UPDATE ON WHEEL WOMEN'S SHELTER

Our WHEEL Women’s Shelter remains closed due to budgetary constraints for the SHARE/WHEEL non-profit who runs it.  The organization is seeking additional funding from King County, the City of Seattle, and United Way, as well as private donations.  They met with the Director of King County’s Department of Community and Human Services and are hoping for a meeting with the Council and/or the County Executive since they are the only ones who can release additional shelter funding right now.  They have requested meetings with the City and the Mayor as well.  Through private donations and several fundraisers, SHARE/WHEEL raised some funds but they are still $50K short and have a $12K monthly budget gap that requires sustainable funding.  OLG stays poised to welcome the women back if/when the funding comes through.  In the meantime, over 200 homeless individuals from the closed shelter network have formed new Tent Cities near the King County Chinook Building and the Correctional Facility in downtown Seattle.  For more information, visit sharewheel.org.