Published October 19 2016
The public is invited to a workshop about the proposed Eastside men's shelter and supportive housing on Oct. 27, 7- 9 p.m., at the Champions Centre, 2649 145th Pl. SE, adjacent to the Bellevue College campus. The workshop provides another opportunity for residents and community stakeholders to learn more about the proposed homeless men's shelter to be located on King County-owned property at 14350 SE Eastgate Way.
The workshop will include a brief presentation on "what we heard" from the community to date, followed by group discussions where participants will identify and prioritize issues in key focus areas. Participants will then brainstorm solutions and make recommendations to be included in a public outreach report to the City Council.
Workshop participants will have a chance to discuss specific issues, including neighborhood safety, proximity to Bellevue College, the Eastgate Park and Ride and residential and area businesses. An initial public meeting was held on Sept. 29 in which the community learned more about the project and provided public comment.
In August, the city and county announced they are working in partnership with Congregations for the Homeless and Imagine Housing to site a permanent men's shelter (capacity of serving 100 men a night), with additional supportive housing units (approximately 60 units), a drop-in day center, accommodating public health services, as well as space for social service providers. The proposed shelter will provide a permanent location for the Eastside Winter Shelter, which has had to move to several improvised sites over the years. The 2015-16 shelter was located in a Sound Transit-owned property now scheduled for demolition.
The site being considered for the shelter is in a mixed-use area of Eastgate, just north of Interstate 90, on property shared with Public Health - Seattle & King County, adjacent to a King County Metro park-and-ride. The goal is to have a permanent men's shelter up and running by late 2019.
The workshop will include a brief presentation on "what we heard" from the community to date, followed by group discussions where participants will identify and prioritize issues in key focus areas. Participants will then brainstorm solutions and make recommendations to be included in a public outreach report to the City Council.
Workshop participants will have a chance to discuss specific issues, including neighborhood safety, proximity to Bellevue College, the Eastgate Park and Ride and residential and area businesses. An initial public meeting was held on Sept. 29 in which the community learned more about the project and provided public comment.
In August, the city and county announced they are working in partnership with Congregations for the Homeless and Imagine Housing to site a permanent men's shelter (capacity of serving 100 men a night), with additional supportive housing units (approximately 60 units), a drop-in day center, accommodating public health services, as well as space for social service providers. The proposed shelter will provide a permanent location for the Eastside Winter Shelter, which has had to move to several improvised sites over the years. The 2015-16 shelter was located in a Sound Transit-owned property now scheduled for demolition.
The site being considered for the shelter is in a mixed-use area of Eastgate, just north of Interstate 90, on property shared with Public Health - Seattle & King County, adjacent to a King County Metro park-and-ride. The goal is to have a permanent men's shelter up and running by late 2019.