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Well good morning everyone.

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Thank you for coming out
on this gorgeous day today.

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And, it's it's short notice. I know.

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Must be,

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we're getting into the long weekend,
so thank you very much for being here.

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First, I want to thank our speakers,
Doctor Mercy Waingina, founder

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and CEO of Hope and Chance
integrated Health, Daniel Malone

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of, executive director of the downtown
emergency Services Center.

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Brandy McNeil and Lisa Dugard,
who couldn't be with us today

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with Purpose, Dignity Action.

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And Steve Woolworth,
CEO of Evergreen Treatment Services.

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Thank you all for being here.

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And I also want to alert you to the fact
that we've got other guests,

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including Uplift Northwest, Seattle
Indian Health Board, the Salvation Army,

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we have Seattle Reach, The More We Love,

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Battlefield Addiction,
Sodo BIA, Ballard Alliance

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and the Alliance for Pioneer Square
and the City Attorney's office.

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City attorney.

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Thank you all for standing here with me today.

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All right.

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You've

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heard me say this before, but
I'll just say it again for good measure.

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The fentanyl crisis
and addiction in general is inextricably

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linked to our chronic homelessness
and our public safety problems.

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And you don't have to be in recovery
to realize that,

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expanding access to evidence based
treatment is a is a good way

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to help solve both problems, or at least
chip away at them for too long.

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For too long,
we've watched people suffering

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from untreated addiction in mental illness
deteriorate in our streets.

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While our neighborhoods become less safe.

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And there's a reason why we're right here.

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This area pioneers, you know, Pioneer
Square, Occidental Park is

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is one of the Ground Zeroes
in this city for,

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for gun violence, for, and for

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the heartbreak that

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is associated with addiction.

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So, that is why

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I put forward my pilot project
a couple of years ago.

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That enables caseworkers,

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to refer people to rehab at Lakeside-Milam Treatment Center.

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It's over there in, in Kirkland.

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After which Lakeside.

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after 28 days of residential detox
and treatment, they just build a city.

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That's a simple way of getting people
the help they need right now.

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Because the last thing we want
is for Medicaid

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recipients to wait weeks to get into
one of the exceedingly few spots

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because we know what can happen
in the meantime.

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It's working. Caseworkers with Co-lead,

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We HeartSeattle, The More We Love
have taken advantage of this resource

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because everyone
everyone deserves the same chance

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at recovery
that I had almost five years ago.

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People in Medicaid shouldn't have to wait,
and the city

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shouldn't
have to wait for, for better solutions.

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What I'm fighting for is simple,
and it's to put treatment

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at the heart
and the center of the city's agenda.

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Policy agenda.

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We can't keep deferring investments
in treatment

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while watching the same people cycle
through homelessness, overdose,

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emergency rooms
in jail over and over and over again.

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So bringing people together,
putting forward

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a package of proposed investments
isn't just fiscally, responsible.

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It's a break
from what we've been doing in the past,

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deferring constantly,
which is a moral failure.

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The time is now for a zealous push
for a righteous cause,

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using an opportunity
the legislature gave us by authorizing

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local jurisdictions to increase the sales
tax by 0.1% for public safety.

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And the way that the legislature writes
public safety in that bill

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does include behavioral health.

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While Mayor Harrell has not yet announced
implementing

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this new funding source,
he has indicated interest in doing so

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because it will raise over $35 million
for public safety, and my resolution

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calls for allocating up to 25% of that

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to the pathway to recovery.

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HB 2015 was sponsored by Representative
Inman

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and pushed by the Black Caucus, likely
because the Black community

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is disproportionately impacted

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by violence, particularly as violence
surrounding the drug trade

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and overrepresented
in fatal overdose statistics.

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No one likes to increase

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regressive taxes,
but I am I am suggesting to you,

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a little bit of the background
why it was put forward.

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The legislature

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carved out this funding source.

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Perhaps someone who needs treatment.

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Anyway, the legislature carved out
this funding source

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for public safety, specifically
for this kind of intervention.

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This is not about raising taxes
on working families.

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This is about helping working families.

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Because there isn't one working family
I would suggest that has not been touched

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by addiction.

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Many of you
people standing behind me as well.

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When we invest

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in getting people off the streets
and into treatment, we prevent crime,

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reduce emergency room responses,
and make every neighborhood safer.

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And that is smart public safety.

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That is public safety.

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So our speakers will talk today
about sustaining the investments

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we're already making in treatment
and bringing new interventions

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to fill in the gaps
in what has been up to now,

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a more limited set of options for people
who are struggling with addiction.

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Because take it from me,
when someone struggling with a substance

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use disorder decides to take that step,
we have got to give them somewhere to go.

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And so that's what I'm trying to do here
today.

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I will now stop talking
and, turn the mic over to Doctor

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Mercy one niner, founder and CEO of Hope
and Chance Integrated Health.

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Health which offers wraparound services
for addiction and mental health.

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And they're located
in Belltown. Thank you.

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Good morning.

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My name is Doctor Mercy Waingina.

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I'm a board certified,
psychiatric nurse practitioner.

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I specialize in mental health
and also substance use disorder.

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I’m the CEO and Founder of Hope
and Chance Integrated Health,

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which is a nonprofit organization
that provides wraparound services,

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mental health services
and also substance 

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uh, services.

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With over 15 years of direct experience

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working in correctional facilities,
for example, King County Jail, Snohomish

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County Jail, Monroe Prison,
Purdy Women's Corrections

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I've witnessed
first hand and heartbreaking

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cycle of recidivism

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Too often individuals are arrested.

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They come to the jail,
whereby they get, detox,

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they begin sterilization with medications,
and then they're released

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back to the streets with no housing
or follow up care or support.

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Many relapse within weeks or months,
and then they return into incarceration.

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So there's that cycle that
keep going over and over and over.

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This deeply

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broken
system inspired me to create a model

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that addresses these gaps head on.

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Each housing site that we have.

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We have five different,
housing in Seattle,

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five houses in Tacoma,
and we provide transportation.

