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Public commenters and providers urge council to fund and speed Seattle's shelter expansion
Summary
Dozens of providers, shelter residents and advocates told a council committee that an effective shelter expansion must include adequate staffing, behavioral‑health supports and funding to avoid short‑lived units; many speakers warned, "Without shelter, people die."
Dozens of providers, residents and shelter operators told the Seattle City Council's Budget and Neighborhoods Committee on April 1 they support the mayor's proposals to expand shelter capacity — but urged the council to fund higher‑support staffing, guarantee operational stability and coordinate with neighborhood mitigation plans.
The most common theme from the public comment period was urgency and an insistence that new shelter units be paired with sufficient wraparound services. "Without shelter, people die," said Miles Richardson of SHARE. Lisa, who identified herself as chair of the Downtown Seattle Streets to Housing Initiative and a long‑time real estate principal, said she supports the mayor's proposed…
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