SIX THAT AFTERNOON, THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY CHANGES WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 04 ON MARCH 3rd, 2025. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE . >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ? >> PRESENT . >> COUNCILMEMBER ROB SAKA . >> HERE . >> IF THERE IS NO EJECTION -- OBJECTION, THE HEARING WILL BE ADOPTED. THE HEARING IS ADOPTED. WELCOME TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY CHANGES. I WANT TO COMMENT THAT COUNCILMEMBERS MOORE AND STRAUSS ARE ABSENT TODAY. WE HAVE LIMITED TIME TODAY IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS BUT REST ASSURED THIS WILL NOT BE OUR FINAL DISCUSSION AS WE CONTINUE THIS MOVING FORWARD. ON TODAY'S AGENDA WE WILL BE HEARING FROM HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE STAKEHOLDERS WITH HOW THEY ARE IMPACTED WITH POLICY CHANGES THAT I FEAR WILL IMPACT THE CITY AND REGION'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS ABOUT WHAT IS FACING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SINCE THE COMMITTEE MET LAST MONTH THE DEPORTATION AGENDA HAS ONLY RAMPS UP AND AS RESULT WE ARE SEEING MORE NEED FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS. URGENT NEEDS INCLUDE LEGAL SERVICES OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS . WE KNOW AT LEAST TWO FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES SUPPORTING THESE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN CUT. THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN PROGRAM AND THE U.S. CIS CITIZENSHIP GRANT. KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE ALSO KNOWN AS KIND AND THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT WHO WILL PRESENT TO US LATER. AND THEY WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE CUT TO THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN PROGRAM. COMBINED, THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE 200 UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH WITH IMMIGRATION SUPPORT. THE U.S. CIS CITIZENSHIP FUNDING WAS CUT FROM THE IMMIGRATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES AND THE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE. SERVICES INCLUDED CRITICAL WORK FOR THESE KIDS INCLUDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION , CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR PREPARING AND APPLYING FOR THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST. THESE ARE SEATTLE KIDS. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHOSE HEART BREAKS AT THE THOUGHT OF A SIX-YEAR-OLD MEETING BEFORE A JUDGE WITH IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS BY THEMSELVES. WE KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE UP EVERY FINANCIAL GAP, BUT WE MUST DO OUR BEST TO DO RIGHT BY THEM. ADDITIONALLY , I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JUST YESTERDAY NEARLY 40 PEOPLE THAT WORKED FOR A CONSTRUCTION ROOFING COMPANY WERE DETAINED IN BELLINGHAM AFTER LAST WEEK 'S DETENTION OF FARMWORKERS IN LINDEN INCLUDING A 25-YEAR-OLD ACTIVIST ALFREDO JUAREZ AS WELL AS LLEWELLYN DIXON WHO ARE SEEMINGLY UNCONSTITUTIONALLY DETAINED AT THE DETENTION CENTER IN TACOMA PEERED I MENTIONED THAT THIS IS NOT JUST CRUEL AND POSSIBLE RETALIATORY ACTION FOR ACTIVISM BUT SHOWS HOW OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS TIED TO EVER SECTOR INCLUDING FOOD, HOUSING AND BUSINESS JUST TO NAME A FEW. WE WILL HEAR FROM SEVERAL INCREDIBLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICE PROVIDERS ABOUT HOW THE IMMIGRATION RULES ARE IMPACTING THEIR WORK. I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO A FEW ACTIONS THAT HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF MY OFFICE. YESTERDAY THE TRUMPET MINISTRATION ANNOUNCE ONCE AGAIN A VAST SWATH OF NEW TARIFFS. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOMEBUILDERS ANNOUNCE THAT THE TARIFFS ON HOMEBUILDERS INCLUDING FOREIGN LUMBER, STEEL , HOME ELECTRONICS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION COSTS WILL INCREASE THE PRICE OF HOMES FROM $7500-$10,000 OR THE NUMBER WILL BE LARGER IN METROPOLITAN AREAS SUCH AS SEATTLE . YOUNG PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY HOMES AT THE SAME RATE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND THIS IS A SETBACK TO MY GENERATION AND THE NEXT GENERATION'S PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. FROM THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, IN ADDITION TO STATING THEY WOULD BE REDUCING THEIR WORKFORCE BY 50% WHICH IS IMPACT VM -- OFFICE'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND HOUSING LAWS. THEY HAVE ANNOUNCE CUTS TO THE GREEN AND RETROFIT PROGRAM. IN CONTEXT, TURNING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THEY ADMINISTERED 25 BILLION TO APPROXIMATELY 12 MILLION COMMUNITIES AND ALLOCATED MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 2100 PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCIES ACROSS OUR NATION . CUTS TO SECTION 4 ARE FELT LOCALLY AND I KNOW OUR PANELISTS INCLUDING ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THE SEATTLE PLAN WILL SPEAK DIRECTLY IN OUR MEETING . AND THE REGION 10 OFFICE FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES , AN OFFICE LOCATED IN OUR OWN COLUMBIA TOWER IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE HAS CLOSED THEIR DOORS WITH 200 STAFF MEMBERS FIRED . SIMPLY PUT, THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR CHALLENGES HAVE NEVER BEEN SIMPLE AND THEY HAVE GROWN MORE COMPLEX WITH EVERY PASSING DAY. IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US , EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY, EVERY COMMUNITY LEADER , EVERY RESIDENCE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO WORK TOGETHER TO CARVE A PATH FORWARD TO PROTECT RESIDENTS AND CREATE A FUTURE WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN . THIS COMMUNITY IS JUST A PART OF THAT WORK. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TODAY AND FOR EVERYONE LISTENING IN. WITH THAT, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AGENDA ITEMS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY PERSONS ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK . >> CURRENTLY THREE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER . >> EACH PERSON WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES AND WE WILL START WITH IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. >> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. IT IS 30 MINUTES AND SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THEY HAVE REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE TIME. SPEAKER MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST . >> THANK YOU. THE FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKER IS ALEX TSIMERMAN. >> THE DIRTY NANCY FASTEST PIG . I AM ALEX TSIMERMAN . I HAVE 6000 DAYS OF TRESPASS AND FIVE TIMES YOU PERSECUTE ME. GUYS, 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I COME, I BRING SLOGAN WITH FASCISTS FOR THE JEWISH FAITH. YOU WERE BEFORE AN IDIOT AND YOU ARE NOW AN IDIOT AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BIG CHANGE BECAUSE IT IS NOT DIFFERENT FROM TODAY THE 700 THOUSAND PEOPLE . IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT . I WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE. I BRING CLASS ACTION IN 1996. AND AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICE. I AM AN EXPERT WITH 40 YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS EVERY DAY . I WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE EVERY DAY. YOU CANNOT BE A MEMBER . YOU WILL BE AN IDIOT HERE. YOU WILL BE A COMMITTEE IDIOT AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO EXPLAIN LAST WEEK WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, EVERY GOVERNMENT HOUSE SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO ONLY U.S. CITIZEN. NO GREEN CARD AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES . >> YOU ARE DOING THIS NOW . >> VIVA TRUMP AND VIVA THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. STAND UP FREAKING IDIOT. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE HALLIE WILLIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS . MY NAME IS HALLIE WILLIS AND I AM THE POLICY MEMBER FOR THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY COMMISSION ON HOMELESSNESS. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR CONVENING THIS BODY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES AND TO MAKE A PLAN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE THE WORST COMES TO PASS . TODAY, YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT HOW FEDERAL CUTS AND RACIST POLITY CHANGES WILL THREATEN OUR ABILITY TO HOUSE AND SHELTER PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY. FRANKLY, LOSING FUNDING WOULD CAUSE THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME HOMELESS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AND THE MAYOR MUST ADDRESS A DEEPENING BUDGET DEFICIT. ON TOP OF THAT, THE BUDGET WILL INCLUDE CUTS TO IMPORTANT SERVICES AND THE TRUMP/MUSK ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING A SLEDGEHAMMER TO OUR FEDERAL RESPONSE TO HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS . NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE US . WE NEED U.S. LOCAL LAWMAKERS TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO PROTECT ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS FROM WHAT IS COMING. SUSTAIN OUR SHELTER AND HOUSING . PREVENT TENANTS FROM BEING EVICTED INTO HOMELESSNESS AND RAISE THE NECESSARY LOCAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TO DO SO . WE CANNOT ACCEPT INCREASED HOMELESSNESS THAT WOULD RESULT FROM FEDERAL CUTS AND WE CANNOT EXPECT ANYONE ELSE TO COME TO OUR RESCUE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU . OUR LAST IN PERSON COMMENTOR WILL BE KATE RUBEN. >> HI , MY NAME IS KATE RUBEN AND I AM A RENTER LIVING IN BEACON HILL AND I AM THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF B SEATTLE WHICH HELPS RENTERS STAY HOUSTON FEEL EMPOWERED AND THEIR HOUSING . WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME FROM THIS CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION. AND , WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE IMPACTS IN OTHER STATES AND LOCALLY. SPECIFICALLY , ON TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND ON PEOPLE SEEKING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE . THEY WILL BE COMING HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION TO ENSURE THAT SEATTLE IS SAFE FOR THEM . SO, IT IS UPON US TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT SEATTLE IS SAFE FOR THEM . WE HAVE HEARD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POTENTIALLY WEAKENING OR REPEALING SOME RENTAL PROTECTIONS . SPECIFICALLY THE ROOMMATE ORDINANCE . THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT IS GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT AS THESE CHANGES HAPPEN . NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STAYING HERE BUT FOR THE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS . FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY IN THEIR APARTMENTS ALONE AND FOR PARENTS WHO WANT TO WELCOME THEIR ADULT CHILDREN BACK INTO THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY CANNOT LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE OR HAVE A MAJOR LIFE CHANGE , THEY DON'T HAVE THE AMOUNT OF SECURITY AND STABILITY TO GET THEIR OWN APARTMENT. SO, WE HAVE TO CREATE A SPACE FOR THEM . AND, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE. IT IS A MAJOR, MAJOR PROTECTION THAT WOULD BE SO DAMAGING AND CAUSED SO MUCH HOMELESSNESS IF IT WERE REPEALED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND NOW MOVING TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES . DAVID, PLEASE PRESS STAR AND SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT AND YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. >> HI, THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES . REMEMBER THE $50 BILLION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY THAT COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO LEAVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS. THAT CONGRESSMAN McCARTHY TOOK IT BACK FOR THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER. WE NEED THAT TO RESCUE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING UNNECESSARY DELAYS AND BAD PRIORITY. IF I WAS CITY COUNCIL STAFF, THERE IS MORE PRIORITY TO COVER THE DEBT NEEDED BY CONVINCING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THAT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COULD BE INVESTED TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS , THE HOUSING CRISIS AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS FOR THE INNOCENT. THAT WOULD INCLUDE INNOCENT MIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. YET , PROGRESSIVES WANT TO MISCONSTRUE WHAT CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL. AND , AND ILLEGAL AND SCARE MONGER . AND COUNCIL WANTS TO EXACERBATE AND SPEW THE NEGATIVE THAT REALITY DURING AN ELECTION YEAR WASTING SO MUCH COMMITTEE TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIND WAYS HATE ON THE PRESIDENT INSTEAD OF CONVINCING HIM THAT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HE IS GOING TO BE RAKING IN FROM TARIFFS THAT IT IS TIME TO SOLVE OUR SOCIETAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE SAME PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS AND THE IMMORAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN DEREGULATED. TO UNCONSTITUTIONAL LY PRIORITIZE REPEAT OFFENDERS FOR HOUSING. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE KICKED OUT OR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THEM. WITH COPYCAT DEBT FROM BALTIMORE AND ELSEWHERE . THEY ARE PRIORITIZING SERVICES FOR LIKE -- REPEAT OFFENDERS INSTEAD OF INNOCENT HOMELESS . THEY ARE EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM. ANYWAY , OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING MISUSED AND YOU COULD GET A LOT OF MONEY TO ALLEVIATE THE UNNECESSARY SUFFERING BUT YOU WANT TO DRIVE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL THINK TANK >> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS AND WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO THE ITEMS FOR BUSINESS. WE NOW MOVE TO THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS . WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD. >> ITEM 1 , FEDERAL IMPACT ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION . >> I WILL INVITE OUR PRESENTERS TODAY UP TO THE TABLE TO JOIN US . >> SO, AS OUR PRESENTERS ARE COMING ON BOARD, THEY WILL INTRODUCE THEMSELVES . WE WILL GIVE THEM A COUPLE OF MOMENTS. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE WANT TO START OFF GOING DOWN THE LINE . IF YOU COULD PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY STATING YOUR FULL NAME AND ORGANIZATION INTO THE RECORD. LET'S START WITH DANNY . >> HI COUNCILMEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS PANEL TODAY. I AM DANIEL MALONE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DESC . >> I AM JAMES LOVELL THE CHIEF DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE CLUB . >> I AM JUST BLANCHE WITH ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS . >> I AM NAOMI SEE AND I AM WITH HUNT CAPITAL PARTNERS. >> AND I AM SYME OR -- SIMON FOSTER AND I AM THE CEO OF KING COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE WILL GO ORGANIZATION BY ORGANIZATION STARTING WITH ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, THE KING COUNTY HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY . I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SLIDES TODAY. >> AGAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE . IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC. I AM GOING TO BE GOING OVER A FEW THINGS THIS AFTERNOON. ONE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT KCRHA SHARES ITS FEDERAL BUDGET AND TO SHARE THE IMPACT TO ENSURE THESE DOLLARS REMAIN HERE. AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, THE COC OR HUD DOLLARS , WE ARE THE THIRD LARGEST FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE KING COUNTY HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY. KCRHA RECEIVES FROM HUD $23 MILLION . THESE ARE EXTREMELY CRITICAL DOLLARS . I WANT TO BE CLEAR $23 MILLION DIRECTLY TO KCRHA AND $36 MILLION DIRECTLY TO KING COUNTY WHICH IS A TOTAL OF $66 MILLION OF WHICH 5 MILLION -- EXCUSE ME, $7 MILLION GOES DIRECTLY TO CONTRACTORS . THAT INCLUDES COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES , THE DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICES CENTER OR DESC OR THE FRIENDS OF YOUTH. HERE IS THE REALITY. THE LARGEST PROGRAM IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THOSE ARE MOSTLY INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT MAINTAIN HOUSING WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. HUD ALSO PROVIDES A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH A PROGRAM CONTRACT THAT IS UP FOR RENEWAL. SO, CONTRACTING HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. KCRHA IS ACTIVELY REIMBURSING CONTRACT PROVIDERS RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE ACTIVELY ABLE TO DRAW DOWN ON FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL SYSTEM. THE BIGGER CONCERN ARE THE FISCAL YEAR '24 CONTRACTS. THE FIRST FISCAL '24 CONTRACT RENEWAL COMES DUE IN MAY . WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT AGREEMENT AND IT IS BEING REVIEWED BY OUR CANCEL. IT'S THE ONLY GROUND AGREEMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR . WE WILL RECEIVE A TOTAL OF 23 AGREEMENTS BETWEEN NOW AND 2026. >> I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IMPACT. I'M GOING TO SHARE SOME NUMBERS WITH YOU ALL AS WELL. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OF 4490 PEOPLE . THIS INCLUDES ABOUT 45% OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT BE IMPACTED . OVER 2000 PEOPLE RESIDE HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. OF THE 4490 PEOPLE , 2174 INDIVIDUALS ARE IN PRIVATE MARKET UNITS WHICH COULD BE AT RISK OF INCURRING LATE FEES BY THEIR LANDLORD, A LOSS OF SUBSIDIES OR -- AND/OR EVICTION. 2216 INDIVIDUALS ARE IN HOUSING AND YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE AT RISK OF FINDING THEMSELVES HOMELESS. AND , AS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS MY FRIENDS TO MY RIGHT AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE ONLINE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONTRACT FEES, FOLKS WHO ARE FRONT-LINE , WHO WILL BE IMPACTED AS WELL . 241 EMPLOYEES ARE AT RISK IF WE LOSE THESE DOLLARS. WE KNOW THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY DAY . THEY COME FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE SOMETIMES AND/OR THE VULNERABLE WORKING POPULATION . SO THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE WITH KING COUNTY LOOK FORWARD TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE WE MAXIMIZE OUR EFFORTS . HERE IS WHAT KCRHA IS DOING RIGHT NOW . NUMBER ONE WE ARE MAXIMIZING FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH WEEKLY DRAWDOWNS OF FUNDS THROUGH EXPANDED COSTS. AND TWO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH KING COUNTY TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF EXISTING FUNDING EFFECTIVELY. FINALLY , WE ARE GOING TO WORK CLOSE WITH OUR LOCAL HUD OFFICE AS WE DO BIMONTHLY . I JUST WANT TO FINALLY END WITH THIS . WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF . WE HAVE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO FIND THEMSELVES WHERE THEY ARE TODAY. AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY, MANY IN KING COUNTY, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM AS THEY ARE TODAY. SO, I WILL END WITH THIS . THESE FUNDING DELAYS OR REDUCTIONS COULD PREVENT STATES AND COMMUNITIES , NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FROM RECEIVING THE CRITICAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS OF SHELTERED AND UN-SHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE , KCRHA WILL CONTINUE TO BE A GUIDING LIGHT . TO BE A PARTNER AND ADVOCATE FOR THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY, WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. COLLEAGUES, DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ROLE ON THE KCRHA COMMITTEE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ? >> NO, NOTHING AT THIS POINT, THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU TO YOUR SERVICE TO THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE. I AM HAPPY COLLEAGUES TO ALLOW TIME RIGHT NOW FOR QUESTIONS OR WE CAN DO QUESTIONS IS A FULL PACKAGE ONCE ALL PRESENTERS HAVE GONE. >> SIR . SIR THINKING WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THE PRESENTATIONS AND WE WILL HAVE A TIME FOR QUESTIONS ONCE ALL PRESENTERS ARE DONE. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS NAOMI, AS I MENTIONED WITH HUNT CAPITAL PARTNERS. HUNT CAPITAL PARTNERS IS PRIMARILY A LOW INCOME HOUSING INDICATOR. THIS YEAR WE WILL DO ABOUT $1 BILLION IN TRANSACTION VOLUME FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE ALSO DO REDEVELOPMENT AND SOP . A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND JUST DOING DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GETTING IT FINANCED. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND A LOT OF WAYS EXIST OUTSIDE OF THE MARKET BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET IT IN THE MARKET . I WILL TALK ABOUT MARKET FORCES TODAY AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL TALK MORE THROUGH THE INTERVAL -- INDIVIDUAL IMPACTS ON THEIR ORGANIZATION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MORE THAN ANYONE POLICY, IT'S ABOUT UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKET AND HOW THAT TRANSLATES TO TERMS. I ALWAYS LIKE TO DROVE -- JOKE WHEN IT'S TRUE AND I'M SURE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT, THE WORST THING YOU CAN TELL A BANKER IS WE DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT A LOT WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND IN DIFFERENT PROJECTS RIGHT NOW . THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS TAX CREDITS, LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH TAX CREDITS, THEY ARE BASICALLY IN EVERY SINGLE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROJECT THERE IS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND NATIONALLY. THERE ARE LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS THAT USUALLY MAKE UP 40% TO 70% OF THE CAPITAL STACK OR THE OVERALL CAPITALIZATION OF A HOUSING PROJECT . THE WAY THEY COME DOWN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES THE CREDITS TO THE STATES AND THE STATES TO THE DEVELOPERS AND THE DEVELOPERS COME AND MY ROLE IS TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH AN INVESTOR IN THE INVESTOR BASIC OFFERS A PRICE PER CREDIT AT A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR A DOLLAR TO DOLLAR REDUCTION ON TAX CREDITS THEY RECEIVE OVER 10 YEARS . I KNOW THIS SEEMS INCREDIBLY BORING, BUT IT IS HOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING GETS FINANCED IN THE U.S. AND THE MAJORITY OF IT FROM THE BOARD OF HOUSING UP TO ABOUT 80% AMI . SO, THESE INVESTORS, AS I MENTIONED PAY A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THESE TAX CREDITS. IF THERE ARE $10 MILLION OF CREDITS ALLOCATED TO THE PROPERTY FOR A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR REDUCTION, AN INVESTOR MAY PAY $.90 ON THOSE CREDITS. AS A RESULT IT COMES TO THE PROJECT AT A NATIONAL CAPITALIZATION FOR THOSE TAX CREDITS. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE PRICING FOR THE TAX CREDITS BECAUSE OF FEDERAL POLICIES AND A LOT OF THE UNCERTAINTY IS DROPPING DRAMATICALLY. WHAT I MEAN BY DRAMATICALLY AS $.10-$.15 ON THE DOLLAR. YEARS AGO WE WERE GETTING UP TO 95 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR FOR TAX CREDITS IN SEATTLE IN KING COUNTY . ON THE LOWER TIER WE WOULD SEE $.75-$.80. SOME PROJECTS WILL HIT DIFFERENT VEINS OF PRICING BUT WE ARE SEEING A DRAMATIC DROP IN THE AVERAGE PRICING WHICH MEANS THAT OUR GAP FUNDERS HAVE TO PARTICIPATE LIKE THE CITY AND THE STATE AND OTHER SOURCES HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN A LOT DEEPER AND A LOT HIGHER PER UNIT SUBSIDY. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE CAUSING THAT . THE FIRST IS THE CORPORATE TAX RATE . THE ANTICIPATION OF THE CORPORATE TAX RATE GOING DOWN . WE HAVE MOSTLY HEARD THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TALK ABOUT PERSONAL TAX RATES AND HOW THOSE WILL BE IMPACTED. BUT ANY VAGUE DISCUSSION ABOUT CORPORATE TAX RATES ULTIMATELY IMPACTS THE RETURN INVESTORS WILL RECEIVE FOR TAX CREDITS AND THEY WILL INCREASE THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR RETURN BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON A 21% CORPORATE TAX RATE. IF IT GOES TO 17%, WE WOULD SEE PRICES DROP DRAMATICALLY BY ANOTHER $.10 AND WE ARE ALREADY HAVING INVESTORS ANTICIPATE THAT . THE OTHER THING THAT IMPACTS THE INITIAL CAPITALIZATION IS UNDERWRITING STATEMENTS . EVEN IN AN UNCERTAIN MARKET, AN INVESTOR MIGHT SAY YOU NEED TO INCREASE YOUR CAPITALIZED OPERATING RESERVE BY ANOTHER $1 MILLION . YOU HAVE TO CREATE A RENTAL SUBSIDY RESERVE AND AS WELL YOU HAVE TO INCREASE YOUR GUARANTEES AND YOUR COST CONTINGENCY. EVERYTHING ADDS TO THE UPFRONT COST OF THE PROJECT WHICH MAKES IT HARD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP THESE HOUSING PROJECTS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY USE ASSUMPTIONS AND SOFT LOAN -- SOFT LOAN EXPECTATIONS BASED ON PRICING AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW. BEFORE I KEEP GOING WITH TAX CREDITS, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT IS A NUANCED ISSUE. THE OTHER MARKET FORCES THAT I MENTIONED ARE TARIFFS AND THE COST OF MATERIALS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE TWO BIGGEST FACTORS IN THE TERRACE WITH HOUSING PRODUCTION IS THAT 72% OF IMPORTED LUMBER COMES FROM CANADA AND 74% OF IMPORTED GYPSUM COMES FROM MEXICO. SO ANY TARIFFS ON THOSE TWO COUNTRIES , EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SEEN BACK AND FORTH AND ANY UNCERTAINTY ON THOSE MATERIALS WILL CERTAINLY CAUSE FLUCTUATIONS IN HOW WE FINANCE THESE PROJECTS AND HOW WE UNDERWRITE THE PROJECTS . THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THAT TARIFFS' IMPACT ON INTEREST RATES. IF TARIFFS CONTINUE , THEY COULD IMPACT MORTGAGE RATES WITH CONTINUING INFLATION WHICH AS WE KNOW CAUSES THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO INCREASE BASELINE FEDERAL INTEREST RATES WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY INCREASE THE INTEREST RATES IN THE MARKET. AND , FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT AS A WHOLE, ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORT FOLIO IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PORTFOLIO IS IMPORTANT. BUT SUPPLY IN THE GENERAL HOUSING MARKET AND THE TARIFFS AND INTEREST RATES CONTINUING TO GO UP WILL IMPACT THE OVERALL SUPPLY IN OUR MARKET. SO, A LOT OF HEADWINDS , BUT I THINK WE ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH SPONSORS DEVELOPERS BANKS REGIONAL INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPERS INCLUDING REGIONAL BANKS AND THE LARGER NATIONAL BANKS. SO, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US TALK TO YOU TODAY. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND NEXT TO JUST FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS. >> AGAIN, I AM JUST BLANCHE WITH ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IT IS A NONPROFIT TO MAKE HOMES POSSIBLE FOR THE MILLIONS OF FAMILIES WITHOUT ONE. WE SUPPORT AGGREGATION THINKING ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND AND AGGREGATE FOR IMPACT . WE BUILD AND MANAGE COMMUNITIES OURSELVES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION OF THE UNITED STATES . SINCE 1982, WE HAVE INVESTED $80.9 MILLION AND CREATED 9 MILLION HOMES ACROSS UNITED STATES ACROSS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. ALL FOUR HOMEOWNERSHIP PRIDE AND POWER OF BELONGING. I WILL GIVE THE FEDERAL POLICY LANDSCAPE TODAY . SO, THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING, SURPRISE. SO, FIRST TO THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND THE FY 26 BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS. AS YOU KNOW , AFTER BRIEF EXCITEMENT AROUND THE SENATE CONTINUING RESOLUTION VOTE, THE SENATE PASSED THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND IT WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. THIS FULL-YEAR CR FUNDS PROGRAMS THROUGH SEPTEMBER AT THE FY24 LEVELS AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS IN A FEW MOMENTS. NOW WE ARE GEARING UP FOR ADVOCACY FOR THE UP 26 APPROPRIATIONS. AGENCY STAFF. WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSELY MONITORING FEDERAL STAFF CHANGES. FOLLOWING UNDER THE CATEGORY OF GOOD NEWS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID MOVE TO REINSTATE 25,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AFTER A JUDGE RULED THE TERMINATIONS ILLEGAL. HUD IS INCLUDED IN THE REINSTATEMENT'S. BUT, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR RUMORS THAT STAFF, INCLUDING THE STAFF AT HUD WILL BE DOWNSIZED IN THE SEATTLE OFFICES WILL BE CLOSING . WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES LAYOFFS THIS WEEK, IT IS REPORTED THAT THE STAFF THAT MANAGES THE ENERGY LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN CUT. IT IS ALSO SOON TO SAY WHY THE OFFICE WILL BE DISMANTLED. STAFF ARE BEING CUT BUT THE PROGRAM IS NOT. HHS SPOKESPERSON EMILY HILLIARD SAID THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. AS A RESULT OF THE REORGANIZATION BE BETTERED POSITION TO MOVE ON CONGRESS'S STATUTORY INTENT . SHE DID NOT MOVE ON HOW HHS WOULD ALLOCATE FUNDS WITHOUT HELP FROM THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF . WASHINGTON RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $66.5 MILLION IN FY 24 OF HEAP FUNDS. THESE SERVES HOUSEHOLDS WITH AN AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME AT OR BELOW 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL WHICH IS 22,000 $500 FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF ONE OR 4600 FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF ONE -- FOUR. WE ARE WORKING FOR CONGRESS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR HAVING FULLY STAFFED FEDERAL PROGRAMS. MOVING ONTO THE CDF FIVE FUND. THE PRESIDENT ISSUED A EO DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS TO REPORT WHICH FUNCTIONS ARE STATUTORILY REQUIRED AND CANNOT BE DISCONTINUED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WITHOUT LEGISLATION TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET . THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE CDF I FUNDS AND RECOMMITTING TO THE PROGRAM. WE HOPE IT WILL BE SAFE BUT WE CONTINUE ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS ON THE HILL TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY . THERE IS STILL A LOT UP IN THE AIR AROUND FUNDING FOR THE CDF FIVE FUND. IT MANAGES THE PROGRAM WITH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FUNDS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS. AMONG THEM THE HEALTHY FOODS INITIATIVE AND THE NEW MARKETS TAX PROGRAM WHICH IS DUE TO SUNSET AT THE END OF 2025 . AS A LOCAL EXAMPLE OF THE IMPACT OF THOSE FUNDS, THE BURR BAR PLACE WAS FINANCED WITH NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS. AND THE CDFI CREDIT INCLUDING THE HAVE -- HEALTHY FOODS TAX INITIATIVE TO CREATE A SUBSTANTIAL GUT OF THE FACILITY TO BRING IT UP TO MODERN STANDARDS. ON HOMELESSNESS, WE WORK WITH NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS ON ADVOCACY FOR LOCAL PARTNERS. WE ARE WORKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND THE PARTNERS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL'S ASSISTANCE TO MAKE SURE COMMUNITIES ARE PLACES WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. WE EXPECT CONTINUED SHIFTS BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS POLICY INCLUDING TREATMENT FIRST POLICIES THAT REQUIRE SERVICES AND TREATMENT AS A PRECONDITION TO HOUSING . WE KNOW THAT EVIDENCE-BASED INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING WITH SERVICES THAT ARE LOW BARRIER SOLUTIONS TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS . WHILE THE OVERALL CONTINUING RESOLUTION FUNDING ARE FLAT FROM 2024 INTO 2025, THE CR PROVIDES LESS THAN WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN HOMELESSNESS HOUSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUE TO FAIR MARKET ANALYSIS AND WE KNOW THIS WILL CREATE HOMELESSNESS. WE ARE MAKING A STRONG CASE THAT INCREASES IN THE HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS ARE A DOWN PAYMENT FOR THE FUTURE WHERE ALL COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER AND HEALTHIER. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT HUD IS ISSUING RENEWAL OF CONTINUING CARE GRANTS BASED ON THE TIMING OF THE OPERATING START DATE. THE NEW PROVISIONS REQUIRED OF RECIPIENTS ARE CONFUSING IN TERMS OF THEIR AQUA BUT GILLETT -- APPLICABILITY TO FUNDING. WE ENGAGE COUNCIL TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE TO HOW TO BEST UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AFTER EXECUTING THE FY 2024 AGREEMENT . THERE ARE CONCERNS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO EXISTING PROGRAMS LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE WHICH COULD CREATE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE KNOWN AS SECTION 8, FOR EXAMPLE IS $700 MILLION SHORT OF ESTIMATED NEEDS FOR THE REMAINDER OF FY25 LEAVING 32 FOUND -- 32,000 FAMILIES AT RISK OF RENTAL HOMELESSNESS . >> ON THE GOOD NEWS FRONT , LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED TO COUNTERACT THE DECLINING NUMBER OF LANDLORDS WITH THE HOUSING VOUCHERS AND MAKING IT BETTER FOR VOUCHER HOLDERS. IT WOULDST INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS WITH SECURITY DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE GREATER PROTECTION AGAINST DAMAGES AND BONUSES TO HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN LANDLORDS. THE BILL WOULD INCREASE FUNDING TO THE TRIBAL FUND TO BENEFIT NATIVE AMERICANS AND REDUCE INSPECTION DELAYS TO CONNECT LANDLORDS WITH VOUCHER HOLDING TENANTS AND CARRIAGE HUD TO PERFORM THE PHA EVALUATIONS TO PROVIDE MORE HOUSING AUTHORITIES WITH VOUCHERS. A FEW WEEKS AGO, HUD ISSUED A NOTICE THAT THEY WILL BE RELEASING ALL EMERGENCY FUNDING STATING THAT THE PAYMENT WOULD BE MADE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM HUD WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. THIS FINAL PAYMENT, HUD SAID , SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO COVER RENT PAYMENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2025 AND INTO 26 WHICH IS IN STARK CONTRAST WITH THE ORIGINAL SUNSET DATE OF 2030. AS OF MARCH 19th, THERE ARE NEARLY 60,000 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE WHO ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS ONCE THIS FUNDING IS EXHAUSTED YEARS EARLIER THAN ANTICIPATED. THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FORMULA GRANTS TO STATES AND LOCALITIES THAT COMMUNITIES USE, OFTEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GROUPS FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BUILDING, BUYING AND MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR PROVIDING DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME PEOPLE . AS THE LARGEST FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT TO STATE AND LOCAL DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. AND IT WAS TARGETED WITH THE HOUSE PROPOSING ONLY $500 MILLION FOR THOGTHE CONTINUING RESOLUTION MEANT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO FUND AT $2.5 BILLION AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE A TOUGH YEAR OVERALL FOR APPROPRIATIONS. AND THE HOME COALITION A GROUP OF MORE THAN 70 ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING AND MODERNIZATION OF THE PROGRAM WITH $1.5 BILLION WHICH WAS THE PREVIOUS HIGH WATER MARK FOR THE PROGRAM. THE SEATTLE OFFICE OF HOUSING TARGETS HOME INVESTMENT TO PROJECTS BECAUSE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE TRIGGERED BY THE FEDERAL FUNDING . DAVIS-BACON AND THE UNIFORM RELOCATION ACT . BY AMERICA . THERE IS ESPECIALLY A LOT AROUND BUILD AMERICA BY AMERICA. WITH WAIVERS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. >> HOUSING -- OVERALL, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RELIES ON FUNDING AWARDS BEING KEPT . IF AWARDS ARE RESCINDED OR POLICY CHANGES CAUSED DELAYS , IT CAN HARM IMPLICIT TRUST IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM ESPECIALLY FROM PRIVATE LENDERS AS NAOMI MENTIONED. