Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee
Seattle's Finance Committee advanced two critical pieces of legislation to accelerate shelter expansion as part of Mayor's ambitious plan to create 1,000 new shelter units by the first year. The committee heard from 17 public commenters—including shelter residents, service providers, and advocates—all supporting the urgent need for more shelter capacity. The legislation would authorize the Finance and Administrative Services Director to sign larger leases more quickly and allocate $4.9 million in initial funding for the first 500 shelter units. The proposed shelter expansion represents a significant shift in Seattle's approach to homelessness, emphasizing rapid deployment of city resources and expertise rather than relying solely on regional coordination through King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). Public testimony highlighted the life-saving nature of shelter, with personal stories from residents who credited shelter programs with helping them maintain recovery and rebuild their lives. Committee members expressed support for the concept while raising detailed questions about ongoing costs, service models, and coordination with existing regional systems. The estimated cost ranges from $25,000-$45,000 per unit annually, with higher-service models for people with complex behavioral health needs costing significantly more.
**CB 121184 (FAS Leasing Authority):** Committee discussed but did not vote. Legislation would expand the Finance and Administrative Services Director's authority to execute leases for transitional encampments up to 55,000 square feet (increased from 18,000), remove cost-per-square-foot caps, and enable raw land preparation. This aims to reduce shelter setup timelines from 9-12 months to 3-5 months. **CB 121185 (Shelter Expansion…
**April 1, 2026:** Deadline for amendment concepts **April 3, 2026:** Final deadline for amendments ("pencils down") **April 7, 2026:** Committee vote on both CB 121184 and CB 121185 **April 8, 2026, 1:00 PM:** Faith Shelter Summit hosted by SHARE/WHEEL **September 14, 2026:** Potential reportin…