Seattle committee reviews emergency plan to expand tiny-house villages and shelter sites

The Seattle City Council’s Land-Use and Sustainability Committee on April 15 heard detailed testimony and a staff briefing on an interim ordinance (Council Bill 121195) that would expand the allowable capacity of transitional encampments and tiny-house/micro-modular shelter sites.

Councilmember Lisa Foster, sponsor of the ordinance, said the legislation responds to what she called a continuing homelessness emergency in the city and described the proposal as a temporary, 12-month measure to increase capacity while staff complete required analyses. "We have been in a homelessness state of emergency since 2015," Foster said, framing the bill as an urgent step to bring services to more people quickly.

The mayor’s office and Human Services Department staff described the core elements: raise the citywide per-site cap from 100 to 150 people, and authorize one pilot micro-modular/tiny-house/RV site up to 250 people. The staff presentation said the ordinance would include an emergency clause so SDCI could begin parallel analysis while the interim rules are in effect. "What we are looking to do is to pass interim legislation that would allow for micro modular shelters and RV and vehicle safe lots to go from limitation of 100 people per site to 150 people citywide, and to allow for one site up to 250 people," a senior policy adviser from the Mayor’s Office told the committee.

The administration cited large-site examples from other cities — including a site operated by Tampa Hope that serves more than 300 people — to argue that larger, well‑operated micro‑modular sites can increase shelter capacity while offering on‑site case management and supportive services. Staff outlined consistent operational expectations: 24/7 staffing and monitoring, secure entries, resident codes of conduct, community advisory committees and coordination with Seattle Police and Fire Department reviews.

Advocates and providers who testified in the public-comment period urged the committee to move quickly while emphasizing that sites must be staffed and resourced. Angela Castaneda, a Seattle resident who described her experience with homelessness, told the committee, "The situation demands that city leaders act to prioritize high support shelter and pathways for transitional to permanent housing," urging intensive on‑site care and around‑the‑clock staffing.

Council members used the briefing to press staff for implementation detail. Several sought concrete staffing ratios for high‑acuity clients; staff said some programs anticipate case‑management ratios in the range of 1:12–1:20 depending on client needs, and that the city expects to prioritize providers who can scale up safely and quickly. The Human Services Department said providers currently being considered include organizations that already operate 24/7 sites and that the administration will provide technical assistance to expand workforce capacity.

Permitting timelines and execution drew scrutiny. One councilmember challenged SDCI to match permitting speed in other cities; SDCI staff said current turnaround goals for shelter projects are five to 10 business days with increased pre‑submittal coaching to speed openings, and that they are working to improve processes further.

The committee did not take a final vote on the ordinance during the briefing. Foster said amendments were due by April 22, the matter would be discussed further on April 29 and scheduled for a committee vote on May 6. The ordinance text (CB 121195) would amend Seattle Municipal Code sections cited by staff as 23.42.054 and 23.42.056 to expand definitions and site‑capacity rules.

What’s next: the committee will accept proposed amendments, receive follow‑up details from HSD and SDCI on staffing ratios and provider readiness, and consider the bill for a committee vote after additional briefings and the amendment deadline.