In his annual State of the County address, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced plans to create two welcome centers with services and temporary housing.
In order to respond to the needs of youth experiencing homeless, family crisis, suspension or expulsion from school, the centers called “Safe Spaces” would be operated by community non-profits. The centers would be available to youth who come in on their own, or are brought by law enforcement, parents, school officials, community mentors or case managers.
Safe Spaces would also serve youth who committed low-level crimes or violated a court order by running away from a foster or group home.
According to Constantine, one of the centers would be located in Seattle, the other in South King County. King County’s Department of Executive Services is currently scoping appropriate sites and facilities.
The concept is based on a similar Juvenile Reception Center in Portland.
Safe Spaces is the latest innovation in juvenile justice, which includes Peacemaking Circles and other programs that offer an alternative to detention.
“This is the challenge: to travel together the long road toward our goal of zero youth detention,” said Constantine. “To meet our goals, we need a road map, and I look forward to working with this Council, community members and criminal justice leaders to join me in getting us there. But understand this… King County is united on pushing forward with the best ideas in juvenile justice reform.”
In addition, Constantine cited progress on mobility, early-childhood interventions, and climate protection during his address. These milestones included:
- More than 20 million trips on RapidRide in 2016. Six RapidRide routes now account for 17 percent of total ridership
- Metro’s reduced-fare card for passengers who earn a lower income, ORCA LIFT, was used on nearly 5 million boardings last year
- Transit ridership across King County Metro and Sound Transit climbed to its highest levels ever last year, totaling about 150 million rides in the King County area
- King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan is lauded as one of the nation’s best
- Best Starts for Kids continues to support programs with a proven track-record of success, including the Nurse Family Partnership
Constantine also described the success of the Veterans and Human Services Levy, passed by voters in 2011.
The current levy served more than 150,000 people, and tracks progress on 80 performance measures on four key strategies: supporting veterans, ending homelessness, increasing access to behavioral health services and strengthening families at risk.
Constantine also noted that the region must do more for the growing number of older people. The fastest growing segment of King County’s population is people over 80.
Public Health — Seattle & King County reports that rates of diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s Disease are steadily climbing. Homelessness among older adults is on the rise.
“We must ensure that we can all age healthfully and continue contributing to our communities, whether it’s on the job, or helping taking care of grandkids, or informing our public priorities, or simply sharing a lifetime’s worth of skills and passions and experiences,” said Executive Constantine.
