Housing is perhaps the most immediate issue homeless women face. Lack of resources about available housing as well as a lack of available beds make finding shelter for the evening very frustrating. Shelter residents and advocates agree that there needs to be various kinds of housing for women, including staff intensive programs and those that are self-managed. There is also the argument that community is a necessary element in creating living situations that work for homeless women. An apartment is a house, not a home.
Support is necessary.
There isn't enough housing in Seattle, and the housing that exists is not all focused on building community. Safety is another key issue for homeless women. A temporary staircase at the north end of the building would be an interim solution to the alley problem. An addition of an elevator shaft is a better long-term remedy. Funding will be required to complete these projects.