Everett looks to state to help fund homelessness initiative

EVERETT — City officials are looking toward the Legislature for some much needed funding to kick-start its low-barrier housing project in 2016.

Mayor Ray Stephanson’s administration has announced plans to build or acquire 20 units of low-barrier housing for the chronically homeless in the first half of the year, preferably by this spring. It’s part of the city’s implementation of the “housing first” model, in which stable housing is provided to people without first requiring the recipient address other issues of addiction or mental illness.

Stephanson and the city have undergone a sea change in the past several years as homelessness, addiction, mental illness and street crime appeared to be rising uncontrollably, especially in the city’s downtown core.

“The last three years of looking at these social issues on our streets has been a revelation to me,” Stephanson said at a meeting of the City Council’s general government subcommittee, held Wednesday.

“I’m more and more convinced that this is one of those issues that you can’t bury your head in the sand with. It won’t go away,” he said.

Pat McClain, the city’s executive director for governmental affairs, said that working with the Legislature this year will be a challenge, as money is tight and the lawmakers have yet to come up with a plan in response to the state Supreme Court’s McCleary ruling, which requires the state to fully fund public education.

“It’s a short session. As some legislators have said, ‘We’re going to go pay some bills and leave,’” McClain said. “I think expectations have to be modest.”

Expectations within the city to get something done are already running high. For 2016 Stephanson nearly doubled the city’s budgetary outlay for various programs tied to homelessness to $2.2 million, and has indicated he will seek grant funding from various sources to help start up the housing initiative.

Stephanson also hopes to take advantage of an additional $1 million that the Snohomish County Council included in its own budget for capital projects designed to combat homelessness.

In theory, the money is available to other communities undertaking such programs, but Everett’s is the furthest along. Councilman Paul Roberts, who is also the current president of the Association of Washington Cities, said other cities are paying close attention to Everett’s progress.

“What’s happening in the city of Everett is cutting edge,” Roberts said. “I can say with pride there is no city doing more in meshing these issues.”

The city is actively seeking properties for that program, he said, although he hasn’t disclosed any details because of the sensitive nature of real estate transactions.

When it comes to the Legislature, Rep. June Robinson of Everett plans to sponsor a $2 million request in the supplemental budget during the upcoming short session to help start the housing program. Stephanson also plans to be in Olympia on Thursday to lobby for funding for that and to deal with the city’s other legislative concerns.

“We have 12 meetings set up for him already,” McClain said.

Robinson said she thinks if she can get the request into the House bill, there’s a fairly good likelihood that the request will make it through to the final version.

“There’s not a lot of capacity on the capital budget this year, so it’s going to be tight,” Robinson said.

“I’m still optimistic,” she said. “It’s such an important need, and the fact that the city has stepped up and taken a lead is critical.”

Among the city’s other priorities with the Legislature are obtaining $1.5 million in early design funding for construction work on the U.S. Highway 2 trestle, which got cut out of last year’s transportation package.

The city also plans to push for peak-hour-use shoulder lanes on I-5 between Everett and Marysville, upgrading the fields in Kasch Park, supporting Washington State University’s request to expand its agriculture degree in Everett, getting a bigger proportion of liquor profits that have been capped since 2011, and legislation to allow government to recover more costs from public records requests.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.