Advocates and residents tell Federal Way council on-site services paused at William J. Wood veterans housing, urge city investigation

About three dozen people filled the council chamber on May 19 as residents and advocates pressed the City Council for action after what they described as abrupt interruptions to services at the William J. Wood veterans housing complex.

Robin Stevenson, an advocate who said she works closely with residents at William J. Wood, told the council that some tenants received notices to pay or vacate this spring and that on-site supportive services were paused after a 2024 letter from a community health housing director raised a generalized safety concern. “When critical support services are interrupted and broad allegations are later used in actions affecting residents, there should be transparency, accountability, and careful review,” Stevenson said, and she urged the council to restore on-site services and strengthen case management and security.

Crystal King, who identified herself as a resident at William J. Wood since 2018, described being woken to building notices and having deliveries — including donated food — stalled. King said service providers were restricted from going past the first floor even after services resumed, forcing some health visits into a room with a peephole next to the property manager’s office and creating privacy and safety concerns. “People tend to not want to talk because of the retaliation,” King said. She also said a protection order filed by the property manager names her as the respondent.

Other speakers included veteran volunteers who said they were stopped by police after delivering donated water and advocates who asked for independent audits of oversight processes and veteran-specific training for property and security staff. Bob Franks, a veteran who helps deliver supplies, said police questioned him after a delivery and called the incident “unacceptable.”

Mayor Farrell responded at the meeting by directing staff to follow up: Bill Vedino, the mayor’s policy advisor, was asked to contact Multi-Service Center and the residents to gather contact information and report back; other staff (EJ and Keith) were asked to prepare a housing inventory report and consider a council-level follow-up. “We’re going to look into this, report back to the council, and report back about what the current status is and whether the city what what potential role the city could have in this issue,” Farrell said.

Why it matters: William J. Wood is home to veterans who rely on on-site wraparound services for medical care, case management and stability; residents and advocates told the council those supports were interrupted and that the pauses have had material consequences. The public requested immediate restoration of services, better access to health and benefit navigators, independent oversight and training for property staff on trauma-informed and veteran-specific practices.

Next steps: City staff committed to contact the site’s stakeholders, gather the facts and return to council with findings and possible follow-up actions. The council did not take formal legislative action at the May 19 meeting but agreed to the requested staff follow-up.