Snohomish attempts pivot to mandatory drug treatment in new homeless hotel

With Snohomish County days away from potentially approving the sale of the Days Inn for conversion into bridge housing for the homeless, the county’s council looks to make its enrollment conditional on drug treatment programs.

Snohomish County purchases hotel in Everett to increase housing for the homeless

“County-provided housing services at county-owned hotels must include a participant program agreement or code of conduct requiring a participant with a substance use disorder to participate in chemical dependency treatment services,” a draft ordinance obtained by KTTH’s Jason Rantz Show reads.

The converted Days Inn will provide 74 shelter spaces. The county-led acquisition will help the region increase its shelter capacity by nearly 20%, with Executive Dave Somers reporting that Snohomish held 646 shelter beds by 2021’s end.

“With these one-time federal funds, we have an opportunity to make transformational investments in our housing system,” said Somers. “By increasing our bridge housing capacity, we can provide safer places for vulnerable residents, create stability to support communities’ overall health and wellbeing, and make Snohomish County an even better place to live, work, and play – for everyone.”

Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring is expected to announce tomorrow his interest in delaying that vote until late September when the drug treatment ordinance can be heard.

The mandatory drug treatment ordinance would delay the final council vote on the transfer of the Days Inn, currently set for Aug. 17.