Community Meeting Notes, Redmond Silver Cloud Homeless Housing

Housing for the Eastside's homeless is "desperately needed" owing to King County's decision to spread Seattle's homeless housing regionally. In 2020, they purchased the Redmond Silver Cloud "Health Through Housing" (HTH) hotel for $28.25M and are renovating it into studios for "low barrier" Permanent Supportive Housing of 100 chronic, disabled homeless. On July 30. I attended their first Community meeting. My notes:

KinderCare, Bellevue School District, no businesses, Nourishing Networks, 4 Tomorrow, ACS Discovery Shop, Redmond Deputy Police Chief Coats, Community police officer Meora, Redmond Human Services Manager-Brook Buckingham, Media-Redmond Neighborhood Blog, various community members, Plymouth Housing, and the KCRHA agency.
• Salvation Army's operator, Matt Garrett presented, and introduced key staff. Matt is friendly and open to questions. HTH hotels are funded by a .1% property tax. KCRHA triages referrals and coordinates their entry. 65% of the residents are targeted to come from Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland and United Methodist Church. 35% or more from the Seattle area.
• Upon the "Community Advisor Group" recommendation monthly community meetings will be held (the last Tuesday of every month, 6pm.) Matt emphasized the meetings are targeted for nearby neighborhoods and businesses but are open to all; staff will be present and possibly residents.
• 10 chronic homeless are currently residing under emergency circumstances. 15 additional homeless will be housed no sooner than October, 2024. According to Ms. Cook, KCRHA manager, the 2-year occupancy delay is attributed to shortage of contractors and materials.
• Renovation won't be complete until at least late 2025. In the meantime, it's used on an emergency basis and won't become Permanent Supportive Housing until all 100 rooms are completely renovated with studios.
• The address is 2122-152 Ave NE. It's hard to find and set back from Goodwill on 24th Street and 152 Ave NE. From 152 Ave NE and take an immediate left. A newer mixed-use apartment building fronts the Silver Cloud hotel HTH building.

Reported by Yoder, 8/4/2024