After reading last week’s front-page article in the Mirror regarding the city’s efforts to provide emergency shelter to homeless mothers and children in our community, I wanted to clarify the key question in the story: Why is that shelter not located in Federal Way?

The answer is straightforward: There was not an organization within city limits that met the requirements.

Winter has begun and we need to be sheltering homeless families living in their cars or on the streets immediately.

It has been the desire of the mayor’s, as well as Sarah Bridgeford’s and mine, from the time we were notified that we received the $100,000 in funding from the state to use it to provide emergency shelter for homeless families with children from Federal Way. As we mentioned in two separate interviews with the Mirror, we set out to accomplish that goal with the intent of finding an organization that has the ability to meet all the necessary requirements and has a presence in Federal Way.

Only two organizations, Mary’s Place and New Hope, would have the ability to quickly increase capacity to immediately serve additional Federal Way families. However, we determined that New Hope could not enter into a contract with the city. Despite Mary’s Place shelters being located outside Federal Way, they have a longstanding tie to our community and can fulfill the immediate need for shelter for homeless families and children from Federal Way.

We deliberately did not consider any organization that would ultimately need the funding to go toward capital costs associated with building a facility. Not only would that not fall in line with the guidelines provided by the Department of Commerce, it would not serve the immediate need for emergency shelter for homeless families and children.

During initial conversations, the Department of Commerce provided the CHG guidelines to the city as a requirement of the funds. Within the CHG guidelines provided by Department of Commerce, permit fees would not be permissible. City staff discussed using funds for capital and was told capital costs were not allowed. The application fees referenced in the CHG guidelines are to help families in shelter apply for and get into permanent housing or rental units. The fees required to get into an apartment can add up quickly and the grant funds can help families move from shelter to housing.

The city is always seeking organizations to partner with to better serve its residents — especially those most vulnerable. The city of Federal Way looks forward to a time when there is an emergency family shelter operating within the city boundaries. We stand by our recommendation to the council on the selection of Mary’s Place to serve the immediate needs of homeless families and children from Federal Way and we believe it will be a fruitful partnership going forward should the Council choose to approve the contract.

Jeff Watson

Federal Way Community Services manager