Image of the Arroyo Seco Village from the mayor’s presentation
The Seattle City Council’s Land Use and Sustainability Committee will hear updates on the state of the city’s capacity to quickly create new homes as it prepares to take on legislation at the core of Mayor Katie Wilson’s plan to boost emergency shelter facilities.
Wednesday morning’s session includes presentations from the mayor’s office (PDF), Purpose Dignity Action’s CoLEAD program (PDF), the Low Income Housing Institute’s Tiny House Village program (PDF), and Evergreen Treatment Services (PDF).
“The Executive has stated their goal is to increase shelter units by 1,000 in 2026, with the goal of standing up 500 by June 1, 2026, before World Cup games begin,” a council memo on the effort reads. “One of the Executive’s main strategies to accomplish this goal is to increase the number and size of micro-modular shelters, sometimes known as tiny home villages.”
CHS reported here last month as Wilson announced the emergency effort including legislation that will allow larger villages in the city and make it easier to secure permits for the villages. A third bill would put $4.8 million from “underutilized city sources” to fund the creation of the new shelters.
The legislation from the mayor’s office follows her executive order in January to speed up the creation of new shelter and affordable housing in the city with a new “interdepartmental team” tasked with identifying “options for financial incentives, permitting changes, and other policy changes.”
As of early 2026, there are around a dozen tiny house villages currently operating within the Seattle city limits. The number has grown with the opening of the Olympic Hills Village in Lake City in February 2026. Most of these sites are managed by theLow Income Housing Institute in partnership with the City of Seattle and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.
In its presentation, the mayor’s office points to “Proven Large-Scale Models” in other areas including projects like the Arroyo Seco Village in Los Angeles with 123 units and the West LA Veterans Association with around 200 units.
The mayor’s office highlights work around public safety and “neighborhood coordination” that it says are part of its plans. Facilities would have 24/7 staffing, defined site boundaries, “Resident Code of Conduct” efforts, and Community Advisory Committees for oversight.
Sites will be reviewed against a set of public safety and environmental criteria. The mayor’s office says the Seattle Police Department will “work with operators to review site design (CPTED) for lighting, visibility, and access points.”
“The Mayor’s Office is committed to a strong program launch focused on community health & safety for all involved,” the presentation reads. “To accomplish this, ahead of program launch we will convene a space for ongoing collaboration by City Departments, Council, shelter provider, and key neighborhood stakeholders to activate the space and address issues as they arise.”
Wednesday’s presentations are a preliminary step as the legislation from the mayor’s office moves toward approval by the Seattle City Council.
The land use committee will be handling a core element as it will shape the bill setting the census count, or “the number of allowed persons, for transitional encampments.” That legislation had not yet been introduced as of last week, according to a council memo.
The council’s Finance Committee will handle two additional pieces of legislation required to streamline leasing and permitting, and for the reallocation of the $4.9 million in unused funding identified by the Wilson administration.
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