Kiwanis Survey: Affordable, Emergency Housing Kirkland's Top Unmet Needs

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The top needs of Kirkland that are not being met are affordable housing and emergency housing, according to a survey of 19 local organizations by the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland.

Furthermore, say club leaders, it will take community-wide cooperation and agreement to make major changes in housing opportunities in Kirkland.

The club, part of the large international Kiwanis network of volunteers, interviewed representatives from 19 local organizations to determine the needs of Kirkland, as part of its strategic planning.

Five representatives identified affordable and emergency housing as the top unmet need in Kirkland, followed by organized activities for children and teens (four organizations) and family or psychological counseling (three).

Other areas of concern were “Islamophobia,” medical and dental care for those with low incomes,  decreased tax revenues, the lack of jobs, the need for diversity, funding of schools, the need to grow small businesses, higher education for women and parents, supporting children in the world, the street crossing flag program, street crew work site monitoring, park maintenance and the recession.

“I’ve been involved in affordable housing issues for years with KITH,” said Kirkland Kiwanis president Walt Kreuger, referring to the Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing, a non-profit agency that helps the homeless.

“But I didn’t know there would be that many organizations in the community that would identify housing as the top unmet need.”

Perhaps the most pressing need, Kreuger said, was emergency housing for the homeless during the winter. He added that a club committee will continue to gather information on the local housing situation and that members hope the survey will help “energize the city and other service organizations” to collectively address the issue.

Christine Rose, development director for KITH, said she too was surprised that housing issues topped the list. But KITH staffers, she said, are painfully aware of the pressing need and the lack of resources to meet it.

“It was confirmation for us of the great need we’re seeing,” she said. “Since January, we’ve had to turn away 313 families looking for housing. It’s not just KITH. All the local agencies that provide housing have had to turn people away.”

Rose noted that the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment locally is $1,259. “We’re seeing a lot of people who don’t have that income level.”

The notion that housing issues need to be addressed collectively by a broad spectrum of the community -- service groups and agencies, all levels of government, business and faith groups -- is “an absolutely legitimate perspective,” Rose said.

“It is starting to happen already,” she said, noting the work of the Eastside Homeless Advisory Group. “There is a lot more collaboration and communication going on across Kirkland and the community. It’s still not perfect.”

Rose also noted that KITH relies heavily on volunteers, and currently is seeking those with technical skills to help maintain its computers, those with carpentry skills to help maintain the affordable housing units it operates and those to help with many other needs. Volunteers can contact KITH (www.kithcares.org/) at 425-576-9531, ext. 101.