Anchors up in Shoreline
The King County District Court and city of Shoreline are reopening the Shoreline Community Resource Center, a place where people can access services such as health care, education, job training, behavioral health and substance use disorder help. The resource center was opened in conjunction with the Shoreline Community Court, but was operated virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resource center will officially reopen on Dec. 6 at Shoreline City Hall. Members of the public can reach at least 11 service providers and obtain a COVID-19 booster and flu shot voucher at the center. The resource center will be open for in-person service every Tuesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and the virtual resource center will also be open during the same hours.
You do not need to be a community court participant to access the resource center.
Community court participants are charged with low-level, quality-of-life crimes, such as disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia or vehicle prowl. People who are involved in community court cannot have violent felony convictions in the past five years, pending violent felony charges or a sex offender history.
It’s cold outside
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) announced that it would open cold weather shelters in Seattle ahead of a spate of days in which the weather forecast was not expected to reach 39 or 40 degrees. The cold weather activation was announced between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2.
KCRHA said that if temperatures remain low after Dec. 2, they will update with future activation plans. The cold weather shelters have already been opened in November at the Compass Housing Alliance — as many as 40 people used the space.
The Compass Housing Alliance center is open overnight from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. through the week.
KCRHA does not operate severe weather shelter contracts outside of the city of Seattle. In its email announcing the cold shelter opening, the organization noted that, “Housing is the solution to homelessness. Extra shelter space during extreme weather helps meet the immediate need for warmth, but doesn’t solve the root cause. Housing is a basic human need, and every human deserves a safe place to live.”
Holding people to account
President Joe Biden signed a memorandum on Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, saying that it will deter future violence and support survivors of sexual violence through legal, policy, diplomatic and financial tools.
According to the memorandum, the United Nations estimates that, for every rape reported “in connection with a conflict,” 10 to 20 go unreported.
The U.S. announced an additional contribution of $400,000 to the U.N. Special Representative to the Secretary General on Sexual Violence.
Ashley Archibald was the editor of Real Change through July 14, 2023, after working as a staff reporter for the newspaper for several years. She left to become a communication specialist for Purpose. Dignity. Action., previously known as Seattle’s Public Defender Association. Real Change is proud to know this talented person.
Read more of the Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2022 issue.