIED
COMMAND CENTER HAS BEEN USED TO
GREAT EFFECT IN OTHER CITIES AS
THE CHALLENGE SEATTLE REPORT
HAS INDICATED.
WE BELIEVE IT CAN BE IMPLANTED
HERE AS WELL.
THIRD, OUTCOMES AND DATA.
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS PLAN IS
THAT ITS FOUNDATION IS ON
SHARED OUTCOMES THAT MARC AND
THEIR TEAM WILL DEVELOP WITH
THEIR PARTNERS.
IT IS DATA THAT HAS GATHERED
BOTH AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
SO THAT SERVICES CAN BE BETTER
FOR SOMEBODY IS DAUGHTER WHO
WAS ON THE STREET TODAY.
IMPORTANTLY, THAT INDIVIDUAL
DATA STACKS TOGETHER SO WE KNOW
HOW THE SYSTEM IS PERFORMING.
FINALLY, BALLMER GROUP IS
INVESTING IN THIS GROUP BECAUSE
THE AUTHORITY IS COMMITTED TO
PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE ALL SEEN
THE MOUNTING LEVELS OF
FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE GROWING
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING
OUTSIDE AND OUR COLLECTIVE
INABILITY TO CHANGE IT.
ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT WE
APPRECIATED ABOUT THIS APPROACH
WAS A WILLINGNESS TO BE
TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC.
HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.
HERE IS WHAT IS GOING WELL.
HERE IS WHAT IS NOT GOING WELL.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING
ON SO THEY ARE INVESTED IN OUR
COLLECTIVE SUCCESS. WITH THAT,
I WOULD SAY WE ARE EXCITED TO
BE PART OF THIS GREAT GROUP OF
PEOPLE STANDING IN COALITION.
WE THINK THIS IS COMPLICATED
HARD WORK AND IT IS A GREAT
ROLE FOR PHILANTHROPY AND WE
ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> BUSINESSES ARE A KEY PART OF
FUNDING FOR PARTNERSHIP FOR
ZERO AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR
THE SUPPORT OF COMPANIES LIKE
AMAZON AND MICROSOFT
PHILANTHROPIES AMONG MANY
OTHERS.
OUR LAST SPEAKER REPRESENTS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS
IN SEATTLE, A COMPANY THAT HAS
BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH OUR CITY
FOR DECADES.
FROM STARBUCKS, PLEASE WELCOME
CAMILLE HINES, VICE PRESIDENT
OF U.S. COMMUNITY IMPACT.
>> THANK YOU, FELICIA FOR YOUR
INTRODUCTION AND PARTNERSHIP IN
THIS IMPORTANT WORK. I AM
DELIGHTED TO BE HERE WITH SUCH
AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF LEADERS
FROM GOVERNMENT, PHILANTHROPY,
AND BUSINESS AND OUR FRIENDS AT
CHALLENGE SEATTLE. THIS YEAR,
STARBUCKS IS CELEBRATING ITS
50th ANNIVERSARY. SINCE THE
VERY BEGINNING, RIGHT HERE IN
SEATTLE, OUR ASPIRATION HAS
BEEN TO BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF
COMPANY, ONE THAT WORKS TO
STRENGTHEN AND UPLIFT OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES.
LISTENING TO OUR PARTNERS AND
CUSTOMERS, WE KNOW CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF THE MOST
PRESSING ISSUES OUR CITY IS
FACING. THOSE WHO ARE
UNSHELTERED MAY NOT ONLY FACE
HOUSING CHALLENGES BUT NEED TO
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ADDRESS
HEALTH NEEDS, MENTAL OR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS,
PARTNERS IN OUR STORE SERVE AND
SUPPORT CUSTOMERS IN NEED EVERY
DAY. WHEN WE LEARNED OF THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUR LONG-
STANDING COMMITMENT TO OUR
HOMETOWN, THE FIRST QUESTION WE
ASKED OURSELVES WAS, WILL THIS
PARTNERSHIP MEET THE CHALLENGES
WE FACE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY
? SECONDLY, WILL IT MAKE OUR
PARTNERS PROUD?