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So we are covering all the barriers.

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We provide transportation,
we provide housing,

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we provide, psychiatric,

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services
like medication management, peer support,

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case management,

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group

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medical services, and also job placement.

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So we accept referrals from psychiatric,

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hospitals, inpatient facilities,

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shelters and community
based organizations.

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Additionally,
our outreach professionals engage directly

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with unhoused individuals in the community
to connect them with services.

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What makes our model unique
is our fierce commitment

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to remove the most common barriers
for recovery,

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housing, transportation,
and community reintegration.

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One of the most impactful partnerships
we've had

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is with We Heart Seattle,
and we are working with Andrea Suarez.

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She's the CEO and founder.

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She did believe in our mission

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and helping our clients
rediscover their purpose.

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Many of our clients volunteer to help
clean up the public spaces,

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reclaiming not just the environment,
but their own dignity

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and help heal
the environment they once struggled in.

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Our program structure is in three phases,

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so once they come into our program,
we give them 90 days, which is phase one.

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So in phase one, we focus on just giving
the treatment, focusing on our clients.

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They are with us for 90 days

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and it's all individual based
before they can transition to phase two.

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So once they move to phase two,
the transition to phase two,

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we started talking
about continuing with the treatment.

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And also
we start talking about job placement.

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We are currently working
with a few apprenticeships,

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so we want to give them the skills
while they're still in the program,

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still getting the treatment
that they need.

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So once they get the treatment
that they need and they find jobs,

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they can go to jobs and still continue
getting the treatment.

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So we are preparing them for placement
into housing,

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because putting them into housing
without a purpose, without giving them

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something to look forward
to, it's not going to help them

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because they're going to go back
to using the drugs,

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or they're going to use the same,
same drugs in those housing.

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So we have to prepare them,
and they have up to 90 days

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to be able to work,

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stay with us, continue
getting the help that they need.

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And then once they're stable,
they're able to save up enough money

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to put down for, for housing,
and then they're able to transition and,

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we have had a lot of success stories.

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We have clients that have moved
into housing, low income housing.

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They are still working.

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They still continue seeing our psychiatric
nurse practitioners.

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We have almost five psychiatric nurse
practitioners.

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We have medical providers who provide a
who provides medical services.

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And we check in with these clients
even after they move on.

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And, all I can say is we are getting good,

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progress and we're getting good success

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stories.

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At Hope and Chance

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Integrated Health,
we are not just providing treatment,

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we are restoring hope, rebuilding
lives, and creating

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lasting change in our communities,
one person at a time.

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Thank you.

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(applause)

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- Next, I'd like to

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welcome Daniel Malone,
who needs no introduction from downtown.

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Yeah.

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Emergency services.

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Go ahead.

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- Thank you very much.

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Council President Nelson. Good morning.

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I'm with DESC, which is an organization
that provides

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shelter, emergency housing,
permanent supportive housing,

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and behavioral health services for people
with really complicated and profound

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disabling conditions who have also been
experiencing long term homelessness.

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And in short, we assist people
with getting off the streets for good

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and giving them a chance

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to stabilize and better reconnect
with the life of the community.

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The things that make
the biggest difference for people

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with serious mental illness and long time
substance use disorder to live

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healthier and happier lives include,
first and foremost,

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a safe and stable place to live,
as well as a range of care

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and support that's applicable
to their individual needs.

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For many people
who we focus on helping a DESC

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that includes tailored
behavioral health services,

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including case management,
psychiatric diagnosis and medication

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and treatment for a range of substance
use disorder conditions.

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We offer a state licensed substance
use disorder treatment that includes

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outpatient counseling and case management,
assistance with accessing inpatient

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treatment and use of medications
where indicated.

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Over the past
year, we've had markedly improved

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success in assisting people to start

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and stay on medications
for opioid use disorder.

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This success is attributable
to bringing care

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to people
where they're comfortable receiving it,

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and to advances in the protocol
for administering buprenorphine so that,

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it's much more comfortable for people
to take.

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It's hundreds of people are benefiting
from this approach,

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and they're staying off of fentanyl
use as a result.

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But many, many more
people need this kind of treatment.

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And existing programs are at capacity.

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We also see many more people struggling

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with their use of other substances,
including stimulants like methamphetamine.

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And we need to, as a community,
devise and implement

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a range of better interventions
to help people who use

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methamphetamine
achieve the same kind of success

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we're having with people
who are using fentanyl and other opioids.

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This funding that Council President Nelson
is proposing ensures that the city's

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approach to the crisis on our streets
will include evidence

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based and innovative strategies
that will produce lasting change,

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and I'm grateful
to see these proposed investments.

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00:14:16,522 --> 00:14:17,823
Thank you.

243
00:14:18,524 --> 00:14:22,394
(applause) 

244
00:14:22,828 --> 00:14:25,931
- Next I'd like to call it Brandy McNeil
of of Purpose

245
00:14:25,931 --> 00:14:28,934
Dignity Action.

246
00:14:29,201 --> 00:14:30,703
- Thank you.

247
00:14:30,703 --> 00:14:35,241
I want to, begin by expressing deep
admiration for Council President Nelson.

248
00:14:35,241 --> 00:14:38,978
She has been a consistent and vocal
champion of recovery services,

249
00:14:39,278 --> 00:14:41,780
and she has never wavered
in her commitment

250
00:14:41,780 --> 00:14:44,783
to making these issues
a top priority for our city.

251
00:14:45,217 --> 00:14:48,420
Her leadership is one of the reasons
we're able to stand here today and talk

252
00:14:48,420 --> 00:14:52,658
not only about the challenges
we face, but also the progress we've made.

253
00:14:53,692 --> 00:14:58,264
Let's be clear any serious public
safety system must prioritize

254
00:14:58,264 --> 00:15:02,101
how we respond to individuals with complex
behavioral health needs,

255
00:15:03,068 --> 00:15:05,571
especially when those needs
are contributing to harm

256
00:15:05,571 --> 00:15:08,574
or distress in neighborhoods
and business districts.

