Mobile Medical Van to Serve LIHI's Seattle Tiny House Villages
- Volunteer Program
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
On June 5th, Therapeutic Health Services (THS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of their new Layne Staley Mobile Medical Unit (LSMMU). Partially funded by the Layne Staley Memorial Fund, the new Mobile Medical Unit will serve Tiny House Villages (THVs) throughout the Seattle area, starting with LIHI’s Interbay Village.
The LSMMU will bring substance use treatment to individuals in THVs rather than requiring them to travel offsite to receive care, eliminating any potential logistical and medical barriers to care. THS will provide Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and behavioral health services at THV sites.
"The ribbon cutting was more than the unveiling of a vehicle," said Patricia Edmond-Quinn, THS CEO. "It represents a commitment to meeting people where they are, reducing barriers to care, and giving individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction a better opportunity to build stable, healthy lives."
“THS has been a trusted and valued partner at our tiny house villages. In addition to providing behavioral health professionals on-site at the villages, this mobile medical unit will help individuals on the road to recovery,” said Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director. LIHI operates 15 villages in Seattle and King County. THS provides services to over 4,500 individuals per year in the Seattle area, and the LSMMU will only increase their impact!
Attending the ceremony were Layne Staley’s parents, Nancy McCallum and Phil Staley, as well as THS CEO Patricia Edmond-Quinn. Seattle City Councilmember Dionne Foster was in attendance. We were beyond thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion!
LIHI extends our sincere congratulations to the entire THS team. We can’t wait for the LSMMU to start serving Interbay Village, with more villages to come!
LIHI Board Approves Resolution Calling for Dissolution of KCRHA
On May 15, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) voted to approve a resolution requesting that LIHI’s contracts held by the King Country Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) be returned to the Seattle Human Services Department and that future Requests for Proposals be administered by the city or county.
The resolution urges Mayor Katie Wilson, Executive Girmay Zahilay and other elected officials to dissolve KCRHA in a planned and thoughtful manner that protects the continuation of vital programs and services.
Our Tiny House Village contracts were transferred to KCRHA in 2021, and since then, the organization has struggled with unnecessary administrative, budgetary, and policy problems related to KCRHA. Contracts have been late. Paperwork has been lost. Past and current KCRHA CEOs have shown their lack of support for Tiny House Villages.
With Mayor Wilson’s shelter surge plan for 4,000 new beds, LIHI does not have confidence in KCRHA’s ability to support or achieve this. In 2025, LIHI sheltered 1,663 adults and children in tiny houses. Soon we will be opening Belmont Village, Cloverleaf Village, Glassyard Commons RV Safe Lot/Tiny House Village, and Spanaway Village.
We are thrilled to support the mayor’s short-term goal to add 1,000 beds in 2026 and Executive Zahilay’s goal to add 500 beds in 500 days. We believe King County is the appropriate entity working with cities and unincorporated areas to address and coordinate regional solutions to the homelessness crisis.
Please see the LIHI Board Resolution:
