Salvation Army’s William Booth Center sits on the SODO side of the border between the SODO and International District neighborhoods, within Seattle’s District 1. The building itself is not new, but changes are coming that will further expand shelter in an area that often feels the need acutely.
Recently, KCRHA awarded the Salvation Army $1.6 million dollars to make site improvements and add staffing and program infrastructure to expand the number of people they serve. The funding for this expansion comes from Seattle’s 2025 non-congregate shelter Request for Proposals (RFP).
The Salvation Army will be bringing these new beds online in phases, adding 24 new beds by the end of May, and ultimately adding a total of 35 new beds. The units are non-congregate, meaning that clients have private space with door that locks. The Salvation Army uses a model similar to Single Room Occupancy (SRO), with communal hygiene facilities. Clients have a case manager, access to medical services, and the Salvation Army provides meals. Staff are also on site 24/7.
Non-congregate shelters like SROs or micro-modular shelters (MMS) offer a higher level of privacy and space to secure belongings. They are highly preferred to congregate settings by people seeking shelter, and when paired with supportive services can offer a stabilizing transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing.
We are excited to see these 35 new shelter beds open in Seattle so we can serve more people, and move more people into safe, stable, and permanent housing.