AFTER SPENDING TIME WITH THE
INCREDIBLE LEADERS AND EXPERTS
IN FORMING THIS WORK AND
LEARNING ABOUT THE BOLD VISION
AND ASPIRATIONS FOR CHANGE, I
HAVE NO DOUBT THIS PARTNERSHIP
WILL DO BOTH. TODAY, WE ARE
PROUD TO JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP
FOR ZERO TO SUPPORT THOSE
EXPERIENCING CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS STARTING IN THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS NOT A SMALL TASK AND WE
CAN'T SOLVE IT ALONE.
WE BELIEVE JOINING OTHERS IN
THIS SHARED GOAL IS THE RIGHT
PATH FORWARD. THROUGH THIS
PARTNERSHIP, WE HOPE TO SERVE
AS A LEADER IN BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND A CONVENER TO
DRIVE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. WE
HOPE TO ONE, SHARE INSIGHTS
FROM EXPERIENCES IN OUR OWN
STORES, THROUGH OUR OUTREACH
WORKER PROGRAM PILOT CURRENTLY
ACTIVE IN CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, INCLUDING HERE IN
SEATTLE.
WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO SUPPORT
PARTNERS AND HIGHLY COMPLEX
STORES BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH
SOCIAL WORKERS AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONNECT
CUSTOMERS TO CRITICAL NEED
TOOLS AND RESOURCES.
AND TWO, IN KEEPING WITH OUR
CULTURE OF COFFEE AND CONNECTION
, WE HOPE TO CONVENE OTHERS TO
SUPPORT COLLABORATION. WE KNOW
THAT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
HOLD GREAT POTENTIAL.
LAST YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT
LEADERS HERE IN WASHINGTON TO
ADDRESS ACCELERATED AND
EQUITABLE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
HERE AGAIN, WE CAN BEING WITH
OTHERS TO SUPPORT URGENT ACTION
. OUR STORES AND OUR PARTNERS
SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND ARE OF
THE COMMUNITY.
THERE IS NO GREATER OPPORTUNITY
WE HAVE TOGETHER THAN TACKLING
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE ROAD
AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR
ATTENDING AND LISTENING TODAY
ABOUT THE NEW PUBLIC-PRIVATE
COLLABORATION PARTNERSHIP FOR
ZERO.
AS YOU HEARD, TODAY IS ONLY THE
BEGINNING. EACH OF US HERE
ALONG WITH COUNTLESS PUBLIC
SERVANTS, PROVIDERS, AND
ADVOCATES WILL BE WORKING
TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THIS VISION
A REALITY. AS WE DEMONSTRATE
THE SUCCESS OF THIS MODEL, WE
HOPE TO BRING IT TO COMMUNITIES
ACROSS KING COUNTY AND TAKE YOU
ALONG WITH US ON EVERY STEP OF
THE JOURNEY.
THANK YOU AGAIN AND WE WILL
TAKE A FEW MINUTES OF QUESTIONS.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.
FOR FOLKS WHO COULD NOT HERE,
THE QUESTION WAS, DO I THINK
THE GOAL OF HAVING 30 PEOPLE
UNSHELTERED IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE
IN ABOUT A YEAR IS FEASIBLE?
ANSWER IS TWOFOLD.
ONE, STRAIGHTFORWARDLY BASED ON
THE DATA, YES. SECONDLY, BASED
ON WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO HELP
PEOPLE, YES.
WE CAN KEEP SAYING IN OUR
COMMUNITY, THIS IS TOO HARD TO
DO.
THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DO.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY
THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO SO THIS
IS WHAT WE WILL DO.
I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT
THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY PRODUCES
6000 HOUSING EXITS PER YEAR.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
NOT BEYOND THE SCOPE OR SCALE
OF WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY ABLE
TO DO. WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IS PUTTING DEDICATED
EFFORT BEHIND ENSURING THAT THE
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY GET THE SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED.
THE OTHER THING I WILL BE CLEAR
ABOUT IS THAT TO YOUR POINT
ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE NEED THE HELP
OR WANT THE HELP, PEOPLE WANT
HELP. THAT IS NEVER THE ISSUE.
THE QUESTION IS THE RIGHT HELP.
