HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_Public Comment on D250_DSciba Vision House_20260508From: Derek Sciba <DerekS@visionhouse.org>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 4:40 PM
To: Matthew Herrera <MHerrera@Rentonwa.gov>
Cc: Angie Mathias <AMathias@Rentonwa.gov>; Muang Saelee <MSaelee@rentonwa.gov>
Subject: Re: How did it go?
Hi Matthew,
Thank you for this - and your ongoing support for this work for families.
That is correct, I couldn’t get from the lobby up to the 7th floor. If I would have arrived a bit earlier I
could have figured it out - but I couldn’t access to the elevator in time or rouse support to get up
there. It is fine! I know that the building needs to remain secure.
I would love to talk about Zoning Designation. This is something I have been discussing with a
board member. I am most open to meet Thursday morning and Friday next week.
Here are my comments for the waived docket fee:
As the CEO of Renton-based nonprofit Vision House, I can attest with full confidence that families in
Renton and the surrounding area who are experiencing homelessness do not have adequate
services to stabilize and rebuild their lives. Vision House - founded in Renton in 1990 - serves
families experiencing homelessness, and we cannot meet the need with our existing facilities and
services. Annually we serve more than 500 families at our Renton facilities, with day centers, a
childcare center, and our transitional housing complexes in Renton, featuring 22 family-sized
transitional housing units. (We serve many more families from facilities in Shoreline). Families who
are sleeping in their cars or couch surfing in the South Sound hope to get a place in our one-year
transitional housing program. Our program has an outstanding success rate: 90% of families who
graduate from our transitional housing program move on to permanent housing. However, fewer
than 15% of families we are working with will actually be able to move into our program because we
are full. We see the critical need and have plans to expand to serve more families. For several years
we have been working on designs and permitting to build a new facility in Renton on land we own in
Renton Highlands. We have submitted plans for a 53,000 square foot building, with program space,
childcare, office space and 28 apartments for families in our program, each apartment either two or
three bedrooms. This is a $20MM facility, and funding is tight. Without the support of Renton and our
broader community, this facility will not be built. The waiver of fees - and other funding to build - will
be critical to seeing more housing available for families in crisis in Renton. Thank you.
Thank you Matthew, and have a good weekend.
Derek
Derek Sciba
Chief Executive Officer
Vision House
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