257
00:15:08,607 --> 00:15:11,543
Ignoring that reality only prolongs
the cycle.

258
00:15:11,543 --> 00:15:16,382
Confronting it head on is how we build
safer, healthier communities.

259
00:15:17,316 --> 00:15:20,252
Over the last several
years, we've seen measurable progress

260
00:15:20,252 --> 00:15:23,255
through initiatives
that take this approach seriously.

261
00:15:23,422 --> 00:15:25,991
Our partnership with SPD on drug

262
00:15:25,991 --> 00:15:29,128
possession and public use diversions
required by both

263
00:15:29,128 --> 00:15:32,865
the Possession and Public Use Ordinance
adopted in the fall of 2023

264
00:15:33,265 --> 00:15:36,902
and by speedy policy, has been a standout
success.

265
00:15:37,503 --> 00:15:41,573
Now, instead of jail or prosecution,
individuals contacted by SPD

266
00:15:41,674 --> 00:15:47,313
have access to a warm handoff
24 over seven within 30 minutes to a field

267
00:15:47,313 --> 00:15:51,083
response team that can connect them
to services immediately.

268
00:15:52,384 --> 00:15:55,921
We're also in the process of critical data
integration with SPD systems,

269
00:15:55,921 --> 00:15:59,525
so that officers can make decisions
directly within their information system,

270
00:15:59,792 --> 00:16:01,660
get credit for those those decisions,

271
00:16:01,660 --> 00:16:04,663
and have greater visibility
into who's already in the program.

272
00:16:05,097 --> 00:16:08,500
That means officers can directly contact
case managers

273
00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:11,503
instead of cycling people through jail
or emergency rooms.

274
00:16:11,837 --> 00:16:15,207
That's as council member,
council President Nelson said, that's

275
00:16:15,207 --> 00:16:19,411
smart public safety policy
and smart public safety policy works.

276
00:16:20,279 --> 00:16:22,748
Other efforts have seen similar success.

277
00:16:22,748 --> 00:16:26,285
The Just Care program, originally focused
on encampment resolution,

278
00:16:26,285 --> 00:16:30,122
has evolved into a robust model
that informed the state transfer

279
00:16:30,422 --> 00:16:33,525
transportation,
right of way encampment resolution program

280
00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:37,162
co-lead continues
to show remarkable outcomes.

281
00:16:37,262 --> 00:16:40,265
Over 95% of participants accept services.

282
00:16:40,666 --> 00:16:45,938
More than 70% transition to permanent
housing, 100% are enrolled in Medicaid,

283
00:16:46,171 --> 00:16:49,174
and we've had zero co-lead
participant overdose.

284
00:16:49,308 --> 00:16:52,011
Overdose deaths in co-lead lodging.

285
00:16:52,011 --> 00:16:54,380
The Third Avenue
Project is another example.

286
00:16:54,380 --> 00:16:57,383
Business owners and residents alike.

287
00:16:57,649 --> 00:17:01,653
Pardon me, residents alike, have reported
a high level of satisfaction with

288
00:17:01,653 --> 00:17:06,392
We Deliver Care’s rapid street
level response, and we've seen successful

289
00:17:06,392 --> 00:17:09,361
shelter and housing placements
through lead case management

290
00:17:09,661 --> 00:17:12,731
for chronically unsheltered people
with high neighborhood impact.

291
00:17:13,832 --> 00:17:14,433
Because of

292
00:17:14,433 --> 00:17:17,403
these interventions,
we're seeing tangible results

293
00:17:17,469 --> 00:17:21,840
declining crime rates, a growing sentiment
among residents and businesses.

294
00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:25,477
That disorder is decreasing
and reduced overdose deaths.

295
00:17:26,311 --> 00:17:30,249
But I want to be honest,
we still have a long way to go.

296
00:17:30,249 --> 00:17:34,119
And what's even more pressing
is that all the programs I've mentioned

297
00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,055
have suffered major setbacks

298
00:17:36,055 --> 00:17:39,158
due to state and local funding reductions
over the last three years.

299
00:17:39,992 --> 00:17:42,961
We cannot afford to let what's working
fall apart.

300
00:17:42,961 --> 00:17:45,297
We have to stabilize these programs

301
00:17:45,297 --> 00:17:48,300
and add new pieces to address
the gaps that remain.

302
00:17:48,867 --> 00:17:51,804
One such effort was Council
President Nelson's idea

303
00:17:51,804 --> 00:17:55,007
to sponsor a low friction
pathway for immediate placement

304
00:17:55,407 --> 00:17:59,912
into private pay inpatient
treatment programs like Lake Lakeside-Milam.

305
00:17:59,912 --> 00:18:03,348
She understood that low barrier programs
like LEAD and Co-LEAD

306
00:18:03,348 --> 00:18:07,186
don't require sobriety at entry,
but they do support people

307
00:18:07,186 --> 00:18:10,689
making as much progress
as possible on the path to recovery.

308
00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:15,027
Co-LEAD nominated the largest group
to use this option so far,

309
00:18:15,260 --> 00:18:18,997
and nearly all of them completed treatment
and are still doing well today.

310
00:18:20,432 --> 00:18:21,366
But that

311
00:18:21,366 --> 00:18:24,837
experience also revealed another gap
when participants finished treatment.

312
00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:28,640
They shouldn't have to return to housing
where active use is prevalent.

313
00:18:29,475 --> 00:18:30,375
Council President

314
00:18:30,375 --> 00:18:34,146
Nelson was absolutely right to push
for recovery housing rent subsidies

315
00:18:34,446 --> 00:18:37,583
to help people maintain the progress
they've worked so hard to achieve,

316
00:18:38,183 --> 00:18:41,753
and perhaps most fundamentally,
none of this works without long

317
00:18:41,753 --> 00:18:43,589
term, high quality case management.

318
00:18:43,589 --> 00:18:46,225
That's the heart of what lead
and CO-LEAD provide.

