Former Redmond Hotel To Temporarily House Refugees

REDMOND, WA — While King County works to finalize the framework on its growing roster of hotels meant to provide stable housing for people experiencing homelessness, officials will use one of its Eastside properties to support refugees in need of a place to stay.

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the plan Thursday, utilizing Redmond's former Silver Cloud Inn, which the county purchased for its Health Through Housing initiative last July. The building contains 144 units.

King County is working with the state Department of Social and Health Services, the city of Redmond and the International Rescue Committee to facilitate referrals from Afghan refugees who arrived in the region earlier in the year, as well as new arrivals from all over the world.

"No matter the storm abroad, King County will always be a safe harbor," Constantine said in a statement. "We welcome all who arrive from other nations, and stand ready to support them as they make a new start here in the United States."

The county plans to welcome the first guests to the hotel by the first week of May and will host them through September. Constantine's office said the temporary use of the hotel will not impact the timeline for transforming the hotel into a permanent supportive housing site, designed to offer stable shelter and services to people experiencing long-term homelessness.

"During COVID, our government learned quickly how to be very nimble to adapt to grave needs and rapidly changing circumstances," said Claudia Balducci, chair of the Metropolitan King County Council. "While we prepare to open permanent supportive housing soon, I can't think of a better temporary use for this former hotel than to house newly arriving refugees seeking safety."

The Redmond facility will welcome Afghan refugees who previously were housed at the county's Federal Way hotel, which served more than 450 people since last October. After they leave for Redmond, the county plans to begin work to transform the Federal Way hotel into supportive housing, aiming to welcome residents in the fall.

So far, King County has purchased 10 hotels across the region for the program, including five in Seattle, and others in Auburn, Federal Way, Kirkland, Redmond and Renton. Officials plan to establish 1,600 housing units by the end of the year.