Today The Bart Harvey , a great affordable senior housing project in the Cascade neighborhood, had its ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also today, a groundbreaking was announced for a new Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) Housing First building right next door to The Bart Harvey called the Canaday House .
DESC's Housing First program provides housing to chronically homeless men and women living with severe and persistent mental illnesses, chemical dependency, developmental disabilities and physical disabilities ranging from diabetes to AIDS, including many military veterans. The goal of the program is to improve the health and quality of life of its residents and save taxpayers' money through reduced use of healthcare, detoxification services, criminal justice and other publicly funded crisis systems.
1811 Eastlake, a DESC Housing First Project
The DESC's nearby 1811 Eastlake project, which provides homes for 75 people who were previously without, serves as an excellent case study for the Housing First program. As plans for the project surfaced, surrounding property and business owners were uneasy about their new neighbors and even sued, albeit unsuccessfully, to have the project stopped. Now that the building is operational, it's proven itself as a cost-effective strategy for social service and, anecdotally at least, improved the neighborhood ( Sightline Daily).
The Canaday House, an 83-unit building, will be DESC's 8th supportive housing building and is scheduled for completion in 2010. The groundbreaking ceremony, featuring Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, is planned for Tuesday, July 14th from 3:00 to 4:00pm at the project site on 424 Minor Ave N.
However, I question the plausability of placing a care facility such as this in such close proximity to Cascade Park. Everyday, dozens of young children play in the park. Will the facility be taking action to make sure it's 'guests' stay within the perimeter and do not make going to the park a bad experience. I will agree that the facility on Eastlake has been kept up wonderfully and it's guests appear to be making the justification for such a facility feasible. I hope this new building, when completed, will be kept to the same standards.