Junction Point, a Catholic Community Services (CCS) shelter in north Seattle, is opening its doors to welcome 40 new residents into their community. Previously serving 54 people, Junction Point will now be able to accommodate 94 adults experiencing homelessness thanks to the expansion added to the east side of the shelter.
This expansion fills a critical gap: while the number of people experiencing homelessness in King County continues to rise, the number of shelter beds is declining, according to data from the King County Point-in-Time Count and the Housing Inventory Count. Since 2022, homelessness in King County has increased 26 percent, but the county has lost more than 400 shelter beds in the same time. In 2024, 58 percent of people experiencing homelessness in King County were unsheltered on any given night.
Open 24 hours a day, Junction Point is a pallet shelter run by CCS’s Coordinated Care Agency. Pallet shelters, built by the company Pallet Shelter, offer private units containing a bed and space to keep personal belongings. Residents can decorate their pallets and can bring pets with them, personal touches that help create a sense of home and independence.
Made possible by funding from the City of Seattle through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, the expansion officially opened in April and is actively welcoming residents into the 40 new single-occupancy pallets. Each new row of pallets is named after a flower — sunflower, tulip, rose — and original pallet rows are named after trees. Several of the new pallets are ADA accessible and include ramps to accommodate residents with disabilities.
In addition to the new pallets, the expansion includes staff space as well as new bathroom and shower facilities. The community room, where three meals a day are served in collaboration with Operation Sack Lunch, is undergoing renovations to make space for a larger community. Beyond nutritious meals, residents can access everyday comforts in the community room, including a coffee maker, microwave, and ice machine. Down the hall is a nurse station and, just outside, laundry facilities are available for resident use.
Lisa’s Story
“It’s heaven here. It really is. They take somebody who had nothing and really give them a lot,” says Lisa, a Junction Point resident. “It’s amazing.”
For Junction Point residents, the shelter isn’t just a place to sleep at night; it’s a supportive community where people come together with the shared goal of building a better life for themselves. Since arriving at Junction Point, Lisa has been impressed by the resources and support offered at the shelter, from reliable meals, to clothing, to information.
“The staff here are great. They’re very helpful,” Lisa says. “Junction Point is very uplifting — it gives you a reason to want to do better.”
Over her time at Junction Point, Lisa has found a sense of community at the shelter and in the surrounding neighborhood. She works at a second-hand store, and, in her free time, she enjoys playing pool and cards with other residents.
“I really like the people here,” Lisa says. “The first day they’re nervous, but they start to feel more uplifted. You can even see them stand taller when they walk with confidence, feeling like ‘There is something out there that’s helping me. I’m not alone.’”
For Lisa and others in the growing community, Junction Point represents a transition from homelessness to stability, support, and hope.
“Catholic Community Services is a really great organization,” Lisa says. “I’m very thankful for them. Very thankful.”