A new homeless shelter in Seattle is exclusively serving Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders. It’s one of the first facilities of its kind in the country helping to house the more than 1,000 Native people in the city experiencing homelessness.

Eagle Village sits near Seattle’s industrial district south of downtown. It’s pressed up against railroad tracks and next to a large bus terminal. Gary Fisher has lived here about a month after bouncing around other shelters in the city for three years.

“A lot of times even sleeping outside in conditions like that might be a better, safer environment than some of the shelters that I’ve been in,” Fisher said in Eagle Village’s meeting room.

Fisher says other shelters he’s been to have too many people coming and going. “You don’t stay by the same person every night,” he said,“ so it’s always new people you don’t know.”

But Eagle Village, he says, is nothing like that. This site is made up of modular trailers divided into small apartments, each with its own private bathroom and kitchenette.

Fisher says the rooms here are comfortable for two people. They’ve got plenty of closet space, and Fisher has his own bathroom.

Seattle Shelter Focuses On Native Peoples Experiencing Homelessness

Photo: Casey Martin/KUOW
Caption: Eagle Village resident Jolene Neiss says it’s important to make each room feel like the resident’s home with decorations, knickknacks and family photos.