KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘That would upset me’: Jake pushes back on new Kirkland supportive housing facility that doesn’t require sobriety

Jul 10, 2026, 4:01 PM | Updated: 4:14 pm

Sheila Stanton Place, a controversial supportive housing facility through Plymouth Housing, opened this week in Kirkland. The facility provides 102 studio apartments for individuals exiting or at risk of homelessness, including those with disabilities and complex behavioral health needs, according to Plymouth Housing’s website.

KIRO host Jake Skorheim took issue with the facility’s policies, pointing out that residents are not required to be sober to move in and can’t be evicted solely for drug use.

“They don’t want you doing those things in common areas. They say like, ‘If we find you doing drug things in common areas, they’re going to be asking you to move out of the common, take it inside.’ But they’re not going to remove you,” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

However, KIRO host Spike O’Neill said the facility is more than housing and offers services to support residents.

“This is access to case management, behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance, and all these other supportive services that we always hear talked about with temporary housing situations,” he said.

Jake, Spike debate Kirkland housing facility

Jake said the location puts longtime Kirkland residents in an unfair position, forcing families who chose the close-knit community to now live alongside people with severe drug addictions.

“You’re going to have somebody who used to be nowhere near, with a severe drug addiction, is now in your backyard,” he said. “That would upset me.”

“It’s cause for concern. I give you that. But there’s supposed to be 24-hour residents monitoring,” Spike responded. “There’ll be staff on site all day, all night, every day, every night.”

“That would comfort me zero if I was somebody who lived nearby,” Jake replied.

Spike said he appreciates the added services but acknowledged they might not be enough.

“I understand the residents’ concern,” he said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

food safety wa disease...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘I’m not liking the way we’re trending’: Hosts debate growing their own food amid safety fears

Explore the growing trend of homegrown food in response to safety fears and the Cyclosporiasis outbreak.

19 hours ago

WA income tax lawsuit mckenna millionaires fafsa...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘It’s confusing by nature’: Jake, Spike back lawsuit over misleading language on WA’s income tax repeal

Jake and Spike back lawsuit over WA's income tax repeal initiative's confusing language ahead of November ballot.

19 hours ago

Follow @https://twitter.com/jcurleyshow...

John Curley Show

‘Washington has run out of cash’: Curley analyzes the state’s $614 million misconduct payout crisis

Washington’s payouts and legal costs for government misconduct have grown to an all-time high, notching $614 million in the past fiscal year.

2 days ago

income tax wa millionaires...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘He should just go back to Europe’: Jake responds to Rick Steves’ support for Washington’s millionaires’ tax

Jake urges Rick Steves to reconsider as WA income tax heads for the November ballot. Discover their perspectives on this key issue.

2 days ago

leavenworth tourism wa...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Be careful what you wish for’: Ursula warns Leavenworth residents as they complain of sky-high tourism

Leavenworth faces challenges as tourism surges, prompting residents to voice concerns over its impact on their community.

2 days ago

katie wilson presser...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘Did she say anything at all?’ Jake gives Wilson’s delivery a B+ as KIRO reporter warns her messaging is ‘eroding trust’

KIRO host Jake Skorheim gave Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson a B+ for her delivery at Friday's news conference.

2 days ago

‘That would upset me’: Jake pushes back on new Kirkland supportive housing facility that doesn’t require sobriety