CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to City finances; creating a fund for depositing donations, gifts, and grants related to The City of Seattle’s response to homelessness and provision of human services.
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WHEREAS, in November 2015, Mayor Edward Murray issued a Proclamation of Civil Emergency to address homelessness that was subsequently ratified and confirmed by the Seattle City Council; and
WHEREAS, the point-in-time count conducted in January 2020 estimated that 8,166 people in Seattle, and 11,751 across all of King County, experience homelessness on any given night; and
WHEREAS, numerous parks and public spaces have experienced an increase in unsanctioned encampments of people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, a substantial proportion of people with substance use disorder are not able to access appropriate treatment or supports to recover from the disorder; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Human Services Department will spend more than $300 million in 2021 on homelessness and human services and preventative, primary, mental, and behavioral health care; and
WHEREAS, private donors have pledged millions of dollars to expand emergency shelter programs and support the City’s response to homelessness; and
WHEREAS, there is not currently a mechanism for the City to receive private donations to support or expand homelessness and human services and health care; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new It Takes a Village Fund is created in the City Treasury, effective immediately, to which revenues may be deposited and from which associated expenditures may be paid, including but not limited to City administration costs for the purposes described in Section 2 of this ordinance.
Section 2. The purpose of the It Takes a Village Fund is to provide homelessness and human services and preventative, primary, mental, and behavioral health care. Services can be provided directly or through contracts and agreements with community-based organizations, non-profit service providers, other governmental entities. Permissible uses include:
A. Programs to prevent and end homelessness;
B. Hygiene and daytime services to ameliorate exposure from living unsheltered or experiencing homelessness;
C. Shelter services, emergency housing, and other supports for those experiencing homelessness;
D. Financial support to individuals, businesses, non-profits, and community-based organizations to move an individual into housing or maintain housing;
E. Operations, maintenance, and services funding for programs that provide housing, including supportive housing, to individuals experiencing homelessness;
F. Case management and other supports for individuals who have exited homelessness;
G. Outreach and engagement of individuals to connect them with shelter, behavioral health services, mental health services, public benefits, and other services or assistance;
H. Assistance for people with substance use disorder, behavioral health disorders, or mental health disorders;
I. Ensure access to preventative, primary, specialty, and urgent health care;
J. Address current and emerging human services needs;
K. Support positive youth and family development through investments in community safety, youth employment opportunities, mentoring and educational supports, affordable living, and family supports;
L. Food and nutrition services, including access to healthy foods;
M. Services to prevent and address gender-based violence; and
N. Address the environmental, economic, and social factors that influence health and well-being among older adults.
Section 3. The new It Takes a Village Fund shall receive revenues in the form of donations or gifts from organizations, government entities, corporations, businesses, or people who wish to assist The City of Seattle in its response to homelessness and provision of human services and health care and transfers from other City funds, including the General Fund, as approved by the City Council. The Fund shall receive earnings on its positive balances and pay interest on its negative balances.
Section 4. The Director of the Human Services Department shall have responsibility for administering the It Takes a Village Fund. The Director of Finance is authorized to create other accounts and subaccounts as may be needed to implement the Fund’s purpose and intent as established by this ordinance.
Section 5. All donations to and appropriations from the Fund of $5,000 or more will be tracked and published quarterly so long as there are active donations to or appropriations from it. For donations of $5,000 or more, the report shall include, at a minimum, information on the names of private donors and restrictions or covenants applied to the City’s use of donated funds. The quarterly reports shall be submitted by the City Budget Office to the Mayor and City Council no later than 60 days from the end of the quarter.
Section 6. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2021.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ________ day of _________________, 2021.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)