Up to 30 people currently in shelters or on the streets will move to safe housing in November as King County and Chief Seattle Club prepare to open the doors to Eagle Village.
King County Executive Dow Constantine joined Colleen Echohawk and members of Chief Seattle Club in celebrating the completion of a new housing project focused on serving Native Indian and Alaska Native people exiting homelessness. The opening celebration on October 30 featured Native drumming and performances by members of Chief Seattle Club, and food catered by Off the Rez. More than 75 people attended the grand opening.
Committed to the challenge
“We know that people of color, and particularly Native Americans, are disproportionately represented in the homeless population, and we are committed to tackling that challenge,” said Executive Constantine. “With our first completed modular housing project, we are partnering with the Chief Seattle Club to focus on providing safe housing and onsite services for urban Native residents. With Eagle Village, we are turning plans into action, and dreams into hope.”
Eagle Village is a pilot project using modular buildings to offer housing and provide 24/7 onsite case management for people exiting homelessness. The dormitory-style modular units can house 24-30 adults. Units may be filled by singles, couples or roommates and pets are welcome. Chief Seattle Club is a proven agency in engaging and serving urban Native people and helping them to connect to employment, health services and successfully transition to permanent housing.
Partnering together for creative solutions
“In the spirit of true partnership, King County approached Chief Seattle Club to develop Eagle Village,” said Colleen Echohawk, Executive Director of the Chief Seattle Club. “King County recognizes the disparities facing our Native homeless community, and is proactively finding solutions to work with us. We are so excited to work with King County on Eagle Village.”
The Sodo location is on King County land, owned by METRO. The project marks a strong collaboration between the King County Department of Community and Human Services (including funding from the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy), Department of Executive Services Facilities Management Division and King County METRO.
This is the first of several modular pilot projects to open. The capital cost was $3.3 million. Annual operating cost is about $800K.
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