By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has proposed legislation to the Seattle City Council, requesting the approval of $27.25 million to fund six community-selected participatory budgeting projects. These initiatives focus on increasing access to housing, enhancing public safety and mental health services, advancing food equity, and improving public infrastructure to address basic needs. The projects reflect community-driven priorities and aim to bolster existing city initiatives through one-time funding to create safe and thriving communities.
“Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to the City’s 2020 promise to embark on this unprecedented process and invest in community-driven ideas and services to strengthen and meet the unique needs of Seattle’s diverse communities,” said Harrell. “Thank you to the Seattle Office of Civil Rights, our organizational partners, and all the community members who have made their voices heard toward creating a more safe, equitable, and connected Seattle, where all residents and neighborhoods—particularly those most impacted by systemic inequities—can thrive.”
The proposed projects, if approved by the City Council, will fund enhancements in areas such as housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness, expansion of mental health crisis response teams, improvement of public restroom facilities, and increased access to education programs and healthy food. The projects were selected through a participatory budgeting process that engaged communities typically left out of government decision-making, with a special focus on Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color.
According to city officials, “participatory budgeting brings people together to share ideas and vote on how to spend a portion of public funds to improve local communities.”
“Participatory budgeting moves us closer to building systems that increase agency for underrepresented communities in Seattle,” said Derrick Wheeler-Smith, Director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. “These projects are an opportunity for the city to be accountable to promises made in 2020 to create new ways to get civically engaged and invest in urgent needs of our most prevented and persecuted communities.”
The six projects, chosen by community members, reflect a wide range of priorities aimed at addressing critical needs across Seattle. Each project is designed to enhance the quality of life for residents, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. The proposed projects include:
• Community-Operated Restrooms ($7.2 M): Seattle Parks and Recreation will partner with the community to enhance cleanliness and safety at five public restrooms over a five-year program. Community organizations will be selected through a competitive process to provide attendant oversight of a minimum of five restroom sites. This includes operators attending to two to three existing permanent restrooms and two to three mobile restroom trailers. Restroom trailers will initially be placed in areas of identified need, informed by community engagement, with the ability to move to the areas of greatest demand.
• Mental Health Crisis Response ($2 M): Funding will expand the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Team to increase qualified mental and behavioral health specialists as first responders.
• Urban Farming and Food Equity ($7 M): The Department of Neighborhoods, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability and Environment, will support the activation of up to five publicly owned greenspaces to lease for urban agriculture. Additionally, a portion of the funds will leverage existing local training models to support small-scale farming and food producers.
• Native Youth and Community Center ($7.2 M): The Office of Planning and Community Development will support the creation of a community-owned and operated center focused on Duwamish cultural education and recreation for youth.
• Enhanced Housing Navigation Services ($2 M): The Human Services Department, in partnership with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, is expanding mobile-based housing navigation assistance. By improving access through Regional Access Points and the Coordinated Entry System, this investment aims to make it easier for individuals to find and secure housing, providing immediate and effective support for those experiencing homelessness.
• Youth and Young Adult Emergency Shelter Capital Fund ($1.85 M): In collaboration with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, the Human Services Department is funding vital enhancements, modifications, and repairs to youth shelters. These improvements will create more welcoming and supportive environments, ensuring young people have safe spaces during emergencies.
Community members and leaders agree that the timing is ripe for continued investment in the public safety of its citizens and combating poverty, unemployment, and violence.
“This has been a long time coming. Communities have given their time and input to coach our systems on how to effectively address violence, poverty, unemployment, and disparities faced on a daily basis,” says Dominique Davis, Founder and CEO of Community Passageways. “Now, we are relying on our representatives to listen. This money can do a lot of good for thousands of people, and we appreciate City of Seattle leaders for taking action.”
Tia Yarbrough, an educator and community leader, says that the participatory budget process is an opportunity for “everyday citizens” to have a say in the sustainability and growth of their neighborhoods, and the budget process is that conduit that allows community members to feel as though they have a role in the process.
“Participatory budgeting gives everyday citizens voice and agency in making decisions regarding the health and well-being of their communities,” says Yarbrough. “Intentionally inviting the community to participate in budgetary decisions echoes the true value of prioritizing the people who are most impacted by government and policy.”