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT OR CDBG IS SEEN AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. MAN -- MAYORS ARE MORE VOCAL ABOUT CUTS TO THE PROGRAM. WITH THE CR, THE PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED AT $3.3 MILLION . WE SIT ON THE COALITION WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR TO -- $4.2 BILLION FOR THE PROGRAM. AS NAOMI MENTIONED, THE LOW INCOME FEDERAL TAX PROGRAM IS FORMALLY TAXING PALOOZA . AND THE FORMER EARL -- FEDERAL HOUSING CRACK TAX CREDIT. ENTER PRIZE CO-CHAIRS AND THE ACTION COME PAYS -- CAMPAIGNS. WE ARE TRYING TO GET IT INTO THE RECONCILIATION TAX PACKET THIS YEAR. BUT PRACTITIONERS, AS MENTIONED ARE EXPERIENCING PAINS FROM STAFF REDUCTIONS AND OTHER GAP FINANCING PROGRAMS PLUS OTHER ISSUES WITH TARIFFS STEMMING FROM TAX CHANGES . >> I'M ALMOST DONE . THERE IS A LONG TRACK RECORD OF COMBINING STATE UTILITY AND FEDERAL RESOURCES TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENCY. WE ARE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS FUND WHICH IS AIMED AT SUPPORTING EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SECTOR . THIS PROGRAM, IF IT'S ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD WILL PROVIDE CATALYTIC FUNDING THAT WILL PROVIDE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE LOW ENERGY PRICES AND MAKE HOMES AFFORDABLE AND REDUCE POLLUTION. $2 MILLION IS SLATED TO GOING TOWARD THE CARBON ICING ONE OF DESC 'S PROPERTIES WITH ENERGY SAVING MEASURES. FINALLY , SECTION 4 . THE HUD SECTION 4 CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING PROGRAM STRENGTHENS LOW INCOME , RURAL, NATIVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION BY PROVIDING FLEXIBLE SUPPORT TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOR HOUSING AND REVITALIZING COMMERCIAL CORE DOORS AND REVITALIZING HEALTHCARE AND CHILDCARE AND SAFETY NEEDS. HUD IS THE ONLY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH BUILDING FUNDS SO THEY MAY BETTER SERVE ALL TYPES OF COMMUNITIES IN NEED . ANY ONE DOLLAR OF SECTION 4 LEVERAGES $20 OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS FAR MORE THAN THE THREE TO ONE MATCH REQUIRED BY LAW . THEY ARE NEW GLEE AND ABLE TO ATTRACT SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS. SINCE 2020, SECTION 4 HAS LEVERAGED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEVELOPMENT COSTS ALONE. ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE OMB AND GAO IS A COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAM. FOR ADVOCACY MOVING FORWARD, ENTERPRISE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ARE ASKING CONGRESS TO PROVIDE $50 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO ENSURE HE CAN MEET THE INCREASING NEEDS OF LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO OUR SUPPOSED NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE DEI EXECUTIVE ORDER, ENTERPRISE AND OUR PARTNER RECENTLY RECEIVED CANCELLATION NOTICES FROM HUD / DOGE. THIS IS IMPACTING MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAVING TO STOP PROJECTS MIDWAY THROUGH. WE ARE WORKING WITH APPROPRIATIONS AND CHAMPIONS TO UNDO THE CANCELLATIONS. ENTERPRISE'S MARKET INCLUDES WASHINGTON AND OREGON AND OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE UTILIZED $5 MILLION FOR THE HUD COMMUNITY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS, BUILDING CAPACITY AS THEY WORK TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES. IN RESPONSE TO OUR URBAN RF P THIS AUTUMN , WE HAVE RECEIVED $1.5 MILLION FOR GRANTS WHEN WE HAVE 100,000 TO GIVE. AN RFP ORGANIZATION SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES AND TRAVEL ORGANIZATIONS . WHEN WE RECEIVED THE TERMINATION NOTICE IN LATE FEBRUARY, WE WERE ON THE VERGE OF MAKING AWARDS. THE AWARDS WE WERE PLANNING TO MAKE WHEN WE RECEIVE THE TERMINATION WOULD PROVIDE NINE OF THE WASHINGTON ORGANIZATIONS 609,000 $500 . ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF WHICH WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED SEATTLE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB AND INF 2661. PUGET SOUND ALSO HAD $6500 WHICH THEY ALSO HAD TO CANCEL. BETWEEN OUR TWO ORGANIZATION S IT IS CREATED A NET LOSS FOR ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES . I THINK JAMES IS GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE SECTION FOR CANCELLATION ON HIS ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH . >> THANK YOU FOR THE THOROUGH UP DATE . IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO CORRECT THE RECORD TO STATE THAT COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED TODAY AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS JOINED VIRTUALLY. >> MY NAME IS JAMES LOVELL AND I AM THE INTERIM CEO. I AM WITH THE INDIANS OF NORTH DAKOTA BUT I WAS BORN AND RAISED AND GREW UP HERE IN SEATTLE . NOW I LIVE AT SEATAC WHERE I SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL. I WILL SAY IS THE FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIAL, I EMPATHIZE WITH THE CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SCALE AND SPOTLIGHT ON THE SEATTLE COUNCIL IS DIFFERENT TO MANY OTHER CITIES NATIONALLY AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. FOR DISCLOSURE, I SERVE ON THE HOUSING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HERE. BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS WE HAVE HAD THROUGH THE SECTION 4 CUTS THAT JESS WAS TALKING ABOUT, I WOULD LIKE FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB OPERATES IN AND WHY NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE 2% OF THE SEATTLE POPULATION. IN THE INDIAN RELOCATION ACT OF 1956 AND BEGINNING IN 1953 , THERE BEGAN AN ERA WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESOLVED A SPECIAL TRUSTEE RELATIONSHIP THE TRIBES HAVE WITH THE U.S.. THIS IS NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALASKANS MOVED FROM TRADITIONAL LANDS. OVER 80% OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES LIVE IN URBAN AREAS. WHILE WE AT CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB PARTNER WITH OUR RELATIVES, 95% OF THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS NATIVE PEOPLE IN KING COUNTY ARE FROM SMALL ISLANDS IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA. THE GREAT PLAINS AND THE SOUTHWEST. THE OKLAHOMA INDIAN COUNTRY AND A FEW FROM CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA . WE DID NOT CHOOSE TO COME TO FROM THE CITY'S FAR FROM OUR HOME BUT WE ARE PROUD TO BE HERE AND CARRY TRADITIONS WITH US. THIS URBANIZATION CAME WITH BROKEN PROMISES OF HOUSING AND DIGNITY . MANY RELATIVES WERE LEFT WITH NO RECOURSE BUT TO LIVE ON THE STREETS AND THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB WAS FORMED IN 1970 TWO ADDRESS THE PRECIPITOUS RISE OF HOMELESS NATIVE PEOPLE PARTICULARLY THOSE NOT FROM LOCAL TRIBES AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS FOR 55 YEARS. WHILE WE ARE 1% TO 2% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, AND COVID TIME THEY LISTED US AS 32% AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MORE SHOCKING DISPARITIES OF THE DISPARITIES WE SEE IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL GROUPS. SO, THAT IS THE WORK THE CLUB DOES. WE STARTED A CLUB WHEN WE WERE SEEING THAT THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB WAS TAKING MONEY AND REPORTING DATA AND IMPACTS WITH HST AT THE TIME AND NOW IT IS TRANSFERRED TO KCRHA. THERE ARE CERTAIN COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY ARE HOUSED WITH CULTURALLY RELEVANT PROVIDERS, THEY ARE HOUSED MORE QUICKLY , THEY STAY HOUSE LONGER AND THEY HAVE BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES. ALL OF THESE THINGS DRAMATIC WAY REDUCE COSTS TO HOUSE THESE FOLKS WHO HAVE HIT THESE INSANE DISPARITIES. THAT IS WHERE THE STORY STARTS HERE AS JESS WAS TALKING ABOUT . WE HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE ENDEAVORED TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE SINCE THE MASS URBANIZATION OF MOSTLY NONLOCAL P IF -- PEOPLE IN THE 50s. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP OTHER NATIVE PEOPLE HOUSED AND THAT'S WHERE THE EFFORTS BEGAN. WE OPENED OUR FIRST BUILDING IN 2022 AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED THROUGH THIS CRITICAL INVESTMENT THROUGH THE HUD SECTION 4 AND OTHER BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS. THE HOUSING NONPROFIT SYSTEM -- WE PROVIDERS DO NOT HAVE A OPCD WHICH IS SOMETHING THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS. YOU ARE DOING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LOOKING AT HOLISTIC DATA AND FINDING WAYS FOR PUBLIC INVESTMENTS. FOR THE HAUSER'S, ALMOST EVERY DIRECTOR IS TIED UP IN SERVICES AND/OR CAPITAL COSTS. THAT IS WHY YOU WERE SO GREAT AT THE FUN RAIDERS AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN OCTOBER, OF COURSE. WE HAVE TO RAISE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT FROM PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY AND THAT'S WHAT GOES INTO THE ADMINISTRATION. ADMIN COSTS ARE OFTEN CAPPED AT 10% IS WHICH IS NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TO FUND A FUNCTIONING ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORT. SO, WHEN A CAPACITY GRAND -- BUILDING GRANT COMES THROUGH , IT IS A BOOST AND A SHOT WE CAN TAKE IN THE MORNING TO RELIEVE OURSELVES FROM PLANNING FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME. THROUGH ENTERPRISE, THIS WAS CRITICAL FOR THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB. WE APPLIED IN NOVEMBER OF 2021 AND OWNED ZERO UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE NOW, HERE , HAVE -- WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND FUNDING , WE ARE GETTING READY TO OPEN OUR 405th UNIT OF PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING IN THREE YEARS. 2022 IS WHEN WE OPENED OUR FIRST UNITS. SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT FIVE BUILDINGS. WE HAVE TWO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES INCLUDING THE RECENTLY REOPENED EAGLE VILLAGE AND COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON'S DISTRICT. WHEN YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAN COLLECTIVELY AND CREATE A PIPELINE AND BRING PEOPLE THROUGH THE RIGHT STEPS , YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE MOST DRAMATIC DISPARITIES WE SEE IN ANY POPULATION. IT IS THROUGH THIS WORK -- IT IS THROUGH THE TIME SPENT WORKING WITH ENTERPRISE AND BEING ACTUAL COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME A HAUSER. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND A REAL ESTATE TEAM? WHAT DOES IT MEAN THROUGH THE FUNDING SOURCES. WE NOW HAVE LIHTC . I SPENT HALF MY DAY TALKING ABOUT LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS. BECAUSE OF THE NAOMIS AND THE JUSTS OF THE WORLD , THE COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO WORK FASTER AND HARDER. >> [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ] >> WE KNOW A WAY TO GO. WE KNOW THERE HAVE 1,080 PEOPLE ON THE STREETS. WE NEED MORE AND CAN'T PLAN FOR THAT WITHOUT THE RESOURCES COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET US INTO THIS MENTALITY. I'M SAD TO ADD THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE URBAN INDIAN HEALTH INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE CDC HAS BEEN CUT AS WELL. SO OUR PANDEMICS. CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB NO LONGER HAS CAPACITY TO BUILD PLANS FOR RESPONDING. WE BUILT FOR SPEED IN OUR FIRST FOUR YEARS AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD FOR SIZE AND OUR ABILITY TO PLAN AND BUILD FOR SCALE TO KEEP ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM AT THIS PACE HAS BEEN SEVERELY HAMPERED BY THE CUTS. NOT ONLY TO THE CDC, BUT HUD. URBAN DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW WHAT THE ACRONYMS ARE. I'M USED TO HAVING TO EXPLAIN THESE THINGS TO LAY FOLKS. HUD, HUD IS IN TROUBLE AND IS FEELING IT DUE TO THE CUTS IN ENTERPRISE. I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS FOR HOURS AND THAT'S HONESTLY SINCE MY BOSS WENT ON SABBATICAL IN JANUARY, THAT'S BEEN WHAT A LOT OF THE FOCUS HAS BEEN. FOR ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY TO SPECULATE, PLAN, PREPARE FOR WHAT THE NEXT EXECUTIVE ORDER IS GOING TO MAYBE ENTAIL FOR US. HAS BEEN HUGE. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS IN STAFFING FOR FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS HAS CAUSED DELAYS IN THE OPERATIONAL FINANCING STACK FOR PROVIDERS. HAPPY TO GO INTO THAT MORE AT ANOTHER TIME. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU IN THIS CAPACITY. CLOSING US OUT ON OUR PANEL, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DANIEL MALONE. >> THANKS A LOT. DO YOU HAVE SLIDES FOR ME OR, OKAY, JUST A FEW. YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT INSTEAD OF MY VISAGE? SO, DSE IS -- >> NOW I'M GOING TO LOOK. >> FOCUSED ON A SUBSET OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING LONG- TERM HOMELESSNESS. ESSENTIALLY PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS AND LONG TIME SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. WE CONDUCT OUR WORK ACROSS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROGRAM TYPES. MOST NOTABLY, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING AND SHELTER AND EMERGENCY HOUSING SETTINGS AND WE PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS. WE'VE GOT ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE AT WORK RANGING FROM DOCTORS, NURSES AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS AND THIS YEAR OUR OPERATING BUDGET IS ABOUT $140 MILLION. AROUND A QUARTER OF THAT IS ORIGINATING FROM FEDERAL SOURCES. THIS ALLOWS US TO SERVE ABOUT 8,000 PEOPLE OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME. WE'VE GOT ABOUT 3,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING ONE OR MORE SERVICES FROM US. SO, THE FEDERAL FUNDS WE RELYRELY MOSTLY HAVE BEEN REMARKED ON IN THE PANEL TODAY FOR OPERATIONS, THE BIGGEST SOURCES OF FEDERAL FUNDS WE RELY ON ARE FROM THE HUD CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM. THE MEDICAID PROGRAM. AND RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE SECTION EIGHT AND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS. WE HAVE OTHER FEDERAL SOURCES FOR SOME OF OUR OPERATING EXPENSES INCLUDING THE SECTION FOUR PROGRAM THAT WAS REMARKED ON EARLIER AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE COUNTING ON BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR THAT IS NOW APPARENTLY LOST TO US. WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT SOME HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT AND THROUGH THE FEDERAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE BLOCK PROGRAM HAS BEEN CUT. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. SO, THAT IS CAUSING US AND THE KING COUNTY AND THE STATE HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY TO SCRAMBLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE THE LOSS OF THOSE FUNDS. ALSO RELY ON FEDERAL SOURCES FOR A LOT OF OUR CAPITAL NEEDS INCLUDING THE LOW INCOME TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, CDFI FUND LOANS, NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO BUILD CLINICS. IN ADDITION TO THE SUPPORT OF HOUSING OPERATIONS. SO I WOULD ASK TO SPEAK ABOUT MEDICAID AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. DSE SUPPORT HOUSING IS APPROACHING 1900 UNITS AS I SAID. 1500 ARE IN THE BUILDINGS THAT YOU SEE PICTURED HERE. ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE ARE IN SEATTLE ACROSS EVERY DISTRICT THAT'S REPRESENTED ON THE COMMITTEE IS HERE TODAY. WE USE, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF SCATTERED SIZING, ALTHOUGH SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL FUNDS. THE FUND SOURCES WE RELY ON FOR THESE PROGRAMS ARE THE TAX CREDIT, CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS, SECTION EIGHT, AND AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT FUNDS FROM SEATTLE TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED AND THE PEOPLE WHOWHO IN THEM ARE RELY HEAVILY ON MEDICAID TO SUPPORT THEM. SO LAST SLIDE, I'LL JUST GO INTO MORE ABOUT MEDICAID WE RELY ON HERE. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT MEDICAID FUND. THIS YEAR, WE'RE ANTICIPATING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MEDICAID PROGRAM OF ABOUT $9.5 MILLION. THIS SET OF SERVICES, THE LARGEST BEING OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THAT INCLUDE OUT PATIENT MENTAL HEALTHCARE, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. SOME OF THE CRISIS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS STABILIZATION SERVICES WE OPERATE RECEIVES MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT. THAT INCLUDES MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES AS WELL AS FACILITY- BASED CRISIS STABILIZATION SERVICES. SOME OF OUR OPIOID TREATMENT WORK IS FUNDED THROUGH MEDICATE SOURCES AND THEN A PARTICULAR MEDICAID FUNDING SOURCE KNOWN AS FOUNDATIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTS COVERS SOME OF THE HOUSING SERVICES IN PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING. SO ALL OF THOSE ARE AT RISK GIVEN THE FEDERAL CONVERSATION ABOUT MAJOR CUTS TO SPENDING INCLUDING ANTICIPATING LARGE CUTS THAT WOULD BE COMING TO THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND MANY OF THE ANALYSIS THAT I HAVE SEEN SUGGEST THAT A MAJOR WAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ATTEMPT TO DECREASE SPENDING ON MEDICAID WOULD BE BY ESSENTIALLY ATTACKING THE MEDICAID EXPANSION PROGRAM. A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RECEIVE MEDICAID BY VIRTUE OF BEING ELIGIBLE THROUGH THE EXPANSION PROGRAM. THE MEDICAID EXPANSION PROGRAM RECEIVES THE VAST MAJORITY OF ITS FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH A MUCH SMALLER STATE SHARE TO COVER THE COST OF THAT. SO, REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL COST SHARE OF MEDICAID EXPANSION WOULD RESULT IN A HUGE HIT TO THE STATE AND THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO CONTINUE PEOPLE ON HEALTH INSURANCE IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN. ANOTHER PART OF WHAT'S ANTICIPATED HERE IS THE INTRODUCTION OF WORK REQUIREMENTS. ON PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE MEDICAID THROUGH EXPANSION PURPOSES. ONE OF THE I THINK MOST DIFFICULT PARTS OF THAT IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IS INCOME BASED, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID THROUGH THAT PROGRAM ACTUALLY HAVE UNLINED ILITIES. SOMETIMES, THAT IS DUE TO THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISABILITY ITSELF THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THEMSELVES DISABILITY DETERMINED. INSTEAD, THEY'RE ABLE TO BE ON THROUGH JUST AN INCOME DETERMINATION AND BUT THOSE PEOPLE BY VIRTUE OF THEIR DISABILITIES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS AND RUN THE RISK OF LOSING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE. SO IT'S A PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS PART OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT MAY BE COMING TO US. AND I'LL JUST STOPSTOP THERE. FOR NOW. THANKS. >> THANK YOU, ALL, AND COLLEAGUES, I HOPE YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE EXPERTISE REPRESENTED BY OUR PANEL TODAY. THIS PANEL COMING TOGETHER TO TEACH US AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC THE REALITIES ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR HOUSING SYSTEM. I KNOW FROM MY OFFICE, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT OUR RESIDENTS CARE ABOUT. SO WE WANT TO KNOW AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THESE IMPACTS SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND FURTHER, I HOPE YOU CAN APPRECIATE AS WE WERE ASSEMBLING TODAY'S PANEL, WE WANTED TO CAPTURE THE MANY DIMENSIONS WITHIN THE HOUSING SYSTEM FROM TOUCHING ON MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT TO HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, FUNDING THROUGH HUD, BUT ALSO LOOKING AHEAD TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND OUR ABILITY TO RESTORE OUR HOUSING PIPELINE. TO THAT END, I HOPE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EXPERTISE TODAY AND I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING. FOR THOSE NOT IN BRIEFING, I'D LOVE TO GET ON PAPER, TOO. AS YOU NOTED, THAT IS A PRETTY DENSE TOPIC AND TO GET THOSE LITTLE PIECES OF INFORMATION ARE HELPFUL OR AT LEAST AS A REFERENCE VERY HELPFUL. RECENTLY, I WAS GIVEN A LINK TO A FOX NEWS SEGMENT WHERE HE HAD ELON MUSK AND THE DOGE TEAM. IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH IT, TO SEE HOW THEY'RE FRAMING EVERYTHING. MR. MUSK WAS BASICALLY FRAMING EVERYTHING AS WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE AND THERE'S TONS OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE. BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE HERE. WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO IS HAVE A RESET OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY AND NATION. AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE REAGAN YEARS AND THERE'S A FEW OTHERS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, SORRY, MR. MALONE. YOU REMEMBER. THAT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE A MAJOR RESHAPE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THAT TIME PERIOD AND THERE WAS TO A DEGREE, BUT NOTHING AT THE SCALE OF THIS. AND I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD REALIZE THAT THIS IS AT A SCALE THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN. YOU CAN ARGUE SINCE FDR OR EVEN LONG BEFORE THAT. I'M ALSO OLD ENOUGH AND I ACTUALLY WORKED AS A NAVAL AIDE IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. REALLY, WE SHOULD BE CONTRASTING TO THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S REINVENTING GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE HEADED UP BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE. WHICH WAS LOOKING TO LOOK AT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE OR INEFFICIENCIES IN THE LIKE. THEY DID IT OVER TIME. THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON WHY THAT'S THE LAST TIME WE'VE HAD A SURPLUS IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS DURING THE CLINTON YEARS. AND THAT'S ALSO A VERY STRONG CONTRAST TOS WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. THERE IS NO, THEY TALK ABOUT SCALPEL. NO, THIS IS A BLUDGEONING OF WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I KNOW ACROSS AMERICA, PARTICULARLY THE RED STATE OR RED COUNTY AMERICA, THEY BELIEVE THIS IS GETTING RID OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE. AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REALLY APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT AND IT'S AT A LEVEL NOT SEEN COMPARED TO LIKE THE REAGAN YEARS OR NOT DONE IN A PROFESSIONAL, PROPER WAY AS IT WAS DURING THE CLINTON YEARS. AND SO THIS IS GOING TO HAVE SHORT- TERM AND LONG- TERM RAMIFICATIONS. BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BUILD BACK. THE IDEA OF BUILD BACK BETTER. WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDO OR BUILD BACK IN SOME FUTURE TIME FRAME. AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THAT MENTAL KIND OF EXPECTATION THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE THE SHORT PIECES, BUT ALSO THE LONG- TERM PIECES. AND I SEE THIS OVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS A RENT ROLE AND THERE'S CHALLENGES. I SUSPECT THAT'S GOING TO BE HURT EVEN MORE ON TOP OF WHAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THAT'S GOING TO CREATE ITS OWN CRISIS. AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN FOLLOWING THE FED FOR A LONG TIME, EVEN AS A KID BECAUSE GOING BACK TO THAT TIME PERIOD OF THE LATE '70s, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF HIGH INTEREST RATES AND THE LIKE, I'VE GAINED AN INCREDIBLE APPRECIATION OF WHAT THE FED CHAIR DOES. BECAUSE AS SOMEONE WHO SITS ON THE LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE, THE IMPACTS OF THAT LITTLE SPIKE WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO RIPPLES THROUGH OUR LABOR CONTRACTS AND THE LIKE. IN TERMS OF THE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF THE NON- PROFITS AND THE HOUSING. AS YOU SEE IN TODAY'S NEWS CYCLE, THE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFF PROGRAM IS GOING TO NO DOUBT WILL HAVE INFLATIONARY IMPACTS. WE HAD COME OUT OF THAT, THOUGHT WE WERE RAMPING DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE INFLATIONARY IMPACTS PIECE AGAIN. AS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS RED STATE RED COUNTY AMERICA, IRONICALLY THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE MOST NEED OF MEDICAID. THERE'S AN ARTICLE IN CASCADE PBS TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE NEWHOUSE'S DISTRICT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR STATE VERY MUCH RELYING ON MEDICAID. IT WILL BE INTERESTING WHEN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY STARTING BEING HIT. BUT THE MEDICAID PIECE DOESN'T LIMIT ITSELF TO RED STATE RED COUNTY AMERICA. THESE ACTIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE HUGE IMPACTS ON OUR WEST COAST BLUE CITIES. ON SEATTLE. LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATIONS, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE HISTORICAL BACKDROP AND THAT MOST AMERICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. MY QUESTION AGAIN FOR THAT SHORT- TERM LONG- TERM CONTEXT, I FORGET BECAUSE I ALWAYS FALL BACK ON MY MILITARY CAREER, THE COUP IDEA. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS. I'M SURE, YOU KIND OF HINTED AT IT AT DIFFERENT POINTS. BUT WHAT IS THE SHORT- TERM LONG- TERM BECAUSE DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE. PRIORITIZATION WILL HAVE TO BE MADE IN TERMS OF THE CONTINUITY OF THE OPERATIONS. WHETHER IT'S A GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION LIKE DESE. I WAS CURIOUS IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO YOUR PLANS. WITH THAT CONTEXT AND SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE IDEA OF CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'RE LOOKING TO PLAN ON DOING IN THE ACTIONS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE? THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A STAB AT IT. I WOULD SAY THAT PLANNING HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF FUNDS THAT COULD BE CUT AND FOR WHAT REASONS AND FOR WHEN THAT COULD HAPPEN. WE ARE LOOKING AT KIND OF POTENTIAL SCENARIOS INCLUDING WORST CASE SCENARIOS OF ESSENTIALLY LOSS OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GETTING. THROUGH FEDERAL SOURCES. IT IS VERY HARD TO COME OUT OF PLANNING LIKE THAT WITH THE SENSE THAT WE'RE REALLY CONTINUING THINGS IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY. WE'RE UNLIKELY TO BE IN THE POSITION TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXCISE A QUARTER OF OUR PROGRAMS AND JUST STOP OPERATING THEM AND CHANNEL ALL THE RESOURCES INTO THE REMAINING THINGS BECAUSE THEY AREN'T SET UP LIKE THAT LIKE A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE CAPITAL ASSETS THAT WILL NEED TO STAND AND CONTINUE TO BE OPERATED. SO I DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS TO OFFER YOU ABOUT WHAT WE ANTICIPATE WE WOULD CUT CONCEIVABLY AND HOW WE WOULD AND WHAT WE WOULD PRIORITIZE EXACTLY, BUT I'M QUITE SURE THAT BECAUSE 80% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO PERSONNEL. BASICALLY, A LOT OF SOCIAL WORKERS. IT WOULD RESULT IN DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS IN OUR ABILITY TO SERVE PEOPLE AND MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO OFTEN NEED A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF SUPPORT. SO I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE A GREAT INCREASE IN INSTABILITY AMONG THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE. >> AGREE WITH WHAT DANIEL'S SAYING. WE'VE LOOKED INTO SEATTLE CLUB. THE NAME OF THE GAME NOW IS TO LIST EVERYTHING THEN START SPECULATING BASICALLY. I THINK EVERYONE DID THIS IN EARLY JANUARY. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH DANIEL AND OTHER PROVIDERS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE ALL THE FEDERAL SOURCES, WHAT DO WE THINK THE VULNERABILITY IS. WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO NOT SPECULATE A DOOMSDAY SCENARIO PLAN. WE DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S STATUTORY THAT'S GOING TO BE FAIRLY DURABLE AT LEAST FOR SOME NUMBER OF MONTHS. BUT I THINK THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE KEY THINGS FOR ME IS TO LOOK AT WHAT, SO THE SEATTLE CLUB, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF ARE LOCAL FUNDING. IT'S CITY AND COUNTY AS WELL AS SOME STATE FUNDING FOR MOST OF OUR STAFF. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING DANIEL SAID ANYTHING IS THAT THE CONDITIONS OF SOCIETY THAT HAVE CREATED THE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS CRISIS MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE FOLKS TO LIVE IN A CONCENTRATED ENVIRONMENT LIKE ONE OF OUR PSH BUILDINGS WITHOUT STAFFING. AND SO IF YOU CUT THE STAFFING IN THESE BUILDINGS, THOSE CONDITIONS, THE CONDITIONS WE SEE IN KIND OF LARGE SCALE ENCAMPMENTS WOULD START TO REPLICATE BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS THE SOCIETY'S PUT ON FOLKS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO THERE'S, IT IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK PERMITS BOARD OF HOUSING GETS ENOUGH PLAY IN THE SPEAR OF PUBLIC SAFETY MARKETING. YES, WE SEE POLICE IN OUR BUILDINGS A LOT. THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO. THEY KNOW WHERE STAFF ARE THAT THEY CAN FOLLOW UP WITH AND MAKE SURE SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH SCATTERED, UNSHELTERED FOLKS. SO WE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY FOR COMMUNITIES. SO I THINK WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT DANIEL AND I ARE THINKING ABOUT, WHAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT, IS HOW DO WE KEEP OUR STAFF EMPLOYED BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE SAFETY COMES FROM. NOT ONLY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN OUR BUILDINGS. AS I'M STARTING, WE'VE KIND OF HAD THIS, WE HAVEN'T BEEN CALLING IT A COUP, BUT I'M GOING TO LIFT THAT ONE. NEWTON'S CRADLE. THEY SET ON PEOPLE'S DESK. LITTLE BALLS THAT CLAK BACK AND FORTH. WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING AS FEDERAL FUNDING, THAT THE SCALE OF FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING, IT'S LIKE THE FIRST ONE THAT HITS. THAT ENERGY IS GOING TO TRANSFER ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE AND KICK SOMETHING OUT. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S TETHERED. I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO KICK SOMETHING OUT. IF THE FEDERAL CUTS HIT THE CITY AND COUNTY HARD ENOUGH THAT THEY HAVE TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES WITH THINGS COUNCIL APPROPRIATED, WE ANTICIPATE THOSE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TOWARDS ESSENTIAL STATUTORY SERVICES. WHAT IS THAT GOING TOTO FOR, HESITANT TO NAME ANY OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK HAVE FLEXIBILITY LEST IT BECOME PART OF THE BARGAINING CHIPS, RIGHT? WE ARE WATCHING. THIS IS ONE OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES, YES. OUR STAFF ARE MORE SECURE. THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT WHAT KIND OF DECISIONS ELECTEDS ARE GOING TO MAKE AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUDGET CUTS. IT'S THE SPECULATION AROUND HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE OUR BUILDING STAYS STAFFED SO THAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR BUILDINGS ARE SAFE AND REMAIN HOUSED. THERE'S NO BUILD BACK. IF WE HAVE TO HAVE A MASS EXODUS FROM OUR BUILDINGS, WHICH SEEMS UNFATHOMABLE AT THIS POINT, SO WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING AT SOME POINT IS AN INTERRUPTION OF THE PIPELINE. SO TO GET OUT OF A LITTLE BIT OF THE DOOMSDAY IF THERE'S AN INTERRUPTION IN LIE TECH INVESTMENTS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING CREDITS FOR OUR PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN IMPACT NOT IN A MONTH OR TWO, BUT PROBABLY THIS NEXT YEAR AS PROJECTS ARE DELAYED. THERE ARE FEWER TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE. LESS CAPITAL AVAILABLE. ESPECIALLY TWO YEARS FROM NOW, THREE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL BE FINISHING UP WOULD BE THROUGH FINISHING UP CONSTRUCTION. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT FEWER NEW PROPERTIES OWNING. WHICH MEANS A LOT OF THE FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON PRESERVATION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING HOUSING AND NOT REALLY ADDING NEW UNITS TO THE SYSTEM. BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH ACQUISITIONS WHICH REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF TRANSFORMATION TO MAKE THEM SAFE PLACES. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. I CAN TELL YOU THE PLACES WE'RE WATCHING MOST CLOSELY. THESE ARE GROUNDED IN FAIRLY REASONABLE LOGIC AND IT'S BASED ON THE EXPERTISE OF THE FOLKS TO MY LEFT AND CERTAINLY THE, COUNCILMAN KETTLE IS REFERRING TO, THE ELDER STATESMAN OF OUR PANEL. CERTAINLY RELYING ON OUR PARTNERS AND INTERMEDIARY PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY. >> KCRHA IS IN COMMUNICATION AS MUCH POSSIBLE WITH HUD AND HHS. I'LL JUST SAY THIS. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE WERE IN CONVERSATION WITH TWO ADMINISTRATORS IN D.C. MYSELF AND DR. KENNISON. THEY DON'T KNOW. THAT'S JUST THE REALITY. THEY'RE SITTING IN A VERY TOUGH POSITION JUST AS WE ARE TODAY. THEY'RE JUST NOT AWARE OF TOMORROW, OR WHAT WILL COME DOWN THE PIPELINE. WHAT WE DO KNOW, WHAT KSRHA DOESN'T, IS THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT THIS REGION. AND WE NEED TO BE QUICK TO BE TRANSPARENT ON WHAT THOSE IMPACTS MIGHT BE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING WITH KING COUNTY. AND ALSO THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO ENSURE WE COME UP WITH APPROPRIATE CONTINGENCY PLANS. BUT MONEY IS TIGHT THROUGHOUT THIS REGION. THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND TO COME UP WITH PLANS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE WILL BE A CHALLENGE. AND SO TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT. WHEN IT COMES DIRECTLY TO KCRHA, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE $66 MILLION IN HUD COC FUNDS, 4 TO $5 MILLION OF THAT IS DIRECT ADMIN REVENUE TO KCRHA. KCRHA WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT AS ALL PARTNERS WILL IF THESE DOLLARS GO AWAY. I JUST WANT TO END WITH THIS. I WASN'T ABLE TO TALK ON THIS, BUT I THINK THIS IS CERTAINLY A QUESTION HERE. A NOTE ABOUT IMMIGRATION. KCRHA IS CERTAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEW LANGUAGE AND THE GRANT AGREEMENT WE RECEIVED REGARDING VERIFICATION OF IMMIGRATION STATUS. AND ALSO, VERIFICATION WOULD BE A NEW REQUIREMENT. WE ARE COORDINATING WITH KING COUNTY ON AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. WE DO BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRATION VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ARE A BAD POLICY. THE EFFECTS GO BEYOND PROGRAM APPLICANTS. WE KNOW VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT HAVES A CHILLING EFFECT THAT EXTENDS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND EVEN DOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS ARE LESS LIKELY TO SEEK HELP IF THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE REPERCUSSIONS TO THEMSELVES. THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SO I WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND KCRHA CERTAINLY KEEP THAT IS IN MIND. THANK YOU. >> MAY I ADD ONE MORE THING? I THINK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A NATIONAL INTERMEDIARY, WE'VE LONG BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARTNER STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND LIKE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB AND DESC CAN STILL FUNCTION IS SUPER IMPORTANT. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING. COMING BACK FROM THE IMPACTS OF COVID HAS BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT. AND EVEN MORE SO FOR THEIR RESIDENTS. THE IMPACTS OF JOB LOSSES, INFLATION. HEALTH DISPARITIES. EDUCATION GAPS. THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN SO MUCH HARDER FOR OUR LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS TO COME BACK FROM. AND SO ENSURING THAT OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT HOUSING. KEEPING PEOPLE FROM ENDING UP ON THE STREETS, IS IMPORTANT TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOUSING IS WE END UP PUTTING MORE AND MORE BURDEN ON OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY. LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, RIGHT? IF WE CAN KEEP HOUSED, WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE IN A BETTER SPACE. SO FOR US, OUR SORT OF CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS IS REALLY ENSURING THAT OUR PARTNERS HAVE THAT CONTINUITY OF POSSIBILITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR SPEAKING TO THAT AND THAT QUESTION. >> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. JUST WANTED TO EXTEND MY OWN HEARTFELT THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS. YOUR UNIQUE INSIGHTS AND EXPERTISE INTO THE SCOPE OF YOUR, THE CHALLENGES IMPACTING YOUR INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU REPRESENT AND SERVE, AND THEREFORE, THE BROADER CITY OF SEATTLE. SO, THE WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU AGAIN SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR ASSEMBLING THIS TEAM OF Y EXPER AND ESPECIALLY CEO LOVELL. THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS AND PERSPECTIVE. YOUR ORGANIZATION OBVIOUSLY HAS A FOOTPRINT IN VIRTUALLY ALL THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THAT'S EXCELLENT AND YOU'RE ALSO RIGHT IN MY OWN COUNCIL COUNCIL DISTRICT IN PIONEER SQUARE. LAST YEAR, WE MET. WE'RE ABOUT DUE FOR ANOTHER ONE. SO WOULD LOVE TO COME VISIT YOU ALL AGAIN. I KNOW YOU'RE HERE IN YOUR ROLE AS INTERIM CEO, CEO, OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT I ALSO NOTE THAT YOU ARE A COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU'RE NOT HERE IN THAT CAPACITY IN THE CITY OF SETAC, BUT OFFICIAL COUNCIL MEMBER. SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WHEREVER WE GO, THESE MAN MADE LINES AND BOUNDARIES, WHEN WE CROSS THEM, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE COUNCIL MEMBERS. PEOPLE ALWAYS RECOGNIZE US, RIGHT? ALL THAT IS TO SAY THANK YOU. EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU. AND THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. COLLEAGUES, I SEE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. >> THANK YOU. I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING. I'M FEELING PRETTY OVERWHELMED. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, SORT OF LIKE A GLOBAL WARMING SIZED PROBLEM. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH AND IT'S IMPACTING SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, PARTNERS AND ULTIMATELY, OUR PEOPLE. AND SO JUST TRYING TO GET MY MIND AROUND IT. AND I COULD ASK INDIVIDUAL, LIKE WHAT DOES THE CLOSURE OF THIS OFFICE REALLY MEAN? THAT'S JUST ONE THING. THEY CLOSED AN OFFICE. DOES THAT MEAN ALL THE FUNDING ASSOCIATED? SOMETIMES, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. WELL, I HAVE SOME FACES AND NAMES TO GO TO FOR THE QUESTIONS. I PUT OUT A RELEASE THIS AFTERNOON EXPRESSING GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF THE DEPARTMENT, WELL, THE REGION TEN OFFICE OF HHS AND ALSO, STATING THAT MY ONGOING COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING OR AT LEAST FOCUSING ON SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT BECAUSE SORT OF LIKE TO ME, THAT SEEMS A PRECURSOR PROBLEM. BECAUSE IT LEADS TO SO MANY OTHER ISSUES DOWN THE LINE. CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, ET CETERA. DOESN'T NECESSARILY LEAD TO IT, BUT IT FEEDS IN AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING I'M CLUEING INTO. I GUESS THIS IS JUST BY WAY OF ME SAYING I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD AND IT IS, I'M HEARING IT. I SEE THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TO MAKE REALLY SMART DECISIONS GOING FORWARD. SO, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IF I MAY, I SHARE IN THAT OVERWHELM. THERE'S SO MUCH TO DIGEST IN ALL OF THIS. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND A LOT OF FOLKS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY AND RESOLVE THESE CHALLENGES. SO CERTAINLY I SHARE IN THE OVERWHELM AND APPRECIATE DEEPLY THE INFORMATION BROUGHT FORWARD HERE TODAY. I'D LIKE TO REFLECT BACK SOME OF THE THINGS I HEARD THEN JUST ASK A FINAL QUESTION TO CLOSE US OUT. I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO KCHRA FOR BEING A PART OF THE PRESENTATION. IT'S A COUNTY WIDE ENTITY THAT HAVE A FULL LOOK AT OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. JUST WANT TO UPLIFT YOU ALL. HAVE A UNIQUE POSITION. HAVING THIS OVERSIGHT AND REALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE DATA ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. APPRECIATE THE SPECIFICITY OF NUMBERS YOU INCLUDED. IT'S POIGNANT WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE SERVES ACROSS THE COC CONTINUUM. 3500 HOUSEHOLDS AND 4,490 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO THAT LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR OUR DECISION MAKING MOVING FORWARD. WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CITY REMAINS A STRONG PARTNER. AND LOOKING TO ALSO APPRECIATION FOR HUNT CAPITAL FOR BEING A PART OF THE PRESENTATION. WE'VE HEARD IN COMMUNITY THE CHALLENGES OF MAKING PROJECTS PENCIL AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. WITH WHAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY, A I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT IS A HARDER POSSIBILITY. I MEAN, QUICK QUESTION TO THAT. WHAT CAN WE TELL OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THE ABILITY FOR BUILDING MORE HOUSING IN THE NEAR FUTURE? BECAUSE IT SEEMS UNLIKELY BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE SHARED TODAY. >> JUST TO, WHAT CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? >> APPRECIATE THAT. JUST LOOKING AHEAD, I KNOW SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE EAGER TO HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING ABLE TO PENCIL IN THE NEAR TERM? >> THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION. THE FIRST THING IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMED, I THINK THE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT I KIND OF ALLUDED TO IS THIS A FEDERAL SOURCE. HOUSING TAX CREDITS ARE A FEDERAL SOURCE. MAJORITY OF OUR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING RELIES ON IT AS A FEDERAL SOURCE. SO THE, IF A LOCAL JURISDICTION IS 30% OF THE CAPITAL STACK OFOF PROJECTS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? THEN THAT'S GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE WAY WE BUILD HOUSING AND LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL SOURCES TO BUILD HOUSING. SO TO PROVIDE A LITTLE GRATITUDE FOR THE POSITION YOU ALL ARE IN, AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO REPLACE 70% OF THE CAPITAL STACK OF ALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHOUT US BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE IN THE SAME CAPACITY. PROBABLY LESS IN THE PRICING GOES DOWN. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE CAN TELL PEOPLE IS IT'S COMPLICATED. IT'S HARD TO PRODUCE HOUSING. AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS COMING TOGETHER TO PRODUCE THAT HOUSING INCLUDING REDUCING AS THIS BODY HAS TRIED TO DO, REGULATORY BARRIERS, CREATING STABILIZATION IN OUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO, AND ULTIMATELY INCREASING WAYS TO YOU KNOW, PROVIDE FOR OVERALL SUPPLY WHILE STILL ADDRESSING THE TRAUNCH OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING THAT NEEDS TO SUPPORT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. LOOKING TO ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, YOU SHARED A TON OF INFORMATION AND WE'D LOVE IT IN WRITING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO US. I WOULD ECHO A REQUEST. IF WE COULD GET THAT IN WRITING FOR OUR RECORDS, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. THEN I WANT TO THANK AS WELL OUR TWO LOCAL HOUSING PROVIDERS AND HEARING FROM BOTH PRESENTATIONSPRESENTATIONS VARIABILITY IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH SOME PROVIDERS MAY BE MORE AT RISK GIVEN JUST THE CONTINUITY OF SERVICES AND DEPENDENCY ON FEDERAL FUNDING AROUND MEDICAID. WE WANT TO AVOID A SITUATION WHERE ANY OF OUR PROJECTS NEED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS OR HAVING STAFF EXITS. WHICH WOULD CREATE MORE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES AND WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY APPRISED AND SUPPORT. MY FINAL QUESTION TO CLOSE US OUT FOR TODAY IS JUST WHAT DO YOU NEED MOST FROM THE CITY IN SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM? >> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE ISSUES AND WILL ENDORSE THE FEELING OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE PROSPECT OF SUCH HUGE CHANGE. YOU KNOW, I THINK KNOWING THAT OUR CITY LEADERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH WHO'S BEFORE US AND WHAT MAY BE COMING BEFORE US IS HEARTENING TO ME. I WOULD PRESS YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT WE AS A COMMUNITY IF THE WORST DOES COME. IF WE'RE OUT HERE ON OUR OWN, SEEMS TO ME WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE TO SOME DEGREE BUT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE WITHOUT THE FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP WE'VE RELIED ON. I HOPE THAT WOULD INCLUDE CONSIDERING OTHER WAYS WE CAN HELP PAY FOR THINGS USING LOCAL RESOURCES WITH THE UNDERSTANDING WE ALREADY HAVE CHALLENGES WITH OUR CITY BUDGET. SO, I DON'T ENVY YOUR JOBS. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU KNOW, LEADING US AND THINKING HARD ABOUT ALL THESE KINDS OF ISSUES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I THINK I PROBABLY SHARE A LOT OF DANIEL'S SENTIMENT. I THINK WHAT, I WOULD RECOGNIZE THE POWERFUL ROLE THAT A CITY COUNCIL HAS IN SOME OF YOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOLS IN LEGISLATION AND BUDGET WRITING. LIKE I WAS SAYING WITH THIS IDEA OF THE NEWTON'S CRADLE. THE ENERGY IS GOING TO TRANSFER FURTHER DOWN THE STREAM. THAT LEVEL OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S AT RISK CANNOT SIMPLY JUST BE ABSORBED WITHOUT SOMETHING HAVING TO GO AWAY. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THAT I THINK IS WITH A DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCE. SO THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMPENSATION. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT SOURCES WE HAVE. I KNOW KING COUNTY IS LOOKING AT THIS AS THEY LOOK AT BUDGET CUTS. IF THINGS CHANGE AT THE STATE, THEN THERE'S A NEW WAY TO HAVE REVENUE. IF THEY DON'T CHANGE THERE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AS MUNICIPALITIES. DO WE HAVE TO ENACT SOMETHING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. IT'S KIND OF, NOVEMBER WILL COME. OCTOBER WILL COME. AND YOU WILL BE PASSING A BUDGET AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO. YOU'RE GOING TO REACH OUT. ASK. LOOK AT ALL THE CHALLENGING THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE PROCEEDING 12 MONTHS AND THAT WILL BE A UNIQUE ONE. YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL BUDGET SESSION JUST TO BRUSH UP ON WHAT THE FEDERAL IMPACTS HAVE BEEN AN HOW THEY'RE PASSED BUT TO THE CITY AND CITY COUNCIL. CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS. INTERMEDIARIES CARRY A LOT OF WATER FOR US AND GET YOU THE ROLLED UP AGGREGATION OF WHERE THEY THINK SMART INVESTMENTS CAN BE MADE. SO WRITE GOOD LAWS AND PASS GOOD BUDGETS AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN ON OUR SIDE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND HEALTHY. >> I THINK I'LL ADD AS YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY AND AS I'M SURE YOU ALREADY KNEW, THIS WORK IS REALLY HARD. THE WORK OF SERVING LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, ENSURING THAT PEOPLE STAY HOUSED AND HEALTHY. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I COULD ASK CITY COUNCIL TO DO IS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS. FOR OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BLAME ANYONE FOR HOW MUCH IT COSTS. AS WE'VE HEARD, THERE'S A LOT OF SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES AND WE'RE BEING THROWN A WHOLE LOT MORE GOING BACK TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE WAS SAYING. WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE HOMELESSNESS UNTIL THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION DISMANTLED AND DEINSTITUTIONALIZED FOLKS WHO WERE SUFFERING FROM A SLEW OF ISSUES. MASSIVE DISINVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HOUSING, RIGHT? THERE'S SO MANY FACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN DECADES IN THE MAKING AND THIS IS REALLY ACCELERATING THAT. SO, I'LL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING TO YOUR VERY HARD JOBS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED $40 BILLION. I'M KIDDING. BUT I THINK THE THING THAT WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY IS FOR FEDERAL INITIATIVES THAT DO FEEL A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE SCOPE PUTTING YOUR NAME ON FEDERAL INITIATIVES DOES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AS LOCAL OFFICIALS. YOU MENTIONED A LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT EXTENSION. EVEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHICH IS BIPARTISAN, FINDING WAYS TO SUPPORT THAT AND PUTTING YOUR NAME ON IT, AGAIN, I'VE SEEN THAT GO A LONG WAY FOR REPRESENTATIVES. THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK YOU KNOW, JUST MARKET WISE, I KNOW THAT I AM TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THESE MARKET FORCES AND WALL STREET AND BANKS AND STUFF, BUT MAKING YOUR LOCAL JURISDICTION AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF UNDERWRITING DEALS. I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO SPECIFICS OFFLINE WITH THAT. THERE'S CERTAINLY THINGS ON THE TABLE YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THAT HELP UNDERWRITING AND RISK BASED PRICING AND DEBT SIZING. THE LAST THING IS WE'VE SEEN, I KIND OF MENTIONED THIS, BUT FROM THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE OF SEEING ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE NATION. WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL PRETTY DRAMATIC AND HORRIFIC DOWNFALLS OF PERMANENT HOUSING AND SERVICES WHO ARE PROVIDING HOUSING FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE. TO SAY OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET IN SEATTLE. NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY DO WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS IN SEATTLE, LIKE WE HAVE IN WASHINGTON, AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE STABLE BEFORE ALL ELSE SO WHEN WE COME OUT OF THIS, WHICH I THINK WE WILL, WE STILL HAVE THEM AND THEY CAN STILL DO THE WORK THEY WANT TO DO. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE. THERE'S REALLY NO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. SO, SUPPORTING THAT WORK. >> LISTEN, I'VE SAID MY PIECE HERE, BUT I'LL REITERATE FOR EVERYONE. THE HEADLINE FOR KCRHA IS WE'VE GOT A 2025 PROBLEM WITH 2019 FUNDING. AND THERE'S NOT BUT. AND WE, AS AN ORGANIZATION, MUST BE MORE EFFICIENT FINANCIALLY THAN EVER BEFORE. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING CARRY FORWARD. REDUCE CARRY FORWARD SIGNIFICANTLY. WORKING WITH HSD, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, YOUR BUDGET OFFICE. THIS ORGANIZATION IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PUBLIC DOLLARS. THAT WAS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A REQUIREMENT . AND PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE HELD US TO THIS STANDARD AS WELL. THANK YOU. BUT WE WILL HOLD OURSELVES IN THAT STANDARD AS WELL. ESPECIALLY IN TIMES SUCH AS THESE. SO, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER AS WE NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGES. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD. >> ITEM TWO. WELCOMING CITY RESOLUTION FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION. >> AND AS SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES COME UP, I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY. COLLEAGUES, AS I MENTIONED IN BRIEFING EARLIER, THIS WEEK, I BELIEVE, WHAT IS TIME. THIS IS NOT FOR ACTION OF ANY KIND, BUT MERELY TO START SOME DISCUSSION. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS SERVING OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS. AND WE WANTED TO PULL TOGETHER A RESOLUTION THAT SPEAKS TO AND IS RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEED. THIS WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR PRESENTERS AT STABLE. IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY STATING YOUR NAME AND ORGANIZATION÷÷ INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> I'M THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KIDS NEED OF DEFENSES SEATTLE OFFICE. >> I'M DIRECTING ATTORNEY AT THE NORTHWESTERN RIGHTS PROJECT. GLAD TO BE HERE. >> HELLO, I'M THE POLICY MANAGER WITH THE WASHINGTON IMMIGRANT SOLIDARITY NETWORK. THANK YOU. >> HELLO. I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH ONE AMERICA. >> AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I BELIEVE JASMINE WITH CENTRAL STAFF IS GOING TO KICK US OFF WITH AN OVERVIEW AND BRIEFING ON THE RESOLUTION. >> YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M YOUR COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND THANKS TO THE CHAIR FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY IN ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT REMOTELY AS I HAVE A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT NECESSITATED ME TO BEBE THIS AFTERNOON. I'LL BE PRESENTING THE COMMITMENT TO BE A WELCOMING CITY. I'LL BEGIN BY VERY BRIEFLY TOUCHING ON THE BACKGROUND TO THIS RESOLUTION AND THEN GO INTO A SUMMARY OF THE DRAFT AND FINALLY, TOUCH ON NEXT STEPS. THIS WAS ALL PRESENTED IN DETAIL IN THE PREVIOUS SELECT QUESTION, BUT AS A REFRESHER, THE COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THROUGH A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS OVER THE YEARS. MOST RECENTLY, THE EXECUTIVE ISSUED A MAYORAL DIRECTIVE ON JANUARY 10th REGARDING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TO REENFORCE SEATTLE'S COMMITMENT TO SEATTLE'S PRIVACY RIGHTS WITH APPLICABLE LAW. THE EXECUTIVE RECENTLY ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ACCESS LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY. WE HAVE HEARD TODAY IN THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE AND OTHER FORUMS THAT THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF VOLATILITY FOR COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND THERE'S THIS EVER SHIFTING LANDSCAPE IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND FEDERAL CUTS TO SERVICES. LOCALLY, OUR REVENUE LANDSCAPE IS SHIFTING AND WE ARE FACING A SHORTFALL FOR 2025 AND BEYOND. AT THE MARCH 6th SELECT QUESTION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR ASSURANCES FROM THE CITY THAT POLICIES AN INVESTMENTS SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WOULD CONTINUE. SO WE HAVE THIS DRAFT RESOLUTION. IT FIRST RECOGNIZES AND REAFFIRMS ONGOING CITY POLICY COMMITMENTS. I'VE SUMMARIZED ON HERE FOR REFERENCE BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T READ THIS ENTIRE SLIDE, BUT BASICALLY, ASSURES OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE CITY FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR CITY SERVICES ACCESSIBLE. THAT WE'LL NOT ASK ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING SERVICES. WE'RE NOT, WON'T MAKE ANY RECORD OF IMMIGRATION STATUS. AND WE WON'T COOPERATE OR ASSIST WITH REGISTRATION OR SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION OR U.S. LAW. SPD WILL NOT ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL ADDRESS OFFICER AUTHORITY FOR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE'S KEY WASHINGTON WORKING ACT. AGAIN, CITY EMPLOYEES WON'T HONOR REQUESTS FOR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT A WARRANT. THE RESOLUTION ALSO REQUESTS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IT REQUESTS THAT DEPARTMENTS TRAIN EMPLOYEES ON CURRENT POLICIES AND THAT'S IN THE DIRECTIVE. THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT TRY TO PREVENT IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES OF ALL STAGES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL PROCESS AND TO ESTABLISH A TEAM TO MONITOR FEDERAL ACTIONS THAT MAY TARGET IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND TO PREPARE LEGAL STRATEGIES IN RESPONSE. IT ALSO REQUESTS THAT ALL CITY FACILITIES POSTED SIGNAGE AREAS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, WHICH SAID THAT IF I.C.E. TRIES TO ENTER INTO A SPACE THAT IS NOT PUBLIC, THAT THEY SHOULD ENACT PROTOCOL OR PROTOCOLS, YOU KNOW CONTACTING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ET CETERA. AND SO THIS WOULD ALLOW CITY EMPLOYEES TO IN SOME CASES WHERE IT'S NOT CLEAR WHERE SPACE IS PRIVATE TO EFFECTUATE THAT DIRECTIVE. IT ALSO REQUESTS AN ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS IN CONSULTATION WITH COMMUNITIES SUCH AS CONTRACTED ORGANIZATIONS AND IMMIGRANT AN REFUGEE COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT THE RESOLUTION OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT AFFECT IMMIGRANT REFUGEES. AND FINALLY, THE RESOLUTION DRAFT CONTAINS EXPRESSIONS OF COMMITMENT TO ADD FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS. $300,000 IN TOTAL. TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR ALIRA TO RESPOND TO EMERGING NEEDS. IT ALSO EXPRESSES A COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS. NOW, THESE ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING. AS WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT A RESOLUTION HERE. BUT THEY WOULD BE EFFECTUATED BY BUDGET LEGISLATION OR COUNCIL BUDGET ACTIONS SUCH AS IN THE MID YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL. AS THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST IN DRAFT FORM, IT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE FINALIZED IN TIME FOR THE NEXT MEETING ON MAY 16th WHERE IT IS PLANNED TO BE DISCUSSED AND POSSIBILITY VOTED ON. THAT'S THE PRESENTATION. HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS OR DEFER TO THE CHAIR AND OTHER FOLKS ON THE PANEL. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL STAFF. I WILL MOVE US TO OUR COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERS HERE WITH US TODAY. AND WE CALLED IN A NUMBER OF THESE FOLKS. OH, I DO SEE A HAND FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. >> PERHAPS I CAN, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT A COUPLE OF SECTIONS OF THE RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, JASMINE. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE COME TODAY. THESE ARE PARTNERS THAT HAVE PROVIDES INPUT ON THIS RESOLUTION AND ALSO ARE WORKING ON THE GROUND IN THIS ISSUE AND CAN SPEAK BEST TO THE REALITIES OF WHAT ARE HAPPENING. I'D LIKE TO START US OFF WITH EDITH WITH ONE AMERICA. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A HARD STOP AT 4:00 TO I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME BEFORE YOU HAVE TO HEAD OUT. >> SO SORRY I HAVE TO LEAVE AT 4:00, BUT IF YOU SEE ME WALK OUT, THAT'S WHY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF ONE AMERICA. ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS EDITH REYES. IN MY ROLE AS AN ORGANIZER, I'M ON THE GROUND ORGANIZING IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE. SO I'M CONSTANTLY HEARING FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THE FEDERAL POLICIES ARE IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES. RIGHT NOW, IMMIGRANTS ARE IN FEAR. I.C.E. RAIDS ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY, HERE IN OUR STATE IN WASHINGTON, AND IN SEATTLE. NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED THE LEADERSHIP OF YOU ALL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO MAKE SEATTLE A CITY THAT ACTIVELY STANDS WITH IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. I'LL BEGIN BY STATING OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION AT THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S FIRST STEP TOWARDS ENSURING THE SAFETY PROTECTION, AND RENEWED COMMITMENT TO WELCOMING AND ACTIVELY SUPPORTING IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEES DURING A TIME WHERE IMMIGRANTS CONTINUE TO FACE ATTACKS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AS WE ARE SEEING INCREASED I.C.E. ENFORCEMENT AND VARIOUS ANTI IMMIGRANT POLICIES. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SEATTLE TO CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN THE NATIONAL, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AS A WELCOMING CITY FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. ONE AMERICA EXTENDS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE RESOLUTION AS A WHOLEWHOLE I'LL STARTSTART SECTION FOUR THAT CITY REAFFIRMS THE STATE LAW KEEP WASHINGTON WORKING THAT PROHIBITS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM HANDING OVER INFORMATION TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS. AND AFFIRMING CITY EMPLOYEES WILL NOT COOPERATE OR ASSIST WITH ANY REGISTRATION OR SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS OR POLICIES THAT TARGET IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. THIS SECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT OUR CITY WILL NOT TOLERATE OR COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, WHICH IS WHAT IMMIGRANTS IN SEATTLE NEED TO HEAR IN THESE MOMENTS. IT PROVIDES REASSURANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT PARENTS CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL. OR TO NOT WORRY ABOUT GOING TO WORK AND TO COME BACK HOME SO THE FAMILIES OR EVEN THAT IMMIGRANT COLLEGE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE ON THEIR CAMPUSES. THESE ARE SAUL PRECAUTIONS THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE FACING NOW WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. FURTHER MORE, TAKING MEASURE TO IMPLEMENT THE COURTS OPEN TO ALL ACT IN POLICIES TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IS VITAL BECAUSE IT ENSURES THE COURTS ARE FOR IMMIGRANTS REGARDLESS OF STATUS AND PROTECTS THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF ALL. TO THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CUTTING FUNDING FOR LEGAL DEFENSE THAT IMPACTS THE WORK AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS DO TO DEFEND IMMIGRANTS. THERE'S A NEED FOR LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. ADDITIONALLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONTINUING TO CUT CRUCIAL PROGRAMS THAT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES RELY UPON ON THEIR DAY-TO- DAY LIVES. THIS MAKES IT EVEN MORE VITAL THAN EVER FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRSAFFAIRS GIVE OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES. IT IS PIVOTAL THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN DEPORTATION DEFENSE, CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES UTILIZE TO THRIVE IN A PLACE WE ALL CALL HOME. WE SUPPORT LABOR STANDARDS FOR LOW WAGE WORKERS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS AND THE CITY MAINTAINING INVESTMENTS IN THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS. IMMIGRANT WORKERS FORM AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE WORKFORCE IN SEATTLE AND SHOULD BE PROTECTED AT THE WORKPLACE. IMMIGRANT WORKERS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THE OFFICE OF LABOR AND STANDARDS OFFERS AND SAY THAT THEIR INFORMATION IS KEPT PRIVATE. WORKERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ARE AFRAID TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE RAIDS THEY'RE HEARING HAPPENING AROUND OUR CITY. AND ARE SCARED TO USE RESOURCES BECAUSE OF THE RETALIATION THEY'LL RECEIVE DUE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. ONE AMERICA AS A WHOLE SUPPORTS THE RESOLUTION AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. NEXT TO WEISSEN. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. STAND BEFORE YOU NOT JUST AS A POLICY MANAGER OF THE WASHINGTON IMMIGRANT SOLIDARITY NETWORK, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WITNESSED THE COURAGE OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE RISKED EVERYTHING TO BUILD LIVES ROOTED IN DIGNITY. LAST MONTH, I SHARED THE TRENDS OF DEPORTATIONS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING. TODAY, I ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO THE HEART BEATS BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS. THE STORIES OF PARENTS, WORKERS, AND CHILDREN WHO EMBODY THE RESILIENCE OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS NOT JUST ABSTRACT. IT IS A LIFELINE FOR THE 35% OF KING COUNTY WORKFORCE WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS. THE DISHWASHERS WHO KEPT RESTAURANTS RUNNING DURING LOCKDOWNS. THE CARE GIVERS WHO CRADLE OUR ELDERS' HANDS AS MEMORIES FADE. IN 2025 SO FAR, REQUESTS FOR NETWORK, THAT OUR NETWORK HAS RECEIVED FOR COMPANY WIDE SUPPORT HAVE DOUBLED AND CALLS TO OUR HOT LINE HAVE SPIKED. EACH CALL REPRESENTING DAMAGE TO ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. A REPORT RELEASED TODAY FROM THE BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER PROJECTS STANDS TO LOSE $100 MILLION PER YEAR IN STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUES IF JUST 10% OF UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON ARE DEPORTED. YET AS WE SPEAK, FAMILIES ARE PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMES NOT JUST BY RENT HIKES BUT BY THE SUFFOCATING OF KNOCK ON THE DOOR DEPORTATION. YESTERDAY ALONE, 37 WORKERS WERE KIDNAPPED BY I.C.E. AT THEIR WORKPLACE WHILE WORKING AND BUILDING ROOFS THAT SHELTER US. THAT'S 37 FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN CAME TO AN EMPTY HOME. 37 FAMILIES LOSING AN INCOME EARNER. 37 FAMILIES WHO CALLED THE DETOR PATIENCE HOT LINE REPORTING THEIR LOVED ONE MISSING. TO TRULY HONOR SEATTLE'S WELCOMING CITY PLEDGE, WE MUST MOVE BEYOND WORDS AND INTO ACTION THAT INVESTS IN HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE. THE $2.8 BILLION PAID ANNUALLY BY WASHINGTON'S UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AND TAXES DESERVES REINVESTMENT. WHEN I.C.E. SHOWS UP AT A FAMILY'S HOME, IT IS VITAL OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN DO IF THEY'RE VIOLATED. WHEN A FATHER HAS TO ATTEND A COURT HEARING AND IMMIGRATION CHECK- INS, HAVING THE SUPPORT OF A COMPANY PROVIDE SUPPORT SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO ATTEND ALONE. WHEN A MOTHER IS DETAINED SUDDENLY IN OUR HOME, AT A STORE, OR WORKPLACE, RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS CAN NOTIFY THE REST OF THE FAMILY AND MAKE SURE HER CHILDREN HAVE SOMEWHERE SAFE TO BE. WHEN AN ASYLUM SEEKER IS TRYING TO NAVIGATE A COMPLEX LEGAL SYSTEM IN A NEW COUNTRY, LEGAL REPRESENTATION COULD GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS SO THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO WIN THEIR CASE. WHEN THE BREADWINNER OF A FAMILY IS DETAINED AND THE ONLY OPTION TO BE FREED NOTORIOUS FOR SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS IS BY PAYING A $15,000 BOND, A COMMUNITY BOND FUND CAN SUPPORT SO THE FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN GIVING UP A HOME OR LETTING THEIR LOVED ONE SIT IN DETENTION. WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES OF THEIR LIFE, HAVING A NUMBER TO CALL WHERE THEY CAN SPEAK IN THE LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND AND RECEIVE NOT JUST ACCURATE AND VETTED INFORMATION, BUT ALSO EMPATHY, SUPPORT, AND AFFIRMATION OF THEIR HUMANITY IS INVALUABLE. IN PASSING THE RESOLUTION AND COMMITTING TO EXPANDING INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS FOR THIS WORK THE CITY IS MAKING ITS PROMISE A REALITY. WE ASK YOU PASS THIS WITH URGENCY AND TO FUND IT WITH THE VERACITY OF A COMMUNITY THAT KNOWS SOLIDARITY IS THE ONLY HOME WE CANNOT LOSE. THE TIME FOR HALF MEASURES HAS PASSED. OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN BOLD BELONGING AND LEADERSHIP FROM YOU. NOT JUST OPEN ARMS BUT OPEN FUTURES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NORTHWESTERN RIGHTS PROJECT. >> THANKS. WELL, WE'RE HERE CONTINUING THE OVERWHELM FROM THE LAST PANEL. YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOT GOOD NEWS I THINK TO BE HAD. AND I WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES FROM ONE AMERICA, FROM WEISSEN HAVE SAID. I CAN TELL YOU, WE WORK ACROSS OUR STATE OFFICE IN SEATTLE. OUR CENTRAL OFFICE. WE ALSO HAVE AN OFFICE IN TACOMA. SINCE INAUGURATION DAY, WHEN THERE WERE AROUND 800 PEOPLE DETAINED THERE, THERE'S NOW YOU KNOW, AROUND 1400 PEOPLE. SO IT'S A DRAMATIC INCREASE. THOSE DETENTIONS ARE ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING FROM SEATTLE. SO, I JUST WANT TO YOU KNOW, AND SO IN ADDITION TO COMMUNITIES BEING UNDER ATTACK FROM IMMIGRATION, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION DOING THE REPRESENTATION, IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS, YOU AREN'T GUARANTEED REPRESENTATION UNLIKE IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE UNREPRESENTED. THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE AT THE DETENTION CENTER. WHERE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IF SUDDENLY, AN INCOME, THE INCOME EARNER IS DETAINED AND UNABLE TO WORK, IT BECOMES EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO AFFORD AN ATTORNEY AT THAT TIME. RIGHT? AND SO THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE AT THE DETENTION CENTER ARE UNREPRESENTED. HAVING AN ATTORNEY MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE ON A CASE. THE DATA OUT THERE SUGGESTS. IT'S 1100% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL INCOME ON THE CASE WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY. IMMIGRATION LAWS ARE INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED AND HAVING SOMEONE BY YOUR SIDE TO NAVIGATE THEM IS SO IMPORTANT. SO IN ADDITION TO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING PUT UP AT DRAMATICALLY INCREASED RATE FROM BEFORE THE INAUGURATION, WE'RE ALSO AT A PLACE WHERE THE FUNDING FOR THIS ESSENTIAL WORK IS ALSO DISAPPEARING. YOU KNOW, THAT'S TRUE. A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS GET SOME FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE FROM KIND WILL TALK MORE AS WELL ABOUT THIS. BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COMES THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REPRESENT UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN. THAT MONEY WAS, THAT CONTRACT WAS ENDED A FEW WEEKS AGO. THERE'S BEEN LITIGATION AROUND IT. A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER WAS GRANTED, BUT THAT IS ONLY TEMPORARY. THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND AGAIN, WHAT THAT MEANS TO BRING IT DOWN TO DETAILS, THERE'S HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF KIDS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE LAWYERS TO BE AT THEIR SIDE IN COURT. SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A 