319
00:18:46,225 --> 00:18:51,263
And yet those programs are very much
in jeopardy due to millions of dollars

320
00:18:51,263 --> 00:18:54,333
in lost local and state
funding over the last two years.

321
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,469
We strongly support
the full range of investments

322
00:18:57,469 --> 00:19:00,672
called for in the resolution
under discussion today and

323
00:19:01,807 --> 00:19:04,443
and yet those this work

324
00:19:04,443 --> 00:19:08,881
belongs at the center of our city's public
safety agenda, not on the margins.

325
00:19:09,181 --> 00:19:10,983
And it must be funded accordingly.

326
00:19:10,983 --> 00:19:13,485
Once again,
I want to thank Council President Nelson

327
00:19:13,485 --> 00:19:15,220
for her leadership in advancing this work.

328
00:19:15,220 --> 00:19:18,090
We have proof that these approaches
work now.

329
00:19:18,090 --> 00:19:19,992
We must ensure that these efforts

330
00:19:19,992 --> 00:19:22,861
have the funding needed
to continue delivering results.

331
00:19:22,861 --> 00:19:23,362
Thank you.

332
00:19:23,929 --> 00:19:28,767
(applause)

333
00:19:29,935 --> 00:19:31,670
- Last but certainly not least, Stephen

334
00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:34,673
Woodworth of Evergreen Treatment Services.

335
00:19:35,641 --> 00:19:36,808
- Good morning.

336
00:19:36,808 --> 00:19:39,411
We had evergreen treatment
Services have been providing substance

337
00:19:39,411 --> 00:19:42,414
use disorder
treatment in Seattle for 52 years.

338
00:19:43,148 --> 00:19:46,418
We find ourselves, right now
in the nonprofit,

339
00:19:46,418 --> 00:19:49,888
community based behavioral health
and social service sector

340
00:19:50,155 --> 00:19:53,158
in very challenging and uncertain times.

341
00:19:54,293 --> 00:19:57,029
For those organizations who serve
individuals with severe substance

342
00:19:57,029 --> 00:20:00,499
use disorder,
especially those living unsheltered,

343
00:20:01,333 --> 00:20:03,502
because it's a struggle
for much of our workforce

344
00:20:03,502 --> 00:20:05,404
to actually afford to live in Seattle.

345
00:20:05,404 --> 00:20:09,107
Lending support for a sales tax increase
is not something that I take lightly.

346
00:20:09,675 --> 00:20:14,413
However, if this tax to support public
safety is adopted, I strongly support

347
00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,483
dedicating a portion of the revenue
to funding low barrier shelter

348
00:20:18,483 --> 00:20:21,887
services,
jail diversion and alternative response,

349
00:20:22,521 --> 00:20:25,257
and the coupling of behavioral health
and permanent supportive

350
00:20:25,257 --> 00:20:28,393
housing in addition
to needed capital improvement projects,

351
00:20:29,494 --> 00:20:32,364
we continue
to find ourselves in a perilous situation

352
00:20:32,364 --> 00:20:37,069
with poisonous drug supply and persistent,
preventable drug overdose deaths

353
00:20:37,469 --> 00:20:40,472
that disproportionately affect
those living unsheltered.

354
00:20:40,772 --> 00:20:43,976
To date, even if we had tighter system
coordination,

355
00:20:44,109 --> 00:20:47,579
I would argue
the resources have never been adequate

356
00:20:47,579 --> 00:20:51,116
to address the scale
and scope of the problem that we face.

357
00:20:52,117 --> 00:20:56,455
Unfortunately, the irresponsible
and draconian Medicaid cuts

358
00:20:56,955 --> 00:21:00,292
that the Senate just passed moments ago
by one vote

359
00:21:00,626 --> 00:21:03,962
will further compound the devastation
and the consequences

360
00:21:03,962 --> 00:21:07,099
for the most vulnerable here in Western
Washington will be severe.

361
00:21:08,133 --> 00:21:11,403
I see the opportunity to invest the sales
tax generated

362
00:21:11,770 --> 00:21:16,541
revenue in recovery oriented services
as one step we can take

363
00:21:16,708 --> 00:21:20,245
to fund evidence
based services at the local level,

364
00:21:20,479 --> 00:21:25,517
in response to the federal government's
abandonment of vulnerable and sick people.

365
00:21:26,084 --> 00:21:29,521
As is often said during a times of crisis,
every little bit helps.

366
00:21:30,489 --> 00:21:30,789
I want to

367
00:21:30,789 --> 00:21:31,423
acknowledge and

368
00:21:31,423 --> 00:21:35,794
thank Councilmember President Nelson
for her leadership and foresight

369
00:21:35,794 --> 00:21:39,831
in recognizing that public health
and public safety are inextricably linked.

370
00:21:40,832 --> 00:21:44,369
Healthy communities are safer communities,
and given what we're up against,

371
00:21:44,369 --> 00:21:48,674
directing some public safety
funding towards pathways to recovery

372
00:21:48,674 --> 00:21:52,177
is the right and responsible thing to do.

373
00:21:52,177 --> 00:21:56,481
(applause)

374
00:21:57,182 --> 00:21:57,783
- Thank you all.

375
00:21:57,783 --> 00:22:01,720
I'll just briefly close us out here by by,

376
00:22:02,621 --> 00:22:04,856
saying out loud
what you might be thinking.

377
00:22:04,856 --> 00:22:07,893
This is an eclectic mix of service
providers.

378
00:22:08,694 --> 00:22:12,230
They represent different,
methodologies, different

379
00:22:12,230 --> 00:22:15,267
philosophies, different approaches
to addiction and treatment.

380
00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,602
But it takes all of us, really.

381
00:22:17,602 --> 00:22:20,005
We cannot, we can't pick and choose.

382
00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:22,808
I believe when I stumbled
into the politics

383
00:22:22,808 --> 00:22:26,311
of treatment and recovery
I didn't know about,

384
00:22:27,112 --> 00:22:31,450
you know, harm reduction versus not harm
reduction, housing first, etc..

