Karla Miller, former Hospitality House resident, listens to comments from the Council
by Greg Wright
During the Presentations portion of the City Council’s Regular Council Meeting Agenda Tuesday night, the Council heard a short report from Karla Miller, a former Hospitality House resident–and now a graduate of its programs, and a volunteer.
According to the Seattle Foundation, Hospitality House, which is a 9-bed shelter located in Burien,
provides culturally-sensitive, safe, transitional (up to 90 days) shelter for single homeless women. Hospitality House is the only single women’s transitional shelter in South King County. The shelter, which began operations in October 2000, provides services to approximately 80 single homeless women each year. Basic services include shelter, meals, and case management to assess needs, remove barriers, and assist in securing stable housing.
Miller noted that the facility served 200+ bed nights in 2010, at a nightly cost of $72.00. Figures from the Seattle Foundation demonstrate that less than a third of the facility’s operational costs–$57,000–come from governmental sources. Many of the shelter’s day-to-day functions are provided by volunteers from twelve area churches.
Miller cites herself as proof positive of the shelter’s value, having relocated to the Seattle area several years ago and shortly after that losing her job. With no established network or friends or family in the area, she very abruptly found herself on the street… and in came Hospitality House to the rescue, without which Miller would not today be back on her feet, employed, and “part of working with such a wonderful close-knit community.”
Visit the Hospitality House website to find out more about their services, or to find out how to get involved.
Gary Schenk recieves the WABO Building Official of the Year award from Mayor Terry Anderson
In other preliminary business, the Council also recognized SeaTac Building Official Gary Schenk as the 2011 “Building Official of the Year,” an award made annually by the Washington Association of Building Officials. According to the WABO news blog, Schenk “is a Past President of WABO and has devoted many years to making our organization the successful association that it is. Gary was instrumental in establishing the Accredited Code Official program, which raises the level of professionalism of our industry. He never misses a WABO meeting, volunteers on several committees and is always willing to help in any way possible.”
A complete summary of the actions from the July 12 council meeting follow:
Summary of $5,000 – $35,000 purchase requests for the period ended July 8, 2011
Passed: Tree Inventory – $7,938The following Council Meeting Minutes were approved:
Transportation & Public Works Committee Meeting held June 28, 2011.
Regular Council Meeting held June 28, 2011.Agenda Bill #3324; Motion authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Puget Paving & Construction, Inc. and authorizing expenditures for the 2011 Annual Overlay Project was carried and became effective July 12, 2011.
Agenda Bill #3339; Motion authorizing the City Manager to execute a design agreement for the Military Road South Improvements project was carried and became effective July 12, 2011.
(An agenda bill number was assigned for tracking purposes only. No Agenda Bill was created.)
Agenda Bill #3354; Motion to include a Resolution in support of the Veterans Tax Levy at the July 26, 2011 Regular Council Meeting to allow the Council and the public the opportunity to make comment in favor of or opposition to the Veterans Tax Levy was carried and became effective July 12, 2011.
