Cooling sites opened during heat wave for rising homeless population

A social media post from KCRHA announces cooling center activation with a link to their site at kcrha.org/severe-weather

By Oliver J. Moffat

North King county has the worst homeless shelter shortage in the county and needs vacant and underutilized land to host temporary shelters. Cooling sites opened across North King county in response to an early heatwave.

An early heatwave and NWS HeatRisk in the forecast prompted the King County Regional Homeless Authority (KCRHA) to open cooling centers from June 8 to June 9, winding down on the morning of June 10 with the possibility of extending if the forecast shifts.

Our typically mild Pacific Northwest climate can make vulnerable people more sensitive to high heat, causing a spike in serious health problems such as heart attacks, stroke, and kidney failure. 

KCRHA also recently published the 2024 King County Point-In-Time (PIT) Comprehensive Report, showing a 26% increase in overall homelessness and a 117% increase in chronic, unsheltered homelessness since 2022.

 table from KCRHA shows the ratio of unsheltered homeless people compared to the number of available temporary shelter beds across King County sub-regions

North King County has the worst homeless shelter shortage in the county. The agency reported 1,730 unsheltered homeless people in North King County last year but only 198 shelter beds available, a ratio of 9.6 unsheltered people per shelter bed— the worst ratio in the county. The county-wide average was 2.1 unsheltered people for each available bed.

The agency has launched a search for vacant and underutilized land. The region has a dire need for more emergency and transitional shelters and faces a critical shortage of land to host temporary shelters like Tiny House Villages and Safe Parking Lots. 

In response, KCRHA is now seeking potential sites for temporary shelters to be added to a Land Bank that could be activated when funding becomes available. 

The activated North King County cooling sites are:

Bothell: 

• Northshore Senior Center
• Bothell Library

Kenmore:

• The Hanger
• Kenmore Library
• Kenmore City Hall

Lake Forest Park:

• Third Place Commons

Shoreline:

• Shoreline Library

Woodinville:

• Woodinville Library

The Severe Weather Shelter Navigation Hotline (206-245-1026) is available daily during severe weather activations for information on shelters. Families can call to be connected to a shelter and a ride.