WHAT WE OFTEN DO IS SAY TO
PEOPLE, THE HELP WE HAVE IS THE
RIGHT HELP. THAT IS NOT THE
APPROPRIATE WAY TO APPROACH
PEOPLE.
THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO APPROACH
PEOPLE IS TO SAY, WHAT YOU
NEED.
AS LaMONT POINTED OUT, PEER
NAVIGATORS AND PEER SUPPORT
SYSTEMS, FOR 30 YEARS HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT IF WE ASK
PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED,
PRIORITIZE BUILDING THE
RELATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
CAN SUPPORT THEM IN GETTING IT,
THAT THE PATHWAYS TIGHTEN UP.
SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE
PROVIDE ARE THESE LEAKY HALLWAYS
. YES, WE PUT PEOPLE ON A PATH
BUT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR
NOT THEY CAN REMAIN ON IT,
WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN GET ALL
THE WAY HOUSING, WE SEE PEOPLE
DROP OUT CONSTANTLY.
IT IS THE RELATIONAL
ARCHITECTURE THAT WE SEE IN
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
IMPLEMENTED THIS WELL THAT
ACTUALLY DRIVES SUCCESS. IN
TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF
DIFFICULTY, PEER NAVIGATION AND
PEER SUPPORTS ARE NOW THE GOLD
STANDARD.
THERE IS A MANUAL ON PEER
NAVIGATION.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, AS
OTHERS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED, IS
ACTUALLY IN KEEPING WITH THE
BEST WE KNOW TO DO, NOT SOME
REMARKABLE INNOVATION THAT WE
HAVE DISCOVERED.
>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY
ABOUT HOUSING.
DON'T YOU HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE
-- ALCOHOL, DRUG ADDICTION,
MENTAL ILLNESS.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THESE
PLACES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT
TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.
>> THAT IS NOT CORRECT.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE IN
SHELTERS BECAUSE THE SHELTERS
THAT WE OFFER ARE INHUMANE.
MUCH HAS BEEN DONE TO SHAPE OUR
SHELTER SYSTEM TO BE BETTER
OVER THE COURSE OF COVID BY
MAKING IT NON-CONGREGATE SPACES
THE NORM.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF HAS
ALREADY BOOSTED THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING SHELTER
PLACEMENTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THAT THOSE SHELTER PLACEMENTS
WILL BE HUMANE.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> IT IS NOT ABOUT A VOTE OF NO-
CONFIDENCE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR
MODEL PROPOSES IS ONGOING DAILY
COORDINATION, COOPERATION,
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FOLKS THAT
ARE CURRENTLY DOING THAT WORK.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN THE FOLKS THAT
ARE CURRENTLY DOING THAT WORK
IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE, IN
PARTICULAR, SO THAT THEY ARE
ABLE TO MOVE ALONG THE
NAVIGATORS VERY CLOSELY.
JUST YESTERDAY I SPOKE WITH ONE
OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR OVER AN
HOUR ABOUT HOW TO OPTIMIZE THE
ECOSYSTEM WHEN PEER NAVIGATORS
COME ONLINE, WHERE WE CAN
ORIENT PEERS VERSUS WHERE THE
EXISTING RESOURCES SHOULD BE
ORIENTED.
ONE THING ABOUT THE UCC MODEL
THAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT IS IT
GIVES US A PLACE TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND A PLACE TO DO
THAT ALIGNMENT IN A WAY THAT
MAKES GOOD SENSE.
>> WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START
SEEING ALL OF THIS IN ACTION?
HOW MUCH WILL ALL OF THIS COST
AND ULTIMATELY, HOW DO YOU
MEASURE SUCCESS?
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU
GUYS?
>> MEASURING SUCCESS IN ANY
HOMELESSNESS SYSTEM IS HOUSING
PEOPLE.
THT IS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD
-- THAT IS THE THING WE DO.
THAT IS HOW WE KNOW IF WHAT WE
ARE DOING IS WORKING.
WHEN DOES IT START?
IT HAS STARTED.
WE ARE HERE DOING AN
ANNOUNCEMENT BUT THE DIRECTOR
OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN
ONBOARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN IN
CONVERSATION WITH PROVIDERS.
