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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNew Business - Refer to AdminTo:RentonCityCouncilRe:HomelessShelterOrdinanceThankyoufortakingactionallowingformorefrequentandthoughtfulconversationwiththeCitizensofRentonontheneedforzoningchangesregardinghomelessshelterswithintheCityofRenton.Thischangeinzoningwillprovideamuchneeded“pause”sothatwecandeterminehowbestourcitygovernment,nonprofits,andcitizens,canhelpourhomelessneighborsduringatimeofunprecedentedneed.InApril2020,over200homelessindividualsweretransferredoutofthedowntownSeattleMorrisonHotelshelterinresponsetotheCOVIDcrisistoTheRedLionInn.TheMorrisonHotellocated4blocksfromHarborviewHospital,housedpeoplewhostruggledinothershelters,becauseofmentalillness,addiction,orphysicaldisability.Morethan90%oftheMorrisonHotel’spermanentresidentshavesevere,persistentpsychiatricdisordersand70%havesubstance-usedisorders,accordingtoDESCmanagement.OwnersofTheRedLionInnarereceiving$370,000eachmonthfortheuseoftheirproperty,whichisroughlytheequivalentofoperatingafullyoccupiedhotel,withouttherelatedcosts,duringapandemiccrisisthathasdecimatedthehotelindustry.Weallagreethathomelessindividualsarebestservedbyhavingsheltersthatarecleanandsafe,withwrap-aroundservices,substanceabusecounselors,healthcareprofessionalsandcaseworkers,sothatpeopleincrisisandhomelesscanbesupportedduringtheirreturntostability,employment,health,andhousing.ThisordinancewillalsoallowRentontimetotakethenecessarystepstoprovidesustainablehousingandsupporttothemanyhomelesschildrenwithinRentonSchoolDistrict.ThecurrentshelterattheRedLionInn,asitcurrentlyoperates,doesnotprovideanyofthesebenefitstothehomelesscommunity.TheRedLioniswarehousingpeoplewithmentalandphysicaldisabilitiesinabuildingfullofmold,liceinfestationandabreedinggroundforCOVID-19.Now,anindividualhasdied,quitepossiblyfromCOVID-19.OnNovember25th,anindividual,whorecentlymovedtoWashingtonfromHawaii,setfiretohisroomonthesixthfloor.Accordingtoincidentinvestigators,theindividualadmittedtousingmethandisconsideredsuicidal.ManyoftheclientslivingatTheRedLionaremobilityimpaired.Thisfire,haditnotbeendetectedbyacaseworkerandlocksmith,couldhavebeencatastrophic,quitepossiblyendingwithafatality.InsteadofcreatingashelterofHOPE,wherethehighestpriorityisthesafetyoftheresidents,hotelstaffandtheRentoncommunity,KingCountyExecutiveDowConstantinehascreatedanunhealthyblight.Rentonissupportiveofpermanentsupportivehousing.Partneringwithlocalfaithcommunitiesandnonprofits,Rentonsupportsmultipleemergencyhousingoptions,includingVisionHouse,WayBackInn,ARISE,CompassHousing,NexusYouthandfamilies atArcadiaHouseandYMCAEmergencyHousing.ButtheRedLionInnisnotathoughtfulandcomprehensiveapproachtothehomelesscrisisgrippingourarea.PeoplearesimplywarehousedattheexpenseoftheCityofRenton,firstResponders,andneighboringbusinesses.Forexample,onJune27,2020,sixseparateEmergencyMedicalServicesunitsrespondedtocallsatTheRedLionInn:Rm414Rm414Rm351Rm351—,,‘—.....—-..-.—--.-—-.--——WelfareCheckAswebegintoapproachourpost-pandemicfuture,weimploreyou,asCouncilMembers,tothoughtfullyconsiderhowwecanbestserveRenton’shomelesscitizensbyrequiringthesamehealth,welfareandsafetyconcernsyouhaveforourresidentialareastohomelesssheltersallowedinsidetheCityofRenton.PleasetomakeRentonasafecity,forallhercitizens,shelteredandunsheltered.,!6/27/20206/27/20206/27/20206/27/20206/27/20209:14E3111036A31316:54B31116:54E3141924B3111924CAR314Rm414E__MedicalEMSMedicalEMSMedicalEMSMedicalEMSMedicalEMSMedicalPoliceServiceCallsatRedLionInnJanuary1thru1870605040302010020182019—Theft/Shoplift20202021—TrepassfUnwantedSubject—Dispute 4. e71LL),i5dLtLcLL