After nearly $200 million spent on problem, why is homelessness getting worse?
Last year alone, Seattle and King County spent nearly $200 million on homelessness, when you combine all government and private philanthropic sources.
Last year alone, Seattle and King County spent nearly $200 million on homelessness, when you combine all government and private philanthropic sources.
As Seattle battles on, state's second largest city increases restrictions on homeless encampments
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Washington's second largest city has updated it's restrictions on trash, waste and sleeping on public lands in an effort to curb its homelessness problem.On Monday, the Spokane City Council voted 6-to-1 to adopt new legislation that increases regulations on all city parks, public lands and conservation areas.
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Washington's second largest city has updated it's restrictions on trash, waste and sleeping on public lands in an effort to curb its homelessness problem.On Monday, the Spokane City Council voted 6-to-1 to adopt new legislation that increases regulations on all city parks, public lands and conservation areas.
Everett reconsidering how to handle homeless people living in vehicles
Steven Long sued the City of Seattle back in 2016 after his truck was impounded for parking illegally, but later a King County judge ruled that his truck was a home and he should be allowed to live in it without allowing it to be towed.
Steven Long sued the City of Seattle back in 2016 after his truck was impounded for parking illegally, but later a King County judge ruled that his truck was a home and he should be allowed to live in it without allowing it to be towed.
Complaints skyrocket over homeless camps in Seattle, leading thousands to sign petition aimed at council member
SEATTLE -- There are about 400 unauthorized homeless encampments in the city of Seattle.
SEATTLE -- There are about 400 unauthorized homeless encampments in the city of Seattle.
Seattle and King County join to fight homeless crisis
SEATTLE -- Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Thursday the two governments are joining forces to combat the homeless crisis.Surrounded by cameras, Durkan and Constantine signed a memorandum of understanding between the city and county to increase collaboration of homeless services.“We’re going to make sure that business as usual is not how we operate,” said Durkan.Durkan and Dow would not go into specifics, but said real changes are coming in how the two governments handle the homeless crisis.“We’re not looking at the crisis on the street but the root causes of homelessness,” said Durkan.This focus is something people who work with the homeless say needs to happen much more.“I see a lot of folks walk through the doors who are hurting and broken,” said Terry Pallas, the chief program officer for Union Gospel Mission.He grew up in Seattle seeing the homeless problem become a crisis.
SEATTLE -- Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Thursday the two governments are joining forces to combat the homeless crisis.Surrounded by cameras, Durkan and Constantine signed a memorandum of understanding between the city and county to increase collaboration of homeless services.“We’re going to make sure that business as usual is not how we operate,” said Durkan.Durkan and Dow would not go into specifics, but said real changes are coming in how the two governments handle the homeless crisis.“We’re not looking at the crisis on the street but the root causes of homelessness,” said Durkan.This focus is something people who work with the homeless say needs to happen much more.“I see a lot of folks walk through the doors who are hurting and broken,” said Terry Pallas, the chief program officer for Union Gospel Mission.He grew up in Seattle seeing the homeless problem become a crisis.
Seattle City Council members get earful at town hall over homeless camps, employee tax
The Seattle City Council held a town hall in north Seattle Wednesday night to discuss the proposed employee tax on big businesses that would provide funding to help ease the city's homeless crisis.
The Seattle City Council held a town hall in north Seattle Wednesday night to discuss the proposed employee tax on big businesses that would provide funding to help ease the city's homeless crisis.
How bad is Seattle's homelessness problem? Sheer volume of complaints sheds some light
Seattle has received thousands of complaints of unauthorized camping since the beginning of the year, shedding some light on the city's complex homelessness problem.
Seattle has received thousands of complaints of unauthorized camping since the beginning of the year, shedding some light on the city's complex homelessness problem.
Snohomish County officials work to help homeless people suffering from addiction
Snohomish County officials are working to save the lives of homeless people addicted to heroin and opioids.
Snohomish County officials are working to save the lives of homeless people addicted to heroin and opioids.
Green Lake constituents angry with city councilman over homeless encampment
SEATTLE -- An unsanctioned homeless camp that caused quite a stir in Green Lake has packed up and left the block.But many residents there are still angry with what they were forced to deal with for nearly two months.Neighbors say the tents first popped up on 5th and 58th in early March.Residents say there is a lack of accountability by city leaders.Q13 News heard from concerned residents who say they emailed City Council Member Mike O’Brien for help.
