King County has completed the purchase of its third property in the Health through Housing Initiative, the former Holiday Inn Express & Suites North Seattle, adding an additional 99 units of supportive housing for the chronically homeless. King County Executive Dow Constantine joined King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles and other guests at a news conference on Thurs. to announce the $17.5 million purchase of the hotel.
“We’re glad to be able to partner with the City of Seattle on the County’s third hotel purchase to help our most vulnerable residents regain health and stability,” said Constantine. “Health through Housing is a powerful tool to change people’s lives, helping them off the street and into a safe and secure place to call home.”
The hotel, located at 14115 Aurora Avenue North in North Seattle, was constructed in 2001 and contains 99 units and sits on approximately 1.91 acres. The site has one building and parking areas for residents. The hotel will provide housing for people experiencing chronic or long-term homelessness, along with 24/7 onsite staffing that will include case management and access to physical and behavioral health services. A competitive process will determine the onsite service provider before the facility is operational later this year
“As a result of COVID-19, our homelessness humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated, leaving many without shelter in our parks and playfields, sidewalks, and the Downtown core. While we continue urgent recovery efforts, Seattle and King County continue to show that by working together we can begin to address our most challenging issues,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. “Today’s investment is another significant step in that direction. Executive Constantine has been a true partner to work collaboratively to ensure people experiencing homelessness have shelter options located throughout the King County region. Over the coming months, together we will move hundreds of individuals safe shelter alternatives and most importantly to a permanent housing solution.”
“The coronavirus pandemic and recent record-breaking heat have exposed the critical link between health and housing,” said Rep. Cindy Ryu. “The partnership between the state, King County, city governments, and local residents to urgently deliver permanent supportive housing through the purchase of properties like the former Holiday Inn Express on Aurora Avenue is one of the most exciting advancements in our efforts to reduce homelessness. This property is perfectly suited to provide housing stability and wraparound services for health and wellbeing.”
As with all purchases pursued through the Health through Housing Initiative, King County has worked closely with local leaders, coordinating with the City of Seattle. King County has previously purchased two hotels in the Health through Housing initiative, a former extended stay hotel in Renton with 110 units, and the Inn at Queen Anne with 80 units.
Health through Housing is an initiative introduced by Executive Constantine in his 2020 Budget Speech that dedicates one tenth of a cent of sales tax revenues for the purchase of hotels, motels and other single room settings for use as emergency and permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic and long-term homelessness in King County. The King County Council approved the initiative and the implementation of the funding. The sales tax was made possible by the Washington State Legislature by creating a dedicated fund source to help in addressing the crisis of homelessness.
“The purchase of this hotel in North Seattle, the second Health through Housing funded hotel in District Four, will offer the type of individualized support and onsite staffing that can be transformational in assisting individuals to exit homelessness,” said Kohl-Welles. “Located close to transit and with individual rooms, the hotel is conveniently situated to make a significant impact on our region’s homelessness crisis.”
