OPINION: Redmond is in turmoil. From the blue "Demand a Say" signs scattered all over our city and numerous City Hall meetings over-flowing with protesters, we all know Council (and indirectly the Mayor) made a fateful "Plymouth decision" to welcome 100 homeless to our downtown.
Some background: The King County Regional Homeless Authority (KCRA) is promoting a regional approach to the homeless problem and now taking Seattle's severe homeless problem to the suburbs. Their disorganized strategy didn't work in Kenmore and it's certainly not working in Redmond.
Bellevue accepted the first Plymouth Housing building on the Eastside. It opened on July 23, 2023 and is located in a distant 10-acre low income "ecosystem." So far, no news.
To qualify for a Plymouth studio in Bellevue, potential residents "must have been homeless for at least a year and have at least one disability." Thus, the conditions of these homeless are severe, by far "not run of the mill." Should Redmond have a similar building (in 2026) hopefully, these homeless will have enough human services to keep them alive, safely off the streets with even 1-2 or more finding a normal life.
At Bellevue's Plymouth, "three staff members will live on-site and a health care clinic will allow these homeless to meet with primary care and psychiatry providers, and have an option for 24/7 telehealth urgent care." Fantastic! I hope this comes to fruition with many residents exiting.
Clarity is needed for our community. Mayor Birney should speak directly to the public to explain Council's policy, quell miss-information and stimulate productive, community conversations.
-- Bob Yoder, 4/8/2024, Updated Opinion 4/18/24