Seattle committee backs bills to boost shelter units ahead of World Cup
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's encampment ordinance to be reviewed by SCC
Mayor Katie Wilson made it a goal of her administration to have 500 new shelter units by June 1 before the FIFA World Cup begins in Seattle. (This story aired at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7 - ahead of the vote.
SEATTLE - Members of the Seattle City Council finance committee voted in favor of two bills that could help Mayor Katie Wilson move closer to her goal of 500 shelter units for people experiencing homelessness ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The vote comes less than two weeks after a city memo cast doubt on the city's ability to have all units in place before the start of summer.
The Seattle Council Finance, Native Communities and Tribal Governments Committee recommended an ordinance allowing the finance director to execute leases for land used for transitional encampments, as well as another ordinance appropriating $4.9 million to help pay for some of those shelter units. All committee members voted in favor of both bills.
A memo dated March 24from legislative analysts to the City Council examined three bills related to the mayor's plan to create new shelter units, including the two before the finance committee Tuesday.
The memo estimates the city will need to spend $17.5 million to start up and operate all 500 units in 2026. The analysis also found that even if the mayor secures the necessary leases by mid-April, the earliest the shelter units would be ready is July 14. The six FIFA World Cup matches scheduled in Seattle for June and July would be over more than a week before that date. City staff estimate some units could be ready before June, but not all.
What's next:
The committee's votes Tuesday will send the bills to the full council for consideration at its next meeting on April 14.
The Source: Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle and Seattle City Council.
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