SEATTLE -- An unsanctioned homeless camp that caused quite a stir in Green Lake has packed up and left the block.But many residents there are still angry with what they were forced to deal with for nearly two months.Neighbors say the tents first popped up on 5th and 58th in early March.Residents say there is a lack of accountability by city leaders.Q13 News heard from concerned residents who say they emailed City Council Member Mike O’Brien for help.
Homeless camp in Green Lake to be moved after neighbors voice outrage
SEATTLE -- Several neighbors who say a homeless encampment has taken over their Green Lake neighborhood met for the first time on Thursday.“When I am home alone, I don’t feel that safe,” Betsy Peto said.Residents say when the tents moved in overnight a stone’s throw away, they didn’t know what to think.
SEATTLE -- Several neighbors who say a homeless encampment has taken over their Green Lake neighborhood met for the first time on Thursday.“When I am home alone, I don’t feel that safe,” Betsy Peto said.Residents say when the tents moved in overnight a stone’s throw away, they didn’t know what to think.
Green Lake residents surprised by 'coordinated' effort as homeless village pops up
SEATTLE -- A small homeless village smack dab in the middle of a Seattle neighborhood has homeowners upset.About 13 tents are sharing two blocks in Green Lake at the corner of NE 5th Street and 58th Avenue NE.It’s just one of 400 unsanctioned homeless encampments in Seattle but it stands out because of how close the tents are to homes.Homeowners say they never thought tents would pop up just 20 feet from their homes.“We’ve seen a lot of drug use, we’ve seen fights, we’ve called 911,” said one woman, who asked not to be identified because she fears retaliation.She says the homeless village appeared in a matter of hours.“They arrived with trucks and vans with palettes and tents, I didn’t expect a fully coordinated effort,” the woman said.That coordination came from Matthew Lang and others with the Neighborhood Action Coalition.Some believe the group is scouring for public lands to set up homeless encampments, but Lang says they never identified the property on Green Lake.
SEATTLE -- A small homeless village smack dab in the middle of a Seattle neighborhood has homeowners upset.About 13 tents are sharing two blocks in Green Lake at the corner of NE 5th Street and 58th Avenue NE.It’s just one of 400 unsanctioned homeless encampments in Seattle but it stands out because of how close the tents are to homes.Homeowners say they never thought tents would pop up just 20 feet from their homes.“We’ve seen a lot of drug use, we’ve seen fights, we’ve called 911,” said one woman, who asked not to be identified because she fears retaliation.She says the homeless village appeared in a matter of hours.“They arrived with trucks and vans with palettes and tents, I didn’t expect a fully coordinated effort,” the woman said.That coordination came from Matthew Lang and others with the Neighborhood Action Coalition.Some believe the group is scouring for public lands to set up homeless encampments, but Lang says they never identified the property on Green Lake.
New homeless camp in Green Lake neighborhood frustrates, angers some
SEATTLE -- It doesn’t matter where you look in the Puget Sound, you can see the area’s growing homeless problem.
SEATTLE -- It doesn’t matter where you look in the Puget Sound, you can see the area’s growing homeless problem.
University of Puget Sound students building tiny home
University of Puget Sound students and staff members spent the rainy weekend building tiny houses for area homeless. Once the homes are finished they will be distributed to seven Seattle area Tiny House Villages organized by Low Income Housing Institute.
University of Puget Sound students and staff members spent the rainy weekend building tiny houses for area homeless. Once the homes are finished they will be distributed to seven Seattle area Tiny House Villages organized by Low Income Housing Institute.
Police say Monroe's 'no sitting, lying on sidewalk' law not targeted at homeless
MONROE, Wash. – Data shows the number of homeless people living without shelter in Snohomish County is down from 2017.Now a new ordinance in the city of Monroe outlaws people from sitting or lying down on public sidewalks.
MONROE, Wash. – Data shows the number of homeless people living without shelter in Snohomish County is down from 2017.Now a new ordinance in the city of Monroe outlaws people from sitting or lying down on public sidewalks.