THIS IS IN FLIGHT.
>> HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?
CAN YOU TELL US THE COST?
>> TOTAL COST IN TERMS OF THIS
AMOUNT OF WORK?
>> THIS INITIATIVE, THE DOLLAR
FIGURE.
>> THIS IS A CATALYTIC
INVESTMENT COMING FROM THE
PRIVATE SECTOR BUT THIS IS THE
WEIGHT OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM
BEHIND IT AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO INVESTMENT
COMING FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY
AND OTHER PLACES.
THAT COST IS IN THE TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TERMS OF
DOING THE WORK. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR AS I HAVE BEEN CLEAR FROM
THE BEGINNING.
OUR SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY.
I AM NOT AFRAID TO SAY IT OR
REPEAT IT.
WE ARE HEARTENED BY WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OLYMPIA BECAUSE IT
WILL GIVE US ADDITIONAL DOLLARS
TO PARTICULARLY BRING ONLINE
SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE WHICH
IS AN IMPORTANT CONCERN AND ONE
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO RAISE.
>> I MISSED THE BEGINNING.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> GOT IT.
WE ARE GOING TO HIRE IN
TRANCHES.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT IN
TERMS OF KEEPING CASELOADS
APPROPRIATE AND FRANKLY HELPING
TO THE INTENSIFY CASELOADS FOR
SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING THAT WE MIGHT GO UP TO
70 BUT WE ARE GOING TO START
TRUDGING IN TO GET 30 FOLKS.
YES, LIVING WAGE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
PLUG THAT IT SHOULD NOT JUST BE
THE PEER NAVIGATORS WHO GET
LIVING WAGES.
EVERYONE IN OUR SECTOR NEEDS TO
GET A LIVING WAGE.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THE AMOUNT
OF INVESTMENT NECESSARY IS
QUITE A BIT AND WE NEED TO BE
HAVING THAT CONVERSATION
ROUTINELY UNTIL IT GETS THERE.
THE KEY DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF
PEER SUPPORTS SIMPLIFIED, TWO
BIG THINGS.
ONE, THEY ARE LONGITUDINAL
MEANING THAT PEER SUPPORTS ARE
DESIGNED SO THAT A PERSON IS
ABLE TO WALK ALONGSIDE YOU ALL
THE WAY FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE
UNSHELTERED THROUGH, AND OFTEN
IN TWO HOUSING.
CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE MANY
MODELS THAT ARE ABLE TO DO
THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE NONE BUT WE DON'T
HAVE MANY.
WE WILL BE BOOSTING THAT
CAPACITY.
IT IS CRITICAL TO MAKING IT ALL
WORK. REMIND ME THE SECOND PART
OF THAT?
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> YES.
SO, THE KEY DIFFERENCE IS THAT
LONGITUDINAL CAPACITY.
WHAT WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE OVER
AND OVER AGAIN IS I DON'T HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP. I WANT TO BE
REALLY CLEAR THAT THE LACK OF
RELATIONSHIP, OFTEN TIMES,
PEOPLE GET HOUSED AND THE LACK
OF RELATIONSHIP IS THEN, HOW
THE HOUSING PLACEMENT UNWINDS.
IT IS NOT THAT THE VOUCHER
DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS JUST, IF
WE ARE BEING REAL, I HAVE HAD
MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH
FOLKS WHO WIND UP UNHOUSED AGAIN
BECAUSE THEIR PLACEMENT IS FAR
AWAY FROM EVERYBODY THAT THEY
KNOW AND THEY DON'T FEEL ANY
CONNECTION TO THE NEW COMMUNITY
AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO
REACH OUT TO TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION.
RIGHT?
THE LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT HERE,
HAVING A PERSON IS CRITICAL TO
MAKING OUR SYSTEM WORK.
AGAIN, I WANT TO CREDIT THE
LIVED EXPERIENCE COALITION AND
LaMONT IN PARTICULAR FOR REALLY
CONTINUING TO LIFT UP THAT IF
WE DON'T PRIORITIZE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS, WE SHOULD NOT
EXPECT ANY SHIFT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]