Federal Way Council approves $50,000 for Day Center after months of debate

The Federal Way City Council voted unanimously May 20 to approve a $50,000 human-services grant to the Federal Way Day Center, a nonprofit-operated daytime site that provides showers, laundry, mail services and access to health and behavioral supports.

The council’s decision followed a presentation from Leila Wilson, the city’s human services coordinator, who framed the question: "Should the city council approve the 2024 Human Services Commission grant recommendation to provide $50,000 in funding to the Federal Way Day Center?" Wilson told the council staff had placed prior recommendations on hold while the center addressed code and neighbor concerns; she reported a 16 percent reduction in police calls to the day-center address between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.

The vote capped months of public comment. Supporters including health-care professionals and community organizers told the council the day center is a critical hub. "The day center can provide that," said Dr. Judy Featherstone, a local family physician and longtime HealthPoint clinician, describing how the center helped patients access medical care. Members of Sound Alliance and MultiService Center urged reinstating the withheld funding and pointed to coordinated plans for emergency shelter and supportive housing being led by King County and nonprofit partners.

Opponents and nearby business owners raised concerns about drug use, trespass and neighborhood impacts that they said persisted even after recent cleanups and increased patrols. "Pausing essential services does not create a cleaner or safer neighborhood," said Saudia J. Abdullah, a resident and advocate, urging immediate restoration of funds. Several council members and staff insisted on continuing oversight. Council members said the city would keep pressure on the day center operator, Catholic Community Services, to meet code and neighborhood commitments and that permit enforcement and trespass remedies remain tools if problems recur.

Council members also discussed a separate, longer-term option: a federal funding request by U.S. Rep. Adam Smith for roughly $2.5 million to relocate and expand day-center services inside a county-owned Red Lion hotel property. Council members asked staff to pursue follow-up meetings with King County and representatives from Congressman Smith’s office to see whether the city could coordinate local funding with the federal request. The $50,000 approved on May 20 is for direct services; staff said capital or relocation work would require other funding sources and separate approvals.

What happens next: the grant award was approved by unanimous vote. City staff said they will continue routine contact with Catholic Community Services and police, pursue clarity on nearby private property trespass agreements, and provide periodic updates to council on performance and neighborhood impacts.