Capitol Hill’s homeless youth and young adult shelter could be just a few days away from sealing an agreement to buy its building and significantly expand operations.
Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets executive director Susan Fox told CHS a sale agreement for the 19th and Pine building is now in the hands of the nonprofit’s landlord, the Mount Zion Baptist Church.
According to Fox, the agreement would see PSKS take over the building for a little over $3 million and allow the shelter to expand into two additional stories of its three story building. Mount Zion acquired the building for $2.1 million in 2007.
If the agreement goes through it would put PSKS on track to buy the building in August. In addition to having a more stable home, PSKS plans to use existing dorm-style units in the building’s upper floors for temporary homeless youth housing. Many of the units are currently being used as storage.
While a congregation vote on Friday could seal the agreement, PSKS is still well short on funds to close a sale. House Speaker Frank Chopp helped bring back $1.5 million from Olympia for PSKS this year, but that still leaves the shelter another $1.5 million short. Fox says she has been working with city and county officials to find matching funds. An additional $2 million for renovations would then need to be raised through a private capital campaign, Fox said.
CHS previously wrote about confusion and frustration at the church over the leadership’s efforts to buoy expenses by selling off several high value properties around the Central Area. “If they are going to have to sell to somebody they should sell to us not some developer that will build apodments,” Fox said.
PSKS welcomes anyone aged 18-29 to its shelter, which can sleep up to 20 every night. A daytime drop-in center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and offers a wide variety of programs. During night and day times, those staying at the shelter can use the kitchen, access a community closet, receive case management, take GED classes, or use a shower.
Founded in 1995 primarily as an advocacy group, PSKS grew into a shelter and community space, though it has struggled at times to keep the doors open. The nonprofit nearly shutdown in its previous location at Summit and Howell before the city stepped in to help it secure the the ground level of Mount Zion’s annex building.
PSKS has rented the ground floor space for two years, but taking over existing apartments on the second and third floors with enough capacity to house some 20 people could be a crucial asset for the shelter, Fox said.
PSKS showed off some of the spaces during its annual open house on Wednesday. The dorm-style rooms all include bathrooms. Recent upgrades to the shelter include a new kitchen courtesy of Ikea and a new computer lab.
When it comes to finding additional funds at the city, Fox may have a sympathetic ear in Mayor Ed Murray. In 2015 the mayor declared a state of emergency on homelessness. Central Seattle has one of the highest concentrations of homeless youth and young adults in King County, a population that is a fifth LGBTQ and a third African American. It is also a core demographic for PSKS and a population Fox says needs even more help.
I went to the open house yesterday, and I was particularly impressed with the internships and job training programs. Many of the programs at the center are run by formerly homeless young adults who have been through internships. Talking with young these young professionals, it is clear that this program grows leaders, advocates, and strong members of the community.
This article is very disturbing.As a forty year, dues paying servant leader at Mount Zion Baptist Church, I find it unconscionable to have to pick up a Capitalhillseattle.com to find out the backstory and real agenda that the Pastor and Mount Zion Trustees are negotiating behind the scenes. I joined a God centered church, lead by Rev.Dr.Samuel Berry Mckinney, during the past forty years we have had transparency and trust when we have to make key decisions that ultimately impact the church as a whole. My goal in this communication is to challenge PSKS and any representatives of Mount Zion who are misrepresenting the VoTE cast on this very issue that was overwhelmingly NO to this proposed sell off of Mount Zions Annex. Mount Zions , pastor emeritus spoke to the merit of Why? Would we give away this property at this time or any other time without due process and mount zions memberships full and calculated endorsement. We are a Christ centered membership and as a Christian and Servant leader who adamately opposes a sell ( based on Social Consciosness not Economic Feasibilty) my exact words shared at the membership meeting where the Pastor and the Trustees witnessed the Voting down of this proposed giveaway of years of Community Capital Investment and Community Historical Endowment. Please ask the Mayor,who you state is a champion for finding solutions for homelessness relief specifically for the demographic PSKS services which incidentally has poor and disparate representation of AA homeless youth in their stats; to consider championing the reduction of marijuana licenscing near facilities like Uncle Ikes located at 23rd and Union, next to a church nursery and youth serving facility on the adjacent property. Please. Consider asking the mayor and Frank Chopp in the legislature to share the funding granted to PSKS with some of the minority serving agencies like THS, Urban League Housing, and Catholic Community Services so that a higher demographic of African American, Brown and Black, and Immigrant homeless teens can shelter in. Lastly, as a long time member of Mount Zion and a long time Social Justice Leader and Community Advocate, WHY, is this set up for PSKS to be the middleman, perhaps the conversation needs to shift to How Mount Zion given the separation of church and state can partner effectively with a 501C3 of their choice,not leaving PSKS out of the consideration to receive sufficient allocations of this targeted funding with a MOU that dictates a plan of action where tenants can derive social conscious benefit ,assuming they, PSKS demontrates the ability to secure their funding to improve the property to create more space under tenant improvement clause that extends their leasing rights and allows a Win Win. Again. MOUNT ZION, benefits with raising to market price the rent and atrackting Commercial Rents or Competitive rent bids consistent with the surrounding properties.With this concept the value of said property increases, more and diverse homeless youth will be attracked to PSKS youth services and we become partners on paper. This could work to the advantage of our historical allegiance to serving the least and the lost, with limited liability given to the best of my knowledge, we are not a 501C3, and do not desire to be at this time. One additional thought and suggestion, back to our Mayor, Frank Chopp and the legislators, My question Is homelessness in any way connected to the reduction of housing, tripling of market value rents in the CD? Who is benefiting from the increased revenues that are being generated with this States marijuana,gambling and related business revenues and progressive taxes? My Social consciousness asks Why can’t the lucrative businesses in this state that are granted lieniency help support and pay for cost you, The City, the Mayor, PSKS, Frank Chopp and any and all misquided Mt.Zion members who want the quick fix to a complicated and cumbersome internal church issue.Please step back and ask who in the long term derives the substantial benefit from the church to donating, Underwriting and taking the hit in the current proposal that mind you has been voted down by our current Deacon Board, Many Trustees, some key church counsel members, some pulpit pastors and a overwhelmong number of informed members of Mount Zion Baptist Church Community.
40 year plus Member Winona Hollins Hauge MSW, LICSW, Chaplain Health, Guidance and Wellness Ministry, Co Chair Sojourner Truth Circle. Womens Ministry.