Photo by Marlon Meyer
we won!
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Oct. 14 that SODO’s homeless shelter will no longer be expanding as originally planned. The county will instead keep the existing shelter at the site, and expansion funds will be used to invest in sheltering people more quickly.
Bordering the Chinatown International District (CID), the hub will complement the Salvation Army SODO shelter, with at least 15 homeless shelters already within walking distance.
Since the Navigation Center site was selected in 2017, and the concentration of other shelters around CID, the community’s quality of life, vitality, and public safety have deteriorated significantly.
CID residents and community leaders have been speaking out and protesting aggressively — frustrated by being excluded from the conversation surrounding the proposed expansion and concerns about public safety and crime.
“Over the past six weeks, community members have shared their feedback on the current state of public safety and other issues in the International District of Chinatown and surrounding communities,” Constantine said in the release. “It is clear that building trust and addressing underlying concerns about the state of the community today will take a considerable amount of time to move forward with any increased service capacity.”
What a refreshing change to hear our voices. and a silver lining. Could decades of discrimination against our communities really come to an end?
This is a testament to the power of community organization and solidarity! When we come together and pool resources to achieve a common goal, we can really move mountains.
Let this remind us that we are stronger together, not divided. We must continue to stand against injustice. We must continue to fight for what we want and seek help when we need it. Numbers have power, and this latest development proves that we are indeed strong.
This is a great first step, but let’s not be complacent. We must continue to hold elected officials accountable. We must never be afraid to “sway” and fight for what’s right. Focus on the common goal – end the damage cycle once and for all on the CID.
