Snohomish County Beginning Outreach To Turn Central Everett Church Into Homeless Services & Shelter

April 2, 2023

Everett

Hope Church is located on Rucker Avenue south of the Totem Diner and north of the Everett Family YMCA.

Homeless shelter

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We told you on February 21st that neighbors in the area of Hope Covenant Church at 4502 Rucker Avenue in central Everett, Washington were hearing of a plan by Snohomish County to purchase the church property and use it as a location that may provide shelter and services to those experiencing homelessness, mental/behavioral health issues and substance use disorders.

On Friday March 24th a representative from Snohomish County met with several area business owners at the Milkhouse Coffee Co. It was a bit of a surprise meeting as he’d only planned on meeting with one business owner but several ended up dropping in.

At that meeting the representative explained that Snohomish County hadn’t begun to reach out to businesses or residents in the neighborhood as the sale and purchase agreement hadn’t been finalized by the Snohomish County Executive’s Office and if the process were made public before that time it might cost the taxpayers more.

The business owners advised him that they were taxpayers and the establishment of another shelter for those experiencing homelessness in central Everett may cause a drop in their property values as their establishments were next to or within blocks of the proposed shelter.

The representative explained that the process is still public and the Snohomish County Council would have to hold a public hearing and vote on any purchase and sale agreement. He then talked about proposed uses for the property including overnight shelter for 40 people, cold weather shelter for 50 people and as distribution point for air conditioning units for low income home owners as some of the possible uses. He also said the property would be fenced and have 24-hour staff with the program run by the Everett Gospel Mission.
 
On Saturday April 1st MyEverettNews.com received an email from a resident in the neighborhood with the attachment of a card the resident said was left on their door advising of an upcoming community meeting. When you click on the link the invitation suggested this meeting for either Tuesday March 4th, Wednesday March 5th, Friday April 7th or none of the above.

A resident of the neighborhood said this card was left at their home this weekend. Click to enlarge.


Here are the choices for the meeting from the link on the card dropped off to a homeowner Saturday. A choice has to be made to move to the next selection. Click to enlarge.

MyEverettNewws.com last week spoke with a resident of one of the two homes on the property who months ago received an End of Tenancy Notice from the management company for the church. The resident told us the reason being given is that the property is being sold.
 
At the Everett City Council Safety Committee meeting last week Everett City Council members Schwab and Tuohy were told that the administration is planning an ordinance to create a “buffer zone” for two blocks around any qualified service providers that would not allow people to sit, lie or build structures. No word on when that ordinance will be available for the full city council to review.

Again here’s the link if you’d like to be notified of the community meeting that may happen as soon as Tuesday evening.



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