Katie Hayes

Katie Hayes

An intense, challenging, fun year: Goodbye from the housing reporter

Katie Hayes wrote about the “absurd and creatively cruel issues that struggling renters face.” But she has hope, too.

 

Water heaters that are not up to code are visible from the hallway on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Even after housing ‘nightmare,’ new tenants pay more at Grand Apartments

Dimension, a real estate company, bullied longtime tenants and ignored urgent requests for repairs, former residents said.

 

Otis Mugabo works through addition problems during his kindergarten class at Greater Trinity Academy  on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At Greater Trinity Academy, educators are ‘teaching through the trauma’

They aren’t just here to play and color. The south Everett early learning center aims to show kids: “I can learn anything.”

 

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

County aims for denser, more affordable ‘missing middle’ homes

The County Council eased zoning restrictions to encourage townhomes and denser development.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
JR Stalkfleet digs out a hole for a tomato plant with his hand in the new outdoor classroom at Tomorrow’s Hope Child Development Center on Friday, April 22, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Outdoor classroom in Everett offers kids lessons ‘in the dirt’

The Tomorrow’s Hope program is a chance “to see the amount of work that goes into getting a salad,” says a trainer.

JR Stalkfleet digs out a hole for a tomato plant with his hand in the new outdoor classroom at Tomorrow’s Hope Child Development Center on Friday, April 22, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Thousands in county qualify for housing help — but don’t get it

Meanwhile, skyrocketing rent and real estate prices have made it impossible for many residents to afford a home here.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Melinda Parke sits inside her Days Inn motel room as her son, Elijah, sleeps on his chair behind her Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

In dire search for housing, mother asks: ‘How much worse can it get?’

Melinda Parke and her 8-year-old son with autism can’t find emergency housing in Everett. It’s been nearly five months.

Melinda Parke sits inside her Days Inn motel room as her son, Elijah, sleeps on his chair behind her Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Evergreen Recovery Centers received a $1 million state grant to build an early learning center in its new facility. (Evergreen Recovery Centers)

Snohomish County early learning centers receive $4M to expand

Centers in Everett, Lynnwood and Bothell have new funding to enroll another 220 early learners.

Evergreen Recovery Centers received a $1 million state grant to build an early learning center in its new facility. (Evergreen Recovery Centers)
Members of the The Glacier Peak High School robotics team. Named the Sonic Squirrels is heading to a world competition in Texas. (Courtesy Photo)

Snohomish, Everett robotics teams headed to world competition

The Sonic Squirrels’ robot can climb monkey bars and drive autonomously. “Everything has to be built from scratch.”

Members of the The Glacier Peak High School robotics team. Named the Sonic Squirrels is heading to a world competition in Texas. (Courtesy Photo)
The Stilly Valley Center is selling its low-income housing for seniors. Photographed on April 5, 2022.   (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

For sale by nonprofit: 150 low-income apartments for seniors

Leaders at the Stilly Valley Center in Arlington say they won’t sell unless the buyer commits to keeping things as is.

The Stilly Valley Center is selling its low-income housing for seniors. Photographed on April 5, 2022.   (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Gregory Lemke (left) and Davyd Klimov are working to bring Klimov’s wife, Natalia, to the U.S. from Ukraine. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

For Ukrainian couple, ‘a dead end no matter where I try to go’

Davyd Klimov, originally from Ukraine, is helping his wife escape from afar.

Gregory Lemke (left) and Davyd Klimov are working to bring Klimov’s wife, Natalia, to the U.S. from Ukraine. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Everett Housing Authority purchased the Huntington Park Apartments in March for $118 million. (Everett Housing Authority)

Everett Housing Authority buys 381 apartments — its biggest purchase yet

The agency bought Huntington Park Apartments in south Everett for $118 million to help keep them affordable.

The Everett Housing Authority purchased the Huntington Park Apartments in March for $118 million. (Everett Housing Authority)
Family Resource Center support assistant Conchita Chinchilla, left, and resource coordinator Lyn Lauzon, right, at the new Family Resource Center in Hawthorne Elementary on Friday, March 18, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett School District opens new ‘Family Resource Center’

The center will help the district’s homeless families and connect them to resources.

Family Resource Center support assistant Conchita Chinchilla, left, and resource coordinator Lyn Lauzon, right, at the new Family Resource Center in Hawthorne Elementary on Friday, March 18, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)

Lawsuit: Everett hospital hid ‘charity care’ in the fine print

State law requires hospitals to absorb costs for the poorest patients. It might as well have been a secret, advocates say.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)
FIELD co-owner Liz Morgan processes flowers at their shop in Edmonds on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Great Resignation’: Many career shifts in Snohomish County

“I was angry, and in hindsight, I’m sure that was stress,” said Mary Goetz, who retired from her job as a nurse.

FIELD co-owner Liz Morgan processes flowers at their shop in Edmonds on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Galina Volchkova, senior director of housing services at Volunteers of America, is shown processing some of the thousands of applications for rental assistance she received in 2021. (Katie Hayes / Herald file)

Rental assistance applications closed for now

Snohomish County expects up to $21 million for the next round of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Galina Volchkova, senior director of housing services at Volunteers of America, is shown processing some of the thousands of applications for rental assistance she received in 2021. (Katie Hayes / Herald file)
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald) 12/14/2021

AG seeks refund for low-income Providence, Swedish patients

Some patients are legally entitled to free hospital care or discounts. Here’s a rundown of who is eligible.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald) 12/14/2021
The Cedar Valley Ball field that will be leased by Housing Hope. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Housing Hope, Edmonds schools plan family housing in Lynnwood

The nonprofit will lease land from the school district to house about 50 families, including people now “couch-surfing.”

The Cedar Valley Ball field that will be leased by Housing Hope. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The empty lot that Edmonds Lutheran Church recently sold to Housing Hope. Construction on the lot is slated for next year. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Housing Hope to build affordable housing near Edmonds church

The nonprofit housing developer is planning 52 apartments for homeless and low-income households.

The empty lot that Edmonds Lutheran Church recently sold to Housing Hope. Construction on the lot is slated for next year. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vicki Wahl knits scarves at her home in Lake Stevens, Washington on February 17, 2022. More than 170 of her scarves will be handed out during this years’ homelessness count.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald )

Lake Stevens woman knits 175 scarves, donates to homeless

Vicki Wahl, 78, makes the scarves annually, ahead of the county’s Point-in-Time count.

Vicki Wahl knits scarves at her home in Lake Stevens, Washington on February 17, 2022. More than 170 of her scarves will be handed out during this years’ homelessness count.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald )