Community Corner
Kirkland Permanent Shelter Groundbreaking This Week
The new 24-7 permanent shelter along Northeast 80th Street will serve families with children and single women experiencing homelessness.
KIRKLAND, WA — Groundbreaking on a long-awaited permanent homeless shelter in Kirkland will happen on Wednesday. The Kirkland shelter will offer 100 beds for families with children and single women.
The $8.9 million project has been in the works since 2017, and is being funded jointly by Kirkland, King County, the state of Washington, and private and federal funds. Once complete, it will be the only 24-7 shelter on the Eastside serving women and families.
The shelter will be built behind the Salt House church along Northeast 80th Street near the Kirkland Cemetery. Two local nonprofits, Sophia Way and the New Bethlehem Project, will jointly operate the shelter. Sophia Way will serve single women staying on the second floor, and New Bethlehem will serve the families staying in private rooms on the first floor.
Right now, New Bethlehem operates a day center in the Salt House building, which runs from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
Kirkland put about $1.1 million into the project, including the purchase of land behind Salt House. Private donors from Kirkland's Holy Family Church, St. Louise Church in Bellevue, and The Sophia Way have raised about $2.1 million for shelter operations.
A groundbreaking ceremony with Mayor Penny Sweet, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and other local officials begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. at 1920 Northeast 80th St.
