Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine and City of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the operators for the newest Health Through Housing building — a 35-unit building providing permanent supportive housing in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine and City of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced today the operators of the latest Health Through Housing building — a newly constructed building providing 35 units of permanent supportive housing in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The building will be jointly operated by Lavender Rights Project and Chief Seattle Club and is expected to welcome residents this fall.

The purchase of the Health Through Housing building used blended funding from King County and the City of Seattle, including $6 million from repurposing of funds originally allocated for the jail. King County and the City of Seattle announced in 2021 the intention to reinvest $16 million in upstream community-based health and housing programs for communities that are disproportionately affected by the legal system and incarceration.

This 11th Health Through Housing acquisition will serve queer, transgender, two-spirit, Black, Indigenous, people of color (QT2BIPOC) and provide a place to stabilize in a safe, single-room setting. The Capitol Hill location continues the initiative’s progress to create up to 1,600 emergency housing and permanent supportive housing units for people experiencing or at risk of chronic homelessness.

“By investing in supportive housing, King County and Seattle are confronting systems that disenfranchise and marginalize, and are also creating opportunities for a more inclusive and safe community for everyone,” said Executive Constantine. “This new partnership between Chief Seattle Club and Lavender Rights Project embodies the core principles of Health Through Housing: providing more supportive housing to help people stabilize and recover while addressing the racial disproportionality of people who are failed by current systems.”

“Every community deserves access to quality, culturally-competent care and support – this acquisition allows for pairing those critical services with needed housing,” said Mayor Harrell. “To reduce homelessness and to support recovery, health, and the best outcomes for communities disproportionately likely to experience chronic homelessness, our focus must be intentional toward understanding and meeting their specific needs. With this Health Through Housing location, the Lavender Rights Project and Chief Seattle Club are well equipped to provide that level of support to vulnerable neighbors.”

Lavender Rights Project's core mission is to develop the resources, services, and advocacy necessary to unilaterally protect Black and trans life in Washington state. The organization offers innovative, informed solutions that celebrate the joy and dreams of their respective communities through specialized by-and-for legal and social services.

Following in the footsteps of acclaimed grassroots organizers such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Lavender Rights Project’s new home will build upon decades of informal housing services created by-and-for the QT2BIPOC community. The staff plans to base all support for residents on long-standing traditions of care that have been passed down for generations by trans and queer people of color alike.

“Lavender Rights Project is excited to invite our community into their new homes in this beautiful, new community space,” said Jaelynn Scott (she/her), Executive Director of Lavender Rights Project. “Many years of grassroots movement building and activism have made this moment possible, as well as work by King County and the City of Seattle. It is no secret that QT2BIPOC have always had to look after one another, and we know what our community needs better than anyone else. We must do so much more to protect vulnerable communities, but this remains an enormous win for trans, queer, and communities of color throughout the Puget Sound. Lavender Rights Project looks forward to co-creating a home with our future residents and our partner, Chief Seattle Club, while paving the way forward for many more by-and-for community-led housing initiatives in King County and across the nation."

Chief Seattle Club will be Lavender Rights Project’s key partner in this innovative housing program and looks forward to inviting residents and community alike for years to come. Chief Seattle Club is a housing and human service agency that provides resources for American Indian and Alaska Native people and is currently the operator of Salmonberry Lofts in Pioneer Square which opened in December 2022.

“Chief Seattle Club and Lavender Rights Project are proud to announce our partnership in managing a new resident building acquired through Health Through Housing. This new building will provide much-needed housing and support services to Two-Spirit, transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse people who are experiencing homelessness," said Derrick Belgarde, Executive Director of Chief Seattle Club. "We are excited to partner with Lavender Rights Project on this important project. Together, we will provide safe and supportive housing to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

By rapidly acquiring existing facilities, such as former hotels and other similar properties, Health Through Housing creates supportive housing units that are dignified, affordable, and service enriched. The initiative also centers equity in its approach to serving communities disproportionately impacted by chronic homelessness. Compared to their share of the general King County population, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latinx communities are all overrepresented among those experiencing chronic homelessness. This is especially pronounced for QT2BIPOC.

Since 2021, King County has purchased six buildings in Seattle, plus buildings in Auburn, Federal Way, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton. King County continues to work with local jurisdictions and providers to open buildings and meet the initiative’s goals. Four already purchased locations are also anticipated to open later this year.

Relevant links

• Health Through Housing | King County
• Chief Seattle Club
• Lavender Rights Project

• King County, Seattle repurpose $16 million from jail operations to community-based health and housing | April 2021

Quotes

By investing in supportive housing, King County and Seattle are confronting systems that disenfranchise and marginalize, and are also creating opportunities for a more inclusive and safe community for everyone. This new partnership between Chief Seattle Club and Lavender Rights Project embodies the core principles of Health Through Housing: providing more supportive housing to help people stabilize and recover while addressing the racial disproportionality of people who are failed by current systems.

“Every community deserves access to quality, culturally-competent care and support – this acquisition allows for pairing those critical services with needed housing. To reduce homelessness and to support recovery, health, and the best outcomes for communities disproportionately likely to experience chronic homelessness, our focus must be intentional toward understanding and meeting their specific needs. With this Health Through Housing location, the Lavender Rights Project and Chief Seattle Club are well equipped to provide that level of support to vulnerable neighbors.”

Lavender Rights Project is excited to invite our community into their new homes in this beautiful, new community space. Many years of grassroots movement building and activism have made this moment possible, as well as work by King County and the City of Seattle. It is no secret that QT2BIPOC have always had to look after one another, and we know what our community needs better than anyone else. We must do so much more to protect vulnerable communities, but this remains an enormous win for trans, queer, and communities of color throughout the Puget Sound. Lavender Rights Project looks forward to co-creating a home with our future residents and our partner, Chief Seattle Club, while paving the way forward for many more by-and-for community-led housing initiatives in King County and across the nation.

Chief Seattle Club and Lavender Rights Project are proud to announce our partnership in managing a new resident building acquired through Health Through Housing. This new building will provide much-needed housing and support services to Two-Spirit, transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse people who are experiencing homelessness. We are excited to partner with Lavender Rights Project on this important project. Together, we will provide safe and supportive housing to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

For more information, contact:

Katie Rogers, Department of Community and Human Services, 206-758-8287