Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness

OUR MISSION IS TO END HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING SHELTER, RESPITE CARE, WORK OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER SERVICES, SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STABILIZATION, RECOVERY, AND PERMANENT HOUSING.

NORTH KING COUNTY ENHANCED SHELTER AT THE OAKS:IN 2021 AFTER MANY YEARS OF PROVIDING WINTER SHELTER TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED IN NORTH KING COUNTY WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS VIA THE LAKE CITY TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS, LAKE CITY PARTNERS ENDING HOMELESSNESS IS PLEASED TO HAVE TRANSITIONED OUR WINTER SHELTER PROGRAM TO A 24/7 ENHANCED SHELTER AT THE OAKS IN SHORELINE. THE OAKS SERVES UP TO 60 UNHOUSED SINGLE ADULTS AND COUPLES IN PRIVATE ROOMS WITH MEALS PROVIDED BY HUNGER INTERVENTION PROGRAM, LOCAL RESTAURANTS, AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING CORE SHELTER SERVICES, WE PROVIDE ENHANCED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES (24 X 7) TO COLLABORATIVELY PROVIDE A BROAD RANGE OF SUPPORTS INCLUDING HEALTHCARE (PHYSICAL & BEHAVIORAL), PERSONAL STABILIZATION RESOURCES (ID, DSHS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ETC.) AND LIFE NEEDS, WORKFORCE ACCESS AND SKILLS PRACTICES THAT HELP PEOPLE REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND EXIT THE SHELTER INTO HOUSING WITH THE RESOURCES AND RESILIENCY NEEDED TO REMAIN HOUSED AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES.

LAKE CITY DAY CENTER: OUR DAY CENTER, CALLED "GOD'S LI'L ACRE" LOCATED AT 12521 33RD AVE NE, HAS BEEN SERVING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS IN LAKE CITY FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS. TODAY, OPERATING FROM A CUSTOM BUILT SPACE IN A MODERN BUILDING, THE DAY CENTER OFFERS LAUNDRY FACILITIES, SHOWERS, A COMMUNITY KITCHEN, INTERNET AND PHONE, RESOURCE REFERRALS, A FOOD CLOSET, PERSONAL STORAGE, BLANKETS, CLOTHES, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST "BE" IN A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE. OVER THE YEARS OUR DAY CENTER HAS BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND THE SUPPORT OF THE LAKE CITY TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS. WE ALSO WORK WITH OTHER PROVIDERS WHO OFFER SERVICES SUCH AS HEALTHCARE ACCESS/MEDICAID SIGN-UP, VEHICLE RESIDENCY OUTREACH, ETC., AND PARTICIPATE WITH SEATTLE UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF NURSING PROGRAM FOR PRACTICUMS AND ON-SITE TRAINING. FOR THE 150 - 200 INDIVIDUALS WHO REGULARLY SHARE SPACE WITH US EACH MONTH, OUR GLA DAY CENTER IS A THRIVING EXAMPLE OF HOW A COMMUNITY CAN COLLABORATE AND COMBINE SERVICE DELIVERY TO CREATE MEANINGFUL IMPACT AND SOLUTIONS. FOR MANY, OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE AND BUILD TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS BECOMES THE BASIS UPON WHICH THEIR PATHWAYS TO HOUSING BEGIN.

HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH SERVICES: OUR HOUSING OUTREACH WORK WAS ADDED AS A NEW PROGRAM IN MAY 2018 AS AN EFFORT BY KING COUNTY TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. TODAY, OUR HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH SERVICES PROGRAM ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS LIKE POLICE AND COMMUNITY/HUMAN SERVICES TO HELP TRIAGE AND SUPPORT THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND INTERVENTIONS. SIMILAR TO A CO-RESPONDER MENTAL HEALTH MODEL, OUR HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH SERVICES OFFER INFORMED ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH RESOURCES, REFERRALS, CASE MANAGEMENT, ETC., AND IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE FOR LOCAL CITIES WORKING TO BRING SERVICES TO THEIR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SHORELINE, A FULL TIME HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH SERVICES SPECIALIST CONDUCTS STREET OUTREACH AND RESPONDS TO CITY REQUESTS WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF HELPING UNHOUSED RESIDENTS CONNECT WITH PATHWAYS TO HOUSING. BY BUILDING TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS, OUR SPECIALIST IS ABLE TO REFER PEOPLE TO OUR ENHANCED SHELTER AT THE OAKS AND SUPPORT ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER ESSENTIAL NEEDS SUCH AS PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUPPORT, AND EMPLOYMENT. OUR SPECIALIST WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF SHORELINE'S POLICE, FIRE PARKS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO CO-RESPOND AND HELP RESOURCE THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THE CITY STAFF WHO ARE RESPONDING TO THOSE NEEDS. THEY VISIT SHORELINE CITY FACILITIES, MEAL PROGRAMS, BUS STOPS, AND OUTDOOR LOCATIONS TO ENGAGE PEOPLE AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE LOCAL 'COMMUNITY COURT' AND ASSOCIATED RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAM, INTERVENTIONS THAT CONTINUE TO OFFER COMPELLING OUTCOMES AND IMPACT FOR THE CITY OF SHORELINE AND THEIR RESIDENTS. (2021 PROGRAM COSTS ARE INCLUDED IN OUR SHELTER AND DAY CENTER PROGRAMS.)

IN 2020 AND 2021 LAKE CITY PARTNERS ACTED AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR A SEATTLE MENNONITE CHURCH ENTERPRISE GRANT.