Shelter is a critical need in our community, and KCRHA is working with our partners throughout the region to increase the availability of a variety of shelter options. We are currently working with several local non-profit organizations to expand shelter options throughout the region, including a new RV Safe Lot and Tiny House Village (THV) in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle’s District 1.
The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) has been awarded the $3.3 million dollar contract to open the site at Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) Glassyard site by summer 2026. The site will provide 72 parking spaces for vehicle residents, and 20 tiny homes, adding the capacity to serve 92 households.
Emergency shelter and services programs, like RV Safe Lots and THVs, are designed to offer temporary but stable shelter, along with supportive services, while a household works to secure permanent housing. Depending on the program, a guest may stay anywhere from a few weeks to several months while they seek to connect with other long-term housing resources.
It’s estimated that nearly half of King County’s unhoused residents live in their vehicles. In a recent statement to King 5, Seattle Councilmember Rob Saka noted that there is a significant overrepresentation of RV residents in his district, which includes West Seattle and South Park. There is a dire need for safe places to park, where residents have access to basic needs and services.
While this project has been underway for some time now, it aligns with the vision cast by newly elected Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson in her executive order and press release from January calling for the expansion of shelter.
