information from King County
King County is making its warehouse on Harbor Island available to two nonprofits so they can store, stage, construct, and furnish homes for people and families who are transitioning out of homelessness.
Executive Dow Constantine announced in early March that King County will make a large warehouse on Harbor Island available to a nonprofit that will build small, sustainable homes that can be placed in residential backyards and to another nonprofit that will furnish other homes for families that are transitioning out of homelessness.
Beginning this spring, the public will be invited to the county's warehouse to help The BLOCK Project build the small cottage-style homes and donate gently used furniture, dishes and other household supplies to Humble Design to help families exiting homelessness
"People become homeless for many reasons, and there is no single solution to the homelessness crisis," said Executive Constantine. "To make a difference, it will take all of us – government, philanthropy, everyday people – bringing resources, energy, and ideas. King County’s partnership with the BLOCK Project and Humble Design underscores that we all have something to offer our neighbors in need, and we can all do our part to help people and families leave the streets and the shelters and become healthy, happy, and self-sufficient."
Working with an entire neighborhood block to create a welcoming space
King County's warehouse will provide The BLOCK Project staff and volunteers with much-needed space to store materials and build the self-contained homes so they can be easily installed in residentail backyards and hooked up to utilities.
The first BLOCK Project in Seattle was built on Beacon Hill in 2017. The staff works with every resident in the neighborhood block, not just the individual homeowner, to make sure everyone has a positive experience.
The BLOCK Project concept was created in 2016 by architects Rex Hohlbein and Jenn LaFreniere. Architects design, permit, and manage construction. Facing Homelessness, which focuses on building community understanding and awareness about homelessness, oversees The BLOCK Project.
"The BLOCK Project provides our community a direct path for ending homelessness," said Rex Hohlbein, Founder and Creative Director for Facing Homelessness. "Facing Homelessness, BLOCK Architects and King County – representing the non-profit, private and public sectors – model the collaborative approach needed to bring people off our streets and into healthy community."
Helping families transition out of shelter and into a home
Most people living in shelters or vehicles have very few belongings and move to a new apartment or house with little or no furniture. Humble Design collects gently used donated furniture, dishes and other household supplies to support families exiting homelessness.
The staff meets with each family member to learn what colors and styles they like best, and “shop” for items in the county's warehouse to match the family’s wishes. Each family receives a fully furnished home to give them a fresh start on a new life. Humble Design reports extraordinary success with their program, with only 1 percent of the families they have served returning to homelessness.
The Detroit-based Humble Design will open a new location in Seattle thanks in part to a grant awarded by the Schultz Family Foundation, a strong local advocate for ending family homelessness. U-Haul, a national partner with Humble Design, will provide transportation, picking up and delivering donated furniture.
"With the help of King County’s incredible warehouse donation we can work toward ending the revolving door of homelessness in Seattle," said Rob Strasberg, Co-CEO, Humble Design. "We will be turning empty houses into warm, welcoming, fully furnished homes thru a dignified experience so recently homeless families, veterans and individuals can start again with success."
Mary’s Place, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless families, will refer those in need to both The BLOCK Project and Humble Design. King County currently partners with Mary’s Place on two enhanced family shelters in formerly vacant county office buildings, one in White Center and another in Kenmore.
Volunteer opportunities open to the public
Humble Design and The BLOCK Project will spend the next several weeks moving in and gearing up operations at the King County warehouse located on Harbor Island, at the mouth of the Duwamish River.
Both rely on community involvement and welcome volunteers. Help will be needed to build, assemble or landscape BLOCK homes; donate furniture and other household goods; or clean and help stage a home for a family on move-in day. Information on volunteering will be posted on each of the partners’ websites.
