Temporary rotating winter shelters for families with children and women find a permanent 24/7/365 home

The City of Kirkland, New Bethlehem Project, The Sophia Way, and Salt House were pleased to announce the ribbon cutting for the Kirkland Place for Families and Women today, Wednesday, August 19 during a livestream event. The shelter celebration is a culmination of efforts dating back to 2012 to provide permanent 24/7 emergency shelters to replace the temporary winter shelter for families and women.

“The opening of Kirkland Place for Families and Women will enable Eastside families and women who are struggling with homelessness to live in a safe, nurturing place while they search for housing and connect with the community resources which can help stabilize their lives and end their homelessness,” said Bill Hallerman of Catholic Community Services. “Instead of traveling each day from program to program, the 24/7 shelter will provide a consistent anchor, support and integrated services for its residents in a facility located in their home on the eastside.”

The virtual ribbon cutting event included:

• A virtual tour of the shelter
• Blessing of the new space by Pastor Sara Wolbrecht, Father Kurt Nagel, Father Gary Zender and Pastor Lisa Horst Clark
• Statement from Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet 
• Messages of gratitude by staff of New Bethlehem Place and The Sophia Way

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the footage online at a time convenient for you.

The Kirkland Place for Families and Women will be open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to provide a warm and safe place to rest, heal, and regroup – all under one roof. It will offer singular cubicle beds for adult women in a communal space and private spaces for families. Housing and supportive case management services will also be available to keep guests safe and supported as they work to rebuild their lives and re-establish their housing.

“This has been a long-awaited day and a much-needed safety net for women without homes. We are eternally grateful for the support of the state, county and cities, foundations, corporations and individuals that made this a reality. Knowing that we can provide around-the-clock shelter, keeping women safe and healthy is truly a gift,” says Alisa Chatinsky, Executive Director of The Sophia Way.

Funding for shelter construction and operations came from a variety of sources including the City of Kirkland, King County, Washington State Housing Trust, ARCH, East King County CDBG Cities, and private donors from the community, particularly Holy Family Church in Kirkland, St. Louise Church in Bellevue, and The Sophia Way donors.

“This project would not have been possible without significant support from a multitude of public and private partners,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “However, we must remind ourselves that our work is not done yet. We need to make sure that ongoing support is provided to ensure that robust services are available 24/7 to ensure that the guests at this facility have the safety and security they need to move forward on the pathway to housing and healing.”

If you are interested in supporting the ongoing operations of the Kirkland Place for Families and Women, please visit nbpshelter.org or sophiaway.org.

Watch the ribbon-cutting event here. 

After over two decades in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Kirkland resident and Kirkland Cultural Arts Commissioner Tere Thompson doesn’t think twice about masking up to help protect herself and others from COVID-19.   

"I feel like it's an essential responsibility of every individual to wear a mask," Tere said. “Wearing masks has been scientifically proven to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Tere moved to Kirkland in 2018 after 15 years in Bellevue. She loves the distinct character of the City and supports its ongoing initiatives to reinforce that Kirkland is a safe, welcoming and inclusive City for all people. After moving here, she was encouraged by good friend Kelli Curtis – then on the Houghton Community Council and now on the Kirkland City Council – to venture into service on one of the City’s boards or commissions. The two had worked together for years in the nonprofit sector and Councilmember Curtis had a feeling that Tere’s unique skillset would be an asset to the City.

Out of all the City boards and commissions, Tere was immediately drawn to the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission, a volunteer board that works to help arts, culture and heritage grow and thrive. She saw it as an opportunity to combine her passion for art with her keen business acumen and her expertise in project management, and as a way to serve her community. 

“The concept of having an impact on the aesthetics of Kirkland seemed really appealing to me so I decided to volunteer to be part of that,” Tere said.

She was appointed to the Commission in April of 2019. She holds positions on the marketing subcommittee and the Park Lane subcommittee and is actively working to bring fresh, vibrant new art to Kirkland’s distinct downtown region.

Now more than ever, it is crucial that people follow recommended public health protocols, including wearing face coverings, engaging in social distancing, being diligent about handwashing and avoiding the temptation to gather with friends, she said. Wearing face coverings in public is a simple way to help in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

“I see that it will protect me, but I mostly see it as something that will protect others,” Tere said. “I think that if everyone would wear a mask, we would see a substantial flattening of the curve in terms of new cases of COVID.”

Thank you Tere, for your service to the City and the community!   

Do you have a collection of old computer monitors taking up space and gathering dust? Or stacks of block Styrofoam you’ve been wanting to clear out of the garage? If so, the City’s next two Safer Summer Recycling Events are for you!

The City’s Safer Summer Recycling Event series was designed to keep our staff and the community safe while still allowing our residents to recycle tricky items safely. Each event incorporates careful safety protocols to ensure social distancing and requires all staff and attendees to wear face coverings. Guests arriving with items to recycle are asked to only bring items that one person can move, and to remain in their vehicles until it’s their turn. If you cannot lift items, staff can remove items from your trunk.

If you are feeling sick, please help us keep these events as safe as possible and stay home.  

Both of these events take place at the North Kirkland Community Center, located at 12421 103rd Ave. N.E., in the Totem Lake area.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, August 21 – Safer Electronics + Batteries Recycling event

With City Hall closed to the public, we know that many residents miss our household battery recycling container that is free to use. If you’ve got an accumulation of alkaline batteries taking up space in a closet, this is your chance to dispose of them properly. In addition to batteries, Friday’s event accepts televisions, monitors – LCD and plasma (no CRT), computers, laptops, cell phones and much more. Please see the event flyer for additional details on what is accepted at this event.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, August 22 – Safer Block Styrofoam Recycling Event

This is a great opportunity to get rid of those awkward white Styrofoam packing blocks! Saturday’s event accepts block white Styrofoam, including both coolers and packing blocks. Please make sure that all items are clean and dry, remove any labeling, and peel off all tape. This event will be extremely popular, and we are asking our guests to anticipate a wait. For more information on how to recycle your block Styrofoam, please check out our event calendar, or our event flyer.

These events are open to Kirkland residents and businesses. Please follow the safety guidelines and expect a wait. Due to the unpredictable nature of the current situation, events may be changed or cancelled with little notice. The City will post event changes on the recycling and solid waste webpage as soon as possible, if they occur. If you have questions, email: recycle@kirklandwa.gov.

Thank you for your efforts to care for our environment!