Tents were set up along 152nd SW this past summer. The Burien City Council passed a motion to accept $1 million in funding from King County and 35 pallet shelters in a 4-3 vote on Nov. 27.
File photo by Patrick Robinson
The Burien City Council passed a motion by a 4-3 vote to accept the funding from King County for 35 pallet shelters and $1 million in funding for people lacking shelter in the City of Burien. They had been denied an extension last week so a final vote was critical on Nov. 27.
Council member Cydney Moore generated the motion that went through a series of amendments. "To establish temporary emergency housing at the Seattle City Light property, and to direct the City Manager to inform the King County Regional Homelessness Authority of the services to be required, which include, at a minimum, security, and a community liaison. In addition, pallet shelter occupants and visitors must abide by a code of conduct to include, at a minimum, no illegal drug use, alcohol use, or possession of firearms on site or in the surrounding neighborhood, and no registered sex offenders permitted. The pallet shelter facility may operate for up to one year or when King County's offer of $1M runs out, whichever comes first. The city manager will negotiate for a goal of designating 90% of occupancy to be people who are homeless in Burien as defined by outreach and contact process being used by the City of Burien."
The location where the temporary housing will go was not established in the meeting but the Seattle City Light property was proposed by Moore. Those being considered are the lot owned by Seattle City Light close to Kennedy Catholic High School, and a lot currently leased to Burien Toyota on SW 150th Street owned by the City of Burien.
Original Post
35 shelters, $1 million. That's the offer from King County to the City of Burien to assist with unsheltered residents. But the offer, made last May has remained open, with no decision by the City ever since. Most recently the offer was in a deadlocked vote.
The deadline is Nov. 27.
There are three potential locations where the temporary housing could go. Lots in Boulevard Park, a lot owned by Seattle City Light, and a lot owned by the City itself.
if the city does not accept the offer it will still likely go to help homeless but will be kept in the King County coffers.
