Homeless Students:
A Growing Need in Everett
Last school year, there were 1,266 homeless students in Everett.
We can solve this issue together.
UPDATES: March 2020
to receive updates about the EPS property from Housing Hope.
Neighborhood Advisory Committee
Neighborhood Advisory Committee meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 6-7:30 p.m. in room 103 (in the Annex) of Sequoia High School.
The next meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, March 25th at 6 p.m.
This meeting has been postponed until further notice.
Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting Notes:
Comprehensive Plan and Rezone Application
Housing Hope has requested the Comprehensive Plan and Rezone Application (see definition below) submitted in July 2019 to be postponed for consideration in the 2020 docketing request. In addition, the Rezone request has been amended to reduce the size and scope for rezoning. Postponing the review until next year will allow Housing Hope and the architect (Designs Northwest) to work closely with the neighborhood in creating a site more conducive to the Port Gardner neighborhood. Click here to for a copy of the re-zone reschedule request.
The application and preliminary site plan is due in January 2020, however, will not be a complete plan, allowing time for the Neighborhood Advisory Committee to collaborate with Designs Northwest, residents of Port Gardner Neighborhood and Housing Hope.
Supportive Housing Ordinance
Click here to read the amended Supportive Housing Ordinance, as of January 29, 2020.
Click here to read the prior Supportive Housing Ordinance, with links for definitions.
Opportunity for Public Input:
If you are unable to commit to monthly meetings, email us to be included in an opportunity to have your voice heard and to be invited to the committee meetings.
Comprehensive Plan and Rezone Application Definition
In July, Housing Hope applied for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment with a concurrent Rezone Application to develop this property. This application is also referred to as a “docketing” request. This submittal was made due to the moratorium that the city placed on “Supportive Housing.” Under Supportive Housing the site could be approved with the existing zoning and comprehensive plan designation through the city’s Review Process III (Hearing Examiner). The supportive housing ordinance is currently in a six-month review while the Everett City Council clarifies the ordinance. The docketing application that Housing Hope recently submitted can only be done once a year, through the city’s docketing process.
More about this collaboration
The Issue:
In the 2017-2018 school year, there were 1,266 students in the Everett Public Schools experiencing homelessness. Nationwide, the number of homeless students has increased by 100% in the past 10 years. In our own community, these students are living in shelters, cars, or on the streets. This is a statistic that must change. Everett Public Schools and Housing Hope are collaborating to support these vulnerable members of our community with a new property in Everett.
The Solution:
Children born into poverty and those who experience significant traumas are more likely to
raise their own families in the same conditions. Housing Hope has been working for over 31 years to break this cycle using stable housing, supportive services, and job training to help get families back on their feet. When a homeless student can live in safe, stable housing, their grades can improve. They can focus on studying and healing instead of where their next meal will come from. Once they graduate, children with high school diplomas are much more likely to earn higher wages and break the cycle of poverty that they were born into.
The Site:
Nearly three acres of vacant land has been identified southwest of Sequoia High School. This land is owned by Everett Public Schools and leased to Housing Hope. Construction would begin late-2021 and would be completed by late-2022, subject to the approval of a special property use permit and financing.
The Design:
The new construction will have at least 34 units and will be a safe, stable and supportive place for families experiencing homelessness with students attending Sequoia High School and other schools within Everett Public Schools. The design will be no more than two stories tall and will be reflective of the historic character of the neighborhood.
Zoning:
The site is presently zoned R-1, with neighboring properties zoned R-3 and R-4. An application for Special Property Use Permit will be submitted to the City of Everett and a public hearing for community input will follow.
The Approach:
To break the cycle of poverty and homelessness, housing isn’t enough. The hallmarks of
Housing Hope programs include supporting parents by helping them remove barriers to employment and increased income. Children are supported in overcoming trauma and succeeding in school. Our goal is for families to achieve self-sufficiency and thrive.
Housing Hope in your community:
Housing Hope sites are safe, clean and beautiful properties. We operate over 544 units of housing throughout Snohomish County, including 11 properties in Everett.
About Housing Hope: Founded in 1987, we recognize that safe, secure and affordable housing is only the first step in solving poverty for struggling families. The innovative concept to provide a full range of housing with housing-related support services is a hallmark of our mission. Housing Hope combines affordable housing with tailored services such as life-skills training, childcare, case management, and employment services. We also offer homeownership opportunities for low-income individuals of Snohomish County and Camano Island.
Opportunity for input: There will be extensive opportunity to provide input on this project. We will distribute information to the neighborhood, and post information on this website as plans progress. Please check back often, and contact updates@housinghope.org with any questions.
Resources & Media Library
Institute for Children Poverty and Homelessness, February 28, 2020
neaToday, February 12, 2020
HerladNet, February 2, 2020
HerladNet, January 31, 2020
HerladNet, January 30, 2020
King5 News, January 29, 2020
Tribune, January 29, 2020
Brown Center Chalk Board, October 2019
Schoolhouse Washington, 2017-2018
Institute for Children Poverty and Homelessness, October 2019
Schoolhouse Washington, September 19, 2019
There's more to the story, July 22, 2019
Trulia Research
Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness
Crosscut
The Tribune, July 17, 2019
The Everett Herald, July 11, 2019
KING 5 News, July 10, 2019
The Tribune, June 19, 2019
The Everett Herald, June 16, 2019
The Everett Herald, June 14, 2019
MyEverettNews, June 11, 2019
KIRO Radio, June 4, 2019
KING 5 News, May 31, 2019
The Tribune, May 29, 2019
KOMO 4 News, May 29, 2019
Q13 News, May 28, 2019
The Everett Herald, May 28, 2019
The Everett Herald, May 24, 2019