385
00:22:31,450 --> 00:22:34,453
I was just thinking about the fastest way
to get people help.

386
00:22:34,820 --> 00:22:37,622
And so that's what that's the spirit
that we have to go forward with.

387
00:22:37,622 --> 00:22:40,759
I want to recognize that city attorney
and Davison is here today

388
00:22:40,759 --> 00:22:43,762
because in a few weeks,
her drug possession,

389
00:22:44,162 --> 00:22:47,966
drug prosecution alternative will start up
as the next layer

390
00:22:47,966 --> 00:22:51,803
that we need in the fight for winning,
for people winning over addictions.

391
00:22:51,970 --> 00:22:55,440
And, in where
they will have more accountability

392
00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,276
leading to the doorway
to recovery treatment.

393
00:22:58,276 --> 00:22:59,544
I mangled that quote,

394
00:22:59,544 --> 00:23:02,647
but I just want to say that
it takes every, every branch of government

395
00:23:02,647 --> 00:23:03,849
to do their job as well.

396
00:23:03,849 --> 00:23:07,319
Policy, the courts and and the executive.

397
00:23:07,619 --> 00:23:11,390
And so what I'm calling for
is a critical shift in how we think about,

398
00:23:13,392 --> 00:23:16,395
treatment and recovery in substance
use disorder.

399
00:23:16,695 --> 00:23:21,099
And, and I'll come together
because it's because, as I've said before,

400
00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,637
addiction is expensive
for us to deal with the, the impacts.

401
00:23:25,637 --> 00:23:29,074
And I'm not even touching on the sorrow
and the heartache and,

402
00:23:29,541 --> 00:23:33,245
and the desperation that people around us
in this town feel every day.

403
00:23:34,346 --> 00:23:37,149
The next steps in this,
in, in this process is that

404
00:23:37,149 --> 00:23:40,452
I do have a resolution
that has been cleared by law

405
00:23:40,452 --> 00:23:43,455
and will be on the introduction
and referral calendar next week.

406
00:23:43,722 --> 00:23:46,324
It is a, it's a it's an introduction.

407
00:23:46,324 --> 00:23:49,094
It's a resolution
that lists a series of investments.

408
00:23:49,094 --> 00:23:52,097
And if somebody has their paper,

409
00:23:52,097 --> 00:23:55,100
can I read some of them?

410
00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:56,334
Thank you.

411
00:23:56,334 --> 00:23:59,538
This is not a complete list of all
the things that I'm calling for, but

412
00:24:00,172 --> 00:24:01,273
because our needs are great,

413
00:24:02,340 --> 00:24:03,875
expanding access to on demand

414
00:24:03,875 --> 00:24:05,110
residential and intensive

415
00:24:05,110 --> 00:24:08,914
outpatient substance use disorder
treatment, enhancing access to recovery,

416
00:24:08,914 --> 00:24:12,818
housing and recovery based services
within already existing housing.

417
00:24:12,818 --> 00:24:14,853
Permanent supportive housing,

418
00:24:14,853 --> 00:24:17,956
innovative, innovative approaches
to addressing stimulant

419
00:24:17,989 --> 00:24:22,727
use disorder and expanding the provision
of long lasting buprenorphine injections.

420
00:24:22,727 --> 00:24:25,897
That's what, that's
what Daniel Malone was just talking about.

421
00:24:26,164 --> 00:24:27,098
And on and on and on.

422
00:24:27,098 --> 00:24:29,835
It's really long list
stabilizing diversion.

423
00:24:29,835 --> 00:24:32,838
And, and our co-lead model,

424
00:24:35,207 --> 00:24:36,741
funding capital investments

425
00:24:36,741 --> 00:24:39,978
in the facilities
where people go, for treatment

426
00:24:39,978 --> 00:24:45,383
and also our drop in centers for people
that, that are living outside unhoused.

427
00:24:45,817 --> 00:24:48,787
And this is one thing that I haven't
mentioned and hasn't come up in

428
00:24:48,787 --> 00:24:52,090
conversation is we need to coordinate
with the King County to increase

429
00:24:52,090 --> 00:24:56,194
the number of designated crisis
responders, otherwise known as doctors,

430
00:24:57,195 --> 00:25:00,165
that operate
within Seattle to facilitate referrals

431
00:25:00,165 --> 00:25:03,668
to secure withdrawal management
and stabilization facilities,

432
00:25:03,668 --> 00:25:06,972
such as the one operated by Valley Cites
Behavioral Health Care.

433
00:25:07,405 --> 00:25:10,108
And, what we're talking about
is involuntary commitment.

434
00:25:10,108 --> 00:25:13,111
We've heard more and more acceptance of,

435
00:25:13,378 --> 00:25:15,480
in recognition of the need for that,

436
00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,750
for people who are in danger
of harming themselves and others.

437
00:25:18,750 --> 00:25:21,753
The problem is
there aren't enough doctors to really,

438
00:25:22,687 --> 00:25:24,322
help us take that next step.

439
00:25:24,322 --> 00:25:26,091
So the list goes on and on.

440
00:25:26,091 --> 00:25:28,860
I'm not going to bore you
with, with everything that we need to do.

441
00:25:28,860 --> 00:25:32,397
My point is that we have to start now
and focus on treatment

442
00:25:32,664 --> 00:25:34,799
as a public safety response.

443
00:25:34,799 --> 00:25:38,370
So thank you very much for all being here
today.

444
00:25:38,370 --> 00:25:44,175
(applause)

445
00:25:44,175 --> 00:25:45,577
I can take a couple questions.

446
00:25:46,745 --> 00:25:48,480
Yeah.

447
00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,115
- Your announcement
says that this is going to be

448
00:25:50,115 --> 00:25:53,118
a low barrier to the, treatment.

449
00:25:53,218 --> 00:25:57,389
Some of the folks that are gathered here
might offer a low barrier to support it.

450
00:25:57,722 --> 00:26:01,126
So how is that legislation
will be guaranteed if this is low barrier

451
00:26:01,126 --> 00:26:04,996
rather than treatment that, you know,
for example, kicks people out of

452
00:26:04,996 --> 00:26:06,731
the program.  

453
00:26:06,731 --> 00:26:08,066
- Most treatment is short

454
00:26:08,066 --> 00:26:11,169
term, that I'm talking about
when I'm talking about treatment there.

455
00:26:12,070 --> 00:26:15,540
Obviously,
we've got opioid use disorder treatment

456
00:26:15,540 --> 00:26:18,810
that is ongoing for a long time,
and then you've got your rehab,

457
00:26:18,810 --> 00:26:22,113
which is simply,
you know, you go to a facility at detox,

458
00:26:22,113 --> 00:26:25,116
and then you spend some time
trying to get your mind straight.

459
00:26:25,150 --> 00:26:28,587
The point is that, it,
it takes everything.

460
00:26:28,820 --> 00:26:33,158
And it's not up to us to define,
what people should do.

461
00:26:33,158 --> 00:26:34,893
And what is the right,

462
00:26:35,860 --> 00:26:37,762
path to recovery for them.

463
00:26:37,762 --> 00:26:38,763
What I am trying to do

464
00:26:38,763 --> 00:26:42,233
is I'm trying to add more pavers
on that roadway to recovery.

465
00:26:42,867 --> 00:26:45,870
Simply.

466
00:26:46,571 --> 00:26:49,574
- As I've I've studied this topic

467
00:26:49,641 --> 00:26:52,644
more deeply over the past
year, Council members,

468
00:26:54,112 --> 00:26:56,581
I was really unaware of the schism

469
00:26:56,581 --> 00:26:59,584
between low barrier and recovery

470
00:27:01,052 --> 00:27:03,822
housing.

471
00:27:03,822 --> 00:27:04,956
I find it hard to believe

472
00:27:04,956 --> 00:27:08,193
the two sides are necessarily
going to come together on this.

473
00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:12,030
One of the things I found, most
interesting as a study

474
00:27:12,030 --> 00:27:15,033
about this is

475
00:27:16,501 --> 00:27:19,504
addict upon addict I've spoken to has said,

476
00:27:20,472 --> 00:27:23,408
they aren’t asked
with getting into recovery

477
00:27:23,408 --> 00:27:26,978
about getting into detox 
until they proactively ask for it.

478
00:27:27,545 --> 00:27:30,548
Why aren't we proactively

479
00:27:30,582 --> 00:27:33,118
asking people in crisis

480
00:27:33,118 --> 00:27:35,887
immediately and often

481
00:27:35,887 --> 00:27:38,890
to get into treatment?

482
00:27:39,257 --> 00:27:40,492
- That's a very good question.

483
00:27:40,492 --> 00:27:45,797
And first of all, what I would have to say
is that, the new HSD contracts for

484
00:27:45,797 --> 00:27:51,236
for outreach for our outreach services
do require that the outreach workers do

485
00:27:51,236 --> 00:27:55,507
employ, motivational interviewing,
which is a way of centering

486
00:27:55,507 --> 00:27:59,711
the conversation on the client
and servicing their

487
00:27:59,744 --> 00:28:03,114
their goals,
short term and long term goals and leading

488
00:28:03,114 --> 00:28:06,117
folks to a decision
to take care of themselves.

489
00:28:06,217 --> 00:28:10,689
So what I think I would like to tell you
is that, yeah, the schisms

490
00:28:10,689 --> 00:28:15,493
that you talk about, I, I truly believe
because I wouldn't be standing here with,

491
00:28:16,227 --> 00:28:19,464
all sides of the schism
if we all didn't recognize that

492
00:28:19,464 --> 00:28:23,802
it takes all kinds of treatment and all
because there is not one cookie cutter,

493
00:28:24,669 --> 00:28:27,639
there's not one path only to recovery.

494
00:28:27,639 --> 00:28:31,743
And it takes, and that is why
every single service that, that,

495
00:28:32,143 --> 00:28:36,815
that the organizations represented here
provide are important because,

496
00:28:37,916 --> 00:28:39,350
you know, I chose one thing

497
00:28:39,350 --> 00:28:42,353
when I made that decision,
but somebody else might choose another.

498
00:28:44,089 --> 00:28:47,459
- Your announcement is up
to 25% of the revenue

499
00:28:47,459 --> 00:28:51,162
generated in the people,
based on service providers agreement.

500
00:28:51,930 --> 00:28:54,199
You have an idea of the other 75%

501
00:28:54,199 --> 00:28:54,532
would go to?

502
00:28:54,532 --> 00:28:57,535
- Well,

503
00:28:59,037 --> 00:29:00,505
I think that's for the mayor to say.

504
00:29:00,505 --> 00:29:03,508
What I will say is that there is,

505
00:29:03,575 --> 00:29:05,543
there are vastly more services.

506
00:29:05,543 --> 00:29:08,613
The need is tremendously greater
than than,

507
00:29:09,514 --> 00:29:13,651
you know, 20%, 5%, 25% of $35 million.

508
00:29:13,651 --> 00:29:15,720
Right? I'm talking about starting.

509
00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:20,358
I'm talking about starting a conversation
toward, focusing on the need

510
00:29:20,358 --> 00:29:24,362
for treatment and, and,
and shoring up the services

511
00:29:24,362 --> 00:29:27,365
that we already have
and filling in the gaps.

512
00:29:33,805 --> 00:29:36,775
- I just wanted to go back to the
designated crisis responders.

513
00:29:38,343 --> 00:29:40,945
My understanding
is that there is a problem.

514
00:29:40,945 --> 00:29:42,046
- Oh. Oh.

515
00:29:42,046 --> 00:29:43,081
Oh, Gina.

516
00:29:43,081 --> 00:29:46,050
I'm sorry. Can you come up here?

517
00:29:46,050 --> 00:29:47,318
I didn't.

