Shelters

Homeless shelters in Seattle are usually at or near capacity, especially in cold weather. We strongly recommended that, if possible, you phone to ask about openings instead of showing up on the doorstep of one shelter after another. You will be less stressed out, and so will they. The Community Information Line (first listing here, just dial 2-1-1) is generally the single best source of information on which shelters currently have space.

Operation Nightwatch Emergency Shelter
206-329-2099 (after 8:00 pm)
206-323-4359 daytime M-F
email: downtowner@msn.com

Nighttime drop-in center at 302 14th Avenue South (between Yesler & Jackson on the corner of 14th and Main). Open nights, not days. Screening and referrals done every night starting 9pm until midnight. Please do not arrive early.

Single men who wish to use Operation Nightwatch must be referred by Downtown Emergency Service Center (a.k.a. DESC, 517 Third Ave) or the Bread of Life Mission (97 S. Main). Please check with these agencies for distribution times and availability. Referrals are not required for women.

Age 18 and over only. Operation Nightwatch no longer is able to assist families with children.
Verified 08/10

Compass Center
206-357-3100
77 S Washington, Seattle 98104

Provides emergency and transitional shelter for women and men, 18 and over. Please call for information regarding admission or for more information.
Verified 9/09

Downtown Emergency Service Center
206-464-1570, select 1 for shelters
517 Third Ave., Seattle 98104

Women age 18+ (no minors), men 60+, men 18-59 if severely disabled, mentally ill, physically or developmentally disabled, medically/physically compromised, chemically dependent (and working with a counselor).
Verified 9/09

SHARE/WHEEL
206-448-7889
PO Box 2548, Seattle 98111

Do not telephone for shelter availability. They are rarely able to answer phone, and do not return calls regarding shelter.

Screenings for 15 shelters for adults (some shelters are co-ed, but there are no family or couples facilities, men and women sleep separately). All screenings take place at the Josephinum, 1902 Second Ave. Screenings are at the following times:

• Mon, Thu 1pm.
• Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 6pm.
• (No Sunday screening.)

SHARE also operates Tent City (which has had to move periodically). Contact the Community Information Line (206-461-3200 /1-800-621-4636) for the current location of Tent City.
Verified 1/03

Saint Martin dePorres Shelter
206-323-6341
1561 Alaskan Way S, Seattle 98134

Free shelter for older, homeless men (age 50+). 212 mats, day respite program, clothing and housing assistance. Must catch bus at 416 Second Ave Extension S., 6-7 p.m.
Verified 1/03

Union Gospel Mission
206-622-5177
318 Second Ave. Ext. S, Seattle 98104

Shelter for men, no fee, following chapel at 7 p.m. 110 mats available.
Verified 01/10

William Booth Center
206-621-0145
811 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 98134

Men's facility. Breathalizer, drug test required. Several options:

• 4 emergency beds (2 week limit, meals provided).
• Dormitory-style transitional shelter $70/week, bunk bed plus locker (6 month limit, meals not provided).
• Transitional housing at 30% of gross income. Case manager available.

Other Shelter Resources for Men
This listing comes from a July 2002 listing by the Crisis Clinic, and has not been independently verified.

Noel House Women's Referral Center
206-441-3210
2030 3rd Ave., Seattle, 98121

Women only shelter, 18+, 40 beds, referrals to other shelters. Evening meals. Doesn't turn away women with mental/physical disabilities or addiction issues. Open registration nightly 6-8 p.m.
Verified 1/12

Sacred Heart Shelter
206-285-7489
232 Warren Ave. N., Seattle 98109

Shelter for families and single women 18 & over. Families (single-parent or 2-parent) with children 13 and under. (Single fathers with children OK.)
Verified 12/02

YWCA Emergency Shelter
206-461-4888
1118 Fifth Ave., Seattle 98101

28 days emergency shelter for women with or without children. Meals not provided. Call for screening.
Verified 12/02

Hope Place: Union Gospel Mission Women and Family Shelter
206-628-2008
3802 South Othello Street., Seattle

Single women & women with children (including male children up to age 18.) They say "Many we serve suffer from years of drug and alcohol abuse or physical abuse and are in need of long-term care."
Updated 09/09 from their web site, not further verified.

Broadview Shelter
206-299-2500
1-877-622-3122 toll free
Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing for single women (18 and older) and for women with children (including boys up to 18). 24-hr advocacy and counseling. Children's activities, groups and tutoring.
Verified 2/03

Solid Ground Family Shelter
206-694-6836

Up to 3 months shelter for single-parent and 2-parent families. Can accommodate families with large numbers of children, including older teens.

Solid Ground is the former Fremont Public Association.
Verified 1/03

Seattle Indian Center
206-329-8700
611 12th Ave S, Suite 300, Seattle 98144

Hostel for single working men, $15 per night
Verified 12/09

Compass Center's Family Support Program
206-357-3160

Emergency shelter program for all types of families that include at least one 18+ year-old adult with legal/physical custody of 1 or more children 18 years or younger. 5 apartment units, with a stay up to 120 days. Program includes case manager and community referrals.

Only reachable by phone. The best time to call is Monday or Wednesday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Confidential location.
Verified 11/09

Seattle Emergency Housing Services
206-461-3660
905 Spruce St., Seattle 98104

Call Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-noon, 1-4:30 p.m. No walk-ins. Shelter for families (households of 4 or more with children 17 years or younger. Children have to be in school.). $40 deposit, $28 a week if able to pay.
Verified 12/02

Hopelink Emergency Family Shelter
206-556-9289

9-unit shelter in Kenmore provides up to 3 weeks shelter for Greater Seattle and Eastside families seeking permanent housing.
Verified 12/09

YWCA South King County Family Shelters
425-255-1201

YWCA South King County operates 28-day family shelters in Kent, Renton, and Auburn for families with at least one child under 18. Call for screening 425-255-1201. Might need to leave a return phone number for call back, or at least leave name to get on list for shelter.
Verified 12/02

Other Shelter Resources for families
These listings come from a July 2002 listing by the Crisis Clinic, and have not been independently verified.

Other Shelter Resources for youth
These listings come from a July 2002 listing by the Crisis Clinic, and have not been independently verified.

Pierce, Snohomish, and Skagit County Shelter Resources
These listings come from a July 2002 listing by the Crisis Clinic, and have not been independently verified.

• Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence lists "safe houses."
• Housing.

• As of July 2009, the Shelter Listings site has an excellent national listing of shelter resources, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent affordable housing resources: www.shelterlistings.org.

Feel free to copy all or part of this document for any non-commercial purpose. Notification and credit would be appreciated.

The master of this page is http://www.scn.org/crisis/shelters.html.