FEMA fund cut leaves King Co. shelters, tent cities in jeopardy
SEATTLE -- Hundreds of homeless people in King County could be searching for safe shelter next week following an announcement from the federal government.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has ended all emergency shelter grants to King County, sending the largest indoor-shelter organization looking for emergency help.
Last week, SHARE/WHEEL's Board of Directors discovered that for the first time in 15 years, FEMA won't give King County a dime in emergency food and shelter grants. SHARE was expecting $44,000.
"If we aren't able to pay our bills, we're going to have to shut down," said board member Jarvis Capucion. "It's a disaster for our organization. I don't know how we're going to survive."
The most immediate impact will be to 15 indoor shelters. If nothing changes, the doors will close Monday.
SHARE's 15 indoor shelters house about 300 people a night, including Treasa Sides who fears by next week, "I will probably end up staying on the streets."
Paying bills for garbage pick up, bathroom facilities and bus tickets has left SHARE/WHEEL's tent cities $30,000 in the hole. If those services are cut off, tent cities will also close.
Capucion is worried, both for himself and for his neighbors.
"They don't know what to do, either. They don't know where to go. And I don't know where to send them," he said.
SHARE hopes someone will step in to save the shelters that so many call home.
United Way of King County said it expected the FEMA grant to be reduced this year, but not eliminated.
More than 30 local agencies typically receive this grant.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has ended all emergency shelter grants to King County, sending the largest indoor-shelter organization looking for emergency help.
Last week, SHARE/WHEEL's Board of Directors discovered that for the first time in 15 years, FEMA won't give King County a dime in emergency food and shelter grants. SHARE was expecting $44,000.
"If we aren't able to pay our bills, we're going to have to shut down," said board member Jarvis Capucion. "It's a disaster for our organization. I don't know how we're going to survive."
The most immediate impact will be to 15 indoor shelters. If nothing changes, the doors will close Monday.
SHARE's 15 indoor shelters house about 300 people a night, including Treasa Sides who fears by next week, "I will probably end up staying on the streets."
Paying bills for garbage pick up, bathroom facilities and bus tickets has left SHARE/WHEEL's tent cities $30,000 in the hole. If those services are cut off, tent cities will also close.
Capucion is worried, both for himself and for his neighbors.
"They don't know what to do, either. They don't know where to go. And I don't know where to send them," he said.
SHARE hopes someone will step in to save the shelters that so many call home.
United Way of King County said it expected the FEMA grant to be reduced this year, but not eliminated.
More than 30 local agencies typically receive this grant.
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