Our community is in dire need of more emergency and transitional sheltering options such as Tiny House Villages (THVs), micro-modular villages, RV and Vehicle Residency Safe Lots, and sanctioned tent cities to respond to our ongoing homelessness crisis. We have heard the members of our community, both unhoused and housed, calling for increases in these resources.
We also know that one of the most difficult parts of creating these resources is not the availability of the structures, but of the land to put them on. It can be extraordinarily difficult to find the land to build these villages.
For this reason, KCRHA has launched an ongoing Request for Information (RFI) to build a Land Bank of potential sites for temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness. By creating a Land Bank and having land options available when funding arises for new sheltering sites, or an existing site needs to move at the end of a lease, we anticipate being able to move more efficiently to open new shelter and keep existing programs up and running. This resource will ensure that when funding becomes available for shelter initiatives, we have a list of viable land options to consider.
We are looking for landowners in King County, including the City of Seattle and other municipalities, who may be interested in helping address homelessness in our region. If you have land that could potentially be used for shelter, we would love to hear from you.
We are looking for lots that meet these qualifications:
- A minimum of 8,000 square feet
- Located in King County, including City of Seattle and other municipalities
- Relatively flat terrain
- Close to sewer and water hookups
- Close to public transportation
- Available for shelter use for at least one year
Having lots available for shelter sites is the first step, not the final step, in getting a sheltering program up and running on the lot. When funding is available and a lot is identified, the following processes happen concurrently:
Land Lease Agreements
- Community Engagement (following local ordinances, may vary by municipality)
- Engagement with local public officials (City council, Mayor’s office, et.)
- Permitting with local permitting agency, including ADA and Fire Inspections and Compliance
- Financing and contracting the new program
In addition, all contracted emergency shelter programs sign Good Neighbor Agreements to establish guidelines on what being part of that community should look like.
The homeless response system does not have the resources to pay market rate for land in King County, but land use agreements could potentially offer some compensation to landowners and offer other notable benefits such as site security and 24/7 staffing.
This opportunity is not only an innovative and exciting way to grow the sheltering capacity of King County, but can also be an excellent opportunity for landowners, both public and private, to make use of land that may be going unused during redevelopment planning, in a way that benefits our collective community.
Housing is the solution to homelessness, but temporary and transitional sheltering programs can often open pathways to permanent housing, and this Land Bank will help us expand those pathways by creating more shelter.
Explore other KCRHA Funding Opportunities here.
