King County, the City of Redmond, and The Salvation Army celebrated the grand opening of the latest Health Through Housing (HTH) location in Redmond. The building provides 100 units of supportive housing for people exiting chronic homelessness and is the first HTH site to open on the Eastside.
Alongside Health Through Housing partners and Eastside community members, King County celebrated the grand opening of HTH Redmond. This latest building provides 100 units of housing and support services for people exiting chronic homelessness.
The Salvation Army, a longstanding regional provider of emergency shelter and long-term housing assistance, operates the Redmond building in partnership with King County and the City of Redmond.
“This latest Health Through Housing opening in Redmond shows what can happen when cities take on the challenge of homelessness and work together with local organizations to create housing options,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Health Through Housing Redmond will be life-changing for its 100 residents. When people feel welcomed, safe, and supported they’re better able to engage in their own health and well-being, which brings long-term stability.”
In 2023, HTH buildings served 911 people, with 96% of residents staying in that housing or moving into permanent housing elsewhere. HTH has permanently secured 1,264 units for supportive housing — continuing progress toward the initiative’s goal to open up to 1,600 units for people experiencing or at risk of chronic homelessness in King County.
Like all HTH buildings, the Redmond location will offer 24/7 staff and support services, including transit navigators and a loaded Orca card, daily meals, case management support, and behavioral health care tailored to an individual’s needs.
The Redmond HTH building previously served as a temporary residence for Afghan refugees. From May through December 2022, nearly 800 Afghan refugees received temporary housing, resettlement support, and connection to the community through the county’s Refugee Resettlement Hotel program. Of those who participated, nearly all secured permanent housing.
The Redmond City Council unanimously approved an operator agreement for the building in December 2023 and then expedited permitting to ensure doors could open to community members in need of housing and support as quickly as possible.
“In Redmond, we are committed to providing proactive, wraparound services to support unsheltered people in our region. By supporting their well-being, we work toward ensuring everyone has an opportunity to reach their potential and fully contribute to the community,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. “We value our partnerships with The Salvation Army and King County and celebrate our shared commitment to transforming lives through the Health Through Housing initiative.”
“The Salvation Army is honored to partner with King County, the City of Redmond, and many other community agencies to serve as operator of the Health Through Housing Redmond location,” said Lt. Col. Cindy Foley, The Salvation Army Northwest Divisional Commander. “Homelessness continues to grow at a staggering rate in our region. This program provides opportunity for 100 residents to receive safety, refuge, and wraparound services that include shelter, case management, counseling, behavioral health support, meals, community, and more. The Salvation Army is here to save the lives of our King County neighbors in need.”
Soon after The Salvation Army was selected as the operator in September 2023, community gatherings were held to introduce local residents and businesses to the building and familiarize community members with the HTH initiative. A Community Advisory Group was assembled to help inform various aspects of HTH Redmond’s operations, including a Community Relations Plan and a Safety and Security Plan.
Made up of local business leaders, Eastside service providers, and community members with lived experience, the advisory group will continue to meet regularly, in close collaboration with The Salvation Army.
“Health Through Housing’s Redmond location creates opportunities for some of the longer-term shelter guests at PorchLight. It is especially exciting for senior men with disabilities who have struggled to find suitable, deeply affordable housing on the Eastside,” said Troy Christensen, a member of HTH Redmond’s Community Advisory Group and Executive Director of PorchLight, an organization based in Bellevue that provides a variety of supportive housing services for Eastside communities. “The homelessness system relies on developments like this. Without them, the entire system comes to a standstill.”
“Everyone needs and deserves a safe, affordable place to call home and, with this opening, we are making that a reality for 100 more people,” said King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci. “Permanent supportive housing is a proven, life-changing solution to homelessness and I’m thrilled that we are making investments like Health through Housing to start scaling the solution to the size of the problem. To tackle our regional homelessness crisis, we all need to do our part. With leadership from King County and the City of Redmond and outstanding providers like The Salvation Army, today we are one step closer to ensuring everyone has a healthy, stable home.”
“There is an affordable housing shortage of 240,000 homes in King County right now. Our family members, loved ones, and neighbors with disabilities who have been forced to live outside are victims of this lack of housing. At the end of the day, these are folks whom we know and love, or folks whom those we know and love, know,” said King County Councilmember Sarah Perry. “Either way, they need to be in a place that allows them to live meaningful, productive lives for the betterment of themselves, and for our community as a whole. The innovative approach that Health Through Housing brings is exactly that opportunity. It is no surprise, but I am still truly grateful, that we are able to partner with one of our most innovative cities, Redmond, along with The Salvation Army, to help allow our neighbors with disabilities to live in homes instead of outside.”
Launched by Executive Constantine in 2020, HTH is King County’s long-term commitment to accelerate the region’s response to chronic homelessness through the use of repurposed hotels and other existing buildings. The Redmond site is one of two HTH locations opening on the Eastside. A building operator for HTH Kirkland will be announced this spring.
In total, 15 apartment buildings across six cities in King County have been established in partnership with the initiative — 11 of which are owned by King County.
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