A former nursing home has taken on a new purpose: providing safe shelter for up to 60 people experiencing homelessness. On April 1, Lake City Partners opened the doors of the former Oaks nursing home on Aurora Avenue North, creating a new North King County Enhanced Shelter in Shoreline.
The City of Shoreline worked in partnership with King County, the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) and Lake City Partners to quickly prepare the building to help address an unmet need for shelter services in North King County. Separate rooms are the best way to protect both residents and staff from spreading COVID-19 or other airborne illness. In addition, individual rooms provide privacy and security for residents as they work to stabilize their health and find permanent housing.
The Shelter will also provide case management, meals, hygiene, health services, and laundry. The site is open 24/7.
King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, KCHA Executive Director Stephen Norman and staff from Shoreline and King County toured the facility just before opening.
“A former nursing home in Shoreline has new life and a new purpose as it opens to bring indoors 60 people in North King County who are currently experiencing homelessness,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “This extraordinary collaboration with the City of Shoreline ensures that guests not only find a safe place to sleep in a room of their own, but they can also connect to the onsite services they need to rebuild health and stability.”
“I want to express my deep gratitude to Lake City Partners, the City of Shoreline, the King County Housing Authority and our own Department of Community and Human Services,” said King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski. “We came together in a tremendous partnership to take care of the most vulnerable in our community. This housing will save lives and represents the best in community action to solve our most pressing local challenge.”
KCHA was instrumental in quickly securing the property for use in the near-term as a 24/7 enhanced shelter, with a long-term plan to redevelop the property with the County for permanent supportive housing.
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