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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

City City Commits $30,000 to Homeless Shelter Program SHARE

Posted by Cienna Madrid on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 3:15 PM

Today, the city pledged to commit $30,000 over the next four months to the Seattle Housing and Resource Effort (SHARE), a shelter group that provides beds for Seattle's homeless, after the group announced earlier this month that it would have to close 11 of 15 shelters in Seattle due to lack of funds.

But the funds come with stipulations: SHARE must keep their shelters operational through December of this year, and work with city officials—and a consultant approved by the city's Human Services Department—to develop a financial plan with fund-raising strategies in order to address their seemingly chronic financial issues.

"We're working with them to improve their ability to serve Seattle's homeless," says Aaron Pickus, spokesman for the mayor. "Over the long-term, developing a financial plan will increase their capacity to offer beds to more homeless people."

In the short term, $30,000 dollars will allow SHARE to increase its capacity from 264 to 271 beds through December of this year, according to the mayor's office.

*This post has been updated.

Comments (12) RSS

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They should start a whittling program

Posted by john cocktosin on August 31, 2010 at 4:41 PM

Thanks for following this, Cienna. Can you dig around and get some info about their books? Also wondering if the City has anyone checking in/helping SHARE develop this plan. Isn't Compass their fiscal agent? This group clearly needs professional assistance.

Posted by MJ on August 31, 2010 at 5:15 PM

It's nice that SHARE can house the homeless for the night on the cheap, but you should ask them if they have any plan, or even make any effort, to end chronic homelessness.
Oh? They don't? They don't even think that homelessness by choice is a problem, but a right? You don't say...

Posted by SPG on August 31, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Hey MJ,

The city's Human Services Department is hiring a consultant to help SHARE develop their funding plan. I'll update my post with the info. Thanks!

Posted by Cienna Madrid on August 31, 2010 at 5:44 PM

@3 we're going to house the homeless in the Billionaires Tunnel.

cause that's where the money's going ...

Posted by Will in Seattle

on August 31, 2010 at 5:47 PM

Pickus. You rock.

Posted by for realz on August 31, 2010 at 6:01 PM

There must be another organization in Seattle besides SHARE that can run homeless shelters.

Posted by seandr on August 31, 2010 at 6:19 PM

So the city pays SHARE about $1000 a month per bed?
$30K for four months for seven additional beds.

Surely the city can do better than this.

Posted by Lew on August 31, 2010 at 7:29 PM

The City apparently doesn't wish to run shelters. They have been urged to provide more shelter, but they've declined. So anyone who wishes to run shelters at less $$ than SHARE does, feel free to come forward. Then you'll be doing instead of sniping.

Posted by sarah70 on August 31, 2010 at 11:22 PM

@Cienna--my bad. Compass sponsors/ed SKCCH, not SHARE. Very big difference, my bad. Doesn't Catholic Community Services own buildings SHARE runs shelters from?

Thanks again for staying on top of this; it's not getting much attention.

My point is that SHARE is not a completely independent organization. Their operating expenses don't reflect the total cost of their shelters. I'd like to see itemized expenses and income, including any/all sponsoring agency expenses related to SHARE programs: meeting space, utilities, land for tent cities, the infamous bus tickets, etc.

SHARE needs to model the changes we all hope to see in the membership/people they serve: financial stability.

We need transparency and accountability in all programs to be able to fairly evaluate success and identify areas that can be improved.

@8 I think the $30K is to run 271 beds for 4 months. I hope. Cienna?

Posted by MJ on September 1, 2010 at 2:54 AM

"In the short term, $30,000 dollars will allow SHARE to increase its capacity from 264 to 271 beds through December of this year, according to the mayor's office."

MJ,the way I read this, the $30K allows for a seven bed gain.

Cienna, can you clarify?

Posted by Lew on September 1, 2010 at 9:53 AM

Listen folks, before the complaints start lining up, I feel the need to explain that SHARE runs it's shelters at a (low) fraction of what the Downtown Emergency Service Center runs. DESC has paid staff and is considered to be the roughest shelter in the state of Washington. At last report DESC receives 4 million dollars annually to run their facility-SHARE runs at a fraction of the cost.

Jeff Harwood
Executive Director,
Homeless Underground.

Posted by Doc98115 on September 1, 2010 at 10:18 AM