>>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 9:31 AND THE JUNE 25th MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. I'M CATHY MOORE. WILL THE MEETING COME TO ORDER. [ ROLL CALL ] >> WE HAVE FIVE PRESENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE JUNE 25th MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. ON AGENDA, WE HAVE THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE LGBTQ+ COMMISSION AND FINALLY THE COMMITTEE ROOTS HOUSING PDA. BECAUSE OF THE MANY APPOINTMENTS THEY WILL BE VOTED THROUGH THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE MORE WE LOVE WITH AN UPDATE FROM THEIR SURVIVOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT TODAY'S AGENDA, WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT. HYBRID COMMENTS WILL BE WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. UPON CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY? >> WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER. >> OKAY. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START WITH OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKER. CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS. >> THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20 MINUTES. THE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED AND THEY WILL BE IN PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED, AND WE JUST HAVE ONE MORE THAT SIGNED UP REMOTELY. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT ON THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS' MIKES WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER AND THE FIRST IN- PERSON SPEAKER IS ANDREA SUAREZ. >> THANK YOU. HELLO. >> HI. HI, MY NAME IS ANDREA SUAREZ AND FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF I HEART SEATTLE. I AM HERE FOR COUNCILWOMAN MOORE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO SUPPORT THESE WOMEN HERE. I ACTUALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WE HEART SEATTLE, AND USE THIS BOILERPLATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE USED IN WRITING IN NEW SERVICES AND NEW PROVIDERS INTO BILLS THAT MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING. OUR YEAR-TO- DATE IMPACTS WE RAISED $4.5 MILLION AND LAST YEAR WE HEART SEATTLE RAISED A MILLION DOLLARS TO CLEAN THE GREENBELTS AND UNDER THE BRIDGES, ON THE BLADE, ON THE TRACK, REFERRING MEN, WOMEN AND YOUTH TO PROGRAMS LIKE THE MORE WE LOVE, LIKE HOPE AND CHANCE LIKE BATTLEFIELD ADDICTION, LIKE CAMPING UNITED WE STAND. I LOVE CAMPUS HOUSING. WE FUND AND DONATE TO CAMP UNITED WE STAND AND OTHER PARTNERS THAT HAVE A RECOVERY BASED AND TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM SO PEOPLE REACH SELF SUFFICIENCY. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HEART SEATTLE IS A 24/7 DETOX FACILITY. MADISON HERE GRADUATED. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HER AND THE OTHER MEN AND WOMEN WHO GRADUATED FROM THAT PROGRAM. SO I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT CHIEF BARTON IS SAYING THERE'S NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO, THERE'S NO SYSTEM. WHERE WE HAVE A SYSTEM. IT'S PICKING UP THE PHONE AND CALLING PEOPLE LIKE CHRISTINE. WE ARE GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM POLICE OFFICERS, OTHER OUTREACH PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND TICKETS HOME TO TREATMENT, TO FAMILY UNIFICATION, BACK TO WORK BACK TO JAIL. WE BELIEVE ACCOUNTABILITY IS LOVE AND WHEN WE CONTINUE TO DEFER PEOPLE FROM SERVING THEIR TIME THEY SORT OF DEVOLVE INTO THE SINGLE PATTERN AND WE WANT TO PUSH THE IMPACTS WE'RE SEEING IN THE CITY AND TO SUPPORT THE MORE WE LOVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER? >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES. DAVID, GO AHEAD AND PRESS STAR 6 TO SPEAK. >> HI. DAVID HAYNES. IT'S OBVIOUS THE LANDLORDS AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE NO EFFORT TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND IT'S MORE OF AN ATTITUDE OF NOT IN MY DISTRICT AND MORE PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE COWARDICE ON HOMELESS, AND THE CRIMINALS AND UNTRUSTWORTHY SYMPATHIZE WITH. THIS COUNCIL MEETING AND MORE ABOUT UNELECTED APPOINTMENTS TO PUSH FAVORS TO DEMOCRAT VOTING BLOCS. JUST LOOK AT THE HOUSING AND SERVICES AGENDA FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND NOTHING BUT CANCELED MEETINGS IN JULY AND VACATION IN AUGUST AS IF PROGRESSIVE LANDLORD DEMOCRATS ARE OKAY BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS NICER. PROVING ONCE AGAIN THEY DON'T WANT TO SOLVE HOMELESS CRISIS AND INSTEAD, THEY WANT TO HAVE CORRUPT NONPROFITS WHO PASS THE COST OF SUB- HUMAN SHELTERS AND SHARON LEE IN CITY HALL WHO GETS AN EXEMPTION FROM SCRUTINY FOR HER ILL- SUITED RUNDOWN REAL ESTATE THAT SEES LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE REMORTGAGE SUBSIDIARIES AS TAXPAYERS' EXTENSE, OVERCHARGING TAXPAYERS ON THE DILAPIDATED OF HER OWN RUNDOWN REAL ESTATE WHILE OFFERING FIVE SHOWERS IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, PROVING HOW TWO- BIT CHUMP CHANGE SEATTLE IS. WE HAVE USTWORTHIES IN CITY HALL WHO NEVER HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WHOLE OF COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE FOCUSED ON FAMILY INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT FROM BAD POLICIES ON THE OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THE SELLOUTS WANT AND DON'T HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WHOLE OF COMMUNITY. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY PROVIDED -- IT'S OBVIOUS THE CO-CHAIR HAS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND HAS NO INTEREST IN SOLVING THE HOMELESS CRISIS, AND THE ONLY ONES TO SOLVE IT -- >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS AND WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SIGN- UP CARDS ON THE PODIUM OR EMAIL THE COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR, AND ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDE APPOINTMENTS 3190 THROUGH 3193 THROUGH THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. APPOINTMENTS 3194 THROUGH 3201 TO THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. APPOINTMENTS 3202 TO 3207 TO THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION, AND APPOINTMENT 3208 TO THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION, AND APPOINTMENT 3209 TO THE COMMUNITY ROOTS HOUSING PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR? I'M NOT SEEING ANY ONLINE. OKAY. >> HEARING NONE. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR? [ ROLL CALL ] FIVE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU. THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE ADOPTED AND WILL BE SENT TO THE JULY 1st COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL CONFIRMATION. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 21 INTO THE RECORD. >> AGENDA ITEM 21, UPDATE FROM THE MORE WE LOVE SURVIVOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, ALL OF YOU. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE DOWN TO THE END OF THE TABLE AND YOU'RE ALL CLOSER. ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU. TODAY WE WELCOME CHRISTINE MORLAND. UNFORTUNATELY, SARAH ANN HAMILTON CAN'T JOIN US TODAY FROM THE MORE WE LOVE, AND SHELLY McLAVLY AND ANOTHER PERSON. >> MADISON. >> THANK YOU. WHO ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR SURVIVOR PROGRAM. WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE MORE WE LOVE WHO LET US KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO COMMITTEE TO SHARE THE WAYS THAT FUNDING HAS HELPED THE PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR SURVIVOR PROGRAMS AND ALLOW THEM TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NICE THING TO DO AND A HELPFUL THING BECAUSE THIS COMMITTEE AND MOST OF OUR COMMITTEES ALWAYS HEAR FROM THE PROVIDERS WHICH WE NEED TO BE HEARING FROM THE PROVIDERS BECAUSE WE OVERSEE THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN TERMS OF FUNDING BUT WE RARELY GET TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SERVICE -- OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT AND DEBATING AND FUNDING, AND SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICES, WHO WE ARE HERE TO TRY TO SERVE AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M DELIGHTED THAT YOU ARE ALL HERE TODAY TO TALK TO US ABOUT IT AND SHARE YOUR STORIES. SO WITH THAT SAID, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, CHRISTINE? >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND HAVING THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN HERE WITH ME AS WELL. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE MORELAND AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MORE WE LOVE. WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN HUMAN DIGNITY, SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION. OUR MISSION IS TO WALK ALONGSIDE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR CITY AND OFFER REAL, LASTING PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY AND RESTORATION. WE CURRENTLY RUN SHELTER BEDS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND OUTREACH SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED BY COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ADDICTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS. EVERY DAY WE WORK TO PARTNER CURRENTLY WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE P.D. AND GROWING NETWORKS OF DEDICATED ORGANIZATIONS. TOGETHER, WE ARE NOT JUST RESPONDING, BUT WE'RE BUILDING OUTCOMES THAT CHANGE LIVES AND WE DO IT BY BEING PEOPLE'S CONSTANTS. IN A WORLD THAT SO OFTEN TURNS ITS BACK WE SHOW UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE LISTEN, WE STAY, WE LOVE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND WE WALK WITH THEM. TOWARDS WHERE THEY'RE GOING, NOT PERFECTLY, BUT FAITHFULLY. THAT'S WHY TODAY IS SO MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE WE ALSO GET TO HONOR -- WE ALSO GET TO HONOR SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A CONSTANT FOR THE CITY'S MOST FORGOTTEN. IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I HAVE KNOWN COUNCIL MEMBER CATHY MULLER, SHE HAS BEEN A VOICE OF TRUTH AND COURAGE IN A TIME WHEN IT'S EASIER TO REMAIN SILENT. SHE HAS STOOD FIRM NOT FOR POLITICAL GAIN, BUT FOR THE HUMAN BEINGS ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN THAT ARE BEING EXPLOITED EVERY DAY IN OUR STREETS. KATHY SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN AURORA AND SHE REFUSED TO LOOK AWAY. SHE DIDN'T SUPPORT THE SUPPORTER, SHE PUSHED IT RELENTLESSLY. SHE FOUGHT TO ENSURE THAT FUNDING WAS ATTACHED NOT JUST TO ENFORCE, BUT CARE THAT THE RESOURCES WERE THERE, THAT THERE WAS SAFETY AND THAT THERE WAS HOPE. BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE INCREDIBLE TEAM AND THE INCREDIBLE TEAM WITHIN THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE MORE WE LOVE WAS AWARDED A SHORT- TERM PILOT TO UPGRADE TEN DEDICATED SHELTER BEDS FOR SURVIVORS OF COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. THESE BEDS ARE ALREADY CREATING REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO FIND FREEDOM, SAFETY AND HEALING, BUT KATHY'S LEGACY IS DIFFERENT THAN ONE ORDINANCE OR ONE GRANT. SHE SHOWED US HOW TO LEAD WITH BOTH STRENGTH AND COMPASSION. SHE REMINDED US THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE PUT FIRST ABOVE POLITICS, ABOVE RHETORIC, WE WILL ALL WIN, AND THAT'S THE VISION WE ARE COMMITTED TO CARRYING FORWARD. AT THE MORE WE LOVE, WE BELIEVE THAT TRUE CHANGES HAPPEN WHEN WE SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND WE COME TOGETHER AROUND WHAT MATTERS MOST, THE PEOPLE. WE KNOW NOT EVERYONE IN THIS ECOSYSTEM SHARES THE SAME PHILOSOPHIES OR STRATEGIES AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING RIGHT. IT'S ABOUT BEING EFFECTIVE AND BEING LOVING. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING BUILDING BRIDGES AND NOT WALLS AND IT'S ABOUT MEETING IN THE MIDDLE WITH HUME ILITY AND RESOLVE. WHEN SOMEONE WITH IDEOLOGY ALIGNS WITH ME AND WHETHER WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING HAND IN HAND, BECAUSE OUR CITY DOESN'T NEED MORE DIVISION, IT NEEDS MORE HEALING AND HEALING COMES THROUGH UNITY, CONSISTENCY AND LOVE. COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT KIND OF LEADER. YOU'VE LIT A PATH THAT SO MANY OF US ARE NOW WALKING, AND I PROMISE YOU, WE WILL NOT LET IT GO DARK. WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOVE BOLDLY, TO PARTNER WISELY AND TO KEEP THE FOCUS WHERE IT BELONGS, ON THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM ANDAND EVERY WOMAN WHOSE LIVES ARE CHANGED BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU MADE POSSIBLE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS, YOUR GRIT AND YOUR HEART AND TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP TO COLLABORATE AND TO LISTEN AND TO BE SOMEBODY'S CONSTANT BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE WIN, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM SITTING NEXT TO THREE OF THE MOST AMAZING WOMEN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE A CONSTANT TO, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HEAR FROM THEM. MADISON? >> GOOD MORNING. I AM MADISON, A SURVIVOR AND PEER RECOVERY. SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU IS A SMART, FUNNY, SINGLE MOM OF TWO. SIX YEARS AND 63 DAYS AGO TODAY I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THE LIFE I'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN SUCH A SHORT PAYMENT OF TIME. THE MORE WE LOVE OFFERS JORDAN AND MY NUMBER ONE SUPPORTER CHRISTINE TELLS ME I WAS ONE OF NINE TO GET ON A LIST FOR A FULL 28- DAY TREATMENT PAID FOR BY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS COMMIT. I WAS A METH ADDICT, HOMELESS AND SCARED AND I HAD NO IDEA OF THE WOMAN I'D BECOME. I STUCK IT OUT AND WAS READY FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT NOT ONLY GOD HAD SENT OUT FOR ME, BUT THE WOMEN -- MY WOMEN AND LEADERS INVOLVED. I OWE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANDREA FOR GETTING ME THE OPPORTUNITY IN HAVING FAITH IN SOMEBODY THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I'M FINALLY THE MOM, DAUGHTER AND SOBER SISTER I GET TO BE AND WANT TO BE FOR THE REST OF MY YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU FOR HAVING FAITH IN SOMEONE YOU NEVER KNEW BECAUSE I LOVE THE WOMEN I ADMIRE AND ADORE EVER SO MUCH. I CAN'T WAIT TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO WOMEN JUST LIKE THE ONE I USED TO BE. HI, I'M MADISON AND PEER LEADER IN RECOVERY. >> I'M SHAY, A SURVIVOR AND LEADER IN RECOVERY. AT 17 I GOT A JOB AT A STRIP CLUB. ON MY SECOND DAY, A MAN BOUGHT ME A DRINK AND SLIPPED SOMETHING IN MY DRINK. I WAS ON A PLANE LANDING AT THE LAX AIRPORT IN CALIFORNIA. FOR TWO YEARS I WAS FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION AND TOOK DRUGS DAILY. TWO YEARS AGO THERE WAS A GUN TO MY HEAD AND TOLD ME IF I RAN AWAY HE WOULD KILL MY FAMILY. NOT WANTING ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE I LOVED I DID AS HE ASKED. I WAS A SCARED YOUNG GIRL. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD SEE MY SON, HUG MY MOM OR TELL MY SISTER I LOVED HER AGAIN. I GOT INTO A BAD CAR ACCIDENT AND GOT INJURED BAD ENOUGH I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. I CALLED MY MOM WHO IMMEDIATELY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO COME HOME. THIS LED TO 20 YEARS OF PROSTITUTION, SELLING AND USING DRUGS SEX VIOLENCE BASICALLY ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY -- ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY TO SUPPLY MY DRUG HABIT. I WAS CONVINCED A CONVICT, FELON, PROSTITUTE, DRUG DEALER AND ADDICT WAS ALL I WAS EVER GOING TO BE. I REALLY BELIEVED I WAS GOING TO DIE IN THE GAME. I CAN REMEMBER A FEW TIMES LOOKING IN THE MIRROR THINKING TODAY MIGHT BE THE DAY I FINALLY USE TOO MUCH FENTANYL AND BE RELEASED FROM THE WORLD OF DRUG, SEX AND CRIME AND WONDERED IF GOD WAS EVEN GOING TO OPEN HEAVEN'S GATE FOR ME AND IF DRUG ADDICTS AND PROSTITUTES EVEN GET TO SEE HEAVEN. TWO DAYS LATER I WAS IN A STOLEN, LIFTED SUPER DUTY, COP IT IS LIT ME UP AND I STARTED TO RAM THEM. I ENDED UP IN A JAIL CELL DETOXING WITH FENTANYL. I WAS FINALLY FREED FROM THE DRUG. MY ATTORNEY TALKED TO ME ABOUT TREATMENT. I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY AND GAVE IT MY BEST SHOT. 28 DAYS LATER I GRADUATED, BUT THE JUDGE DECLINED MY RELEASE PLAN, AND I HAD TWO HOURS TO TURN MYSELF IN, AND I DID. AT THIS POINT I NOW HAD THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY BEHIND MY NEWFOUND SOBRIETY. FRIENDS PUT MY BAIL TOGETHER AND BACK TO THE HOUSE I USED TO USE AT. THE FIRST TWO DAYS WAS GREAT, AND I WAS ON MY SABOXIN. TWO DAYS I WOKE UP TO GIRLS IN THONGS. WE GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT AND HE PUNCHED ME IN MY FACE, AND I GRABBED MY DOG, SOME FENTANYL AND I TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE. I GOT MY DOG OUT AND WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND RAN INTO A FRIEND WHO OFFERED TO HELP. HE CALLED KRISTINE MORELAND, AND SHE TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO BE OKAY AND SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN. HERE'S A POEM I WROTE TO KRISTINE BACK IN SEPTEMBER AFTER SHE HELPED ME OUT. OH, SORRY. WHEN I WAS BROKEN IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE, YOU LOVED ME. WHEN I WAS LONELY AND COMPLETELY LOST, YOU SAW A BEAUTIFUL SOUL. YOU MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE YOU SEE GOOD IN IT. YOU MAKE ME A BETTER WOMAN BECAUSE YOU SHOWED ME HOW TO BE ONE. YOU SHOWED ME I WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WORTH OF LOVE. MOW MATTER HOW HARD MY SHELL IS, YOU OPEN YOUR ARMS AND I FALL APART EVERY TIME. BECAUSE OF MY ANGELS AT THE MORE WE LOVE, I CAN'T SEE, I'M SORRY, AND MY PTSD SERVICE DOG I CANNOT FIT IN. I CANNOT THANK THOSE WHO HELPED ME CHANGE MY LIFE, SHOWED ME LOVE, GUIDANCE AND LET ME KNOW THAT I HAVE A VOICE. I NOW WORK FOR THE MORE WE LOVE CHAIR MEETINGS AT THE SAFE LOCATION FOR THE SURVIVORS AND HAVE RECOVERY SISTERS. I SHOW RECOVERY CAN BE FUN. I'M SHAY, A SURVIVOR, THRIVER, LEADER AND I'M IN RECOVERY. HI. [ INAUDIBLE ] >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ASHAUTEE JEFFERS. PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE, IN 2023 MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY OF A DRUG OVERDOSE FOLLOWING MY FATHER DID THE SAME WHEN I WAS 15. JUST AFTER MY MOTHER PASSED I LOST MY DAUGHTER TO SIDs. I HAD JUST HAD A BABY THETHE rd. MY MOM DIED THE 7 th AND SO I WAS, NEEDLESS TO SAY, DESPONDENT ANGRY AGGRESSIVE, DIDN'T CARE. ALL OF THE THINGS, AND I WAS SPINNING MY WHEELS IN THE GAME TRYING TO NOT FEEL OR NOT NEED ANYONE OR DO IT ALL ON MY OWN AND PROGRESSIVELY, MY LIFE GOT WORSE. SEPTEMBER 20th -- OR NO, SEPTEMBER 14th MY LIFE CAME TO A HEAD. I WAS STRAIGHT OUT OF OPTIONS OUT OF MONEY, FIGHTING WITH MY -- WITH THE FATHER OF MY CHILD, YOU KNOW, BEAT UP, HAD EXPERIENCED ASSAULT. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN WASHINGTON, AND THE POLICE CALLED KRISTINE AND TOLD HER MY SITUATION, AND IN ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER THAT I WAS IN AN UBER WITH EVERYTHING I OWNED AND ON MY WAY TO A SAFE HOTEL ROOM FOR ME TO GATHER MYSELF, AND THAT APPOINTMENT AT THE HOSPITAL I FOUND OUT THAT I WAS NINE WEEKS PREGNANT WITH MY SON, AND I KNEW AT THAT POINT I WAS DONE. EITHER SOMEONE WAS GOING TO CARE AND HELP OR I WAS -- I WAS DONE FOR. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE. AND KRISTINE AND HER PARTNERS CAME÷÷CAME LITERALLY CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE. I WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WAS NOT FOR KRISTINE AND HER UNDERSTANDING AND KINDNESS AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE LITERAL HARDEST TIME OF MY LIFE. BECAUSE OF HER INFLUENCES I HAVE ALMOST TWO YEARS CLEAN AND SOBER. I HAVE MY OWN APARTMENT. I LIVE WITH MY SON. I NOW HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY 13-YEAR- OLD DAUGHTER. I HAVE MY OWN CAR AND WORKING TOWARDS SCHOOLING AND EMPLOYMENT, AND IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME IF ANY OF THIS WAS POSSIBLE IN 2023, I WOULD HAVE LAUGHED IN YOUR FACE AND PROBABLY DONE A LOT MORE RUDE THINGS, BUT, IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE. I WAS -- LIFE CAN REALLY KNOCK YOU FOR A LOOP, BUT WHEN THERE'S PEOPLE THAT CAN SEE THROUGH YOURYOUR PAIN AND ANGER AND SEE WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO CHANGE, THAT'S -- THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT'S THE HEADLINE. TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ABILITY TO MOVE THROUGH YOUR GRIEF, PAIN AND LOSS AND STILL SMILE . I'M IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO HAD A HAND IN THAT CHANGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL. SORRY, IT'S QUITE EMOTIONAL SITTING LISTENING TO THESE INCREDIBLE WOMEN. I JUST WANT TO SAY, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THOSE TEN BEDS THAT WERE AWARDED TO THE MORE WE LOVE, THE CONFIDENCE FROM THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ARE GOING TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. IT'S A VERY SHORT- TERM PILOT PROGRAM, BUT TO US, THIS IS NOT A PILOT. THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE'S LIVES. THESE ARE REAL PATHWAYS THAT WE GET TO CREATE AND WE GET TO WALK ALONGSIDE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED US MOST AND SO WE JUST ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SEES THAT WORK FOR WHAT IT IS AND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT US, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND IT MATTERS. COUNCIL MEMBER, CATHY MOORE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR THOSE THAT NEED US MOST. IT MATTERS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE VERY KIND WORDS, BUT IT WAS TRULY A COMMUNITY EFFORT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? THIS IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO WRAP THIS UP, BUT IT'S JUST YOUR STORIES ARE SO COMPELLING, AND WE LOSE LOVE -- SO OFTEN WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHO IS OUT THERE AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND -- SORRY. I'M SO GRATEFUL. SO GRATEFUL FOR -- I'VE MET TWO OF YOU BEFORE, AND I REMEMBER BEING JUST SO IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT WHILE YOU HAD THE JOURNEYS THAT YOU HAVE MADE, AND I THINK EVEN THEN YOU'VE COME EVEN FARTHER AND IT'S REALLY HUMBLING, I THINK, YOU KNOW? WE SIT UP HERE AND WE MAKE JUDGMENTS AND DETERMINATIONS AND COMING FROM SUCH A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE, IT'S ALWAYS SO IMPORTANT TO BE GROUNDED. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES AND THANK YOU FOR VALIDATING THE WORK THAT WE DO RIGHT? MAKING US KNOW THAT IT MATTERS AND IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE SUCCESS, AND I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR -- AND I'LL CALL ON MY COLLEAGUE IN A MOMENT, BUT -- WAS IT THE ACCESS TO TREATMENT? I KNOW COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING MONEY FOR TREATMENT ATAT LAKESIDE MYLAM, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF HER MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PASSIONS. YOU KNOW, JUST WANTING TO HEAR ABOUT THE VALUE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT. WHAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO BETTER UP HERE TO SUPPORT WOMEN SUCH AS YOURSELVES AND OTHERS WHO ARE ON THE TRACK AND STRUGGLING? THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR, BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON FIRST. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR MOORE, AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY OUR SPEAKERS FORFOR YOUR WORK, YOUR BRAVERY, YOUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THESE HEROES, THESE SURVIVORS, THESE WARRIORS IN THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT -- NOW I'M GOING TO GET, MOBILE. MOBILE. WHEN I LOOK AT YOU IN THE ROOM YOU ARE IMPACTING LIVES AND WHAT YOU DO WITH WE HEART SEATTLE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THE MORE WE LOVE, YOU ARE SAVING LIVES AND SAVING TRAJECTORIES. KRISTINE, WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE TO FIRST MEET YOU AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE BEEN VERY MEANINGFUL FOR ME, AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE AND WHEN I HEAR THE STORIES FROM MADDISON AND SHAY, I HAVE HOPE AND QUITE FRANKLY, I NEED IT IN MY LIFE GHT NOW. SO THANK YOU. AGAIN, MY GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND MY GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR SAVING LIVES. MY ATITUDE TO YOU FOR HELPING MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> YOUR PRESENCE AT THE TABLE MATTERS AND LET ME -- FOR EXAMPLE, JUST TO EXPLAIN HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. WHEN THE COUNCIL WAS DELIBERATING ON THE SODA AND SOAP LEGISLATION I REMEMBER A REPORTER ASKING ME WHY I SUPPORTED SOAP, AND THEY -- AND IT WAS SOMETHING -- THEY WERE SORT OF EQUATING IT WITH ALL KINDS OF SEX SEX WORK, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN AURORA, AND I FELT LIKE -- IT WAS JUST VERY BLACK AND WHITE THINKING, AND I REMEMBER BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE STORIES THAT I HEARD FROM THE MORE WE LOVE AND THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN THAT DAY AND IT ALLOWED ME TO MAKE A NUANCE, AND TO -- JUST TO REALLY SHOW THE ACTUAL -- NOT NECESSARILY IMPACT OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. OUR LEGITIMACY RESTS ON THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE AS POLICYMAKERS ARE RESPONDING TO THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO US FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING IT UP FOR SOME OTHER REASON TO PURSUE. WE REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THAT'S ALREADY COMPLICATED ENOUGH, BUT MY POINT IS THAT YOUR PRESENCE AT THAT TABLE ALLOWED ME TO REALLY MAKE -- I ALREADY KNEW HOW I WAS GOING TO VOTE, BUT IT ALLOWED ME TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHY THIS LEGISLATION WAS SO IMPORTANT. OF COURSE, IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE PUT IT BEFORE US. IT WASN'T IMPORTANT FOR THAT, BUT I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR THE BRAVERY OF DOING THAT AND ALSO THE WISDOM TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO -- SO THAT WE ALL KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO OUR CONSTITUENTS COULD KNOW WHY WE'RE MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING. SO THE POINT IS THAT AT ITS BEST, GOVERNMENT WORKS TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT, AND IT TAKES COURAGE ON BOTH SIDES, TOO, TO REALLY SHOW WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS AND WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATE THE COMMITTEE'S REQUEST TO APPEAR BEFORE US TODAY AND SHARE SOME OF THE REAL- LIFE, TANGIBLE, HUMAN IMPACT AND RESULTS OF OUR COLLECTIVE WORK, AND SOME OF THESE -- THESE COUNCIL AND CITY INVESTMENTS. I PRAISE AND COMMEND KRISTINE, MADDISON SHAY AND ASHANTI -- HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT? ASHAUTEE, BEAUTIFUL NAME. >> THANK YOU. >> I PRAISE YOU ALL FOR YOUR COURAGE. I AM MOVED, INDEED, BY YOUR CONVICTION AND YOUR BRAVERY AND BEING HERE TODAY, SHARING YOUR STORIES. I THINK YOU'RE MORE THAN JUST SURVIVORS. A SURVIVOR IMPLIES SOMEONE THAT EXPERIENCED SOMETHING TRAUMATIC AND THEY MADE IT THROUGH ON THE OTHER END. IT'S TABLE STAKES. THE GOAL IS FOR THAT TO BE TABLE STAKES. I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE EXTRA STEP OF OVERCOMING FENTANYL ADDICTIONS AND METH AND OVERCOMING THESE REALLY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES PERSONAL FAMILY COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES AND PUTTING YOURSELF, BEING EMPOWERED BY COMMUNITY ON A BETTER PATH TO CREATING A BETTER LIFE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILIES. THAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM. THAT IS WHAT EVERY LAST PENNY THAT WE INVEST IN OUR $8.5 BILLION BUDGET SHOULD ULTIMATELY BE DESIGNED, THAT IS THE GOAL THAT EVERY LAST PENNY SHOULD ULTIMATELY BE DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE. SO YOU ARE MORE THAN SURVIVORS, YOU ARE ACHIEVERS. LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON'S WORD, YOU ARE WARRIORS AND YOU GUYS ARE BEASTS IN A WAY, BUT AGAIN, I AM INCREDIBLY INSPIRED BY YOU ALL, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW -- I MEAN, I THINK EVERYONE HAS EXPERIENCED SOME LEVEL OF TRAUMA, PAIN IN THEIR LIFE, MYSELF INCLUDED, BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WHENEVER -- AND ANYONE, NOT JUST YOU ALL WHO HAPPEN TO BE AT THE TABLE HERE, BUT EVERYONE WHO RECEIVES SERVICES OR BENEFITS FROM THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT YOUR CITY LOVES YOU, CARES ABOUT YOU AND IS TRULY COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS. YOU BELONG HERE, NOT ONLY LITERALLY IN THIS SPACE, IN THIS ESTEEMED CHAMBER, BUT YOU BELONG IN OUR CITY, AND YOU ARE WORTHY OF THE SUPPORT AND SO MUCH MORE THAT -- AND I WISH WE COULD DO MORE, BUT YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE APPRECIATED AND YOU ARE WORTHY FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, AND FROM THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE. SO WE MIGHT HAVE THESE POLICY DEBATES ON VISION AND APPROACH AND THOSE DEBATES HAVE -- ARE AS OLD AS TIME, TO BE HONEST AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM ON HOW WE BEST ADDRESS THE COMPLEX SOCIETAL CHALLENGES. THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT I SAID EARLIER. YOU ALL MATTER, AND YOUR VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES AND THE COLLECTIVE LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT YOU ALL EMBODY AND REFLECT MATTER. SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU ALL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE -- THESE POLICY DEBATES. PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY KNOW I'M NEVER SCARED TO HAVE THESE DEBATES, BUT ME AND MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT DISAGREE ON THE APPROACH AND WE HAVE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AGAIN, THESE DEBATES ARE AS OLD AS TIME, BUT HERE'S ONE OTHER THING I DO KNOW, ONE UNIVERSAL TRUTH, AND I CAN SAY THIS CONFIDENTLY OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES, WE ALL CARE, AND WE ALL ARE COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. IT'S REALLY GOOD TO -- TO SEE AND HEAR OUT AGAIN, AS THE CHAIR NOTED, WE OFTEN HEAR FROM THE SERVICE PROVIDERS. WE VERY RARELY HEAR FROM THE SERVICE RECIPIENTS UNLESS WE DO OUR OWN WORK OUTSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER, BUT -- SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, CHAIR MOORE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. SURE, IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, BUT IT ALSO, ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED AT LEAST ONE CHAMPION, AND ON THIS FLOOR FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE AND YOU ABSOLUTELY ARE AND WERE THAT CHAMPION, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY ON THIS -- ON THIS ISSUE IN PARTICULAR, SO THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON. COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM THE CITY FOR A TEN- BED PLACE. >> CORRECT. >> WAS THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU HAD RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OR ANY KIND OF CONTRACT FROM THE CITY? >> THIS IS OUR FIRST SEATTLE CONTRACT, YES. >> WHO ELSE -- WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO YOU CONTRACT WITH? >> I'M CURRENTLY WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. >> GOT IT. I ASK THAT QUESTION -- THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW. THAT SEEMS TO BE A REAL -- THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT DOES -- IS CONFUSING TO ME AND IT IS ALSO FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE SEE NONPROFITS THAT ARE DOING REALLY GOOD, UNIQUE WORK, AND I LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW THEY BREAK INTO THE CITY CONTRACT SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU ANSWER A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND THEN SOMEBODY'S AWARDED AND SOMEBODY ISN'T. I AM ALSO THINKING ABOUT WE HEART SEATTLE WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND WHO MAY COMMENT TODAY DOING INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK, AND NOT JUST CLEANING UP GREENBELT AND PLACES WHERE THERE WERE FORMERLY ENCAMPMENT BUT GETTING PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT AND GETTING PEOPLE INTO JOB TRAINING SERVICES, BUT HAS NEVER RECEIVED A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE OR WITH KING COUNTY OR SEATTLE -- PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE KING COUNTY. SO I BELIEVE AS WE ARE LOOKING AT RESTRICTED FUNDING SOURCES WHICH WE ALWAYS ARE, AND NOW THAT WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, D.C. , THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEARLY SET PERFORMANCE METRICS AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR CONTRACTED SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND IF THEY ARE NOT LIVING UP TO THOSE METRICS, THEN WE CONSIDER CONTRACTING WITH SOMEBODY ELSE AND SPREADING OUR RESOURCES AROUND TO OTHER NONPROFITS BECAUSE WE OWE IT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS TO LOOK AT THE SERVICES THAT HELP THE MOST, AND I AM SO GLAD THAT SEATTLE HAS RECOGNIZED YOUR VALUE BECAUSE CLEARLY, THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, ALL OF YOU, JUST BEING UP HERE IS A NOTE TO SELF, I WILL SAY. THANK YOU. >> MAY I? >> YES. >> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THE KEY PIECE HERE IS THE MORE WE LOVE AND WE HEART SEATTLE IS RECOVERY BASED. WE ARE FOCUSED ON RECOVERY AND SO THAT MAY BE WHY WE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY RECEIVED CONTRAST IN THE PAST, BUT I DO THINK THE CITY IS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AROUND RECOVERY. I'M GLAD THAT YOU SEE THAT AS YOU FUNDED THE LAKESIDE OPPORTUNITY THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING GIFTED WITH. IN THIS SPACE, I HOPE THAT WITH HOW THE CHANGES ARE GOING, YOU REMOIN ARE MAIN MORE HOPES OF RECOVERY AND GET THE CITY CONTRACTS TO THE MORE WE LOVE WILL BE SUSTAINED BECAUSE IT IS RECOVERY BASED. >> ASHAUTEE, PLEASE? >> CAN I SPEAK TO THAT? I WORKED IN THIS TWO- YEAR PERIOD, I WORKED IN 15 TO 17 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ALL PROMISING THAT IT WILL BE BETTER, WE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU, AND INTENTION AND ACTION ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. AND HAVING SOMEONE LIKE KRISTINE WHO I KID YOU NOT, I HAVE TEXTED ANGRY TEXTS ABOUT MY SON OR THE BOTTLE WARMER IS BROKEN, LIKE, ALL KINDS OF THINGS. HAVING SOMEBODY THERE FOR YOU THROUGH THOSE THINGS AND ACTUALLY BEING THERE AND BEING WILLING TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME. I'M TRIBAL. I'M CHOCTAW NATIVE, AND THE MORE WE LOVE ALONG WITH MOTHER NATION, FIRST NATION FOUNDATION SPIRIT WOMAN'S COALITION HAVE ALL HELPED ME TO GET BACK WHERE I'M, YOU KNOW, BACK ON MY FEET. LIFE WIRE, ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS WILLING TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF IN COMPETITION IS ONE OF THE -- THERE'S A COUPLE THAT I CAN OFF THE TOP, WHERE I CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T -- BECAUSE THEIR SERVICES WOULDN'T CO INCIDE WITH OTHER SERVICES. YOU KNOW, MY BIG QUESTION MARK IN HAVING PEOPLE LIKE CHRISTINE WHO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND ARE ABLE TO SIFT THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY TO GET TO THE PROBLEM AND HELP YOU SOLVE IT, THAT'S RARE, AND I HAVE FOUND IT IN A FEW PLACESPLACES AND I'M GRATEFUL, BUT THE ABILITY TO COEXIST AND WORK AS A COMMUNITY TO GET US BACK TO A FUNCTIONING STATE OF NO LONGER SURVIVING, BUT LIVING, ENJOYING, YOU KNOW? >> THRIVING. >> YEAH, THRIVING. IT'S NOT OVER. IT'S NOT DONE. WE STILL NEED SUPPORT, AND WE NEED THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN SHOW UP FOR US IN DIFFERENT WAYS NOW, RIGHT? TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS I DON'T HAVE FOOD. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT. TODAY IT MIGHT BE, LIKE, I RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR TOILET PAPER, YOU KNOW? IT JUST DEPENDS AND LIFE CHANGE E BUT HAVING SOMEONE WILLING TO BE THERE THROUGH ALL OF THAT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE FAMILY OR PEOPLE AROUND THAT THAT WOULD SUPPORT YOU INTRINSICALLY JUST BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE, NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST -- THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS THAT I HAVE PEOPLE NOW, YOU KNOW? >> YEAH. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT -- WHAT WAS IT THAT SORT OF GOT YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WERE WILLING TO DO THE TREATMENT? GET INTO TREATMENT AND HOW DID THAT WORK FOR YOU? WHAT WAS THAT PATH FOR ALL THREE OF YOU? >> IT'S A BIG ONE. SEVEN YEARS OF BEING HOMELESS AND STUCK ON THE STREETS WITH MYSELF AND A DOG, YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE. YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE HURT AND SCARITY THAT I WENT THROUGH, AND I WAS SO DONE, BUT BECAUSE OF MY HOMELESS SITUATION IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I KID YOU NOT. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE, AND I THOUGHT ONE DAY, AND I SAT AND THOUGHT GOD, IS THIS THE END FOR ME? ARE MY KIDS NOT GOING TO KNOW THEIR MOM? MY DAD, DID HE KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN? DID HE HAVE ANY IDEA THAT I WOULD BECOME THIS GARBAGE OF A PERSON? WHEN KRISTINE AND OFFICER MET UP WITH ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY S■TAY AT LAKESIDE MYLAN WAS PAI FOR AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS COMMIT. THAT'S IT? ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SAY I'M IN AND I'M IN? YOU GOT IT. LET'S GO. LET'S DO IT. THERE WAS NO HESITATION, I HAD 45 MINUTES TO PACK A BAG. I HUGGED MY DOG FOR 15 OF THOSE MINUTES AND 45 MINUTES TO PACK A BAG AND I LEFT THIS TRAP HOUSE THAT I STAYED AT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, ALMOST A YEAR SORRY. I LIVED IN A TENT IN THEIR BACKYARD AND WAS COMFORTABLE LIVING LIKE THAT. NEVER IN MY LIFE DID I THINKTHINK THAT A DAUGHTER, A MOTHER, A SISTER WAS GOING TO BE IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD LIVING LAVISHLY. THAT'S TRASH, AND NOW I GET TO BE IN MY OWN SPACE WITH MY DOG, SAFE. MY KIDS ARE THIS CLOSE TO COMING HOME WITH ME AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SIT DOWN AND STRAP MYSELF IN FOR 28 DAYS? THAT'S CRAZY, AND I DID IT, AND I TRIED SO HARD TO GET THERE YEARS AGO, BUT I NEVER -- I WAS NEVER GIVEN THE LIGHT AND BECAUSE OF KRISTINE AND THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU GUYS GAVE ME THE LIGHT I NEVER THOUGHT I WASWAS GOING TO HAVE. >> CAN I ALSO SAY THAT THE MOMENT THAT I PUT MADDISON IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HER TO LAKESIDE MY PHONE RANG AND IT WAS ANOTHER YOUNG MOTHER WHO HAD JUST REPORTED TO ME THAT SHE LOST HER SON OF A FENTANYL OVERDOSE. I HAD HER ON SPEAKER WHILE PUTTING MADDISON IN THE CAR AND LETTING MADDISON KNOW THAT THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE AND YOUR MOM WILL NOT BE THE ONE CALLING ME LETTING ME KNOW YOUR LIFE WAS LOST. THESE THINGS REALLY, REALLY MATTER. >> TREATMENT WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. IT WAS AN ARM AND A LEG, THE COST OF TREATMENT, AND I HAD NOT EVEN A PENNY OF WHAT IT COST TO GET ME THROUGH WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED. 28 DAYS IS SUCH A SHORT TIME, BUT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED YEARS, AND I MEAN YEARS' WORTH OF SUCCESS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. I CELEBRATE 63 DAYS TODAY, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE CELEBRATING. I WANT THE NEXT YEARS OF MY LIFE TO BE -- TO BE THRIVING. TO BE FULL OF LOVE. TO BE A MOM. TO BE ABLE TO BE A GRANDMA ONE DAY. I GET TO DO THAT NOW, AND I NEVER -- SEVEN YEARS AGO YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MY LIFE AND I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LAUGHED AT YOU TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHERE I SAW MY LIFE GOING. I CELEBRATED MY 30th BIRTHDAY IN TREATMENT AND ALL I TOLD KRISTINE IS I SEE THIS PLACE WITH A BIG BIRTHDAY BOW ON IT. I DON'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I GOT A BIRTHDAY GIFT. I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU, I WAS PROBABLY A TEENAGER AND I GOT TO OPEN UP MY PRESENT ON MY 30 th BIRTHDAY AT LAKESIDE MYLAM, AND I FELT ACCOMPLISHED. I FELT THIS SIGH OF RELIEF AND THE HEAVINESS ON MY SHOULDERS WERE TOTALLY GONE, AND I MEAN, GONE. I HAVE NO, NO REGRETS ABOUT ANYTHING I DID, AND I KNOW I WILL ACCOMPLISH MUCH MORE, AND I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO INSPIRE MEN, EVEN, JUST LIKE ME, TO KNOW THAT IT'S OKAY TO FEEL THOSE THINGS AND THE FIGHT IS NOT JUST YOUR FIGHT AND IT WILL BE OUR FIGHT AND WE ARE HERE TO BATTLE IT WITH YOU BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THE MORE WE LOVE SHOWED ME THAT MY BATTLE IS NOT JUST FOR ME. IT WAS FOR EVERYBODY INCLUDED. I GET TO BE HOME WITH A SOBER SISTER NOW AND SHE AND I HAVE THE MOST AMAZING RELATIONSHIP. I HAVE THREE SISTERS OF MY OWN I DON'T KNOW AND I GET THE BIGGEST BIG SISTER I COULD HAVE ASKED FOR IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. >> THEY OCCUPY THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING UNIT THAT WE USE FOR PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM DETOX TREATMENT. >> IT'S THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. SO I THANK YOU. >> YOU KNOW I WENT THERE TOO, YOU KNOW? >> ONE MORE TIME? >> DO YOU KNOW I WENT THERE? >> LAKESIDE MYLAM. >> IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. >> I SAY THAT HERE AT DEUS BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT ADDICTION IS NOT -- IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S EVERYWHERE. >> IT'S EVERYWHERE AND PUTTING OUR RESOURCES INTO A SERVICE THAT GETS PEOPLE INTO COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT AND THEN JUST PAYS A CHECK AFTERWARDS ANDAND IS SIMPLICITY. IT HAS TO BE ON- DEMAND TREATMENT AND IT HAS TO BE THERE WHEN YOU WANT IT, AND IT HAS TO BE JUST -- THE CITY CAN MAKE IT EASY BY PAYING THE CHECK AFTER WARD. WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR RIGHT NOW IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ARE FINISHED WITH THEIR PROGRAM? >> RIGHT. >> YOU CAN STILL GO DO ALL OF THE COUNSELING GROUPS, BUT WHERE DO YOU LIVE? AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A RECOVERY-BASED HOME IF THAT IS THE PATH YOU CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF. >> IT IS. IT IS, AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I AM HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE GOING ON IN MY LIFE. I HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE AND TREATMENT IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. IT'S NOT FOR THOSE WHEN WANT IT IT'S FOR THOSE WHO DO IT, AND I WALK FOOT BY FOOT THROUGH MY RECOVERY EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. >> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 63rd DAY. THAT'S AMAZING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I TOLD HER SHE WAS GOING TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS DOING HER INTAKE AT LAKESIDE. HERE YOU GO. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. NOT GOING LIE. I THOUGHT -- I HAVE SOMETHING BIGGER FOR YOU AND NO, HERE I AM, AND I GET TO FINALLY SHOW YOU THIS WORKS, AND I THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU SAVED MY LIFE FROM A WORLD OF HURT. SO THANK YOU. >> SHAYLEE? >> SO FOR ME, RECOVERY, HONESTLY, I'VE HAD FOUR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS ALTOGETHER. I'VE TRIED TREATMENT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS ABSOLUTELY OFF OF EVERYTHING AND REALLY ACTUALLY SAID A PRAYER IN MY UNIT WITH MY MOM ON THE TABLET BASICALLY ASKING GOD JUST TO COME INTO MY LIFE AND FIGURE IT OUT FOR ME. BASICALLY, JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL. THEN, IT'S NOT THAT I HAD A BRIGHT AWAKENING, NO CLOUD AND SUNSHINE, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY BEEN A BIG DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE. I THINK ALSO THE RECOVERY, BUT ALSO HAVING SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, SO, LIKE, I GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO BEING SOMEBODY'S SISTER. I GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A GOD I NEVER HAD BEFORE. I GET A NEW WAY OF LIFE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND YOU THINK, WOW, THAT WAS REALLY TERRIBLE OR HOW ABOUT THIS ONE? WOW, I REALLY SURVIVED ALL OF THOSE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS? WOW. THAT'S BIG. FOR ME, RECOVERY WAS HONESTLY, WHAT'S MY NEXT WAY OUT. SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE. I CAN'T DO THE DRUG LIFE NO MORE. I CAN'T DO THE PROSTITUTION. I DON'T WANT TO DO IT. I LITERALLY WAS TO GIVE UP ON LIFE ONE MORE TIME. LIKE I TOLD YOU GUY, BEFORE I MET KRISTINE I REALLY TRIED A SUICIDE ATTEMPT AND I WAS JUST DONE, AND SHE SAID IT'S OKAY. IT WILL BE OKAY AND LITERALLY SINCE THIS DAY IT HAS BEEN. I GOT TO MEET ON EASTER -- AROUND EASTER, I FINALLY GOT TO MEET A GRANDSON THAT IS 4 YEARS OLD, AND I WAS ALWAYS DRUGGING AND DRINKING, YOU KNOW? I DIDN'T GET TO EVER MEET HIM. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO THIS LITTLE GUY WAS, HE'S CUTE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SINCE I'VE BEEN GOING TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY AND AFTER KRISTINE TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OKAY, I ACTUALLY GOT TO MEET MY GRAND BABY. HOW CRAZY IS THAT? I'M A GRANDMA, YOU KNOW, SURPRISE! >> I ALSO WANT TO SAY I WAS INVITED TO A MEETING LAST FRIDAY AT OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER AND I WAS ON THE ROAD AND I HAD TO ZOOM IN, AND BEFORE ME WAS SHAY RUNNING OUR VERY FIRST RECOVERY MEETING FOR THE WOMEN STAYING AT OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER. IT IS PROFOUND WHAT THEY ARE DOING THROUGH THEIR RECOVERY, BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT THEIR PURPOSE. >> YES. >> YOU'VE GOT ONE. >> THANK YOU. >> ASHAUNTEE. >> IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. THERE WERE NO OTHER OPTIONS. [ LAUGHTER ] I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE -- I'M SORRY -- I SAID THIS THE OTHER DAY TO KRISTINE, I PLANNED MY OWN DEMISE. I'M A PLANNER. I NEVER DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT FAR TOO MUCH, AND LOSING MY MOM DIDN'T DO IT? I LOST BOTH MY PARENTS TO DRUG, AND IT DIDN'T DO IT. I WAS STILL, LIKE, I'VE GOT THIS. KNOW? I CAN DO WHATEVER. I'M GOING TO LIVE AND IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT AND I HAD MY HEART BROKEN, THAT DIDN'T DO IT. NONE OF IT DID IT. I'D SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME HOMELESS, NEVER ACTUALLY, LIKE, OUTSIDE, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST BUMPING AROUND, NOT BEING SAFE, USING -- AROUND A LOT OF MEN AND I DON'T KNOW -- I NEVER -- I JUST -- I NEVER -- I FELT LIKE IT WOULDN'T TOUCH ME, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHY DO WE USE, RIGHT? TO COVER UP PAIN. IF I KEEP USING I WON'T FEEL IT, AND I HAVE TO DO THIS FOREVER BECAUSE WHAT'S BEHIND ME IS WAY TOO MUCH. I CAN'T FEEL THAT. I CAN'T FEEL A LOST CHILD. I CAN'T FEEL THE LOSS OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY. IF I DO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I HAD OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OFFER, THE BED'S READY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY YES, ASHANTEE, UM, NO. THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME THIS TIME IS THAT I WASN'T ALONE. I WAS NINE WEEKS PREGNANT AND RUNNING THE STREET AND GETTINGGETTING UP AND AND YOU KNOW ALL KINDS OF CRAZINESS ANDAND THAT GOING GOING TO LOSE ANOTHER BABY? WAS I GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN? AND I DECIDED REALLY EXHAUSTED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE. SO I GOT ON THE PHONE TO MY COUNSELOR, AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE YMCA, AND I SAID LOOK MONO KASHGS EITHER I GET INTO TREATMENT LIKE RID NOW, RIGHT NOW OR GOOD-BYE, AND THE POLICE OFFICER WHO TOOK THE STATEMENT FROM THE SITUATION I HAD JUST LEFT CAME IN AND HAD KRISTINE ON THE PHONE, AND ASKED ME TO TALK TO HER, AND SHE SAID, HEY, QUEEN. I'M GOING TO GET YOU A ROOM, AND I'LL SEE YOU LATER TONIGHT, AND I HAD NO IDEA WHO THIS PERSON WAS. I WAS GRUMPY, ANGRY AND VERY TIRED, AND -- YEAH. I HAD THE SUPPORT OF ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS GOING TO TREAT YOU LIKE A PERSON, NOT LIKE A JUNKIE OR A PROBLEM OR SOMEBODY WHO IS SCARING THE REGULAR PEOPLE YOU KNOW, I'M A GENERATIONAL USER. BOTH OF MY PARENTS USED AND ABUSED, THE REAL REAL OF IT IS EITHER I WAS GOING TO DO WHAT MY MOM DID TO ME TO MY CHILDREN OR IT STOPS WITH ME, AND I'VE GOT TO CARRY A LITTLE MORE THAN I WANT TO, AND IF YOU MEET MY KIDS, THEY'RE SO CUTE AND AWESOME. I COULD NEVER TO THEM, RIGHT? I COULD NEVER, AND SO IT STOPS WITH ME, AND THAT'S THE DECISION I MADE THE DAY I MET KRISTINE. >> THE KEY, THOUGH, WHAT YOU SAID, ASHAUNTEE, IT NEEDED TO HAPPEN THEN RIGHT NOW WHEN SHE WAS READY, IT HAPPENED THEN, NOW AND THE RESULT IS VERY CLEAR RIGHT? WE CAN'T WAIT. WE CAN'T SAY CALL US NEXT WEEK WITHIN 8:00 TO 5:00, CHECK A BOX. IT'S NOW. SO KEY. >> AND 60 DAYS OF TREATMENT. [ LAUGHTER ] 60 DAYS OF TREATMENT SHE GOT ME THROUGH DETOX. SHE GOT ME INTO NORTHWEST INDIAN FOR A 45- DAY PROGRAM AND THEN ALL BECAUSE OF MY PREGNANCY I ENDED UP GOING BACK TO THE DETOX CENTER BECAUSE THEY CAN MANAGE THE MEDICAL STUFF BETTER, BUT 60 DAYS OF TREATMENT AND THEN OUT TO OXFORD AND ALL BECAUSE -- ALL BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS! I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE AND -- YEAH. YOU JUST HAVE TO DECIDE. IT'S HARD. IT'S SCARY. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO, YOU'RE AN ADULT AND WANT TO DO WHAT YOU WANTWANT YOU'RE READY AND THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE. >> WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES, FOR BEING WILLING TO COME HERE TODAY. IT'S SCARY BEING IN A PUBLIC LIGHT, AND I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE TO SHARE -- I'M SORRY COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. >> NO, NO. KRISTINE MENTIONED TWICE THAT THERE WAS CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT THERE WAS A REFERRAL, RIGHT? IS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DOING THAT FOR CARE? >> ASK KRISTINE THAT. >> I'VE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS. WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT DO CALL US NOT FOR BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A FORMALITY THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER, HOWEVER JUST BECAUSE THERE'S PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THEY HAVE A LEVEL OF TRUST. IN THE CITY OF BERAN, I WORK WITH THE KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THEY CALL ME 24 HOURS. WE HAVE A HOTLINE. I WILL SAY THE IMPORTANCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PLAYING A ROLE IN CONNECTING THESE RESOURCES QUICKLY AND FINDING THE RESOURCE PROVIDERS THAT WILL SHOW UP QUICKLY MATTER. IT ALSO CREATES A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP, BUT THERE IS NO FORMAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW FOR US TO ANSWER CALLS QUICKLY. WE JUST DO IT. >> OKAY. >> THAT SHOULD BE COMING. THAT WAS PART OF THE FUNDING PACKAGE WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE CONTRACTS PUT OUT WITH COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO COULD BE AVAILABLE ALMOST 24/7 TO WORK WITH PATROL AND ALSO WITH THE VICE, SO THAT THE THREE PEOPLE IN VICE AREN'T HAVING TO DO ALL OF THE REFERRAL STEPS THEMSELVES. SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THE CURRICULUM IN PLACE AND WHICH MORE WE LOVE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND I BELIEVE THE RFP FOR THE COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO BE BASICALLY ON-CALL. VICTIM ADVOCATES TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH SPD IS GOING OUT THIS MONTH, I BELIEVE, OR NEXT MONTH. SO THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING SOON. THAT MORE FORMALIZED RELATIONSHIP. AGAIN, THE FOCUS OF THE LOITERING LAW FOR SELLERS IS DIVERSION TREATMENT SERVICES HOUSING. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE TO DO AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE GIVEN TO SPD. >> WE DID PRESENT TO THE NORTH PRESYNCED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW WE CAN CALL THE HELP LINE ASK WE'LL DO PROACTIVE OUTREACH AND IT SHOULD HELP WITH THEIR PRESENCE AND THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THE BEDS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, REALLY AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. I HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK HERE IN A YEAR'S TIME TO HEAR EVEN MORE AMAZING STORIES OF YOUR CONTINUED RECOVERY AND PROGRESS AND JUST THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TAKE CARE. >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A SECOND CHANCE SO WE COULD BE HERE. >> THANK YOU. [ INAUDIBLE ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT. JUST TO WRAP UP THAT PARTICULAR PRESENTATION, I DID JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT WAS -- THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA. IT WAS A COMMUNITY AND IT WAS A COUNCIL EFFORT. IT WAS THE COUNCIL THAT DECIDED TO PASS THE LAW. IT WAS THE COUNCIL THAT DECIDED TO MAKE SURE THE FUNDING WAS THERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PUTTING $2 MILLION IN THEIR BUDGET. SO, CLEARLY, IT TAKES A COMMUNITY. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO MAKE ALL OF THIS HAPPEN. SO KRISTINE'S WORDS WERE VERY KIND, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY OF US WHO WERE INVOLVED AND THE TRUSTEE WAS A CRITICAL PARTNER AS WAS DEPUTY MAYOR TIFFANY WASHINGTON, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE -- EXTEND MY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE, AND WHO WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS KIND OF PROGRESS AND RECOVERY POSSIBLE. OKAY. SO MY FINAL REMARKS AS CHAIR THIS CONCLUDES THE JUNE 25th MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CANCELED WHILE COUNCIL WORKS TO APPOINT A NEW CHAIR. SO THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 13th. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO OVERSEE THIS COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE INCLUDING OUR INCREDIBLY TALENTED CENTRAL STAFF TEAM OF TRACY, JEN AND ASHA. HSD DIRECTOR TANIA KIM AND STAFF. OFFICE OF HOUSING DIRECTOR MICHAEL CHEN AND KELLY LARSON AND STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS AND THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTOR DEREK WHEELER SMITH AND STAFF, AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THE DEPUTY MAYOR TIFFANY WASHINGTON. I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VICE CHAIR SOLOMON FOR YOUR COLLEGIALITY AND YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS TIME, AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE COME TO EVERY COMMITTEE MEETING ENGAGED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORK AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE WORK, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE WITH YOU TO OVERSEE THE EXTENSIVE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES WORK, AND WE HAVE MANAGED TO ACCOMPLISH AA AMOUNT. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF EDUCATING OURSELVES ABOUT THE EXTENSIVE LEVEL OF WORK THAT IS DONE IN THIS CITY WHICH IS IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM A VARIETY OF SERVICE PROVIDERS. WE'VE ALSO EXTENDED THE MULTI- FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE COMING BACK AT SOME POINT HERE FOR FINALIZATION. WE IMPLEMENTED THE FUNDING LEVY AND WE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ACTUALLY DIRECTS SOME MONEY FOR RECOVERY AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED AND IT'S THE LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR KING COUNTY ALREADY, WHICH WE ARE WORKING AND REVAMPING THE BYLAWS AS WELL AS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. AS THE CITY AND COUNTY'S APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS. I WOULD SAY THAT AS WE WRAP UP THE WORK UNDER MY TENURE, THERE'S A LOT THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE, AND VOTE FOR MFTE AND MHA AND ALSO INCREASING OUR SHELTER AND HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, BUT I HOPE THAT THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE THAT WE DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND FROM BEING WILLING TO CONSIDER IF THE URRENT APPROACH IS WORKING TO BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND TO CONTINUE TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FEELS VALUED AND IS CARED FOR BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. SO I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF D5 FOR SELECTING ME TO SERVE ON THIS COUNCIL, AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR SELECTING ME TO BE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR INSTILLING YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I CAN NAVIGATE THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. SO THE TIME IS 10:37, AND WE ARE NOW -- OH, SORRY. HAND RAISED? OH, SORRY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> YOU DON'T GET AWAY THAT FAST. [ LAUGHTER ] I THANK YOU. I REMEMBER THE WALK THAT WE TOOK AROUND GREEN LAKE RIVER TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND THINKING THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOU AT THIS COMMITTEE PARTLY BECAUSE II KNEW YOU FROM PRIOR WORK TO BE SOMEONE WHO DOES ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND THAT IS WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATED ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ADDITION TO BEING THE FORCE BEHIND THE SOAP LEGISLATION AND BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN LEARN AND THEN CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU HAVE STARTED. YOU HAVE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM ACTUALLY ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS AND PUTTING THINGS IN VERY PLAIN LANGUAGE AT THE DEUS AND MAKING YOUR OPINIONS KNOWN ON WHAT WE WERE DOING OR ABOUT TO DO OR HAD BEEN DONE, AND I WILL VERY MUCH MISS THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU BRING TO THIS PARTY IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE PIECES OF APPROXIMATELY SEE THAT YOU'VE TOUCHED. IT IS THAT COURAGE THAT I WILL MISS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I CAN'T RESPOND BECAUSE I'M GOING TO CRY AGAIN, WHICH IS NOT APE GOOD LOOK FOR HERE, BUT I KNOW I'M NOT EVERYBODY'S CUP OF TEA, BUT I APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAD IN ME AND I APPRECIATE THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS COMMITTEE AND ELSEWHERE AND THAT CARRIES FORTH FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA, AS WELL AND COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON. THERE BEING NOTHING ELSE THIS DOES CONCLUDE, BEING 10:39 AND THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE HOUSE ANDAND SERVICES COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. ? THANK YOU.