518
00:29:47,318 --> 00:29:48,586
My understanding is because.

519
00:29:48,586 --> 00:29:51,156
Gina with Uplift Northwest. Go ahead.

520
00:29:51,156 --> 00:29:54,159
And where, you know,
you can have more people

521
00:29:54,626 --> 00:29:57,629
trying to get people to do voluntary....

522
00:29:57,796 --> 00:30:00,365
Good.

523
00:30:00,365 --> 00:30:02,667
But there's,
certainly there's not necessarily anywhere

524
00:30:02,667 --> 00:30:04,803
to put them that is secure.

525
00:30:04,803 --> 00:30:08,640
You know, when you're talking about
involuntary treatment, what we focus on.

526
00:30:08,706 --> 00:30:10,508
Because I guess this question sorry,
I got.

527
00:30:10,508 --> 00:30:12,510
Distracted by, yeah.

528
00:30:12,510 --> 00:30:16,080
- Focusing on DCR simply
because, when I am told

529
00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,083
why it's difficult to get people who,

530
00:30:20,852 --> 00:30:22,821
from a professional perspective

531
00:30:22,821 --> 00:30:26,224
should be, in such a facility,

532
00:30:27,292 --> 00:30:30,428
the people that actually make
that call are,

533
00:30:31,262 --> 00:30:35,433
very difficult to reach
or just simply unavailable for too long.

534
00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,703
So that is why,
that is why I'm focusing on

535
00:30:38,703 --> 00:30:41,406
and obviously they're designated
by King County,

536
00:30:41,406 --> 00:30:41,906
correct?

537
00:30:41,906 --> 00:30:44,976
And so we're not the boss
of, of the county, clearly.

538
00:30:44,976 --> 00:30:46,144
But if we were to,

539
00:30:47,312 --> 00:30:48,012
provide some

540
00:30:48,012 --> 00:30:51,015
additional funding for some additional,

541
00:30:51,349 --> 00:30:56,054
FTE, let's say that could serve
specifically Seattle residents,

542
00:30:56,054 --> 00:30:59,490
then I think that would go a long way
toward breaking through that bottleneck.

543
00:31:00,625 --> 00:31:01,492
Yeah.

544
00:31:01,492 --> 00:31:03,361
- So that point is this sort of reflect

545
00:31:03,361 --> 00:31:07,398
the lack of faith that the King County
is going to increase its investment.

546
00:31:07,398 --> 00:31:08,433
In this intensive services?

547
00:31:08,433 --> 00:31:10,501
- So I'm not going to speak for the county.

548
00:31:10,501 --> 00:31:12,904
I do serve on the Board of Health and the,

549
00:31:12,904 --> 00:31:16,474
the governance board of the King
County Regional Homelessness Authority.

550
00:31:16,474 --> 00:31:19,410
So I do hear of their budget,

551
00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:21,012
challenges as well.

552
00:31:21,012 --> 00:31:22,580
It's not a lack of faith.

553
00:31:22,580 --> 00:31:25,483
It is simply that we have to do more.

554
00:31:25,483 --> 00:31:29,654
And I think that we can all agree
that, that what the county offers,

555
00:31:29,654 --> 00:31:33,091
it offers is insufficient to meet the need
we've got right here in Seattle,

556
00:31:33,091 --> 00:31:35,360
let alone the rest of the county.

557
00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,363
So that's
why we're trying to to pitch in here.

558
00:31:38,463 --> 00:31:41,532
You know, what I want to mention
is that we expanded,

559
00:31:41,833 --> 00:31:45,103
the CARE team
from seven to, I believe, 27.

560
00:31:46,771 --> 00:31:48,373
Responders.

561
00:31:48,373 --> 00:31:51,743
But where do they send people when they're
dealing with somebody in crisis?

562
00:31:51,743 --> 00:31:54,746
If a CARE team member were right here,
what would that person,

563
00:31:56,180 --> 00:31:59,884
say or do with the with the gentleman
who is who is just passing by.

564
00:32:00,451 --> 00:32:03,254
The same goes for, for outreach.

565
00:32:03,254 --> 00:32:05,156
I want to recognize Andrew Constantino.

566
00:32:05,156 --> 00:32:10,094
He took me on a walk in Little Saigon
and, explained the work that he does.

567
00:32:10,561 --> 00:32:15,066
But what does one tell someone if
when Andrew's in conversation with them,

568
00:32:15,867 --> 00:32:19,137
if they say, yeah, I really want to
stop using where do they go?

569
00:32:19,570 --> 00:32:21,272
And so this is what I'm talking about

570
00:32:21,272 --> 00:32:24,509
is our resources
that are, immediately available.

571
00:32:24,809 --> 00:32:26,844
And also meet many other needs.

572
00:32:26,844 --> 00:32:31,082
I funded a an additional,
mobile medication unit for evergreen

573
00:32:31,082 --> 00:32:33,751
treatment services
because we can't just arrest people

574
00:32:33,751 --> 00:32:37,422
for using drugs downtown,
we should be also offering them treatment

575
00:32:37,422 --> 00:32:38,256
right where

576
00:32:39,324 --> 00:32:41,059
Right in the hotspots,

577
00:32:41,059 --> 00:32:44,062
Third Avenue Pike in Pines, Little Saigon.

578
00:32:44,228 --> 00:32:45,964
That's just one, however.

579
00:32:45,964 --> 00:32:48,967
And so I am calling for a,

580
00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:52,770
a pivot, a critical shift
in the way we think about the importance

581
00:32:52,770 --> 00:32:56,741
of treatment and centrality
in advancing public safety.

582
00:32:57,241 --> 00:33:00,244
And also, public health.

583
00:33:00,378 --> 00:33:04,549
- Would investments in,

584
00:33:06,884 --> 00:33:09,354
earmarking these investment for treatment

585
00:33:09,354 --> 00:33:12,090
take away from the larger,
goal around the police

586
00:33:12,090 --> 00:33:14,592
department?

587
00:33:14,592 --> 00:33:17,595
- Well.

