The Days Inn on Everett Mall Way which Snohomish County purchased to convert into emergency housing. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

The Days Inn on Everett Mall Way which Snohomish County purchased to convert into emergency housing. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

County officially won’t require drug treatment at new hotel shelters

County Council member Nate Nehring argued residents at two new shelters should commit to treatment. The council voted no, 3-2.

EVERETT — After more than hour of public testimony, the Snohomish County Council again shot down a proposal that would have required drug treatment programs as a condition for living in two new county shelters.

In August, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers had proposed converting the Days Inn in Everett and Americas Best Value Inn in Edmonds into low-barrier transitional housing, using $19.9 million in one-time pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

County Council member Nate Nehring pushed to delay the hotel purchases, to allow for a public discussion on whether the county should require drug treatment for residents. Nehring’s motion failed in August, and the council voted 3-2 to move ahead with Somers’ “Housing First” plan.

Nehring then moved to amend the shelter plan, arguing housing services at county-owned hotels must include “code of conduct requiring a participant with a substance use disorder to participate in chemical dependency treatment services.”

This week, the council hosted a public hearing on the proposal.

Twelve people supported requring treatment, four were against and two suggested compromises.

Eric Nelson co-owns Lynnwood Honda across the street from Americas Best, which is already being used to shelter people through a county voucher program.

“Crime is rampant. EMT, fire and police are there weekly,” Nelson said. “We’ve had crack cocaine consumed in our bathrooms. We have needles in our landscaping. … This property is meant to serve everyone, and there is no way a single mom with kids would ever go into that hotel in the condition it’s in and the current tenants that are occupying it.”

Nelson supported the treatment requirement, saying, “I’ve been in recovery for 19 years, and I didn’t go into it willingly.”

State Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, spoke against the amendment.

“When you treat a person with worth and dignity, when you give them a place to stay and a blanket, and you call them by their name, and you look them in the eye,” Davis said, “that is the place form which recovery flows. And if you require treatment out of the gate — because people are so fearful and they have such a shattered sense of self worth — they won’t enter treatment at all.”

“Housing First” or “low-barrier” homeless shelters prioritize providing shelter first, then addressing issues of drug use or mental health with discretion. The philosophy is that getting people into a safe and stable environment is the most important step to recovery.

Several studies have suggested it’s far more effective at reducing homelessness, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Snohomish County bought the America’s Best Value Inn in Edmonds to convert into a shelter. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Snohomish County bought the America’s Best Value Inn in Edmonds to convert into a shelter. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Critics counter that people need to be held accountable and commit to getting sober.

“Overcoming addiction is a difficult path and I recognize that there may be bumps along the way,” Nehring said. “The important thing is that we have expectations for these individuals, which reflect their dignity, and for me that includes a focused commitment to sobriety and self-improvement.”

County Council Chair Megan Dunn said mandating treatment in exchange for housing would jeopardize $20 million in federal funding due to discrimination.

“We know that people who have substance use disorder have a medical condition,” Dunn said. “Just as you can’t discriminate against someone by denying them housing because of a medical condition, such a diabetes or a physical disability, you also can’t deny people trying to find housing services and a safe place to live because of their substance use disorder.”

Edmonds resident Janelle Cass, a Republican running for state Senate, offered a compromise. Cass suggested using one hotel as a “Housing First” facility and the other facility can require treatment. After some time, she argued, the county can decide which approach works best.

Marysville City Council member Mark James, also a Republican running for state House, offered another compromise: Allow people to move into the shelter without any barriers, with a grace period after which they must enroll in treatment.

The hearing ended with a 3-2 vote along party lines, mirroring August’s vote to buy the hotels.

“If this is the direction the county is going to go, I’ll say I hope it is successful,” Nehring said. “I hope we find that through this approach we can help a significant number of people overcome their addictions.”

He added that if it doesn’t go well, he hopes the council will reconsider the amendment.

The two properties create 129 units for those without shelter. Each unit will cost the county about $154,264.

Kayla Dunn: 425-339-3449; kayla.dunn@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @KaylaJ_Dunn.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Students arriving off the bus get in line to score some waffles during a free pancake and waffle breakfast at Lowell Elementary School on Friday, May 26, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
800 free pancakes at Everett’s Lowell Elementary feed the masses

The annual breakfast was started to connect the community and the school, as well as to get people to interact.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring speaks at the groundbreaking event for the I-5/SR 529 Interchange project on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
$123M project starting on Highway 529 interchange, I-5 HOV lane

A reader wondered why the highway had a lane closure despite not seeing work done. Crews were waiting on the weather.

Justin Bell was convicted earlier this month of first-degree assault for a December 2017 shooting outside a Value Village in Everett. (Caleb Hutton / Herald file)
Court: Snohomish County jurors’ opaque masks didn’t taint verdict

During the pandemic, Justin Bell, 32, went on trial for a shooting. Bell claims his right to an impartial jury was violated.

Gary Fontes uprights a tree that fell over in front of The Fontes Manor — a miniature handmade bed and breakfast — on Friday, May 12, 2023, at his home near Silver Lake in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett’s mini-Frank Lloyd Wright builds neighborhood of extra tiny homes

A tiny lighthouse, a spooky mansion and more: Gary Fontes’ miniature world of architectural wonders is one-twelfth the size of real life.

Will Steffener
Inslee appoints Steffener as Superior Court judge

Attorney Will Steffener will replace Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Janice Ellis, who is retiring in June.

News logo for use with stories about Mill Creek in Snohomish County, WA.
Police: Mill Creek man fatally stabbed wife amid financial woes

After quitting his job at Amazon, the man amassed about $50,000 in debt, triggering a discussion about finances, he told police.

Outside of the current Evergreen Recovery Centers' housing to treat opioid-dependent moms with their kids on Thursday, May 25, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
$8M in behavioral health grants to benefit children, youth, families

Snohomish County awarded one-time federal funding to five projects that will reach at least 440 new people each year.

Penelope Protheroe, President and Founder of Angel Resource Connection puts together a huge batch of rotini with meatballs and marinara before heading out to distribute the food and other supplies on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, around Everett, Washington. ARC uses the Lake Stevens Senior Center kitchen to cook up meals for people without homes. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
She feeds Everett’s homeless; ‘no sit’ ban makes her mission harder

Everett banned handing out food and water in city-designated zones: “They just want people to disappear … be somebody else’s problem.”

Ashley Morrison, left, and her mother Cindi Morrison. (Photo provided by Cindi Morrison)
Everett’s ‘Youngest Old Cat Lady’ legacy continues after death

On social media, Ashley Morrison, 31, formed a worldwide community to talk about cats and mental health. Her mom wants to keep it going.

Most Read