The City of Kirkland is seeking community involvement to help inform its approach to homelessness, with a series of focus groups set throughout March as part of a broader engagement campaign. After hosting two public forums in late February, which saw a turnout of over 70 residents, city officials are looking to carry the momentum forward by inviting participation in discussions about the city's Homelessness Continuum of Care Action Plan.
According to an announcement on the city's website, there will be three chances for Kirkland locals to join these focused dialogs: on Monday, March 17 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. virtually, Wednesday, March 19 from 1:00-3:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Peter Kirk Room, and again on Monday, March 24 from 4-5:30 p.m. in the same location. These sessions offer residents the platform to discuss and provide feedback on possible improvements to the city's current homelessness strategies.
Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold highlighted the community's dedication to the issue, as evidenced by the recent forums: "It was clear in our recent forums how much our community cares about supporting our most vulnerable neighbors," he said in a statement. "While we may not all agree on exactly which actions are needed to prevent people from living without shelter in Kirkland, it is heartening to know we can come together in civil dialogue."
Residents interested in contributing to the discussion are encouraged to register soon, as spaces for the focus groups are limited. Interested individuals should select and register for only one session and can do so through a link provided by the city. Both in-person and virtual meetings will have the same format. For more details on efforts to address homelessness in Kirkland and ongoing opportunities for community engagement, the city directs residents to the Homelessness page on its website.