588
00:33:18,229 --> 00:33:21,165
I, I recognize that we that hiring

589
00:33:21,165 --> 00:33:24,168
that SPD
is hiring at unprecedented rates.

590
00:33:24,535 --> 00:33:28,673
You know, thanks to many of the policies
that council put into action.

591
00:33:28,673 --> 00:33:34,112
So we will likely have, a shortfall
this year in that department.

592
00:33:34,545 --> 00:33:37,548
I don't, but it is not up to 35 million.

593
00:33:37,582 --> 00:33:42,253
And I'm sure that the mayor
has other plans for, for this, resource,

594
00:33:42,253 --> 00:33:46,691
when and if, he puts it forward with the,
with the other budget legislation.

595
00:33:47,325 --> 00:33:48,760
But what could be more important?

596
00:33:49,761 --> 00:33:52,764
That's
simply the point I'm trying to make.

597
00:33:54,165 --> 00:33:54,399
Okay.

598
00:33:54,399 --> 00:33:55,099
One more question.

599
00:33:55,099 --> 00:33:58,102
Okay. I.

600
00:33:58,269 --> 00:34:00,405
I did,

601
00:34:00,405 --> 00:34:01,773
- We've been getting sober

602
00:34:01,773 --> 00:34:04,742
and sober about a lot of years.

603
00:34:05,410 --> 00:34:08,379
Like,
I kind of question to everyone up here

604
00:34:08,379 --> 00:34:10,982
and I, I've always wanted to know
the answer to this.

605
00:34:10,982 --> 00:34:11,682
I was an addict.

606
00:34:11,682 --> 00:34:14,252
17 years, 14 years recovery.

607
00:34:14,252 --> 00:34:17,221
I've always heard this word evidence based.

608
00:34:17,655 --> 00:34:20,658
Evidence of what?

609
00:34:20,825 --> 00:34:22,260
Can anyone answer

610
00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:26,297
what the what
that evidence means evidence of what?

611
00:34:26,297 --> 00:34:27,065
I mean.

612
00:34:27,065 --> 00:34:31,536
We talk about investing money in evidence
based solutions.

613
00:34:32,370 --> 00:34:34,439
Evidence of what?

614
00:34:34,439 --> 00:34:37,442
- I'll answer
I will I'm not going to go there.

615
00:34:37,575 --> 00:34:39,010
Does that mean a person buys a home?

616
00:34:39,010 --> 00:34:40,478
Does that mean a sober person

617
00:34:40,478 --> 00:34:44,315
that doesn't use drugs
or what does the evidence show?

618
00:34:44,549 --> 00:34:49,153
The what I will simply say is I've never
looked at that question the same way, but,

619
00:34:52,290 --> 00:34:53,458
SAMSA defines

620
00:34:53,458 --> 00:34:57,295
recovery basically
as getting one's life back together.

621
00:34:57,295 --> 00:35:00,965
And that is the goal that we are
that we're after is is helping.

622
00:35:01,265 --> 00:35:02,100
Excuse me, sir.

623
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:03,801
- But I'm just asking because that's that's.

624
00:35:03,801 --> 00:35:07,038
And no one's ever came
and asked anyone from us about that.

625
00:35:07,338 --> 00:35:08,039
- And that's okay.

626
00:35:08,039 --> 00:35:10,108
So this is what this...

627
00:35:10,108 --> 00:35:12,810
How do we get our evidence put forth?

628
00:35:12,810 --> 00:35:15,713
- Okay, I would be let me,
let us talk about that later.

629
00:35:15,713 --> 00:35:18,983
But the reason why
I also want people to recognize

630
00:35:18,983 --> 00:35:23,688
is that in addition
to our, our existing large service

631
00:35:23,754 --> 00:35:26,190
providers, when we're talking about
getting people off the street,

632
00:35:26,190 --> 00:35:30,561
there is a whole network of pie of private
or philanthropy supported

633
00:35:30,828 --> 00:35:34,632
smaller shops
that can also help relieve the,

634
00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:40,471
the shortage of space
in our, in our already existing,

635
00:35:41,405 --> 00:35:43,941
transitional and permanent supportive
housing.

636
00:35:43,941 --> 00:35:47,645
And I and here's the reason that I wanted
to just add one more thing.

637
00:35:47,912 --> 00:35:51,782
I asked the, the directors of two
of our business improvement areas

638
00:35:51,782 --> 00:35:55,586
here is because as a small business owner,
I hear, I know,

639
00:35:55,586 --> 00:35:59,157
and I hear from small businesses
all the time, the, the,

640
00:36:00,091 --> 00:36:02,727
the impacts of the,

641
00:36:02,727 --> 00:36:06,030
the fentanyl crisis on our neighborhood
business districts.

642
00:36:06,230 --> 00:36:09,767
And mind you, the game has changed
completely with fentanyl.

643
00:36:09,967 --> 00:36:12,904
And so we can't keep doing things
in the same old way that we used to.

644
00:36:12,904 --> 00:36:16,674
That is why I'm calling for a critical
pivot toward a focus on treatment

645
00:36:16,774 --> 00:36:19,343
that offers
a number of different modalities

646
00:36:19,343 --> 00:36:22,346
to help the people that we see
struggling on our streets every day.

647
00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:23,981
Thank you, everybody, for coming today.

648
00:36:25,082 --> 00:36:28,085
- Is the mayor supporting your proposal?

649
00:36:28,186 --> 00:36:30,555
The mayor has indicated,

650
00:36:30,555 --> 00:36:33,858
support
of the principle of the, of the idea.

651
00:36:33,858 --> 00:36:37,495
And, it will have to wait
until we get closer to the,

652
00:36:38,196 --> 00:36:41,032
to budget to figure out what,
what the departments

653
00:36:41,032 --> 00:36:45,002
are proposing for some reductions
before we get to any hard numbers.

654
00:36:45,603 --> 00:36:46,804
Thank you.

655
00:36:46,804 --> 00:36:50,441
(applause)