Former Redmond hotel to open as supportive housing for chronically homeless by May

SEATTLE — Approximately 100 chronically homeless people in Redmond will soon move into supportive housing set up at a former hotel.

Officials gave a preview on Tuesday of what residents and neighbors can expect when the property opens by early May.

The former Silver Cloud Inn is nearly move-in ready. In addition to filling the 100 rooms, King County's latest supportive housing project will offer 24/7 behavioral health services and three daily meals until residents move to permanent housing.

“It will start off slowly to provide the right structure and support that those individuals need to be successful,” Mayor Angela Birney explained.

The support is part of King County's Health Through Housing Initiative, which has helped hundreds of others at hotels across six cities. Still, some people in Redmond have lingering questions about how this location was chosen, and safety.

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It was a long road to get to the county's big opening announcement. Neighbor Kan Qui and dozens of others initially protested the project when the county first bought the hotel in 2021. He claimed the city and county did not get enough public input on neighbors' concerns surrounding the potential for this space to attract crime and drugs.

“We wish this to be a success story, and set a good example for the rest of the projects the city operates,” Qiu explained.

KOMO News took those issues to the incoming provider, the Salvation Army.

“As with any public building, drugs will not be permitted in the building,” Salvation Army Director of Programs Arlene Hampton stated. “Safety individuals will be here to ensure that it remains safe and welcoming both for those who are living here, as well as those within the community.”

Qui said he is cautiously optimistic about the group’s work, but it will be a wait-and-see about community impacts.

“We still need to watch how it's enforced, how it's panning out,” Qiu said.

County officials report they've already had success with a supportive housing model in the Redmond building. It was used as temporary space and resettlement support for about 800 Afghan refugees through the second half of 2022.

Since the first Health Through Housing property opened in 2021, the county reports that 96% of people have stayed in their housing or moved into permanent housing. The county has secured nearly 1,300 units across 15 locations in Auburn, Federal Way, Renton, Seattle, Redmond, and Kirkland. The Kirkland hotel is the next project set to open this spring.