initially released February 8, 2022
As a community of faith, we strongly support the purchase of the former La Quinta Inn as a part of King County’s Health Through Housing Initiative.
Woven throughout the scriptures we read and study as Christians is the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus named this as one of the two most important commandments; the other, he said, is, “to love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul.”
Love of neighbor is not an idea or a concept. It is not someone else’s job. When he encountered people who were hungry, Jesus fed them; when he met people who were wounded, he healed them. When people were cast out or isolated, Jesus brought them back into community. As Christians, we believe Jesus continues to do these things through us.
It is abundantly clear that our region has a housing crisis. Many of our neighbors cannot afford a safe place to live. Solving this is not an idea or a concept, and it is not someone else’s problem; it is our shared work. At stake are human lives, as valuable and beloved to God as every human life – housed or not.
As a congregation, we have been active in supporting our neighbors who experience homelessness. We have hosted Tent City and Camp Unity numerous times; we have built tiny houses; we partner with Hopelink to provide funding which prevents evictions; we host regular community suppers (prior to COVID); we support Helen’s Place, Mary’s Place, Sophia Way, and other organizations which provide shelter; and on a regular basis, we give bus tickets, food, and any assistance we can to the adults and families who come to our door asking for help. We will continue to do this work, as do numerous faith communities in Kirkland, but we cannot solve the problem on our own. It will take commitment and resources from all of us, including governmental entities, to make real and lasting change.
We urge the county to work with the city of Kirkland and its residents in creating a safe, sustainable, and healthy plan for permanent supportive housing at this site. Ensuring the human dignity of those experiencing homelessness is good for the whole community. Individuals and families experiencing homelessness are not our enemies; they are not a reason to fear. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, and this project is an excellent way to do just that.
Sincerely,
David Papenhausen, HSLC Council President
Pastor Katy McCallum Sachse, HSLC Lead Pastor
Pastor Gina Herman, HSLC Associate Pastor
If you wish to contact our local representatives to express your comments, the contact information is below:
Councilwoman Claudia Balducci - claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov
Executive Dow Constantine - kcexec@kingcounty.gov
Mayor Penny Sweet - psweet@kirklkandwa.gov
Senator Manka Dhingra - manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov
Representative Roger Goodman - roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov
Representative Larry Springer - larry.springer@leg.wa.gov