10-YEAR- OLD WHO'S SITTING IN COURT REPRESENTING THEMSELVES AGAINST AN I.C.E. PROSECUTOR, A LAWYER. TRYING TO MAKE THEIR CASE FOR WHY THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT SYSTEM IS OUTRAGEOUS AND OFFENSIVE. THAT IS NOT YOUR DOING, RIGHT? YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT SYSTEM. HOWEVER, YOU ARE IN A PLACE TO, VANESSA MENTIONED A PLACE TO DO MORE THAN SAY, TO SAY THAT SEATTLE IS A WELCOMING CITY BUT SHOW THAT THROUGH THE BUDGET. THAT IS HOW YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENTAL BODIES CAN DEMONSTRATE THEIR VALUES IS THROUGH THEIR BUDGET AND THIS IS A TIME AND I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THIS IS A TOUGH TIME BUDGETWISE FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT? WE JUST HEARD THAT FROM THE PREVIOUS PANEL IN HOUSING. BUT THIS A TIME WHERE YOU KNOW, WHERE THE CITY CAN STEP UP AND FIND WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT'S INCREDIBLE IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY. THE DIFFERENCE IN A KID THAT HAS SOMEONE THERE. UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, THERE ARE PRETTY POWERFUL LAWS FOR KIDS IF THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCESS AN ATTORNEY. WITH REPRESENTATION, WE SEE INCREDIBLY HIGH RATES OF SUCCESS IN THOSE CASES. WE'RE ABLE TO GET KIDS GREEN CARDS THAT ARE THEN ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO COLLEGE. BECOME CITIZENS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU CAN MAKE. OUR ORGANIZATION STANDS TO LOSE OVER $2 MILLION THROUGH THAT FEDERAL CUT. THERE'S ALSO OTHER FEDERAL FUNDING, SOME OF WHICH HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THAT'S CERTAINLY AT RISK. SO THIS IS A DRAMATIC NEED. I ALSO JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO UNDERSELL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE RESOLUTION. I THINK INCREASED TRAINING IS IMPORTANT. WE SEE IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR STATE WHERE DESPITE IT BEING ILLEGAL UNDER STATE LAW, OTHER COUNTIES AND LOCALITIES SHARE INFORMATION WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO ENSURING THAT CITY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE TRAINED IN WHAT STATE LAW REQUIRES WHICH IS NOT SHARING OR COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION WITH FEDERAL CIVIL LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU KNOW, AND SO I JUST WANT TO END I THINK AND THERE IS SO MUCH TO SAY. THERE IS THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE OUR CITY CAN STEP UP. OUR CITY HAS THE CAPACITY TO ENSURE THAT ITS RESIDENTS ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE PROCESS. THAT FOLKS WHAT GO, YOU KNOW, THE IMMIGRATION COURT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SORT OF SEE IT FROM HERE. IT'S JUST DOWN THE HILL. THAT FOLKS GOING TO THAT COURT AREN'T LEFT ALONE TO NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS. AND IF SEATTLE RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND TO THE DETENTION CENTER IN TACOMA, THAT THERE'S SOMEONE THERE WHO'S GOING TO TRY TO GET THEM RELEASED AND GIVE THEM THE BEST CHANCE THEY HAVE TO GET OUT AND GET BACK WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND OUR FINAL PANEL, FINAL, WORDS. FINAL PANELIST FOR TODAY IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM KIND. AND I KNOW COLLEAGUES WE'VE HEARD FROM HER BEFORE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT KIND IS COMING BEFORE US AND A MAJOR REASON FOR BRINGING THEM FORWARD IS AS A RESULT OF SOME INFORMATION RELEARNED FROM THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WE FURTHER DISCUSSED IN COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA'S COMMUNITY AROUND THE IMPACTS TO KIND. TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO SHARE A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR WORK. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M MANAGING DIRECTOR OF -- WHICH IS KIND'S SEATTLE OFFICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE NEEDS OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN IN SEATTLE. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN THAT I SERVE AND THAT MY LEGAL STAFF HAVE BEEN SERVING BUT I'M ALSO HERE, IF I MAY, A AS COMMUNITY MEMBER OF SEATTLE. UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN MIGRATE AND ENTER THE U.S. FEDERAL CUSTODY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALONE AT THAT TIME. THEY'RE MINORS AT THAT TIME AND THEY ARE WITHOUT PARENTS AND THEY ARE WITHOUT GUARDIANS. WHEN CHILDREN ARE RELEASED FROM FEDERAL CUSTODY, ALMOST ALL ARE PLACED INTO REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS, DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS. DATA SHOWS THAT IMMIGRATION JUDGES ARE ALMOST 100 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GRANT RELIEF FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN WITH LEGAL COUNSEL THAN THOSE WITHOUT. UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ARE NOT SOLELY AT THE BORDER AND IN FEDERAL CUSTODY. MOST UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ARE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY TO ADULT CARE GIVERS WHILE THEIR IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS OR DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS PEND FOR MANY YEARS. THEY LIVE IN SEATTLE. THEY GO TO SCHOOL HERE. THEY HAVE FRIENDS HERE. THEY ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. ON MARCH 21st, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF ISSUED A NOTICE OFOF TOTAL TERMINATION FOR THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN PROGRAM. KIND IS ONE OF MORE THAN 100 SUB GRANTEES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS OF THIS CONTRACT THAT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION OR OVER 26,000 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO ARE RELEASED, WHO ARE IN OR RELEASED FROM THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT. KIND SEATTLE OFFICE DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MODELS THAT SERVES, THAT HAS SERVED UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN SINCE AUGUST OF 2003 IS CLOSING NEXT MONTH ON MAY 23rd. THAT'S MY LAST DAY. AT KIND, THAT'S THE LAST DAY THAT THE SEATTLE OFFICE WILL REMAIN OPEN. AS OF MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, MY ENTIRE TEAM WAS LAID OFF EXCEPT FOR THREE ATTORNEYS TO REMAIN FOR THE NEXT MONTH TO WIND DOWN CASES, WHICH MEANS WITHDRAWING FROM HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN'S CASES. AND TELLS HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ATTORNEYS. KIND SEATTLE OFFICERS MORE THAN 400 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND 300 OF THOSE CHILDREN ARE REPRESENTED BY KIND ATTORNEYS. WE ARE WITHDRAWING FROM ALMOST 250 CHILDREN'S CASES AND THERE'S ONLY 55 OF THOSE CASES THAT REMAINS THAT WE ARE NOT WITHDRAWING FROM AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THAT IS BECAUSE OF OYRA'S INVESTMENT IN THE REPRESENTATION OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN AND IMMIGRANTS IN CHILDREN AND OF THE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY HERE. WE ARE NOT WITHDRAWING FROM 55 CHILDREN AND YOUTH CASES BECAUSE OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THERE ARE ALSO OVER 60 ADDITIONAL CLIENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S LEGAL SERVICES. THEY FALL WITHIN THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK. IF FUNDING IS INCREASED WHICH THIS RESOLUTION PROPOSES TO DO, IT'S POSSIBLE TO ALSO MAINTAIN REPRESENTATION FOR THESE CHILDREN AND YOUTH. NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE REALLY NEED LOCAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THESE ARE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, ABUSED OR NEGLECTED, WHO ARE FLEEING TERRIBLE THINGS IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH TO BE HERE AND STAY HERE. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ABANDON THEM. AND THIS IS NOT EVEN A ACCOUNTING FOR ALL THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN IN WASHINGTON STATE WITHOUT COUNSEL. IN 2024, 1,460 CHILDREN WERE RELEASED INTO OUR STATE. OVER 7,871 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO WASHINGTON STATE SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2015. CENT VISITS TO THE IMMIGRATION COURT JUST DOWN THE STREET SHOW STAGGERING NUMBERS OF CHILDREN RELEASED TO WASHINGTON STATE WHO REMAIN WITHOUT COUNSEL. AND WITHOUT COUNSEL, THEY HAVE A SLIM CHANCE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION WITH CHANGING POLICIES AND LAWS TO WIN THEIR CASE AND THEY ARE AT RISK OF DEPORTATION AND RETURN BACK TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAVE FLED FROM. AS OF LAST YEAR IN JULY OF 2024, THERE ARE OVER 800 CHILDREN AND YOUTH CASES PENDING BEFORE THE JUVENILE COURT. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE UNREPRESENTED. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU HAVE TIME AND INTEREST TO GO AND OBSERVE. IT'S OPEN COURT. IT'S STRIKING. AND IT'S SHAMEFUL. THE ENDING OF THIS CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES IS CALCULATED. IT'S IN CONCERT WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OTHER PLANS. OUR OFFICE'S CLOSURE COULD NOT COME AT A WORSE TIME. UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ARE NOW THE FOCUS OF INCREASED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ACROSS THE NATION. NOT LONG AGO IN ONE OF KIND'S OFFICES, TEN I.C.E. OFFICERS CAME TO A RESIDENCE AND SHE WAS DIRECTED TO APPEAR FOR A CHECK-IN. WHEN OUR CLIENT'S TODDLER WAS SERVED WITH PAPERS. I REPEAT, THEY ISSUED PREMOOUFL PROCEED AGAINST A 1-YEAR-OLD. OUR PARTNERS HAVE OTHER STORIES TO SHARE THAT REFLECT SIMILAR I.C.E. ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. I.C.E. ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AGAINST CHILDREN MEANS THEIR CASES BECOME MORE COMPLEX AND TIME CONSUMING AS ATTORNEYS NEED TO EXPLAIN THE RISKS ACCOMPANIED CHILDREN TO CHECK- INS AND MONITOR THE RISK OF DETENTION. IN TANDEM, CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION COURT PRACTICE WILL LEAVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR STATUS MORE VULNERABLE TO DEPORTATION. ALTHOUGH THIS LAWSUIT REFERENCED TO CHALLENGE DETERMINATION WAS FILED ON MARCH 21st, AND THROUGH APRIL 16th, THERE IS A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER IN PLACE. THIS DOES NOT RELEASE FEDERAL FUNDING TO AGENCIES LIKE OURS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE MONEY FOR ITS WORK. MANY LEGAL SERVICES AGENCIES THAT RECEIVE LOCAL AND STATE FUNDING ARE STILL STRUGGLING AND WILL CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AND FACE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY OTHER AGENCIES IN WASHINGTON SERVING CHILDREN, SERVING THE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE. THERE IS NO LEGAL GUARANTEE OF THE LEGAL OUTCOME OF THIS CASE SO SEATTLE MUST STAND STRONG NOT TO ABANDON ITS CHILDREN, THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, NOR THE ATTORNEYS FIGHTING TO SERVE THEM. GIVEN THIS BACKDROP AND SECURING THE SAFETY AND WELL- BEING OF CHILDREN, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT SEATTLE CONTINUE TO FUND OYRA. THAT THEY CONTINUE TO FUND THE LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK. THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD INITIATIVES SUCH AS THIS RESOLUTION TO SUSTAIN REPRESENTATION, TO SUSTAIN EXPERT ATTORNEYS. EVEN WITH THE CLOSURE OF KIND SEATTLE OFFICE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND OTHER LEAGUE SERVICES AGENCIES AND IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS FIGHTING TO DO THIS WORK. I AM HERE LITERALLY FUND RAISING ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF MY PARTNERS DOING THIS WORK BECAUSE IT'S SO CRITICAL. IT IS SO IMPORTANT. THIS IS NOT MONEY THAT KIND WILL RECEIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT ALL UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN IN SEATTLE CAN REMAIN SAFE AND PROTECTED AND THAT THEY ARE CARED FOR BY US. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THIS BODY TO HEAR. THE PANEL BEFORE US IS HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS EXACT KIND OF INFORMATION. THE REALITIES OF WHAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO AT THIS TIME, I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORK AS THINGS STAND. ABOUT THE RESOLUTION. IT'S FOR FIRST DISCUSSION AND TO START OUR WORK TOGETHER. AND SO HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND EDUCATING US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. MY QUESTION OR COMMENT IS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY, WHICH IS A MIX OF BOTH A STATE OF CONTINUED COMMITMENT ON FUNDING AND OTHER ACTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL IS COMMITTING TO OR WILL WILL VIA THIS RESOLUTION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, I DON'T KNOW IF OUR COLLEAGUES, ANYBODY SAW IT, BUT ON MARCH, ON MARCH 11th, THE CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON'S OFFICE ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE FOR HER PLAN TO QUOTE ADD STAFF POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO INCREASE WORKLOAD FROM OTHER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIVES WITH POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO SEATTLE, END QUOTE. THIS IS AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS REGARDING SECTION SEVEN AND, A LITTLE BIT SECTION FIVE, WHICH SECTION SEVEN ASKS US TO, WELL, REQUEST THE CAO DEVELOP A TEAM TO FOCUS ON RESPONSE TO FEDERAL ACTIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS AND ALSO, STATES ARE COUNCIL'S POSITION ON WILLINGNESS OR DESIRE TO FUND ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR THAT WORK. ANYWAY, SO, THAT IS WHAT THE QUOTE, THAT IS WHAT THE PRESS RELEASE SAYS. IT SAYS THAT SHE PLANS TO ADD STAFF POSITIONS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN RESPONSE TO INCREASED WORKLOAD CAUSED BY FEDERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND OTHER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIVES WITH POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO SEATTLE. THEN GOES ON TO SAY THE REQUESTED POSITIONS WILL GIVE THE INTERNAL CAO FEDERAL RESPONSE TEAM MORE SUPPORT. THE TEAM IS THE RESULT OF A WORK FLOW STRATEGY THAT ORGANIZES STAFF INTO SUBJECT MATTER AREAS FOCUSING ON FEDERAL ACTIONS IMPACTING SEATTLE. THE TEAM ALSO MONITORS RELATED LITIGATION OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH MEMBERS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO WE HAD A SENSE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING ALREADY AND I BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS RESOLUTION DOESN'T IMPLY ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN BUT ALSO MORE TO THE POINT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR PUBLIC KNOWS SOME THINGS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING. I DON'T WANT TO MISINFORM THEM THAT WE ARE, THAT WE'RE CALLING FOR ACTIONS THROUGH A RESOLUTION THAT IS NOT BINDING, THAT ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING NOW. THERE'S ALWAYS MORE TO BE DONE AND THERE ARE MORE RESOURCES THAT COULD GO FOR MORE WORK ET CETERA, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT FOR ANYONE LISTENING, WE'RE NOT COMING UP WITH SOME OF THESE IDEAS ON OUR OWN. THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I CONTRIBUTED A QUOTE TO THAT PRESS RELEASE SAYING I SUPPORT THESE STAFF POSITIONS. SO THIS IS JUST ONE ASPECT OF THIS RESOLUTION. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT, I HAVEN'T MATCHED THE CALLS FOR ACTION OR QUESTION TO EACH SECTION TO WHAT EXEC TEVA DEPARTMENTS MIKE DOING. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FINISHED PRODUCT OF THIS RESOLUTION ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES WORK THAT IS HAPPENING NOW SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE HASN'T ALREADY BEEN PREPARATION FROM OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE IN FOR THE PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES TO KNOW WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING NOT JUST ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT TO KEEP ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO NOTE. THANK YOU. >> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I KNOW IN THE PROCESS OF STAKEHOLDERING THIS, WE WERE PLEASED TO REFLECT BACK TO THEM AND SAY THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S MAINTAINED. WITH THE LANGUAGE IN THIS SECTION, WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR CONTINUED FEEDBACK AND WE'RE WAITING TO GET SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK, BUT CERTAINLY FEEDBACK RECEIVED ON THAT MATTER. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITHWITH CAO TO MAKE SURE THE LANGUAGE IS AUTHENTIC TO THE WORK AND STILL REFLECTIVE OF THE WORK AHEAD OF US. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I WILL JUST SAY THAT AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THESE ACTIONS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARE HATEFUL IRRESPONSIBLE DISGUSTING, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT. AND IT'S JUST PLAIN NOT OKAY. PARTICULARLY ALL THE ACTIONS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE NOT OKAY, BUT THIS PIECE ABOUT UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING BECAUSE THESE ARE CHILDREN. WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THIS COUNTRY. AND ARE ON UNACCOMPANIED. I WILL SAY YOU ALL MAY BE AWARE THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DIRECTOR MOHAMMED FROM THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS WHICH YOU NOTED. WANTED T■O ACKNOWLEDGE I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HER AND SHE'S BEEN GIVING US INFORMATION. I KNOW SHE'S BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH ALL OF YOU. SO I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT I'VE POSTED TO HER. I KNOW THAT SHE WILL BE GETTING RESPONSES RELATED TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE RAISED TODAY. AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH DIRECTOR MOHAMMED ABOUT SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT YOU RAISED, BUT ONE THING I WILL ASK NOW IS JESSICA, YOU MENTIONED THE OFFICE IS CLOSING. SO ARE THOSE CASES TRANSFERRING OVER TO NERT OR GETTING PARCELLED OUT? OR HOW IS THIS, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING YOU SAID. >> SURE. I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. WE'VE MET WITH THE CITYCITY I'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH NERT. WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO ENSURE THOSE CHILDREN HAVE COUNCIL THAT REMAINS. >> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE MINORS IN SEATTLE. JUST QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATE AND WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP WITH. AND OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AS WELL. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WORKING ON THIS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FULL INFORMATION AND THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID EARLIER AND YOU ALL HAVE ALSO INDICATED IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, THERE'S A LOT OF CHAOS HAPPENING AN A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION AND WE KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED. WE HAVE A PROPER LANDSCAPE OF WHAT IS NEEDED. SO I WANT TO AGAIN THANK YOU HERE. I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH DIRECTOR MOHAMMED. SHE'S BEEN AMAZING IN THIS AND JUST STEADFAST IN HER WORK AROUND THIS AS YOU ALL KNOW BECAUSE YOU GET TO WORK WITH HER. WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE HER AT THE CITY. I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH HER TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU JUST RAISED TODAY. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR SHARING. >> THANK YOU. >> YEAH. JUST TO ADD TO THAT, RIGHT LIKE, I THINK WE'RE, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO DO OUR BEST, RIGHT, IN WHAT IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION. WE ALSO LOST OVER $2 MILLION IN FUNDING. AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST WITH OUR LIKE RESERVES TO KOR THAT FUNDING AS LONG AS WE CAN, BUT THAT'S WHERE EVERYONE WANTS TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO COVER ALL THE CASES THAT KIND HAS BEEN REPRESENTING BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE OUR WORK AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT QUESTION ACTUALLY EMPHASIZES SORT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, RIGHT? IT ISN'T THAT THERE'S OTHER MONEY, RIGHT, THE STATE BUDGET DOESN'T INCREASE THEIR MONEY FOR LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDING. SO, THERE ISN'T MONEY COMING FROM THE STATE ON THIS. NEW MONEY COMING FROM THE STATE ON THIS. SO I DO HOPE, I THINK THAT THERE CAN BE WAYS THAT WE'RE CONTINUING. I LIKE THE IDEA OF COLLABORATING ACROSS THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO FIND WAYS FUND THIS IMPORTANT WORK. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO FLAG, I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW, WE HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT, THE COUNTY HAS A BUDGET DEFICIT. THE STATE HAS A BUDGET DEFICIT. SO I THINK THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AND ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF WANTING TO. SO WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. AND THEN IT'S JUST THE REALITY OF EACH OF THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AT THE STATE, COUNTY, CITY, ARE GRAPPLING WITH BUDGET DEFICITS. I DID HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION WHICH I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH WITH DIRECTOR MOHAMMED ABOUT PRO BONO. WE HAVE VARIOUS LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS LIKE THE BAR ASSOCIATION THE STATE BAR, THE COUNTY BAR. AND THEN SPECIALTY BAR ASSOCIATIONS. ARE THEY ABLE TO HELP? I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A LAY OF THE LAND IN HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO YOU KNOW, TO ADDRESS THESE REALLY IMPORTANT SERIES OF ISSUES. >> I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK ON THAT. SO KIND'S ORIGINAL MODEL IS REALLY LEVERAGING PRO BONO RESOURCES AND AND THAT GOES ONLY SO FAR TO BE HONEST. WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO DO THAT, BUT THAT REQUIRES FUNDING OF THE STAFF WHO ARE CREATING THE MATERIALS, MENTORING THE ATTORNEYS, DOING THE OUTREACH INTAKING THE CHILDREN, AND ORR FACILITIES AN MAKING SURE WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION TO PLACE AND PROPERLY MENTOR THOSE CASES. ALSO, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THEY ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND SO IT'S STARTING TO FEEL PERSONAL FOR ME. I HAVE AT LEAST THREE EOs THAT APPLY TO ME SPECIFICALLY, WHICH MEANS I'M PROBABLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND IT'S NOT WITH THOSE DIRECTED AT SPECIFIC LAW FIRM, BUT THERE IS A SEPARATE ENTIRETY EO DEDICATED TO LOOKING AT CREATING A CHILLING EFFECT OF TAKING PRO BONO MATTERS. IT'S GREAT, IT'S THERE. IT IS NOT THE BE ALL AND END ALL. PEOPLE AND CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR ARE CONTINUATION OF DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS. >> THANK YOU, JESSICA. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. >> I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP. >> THANK YOU. IN THE FLURRY OF ALL THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, I COMPLETELY MISSED THAT THERE ARE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON PRO BONO WORK. COULD YOU JUST EXPAND THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT WHAT THAT IS AND MAYBE IT'S A FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION, BUT THAT'S NEWS TO ME. >> SURE. THERE IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND I AM GOING OFF MEMORY, SO FORGIVE ME. IT DETAILS SORT OF YOU KNOW, ATTORNEYS BRINGING FRAUDULENT CLAIMS. YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY AROUND IMMIGRATION WORK. I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY JUST ABOUT PRO BONO WORK. SAYING THEIR RIFE WITH ABUSE. IN COMBINATION WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS ATTACKING FIRMS THAT PROVIDE REPRESENTATION FOR CAUSES AGAINST THIS ADMINISTRATION. YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IN ADDITION TO YOU KNOW, EXECUTIVE ORDERS SPECIFICALLY ATTACKING IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS. THERE IS A STRONG CONFLUENCE OF THINGS THAT ARE DISSUADING ATTORNEYS FROM TAKING ON PRO BONO REPRESENTATION. AGAIN, WE HAVE MANY GREAT PRO BONOS AND ARE GLAD FOR THAT AND WE'RE PROUD THAT ARE MANY TERNS WILLING TO STAND UP. THE STATE BAR HAS PUT OUT STATEMENTS STANDING UP FOR THE PRACTICE OF LAW AND THE ABILITY TO REPRESENT PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THEIR POSITIONS ARE. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. BUT IT HAS HAD A CHILLING EFFECT. >> AND IT'S TRUE IN THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS SPACE AND OTHER SPACES. OBVIOUSLY TRANS RIGHTS AND THE LEGAL WORLD AS WELL. SO AND IN THE HEALTHCARE WORLD. SO THIS IS AND ALSO THE DEI PROGRAMS. ALL OF THIS IS TAKING IT'S JUST HAVING HUGE IMPACTS SO THANK YOU. >> BEFORE CONTINUING ON, I WANT TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON WAS EXCUSED STARTING AT 4:00 P.M. AND WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR HER A BIT LONGER. ESPECIALLY TO HEAR TODAY'S PRESENTATION. AND GLAD SHE WAS A PART OF IT. COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR OUR PANELISTS TODAY, BUT ANY FINAL QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS RESOLUTION TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET I ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. ONE THING THAT SET THIS IS APART IS THE INCLUSION AND DISCUSSION OF FUNDING. AND MAKING SOME INITIAL COMMIT. S TO EXPANDING FUNDING. UNDERSTANDING WE'RE ENTERING INTO A CHALLENGING FUNDING ENVIRONMENT BUT WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE THE NEED. WHEN WE WERE ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CERTAINLY THE PROPOSED NUMBER WAS MUCH HIGHER PROBABLY TO FULLY ADDRESS THE NEED WE'RE TALKING MILLIONS. AND BUT WHAT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD IN THIS RESOLUTION IS $300,000 SO LOOKING AT EXPANDING FUNDING TO OIRA AND TO LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WHERE SOME INITIAL STEPS THAT FELT REASONABLE AND TO MEET THE MOMENT AND SO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, PANELISTS, WHAT COULD $300,000 DO KNOWING IT'S A MINOR STEP BUT IF YOU COULD COLOR THAT A LITTLE BIT AND COULD YOU SPEAK TO MORE AGAIN THE BROADER NEED TO FULLY ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY IF WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON UNACCOMPANIED MINOR LEGAL WORK, WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO FULLY ADDRESS THE NEED THAT'S THERE? >> I THINK VERY GRANULAR. 200,000 IS A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO FTE TO REPRESENT THE FULL ADDITIONAL 60 CHILDREN OR MORE THAT NEED REPRESENTATION RIGHT THERE. I THINK THAT MONEY GOING TO AN ORGANIZATION SUCH AS NERT TO CONTINUE THE WORK IS ESSENTIAL. BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM AS WELL. I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT MONEY CAN DO, BUT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE MANY CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE GOING TO BE WITHOUT COUNSEL IN MULTIPLE VENUES. IN STATE COURT AND IMMIGRATION COURT WHO ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF COUNSEL. >> THAT'S A GOOD ROUGH PICTURE OF WHAT AGAIN, IT'S 150 THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. YEAH, I THINK 300, THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT. 60 CASES, WHICH ISN'T ALL OF THE KIDS. THOSE WERE THE KIDS THAT KIND HAS BEEN REPRESENTING. THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO START. YOU'RE RIGHT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A START. NOT THE END. I DO ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK HAS BEEN TOING IMPORTANT WORK AND SO PU AGAIN, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THE TIME TO STEP UP. FOCUSING ON CHILDREN, THERE'S A HUGE NEED AND I THINK THAT THE KEY IS ENSURING THERE IS THAT EXPANSE AND THE ABILITY TO REPRESENT FOLKS WHO ARE OTHER WISE SITTING IN DETENTION AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT REPRESENTATION WHO JUST NEED SOMEONE TO BE WITH THEM TO FIGHT THEIR CASE THROUGH COURT AND GET THEM THE STABILITY THEY'VE BEEN LACKING FOR SO LONG. >> I CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WITH WAISN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT FUNDING CAN SUPPORT. MANY FOLKS TO REPORT WHEN THERE IS IMMIGRATION ACTIVITY. WHEN THERE IS A FAMILY MEMBER WHO'S BEEN DETAINED. OFTENTIMES, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED. THEY CALL US FOR SUPPORT. WE REFERRALS SO THEY CAN GET THAT ASSISTANT. WE ALSO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE ONLINE SYSTEM TO HELP THEM FIND WHERE THEIR FAMILY MEMBER IS. IF THEY'VE BEEN SENT OUT OF STATE AT ANOTHER CENTER CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER RESOURCES THERE AS WELL. AND OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT WHEN COMMUNITIES ARE BEING IMPACTED. EITHER DURING ACTIVE ACTIVITY OR AFTERWARDS. WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT SUPPORT. TO HAVE, WE OPERATE BOND FUND FOR FOLKS IN DETENTION AND HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE RELEASED. IT'S ALSO THIS ADDITIONAL NEED THAT GOES ALONGSIDE IT WHEN SOMEONE'S FAMILY MEMBER IS DETAINED. WHEN THE CHILDREN DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR PARENTS WENT AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. WE ALSO MEET AND FLAG EVERY CALL WE GET. IF THERE SEEMS TO BE A VIOLATION OF KEEP WASHINGTON WORKING WE FIGHT IT FOR OUR PARTNERS. WE MEET WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO SHARE WHEN ARE THESE VIOLATIONS OCCURRING SO THEY CAN DO THEIR WORK AS WELL TO MAKE SURE STATE LAWS ARE BEING FOLLOWED. AND DOING THAT ADVOCACY WORK TO ENSURE THE SYSTEM AND OUR VALUES AND STATE ARE HERE TO PROTECT AND WORKING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. >> IT'S SORT OF HARD TO BELIEVE RIGHT, BUT IN OUR COUNTRY, YOU CAN BE DISAPPEARED OFF THE STREET. MAYBE THEY JUST DON'T COME HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THE ABILITY TO CALL THE HOT LINE AND GET A REFERRAL TO US THE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THE WORK IS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE. >> THANK YOU, ALL. COLLEAGUES, ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR PANEL FOR TODAY OR ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME ON THE RESOLUTION? IN THIS CASE, I WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO CLOSE US OUT ON THIS ITEM. I HOPE EVERYONE SEES THIS IS THE START OF A CRITICAL DISCUSSION ON THIS RESOLUTION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE EACH OFFICE HAS INPUT ON THIS MOVING FORWARD, BUT I THINK WE CAN AGREE THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME AMAZING THINGS THIS RESOLUTION COULD ACCOMPLISH AND SOME ADDITIONAL STEPS. THIS IS A REAFFIRMATION OF COMMITMENTS THAT SEATTLE HAS MADE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THESE ARE SEATTLE VALUES ABOUT PROTECTING AND STANDING BE OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. AND SO I CERTAINLY WELCOME EACH OFFICE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL ON GETTING THIS RESOLUTION ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. WELCOME ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THAT WORK TOGETHER. AS WE'RE MEETING OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS DURING THIS TREMENDOUSLY CHALLENGING TIME. AND I CLOSE US OUT BY SAYING BUDGETS ARE A MORAL DOCUMENT. IT'S A STATEMENT OF VALUES. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS AS A BODY. AND TO THAT END, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. IT CANNOT BE APPRECIATED ENOUGH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE MONTHS TO COME AS WE NAVIGATE THIS TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, ACTUALLY. I'M TRYING TO, SO, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION. I THINK YOU KNOW HOW BUDGET PROCESSES WORK AND AT WHAT POINT IN THE YEAR WE'RE NOT IN A BUDGET PROCESS AT THE MOMENT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LEVEL SETTING EXPECTATIONS. JUST BASED ON WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO. THIS IS VERY STRESSFUL. AND I DON'T WANT YOU ALL OR THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TODAY. AND JASMINE, IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS YOU'VE HAD WITH CENTRAL BUDGET OFFICE OR U CHAIR FOR THAT MAT EVERY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT SETTING UP EXPECTATIONS WE CAN'T MEET TODAY JUST BY THE REALITY OF THE BUDGET PROCESSES. >> APPRECIATE THAT AND IF CENTRAL STAFF IS STILL ON THE LINE, INVITE YOU TO JUMP IN. I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS THAT THESE ARE VERY ABNORMAL TIMES AND WE HAVE A NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS. IT WILL BE COMING UP IN MID YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL, BUT THIS RESOLUTION WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO STATE AN INITIAL COMMITMENT TO INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN THIS AREA AND I THINK IN THIS MOMENT, THAT HAS SOME AMOUNT OF VALUE AND SO I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OFFICE TO SEE IF WE CAN BE ABLE TO THAT C RECOGNITION THAT THERE'S HIGH COMMUNITY NEED. WITH THAT, CENTRAL STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON? I DON'T KNOW IF JASMINE'S STILL ON THE LINE. >> I'M HERE, YES. I WOULD SAY THAT YEAH, THE MID YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL WOULD BE THE MOST LIKELY NEXT AND BEST OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ALLOCATE FUNDING AND EFFECTUATE THAT COMMITMENT THAT'S IN THE DRAFT RESOLUTION TO ADD MORE, THE $300,000 TO OIRA. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> AND THAT WOULD BE, JASMINE, WE WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW THE CURRENT BUDGET AND SEE WHAT WE WOULD REDIRECT FUNDING. CORRECT. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU. I JUST DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION BECAUSE THIS IS SO STRESSFUL. I WANT FOLKS TO BE AWARE OF HOW THE PROCESSES GO. I DON'T WANT TO ADD MORE STRESS TO AN ALREADY STRESSFUL SITUATION. SO, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, JASMINE, FOR ANSWERING THAT. >> I WILL JUST ADD THATTHAT LIKE UNDERSTANDING THE BUDGET PROCESS IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE TODAY YOU'RE GOING TO SIGN A BIG CHECK FOR US AND WE'RE GOING TO WALK OUT THE DOOR. YOU KNOW, HAVING A STATED COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNCIL GIVES US AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE'RE IN A SWIRL OF UNCERTAINTY IN OUR OWN BUDGET PROCESSES. HAVING THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN UPCOMING COMMITMENT. THERE IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR US IN IMPLEMENTING OUR OWN WORK AND OUR ABILITY TO STEP OUT AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO STEP OUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT MONEY IS COMING IN. I APPRECIATE THAT THIS ISN'T AN IMMEDIATE FIX, BUT THAT CERTAINTY OF FUTURE FUNDING IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO TAKE ON WORK NOW IF WE KNOW THAT MONEY IS COMING IN THE FUTURE. SO, JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE IN FURTHER COMMENTS, I WILL SAY THANK YOU TO OUR PANEL AND FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND ARE EXCITED FOR OUR CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER AND WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S AGENDA. ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? ANY FINAL BUSINESS? HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS 4:46 P.M. THANK YOU ALL.