The Kirkland City Council on Tuesday authorized initial funding for a Human Services Rapid Response Fund and discussed moving forward quickly with two staff positions intended to expand the city’s homelessness outreach and housing navigation capacity ahead of the King County Health Through Housing program opening in Kirkland.

What council approved today: The council approved a fiscal note of $166,289 in one‑time revenues to establish a Rapid Response Fund intended to allow local nonprofit partners and service providers to scale short‑term services that respond to emergent needs (the motion passed 7–0).

Proposed staffing additions: Staff presented two proposed early actions from the city’s Continuum of Care Action Plan. The first position, a Human Services Supervisor, would provide direct supervision and operational oversight of the outreach team, manage grants (including pilot programs), liaise with the HEART outreach/response team and provide on‑the‑ground coverage when needed. The second position, a Housing Navigation Coordinator, would focus on case management and housing navigation — taking referrals, helping clients navigate placement and housing stabilization, and coordinating placements into local and regional programs. Both positions are intended to expand capacity for outreach and to support placements into the county’s Health Through Housing facility planned to serve residents from Kirkland.

Why staff recommended moving quickly: Staff said the two positions would increase the city’s ability to (1) respond promptly to encampments and resident calls, (2) manage several pilot grants now in place, and (3) improve referral placement success when Health Through Housing begins admitting people. City staff emphasized that the new positions would not be limited to Health Through Housing cases but would strengthen overall outreach and navigation capacity for people experiencing homelessness across the city.

Funding and next steps: Staff said they would identify funding sources and return with a fiscal note describing the biennial cost and proposed funding in a September 16 staff transmittal and planned follow up on hiring timelines. Council members favored moving the positions forward promptly, noting the imminent Health Through Housing timeline and the ongoing encampment outreach needs.

Rapid Response Fund details and RFP timeline: Staff said they would release an RFP for rapid response grants on a compressed schedule and invited organizations that currently receive city funding — and organizations that applied earlier but were not funded — to apply. Staff proposed eligibility criteria that emphasize existing programming focused on immigrant, refugee and asylum‑seeker populations; demonstrated ability to expend funds before the end of the biennium; and the capacity to provide reporting and invoicing.

Ending note: The council approved the rapid response fiscal note at the meeting and provided general direction to staff to bring back position funding proposals and a timeline; staff will return with final fiscal notes and contract language for council approval.