Homeless 'mansion' pops up near Space Needle
A group of homeless people built a tent "mansion" in a small patch of grass between Third Avenue and Broad Street. It's a half a block from Seattle's most famous tourist attraction and surrounded by multi-million dollar high-rise condos.
A group of homeless people built a tent "mansion" in a small patch of grass between Third Avenue and Broad Street. It's a half a block from Seattle's most famous tourist attraction and surrounded by multi-million dollar high-rise condos.
Senior women at greatest risk of homelessness as housing costs, property taxes soar
SEATTLE -– Increasing housing costs is now a fact of life in our growing city and so is displacement.
SEATTLE -– Increasing housing costs is now a fact of life in our growing city and so is displacement.
Starbucks commits to helping solve region's homeless crisis
SEATTLE, Wash.-- Starbucks wants to deliver on more than just your coffee needs.During the company's shareholders meeting in Seattle, Starbucks announced a commitment to solving our region's homeless crisis.Over the last two winters, Starbucks has helped raise more than $6 million to support Mary’s Place Emergency Shelter for Families, helping bring 2,000 family members inside out of the cold.Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson telling the crowd of thousands, "To have children in our own community, through no fault of their own sleeping outdoors, is unacceptable."Over the next year, Starbucks hopes to build on that.
SEATTLE, Wash.-- Starbucks wants to deliver on more than just your coffee needs.During the company's shareholders meeting in Seattle, Starbucks announced a commitment to solving our region's homeless crisis.Over the last two winters, Starbucks has helped raise more than $6 million to support Mary’s Place Emergency Shelter for Families, helping bring 2,000 family members inside out of the cold.Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson telling the crowd of thousands, "To have children in our own community, through no fault of their own sleeping outdoors, is unacceptable."Over the next year, Starbucks hopes to build on that.
Seattle sanctioned homeless encampment asks to stay; some neighbors concerned
We all know our area is dealing with a housing affordability crisis and a homeless problem. One solution over recent years has been city-sanctioned homeless encampments and tiny house villages across Seattle.
We all know our area is dealing with a housing affordability crisis and a homeless problem. One solution over recent years has been city-sanctioned homeless encampments and tiny house villages across Seattle.
Infectious diseases on the rise as homeless population grows
SEATTLE -- They're diseases that you've never heard of -- Shigella and Group A Strep.But they are spreading at alarming rates among people without homes in King County.Group Strep A can lead to cases of flesh-eating bacteria.Cases at Harborview Medical Center have doubled to 219, from 2016 to 2017.At last count, there were nearly 5,500 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in King County.When you have crowds of homeless people with little sanitation, that combination breeds infectious diseases.It’s prompting more calls for hygiene facilities for the homeless across King County.“I don’t have a mental problem or drug problem (so) we are the last ones to get help,” Ervin Ashley said.Ashley had a roof over his head until a workplace accident injured his hand.“Hard to grip, even (to get) change out of my pocket, it slips right out of my hand,” Ashley said.He couldn’t make rent, so basic things like a sink to wash his hands is a luxury.But when the grime gets too much to handle, he and others knock on a urban reststop.Ashley stopped by the one in the U District.It’s one of three urban reststops in Seattle where the homeless can shower and do laundry.“It feels good and lifts me up for the day I am clean,” Seth Fluker said.Fluker is clean for now and trying to stay away from a number of infectious outbreaks plaguing the homeless population.“We are seeing an increase in Group Strep A infections, we are seeing an increase in Shigella, which is a form of diarrhea,” Dr.
SEATTLE -- They're diseases that you've never heard of -- Shigella and Group A Strep.But they are spreading at alarming rates among people without homes in King County.Group Strep A can lead to cases of flesh-eating bacteria.Cases at Harborview Medical Center have doubled to 219, from 2016 to 2017.At last count, there were nearly 5,500 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in King County.When you have crowds of homeless people with little sanitation, that combination breeds infectious diseases.It’s prompting more calls for hygiene facilities for the homeless across King County.“I don’t have a mental problem or drug problem (so) we are the last ones to get help,” Ervin Ashley said.Ashley had a roof over his head until a workplace accident injured his hand.“Hard to grip, even (to get) change out of my pocket, it slips right out of my hand,” Ashley said.He couldn’t make rent, so basic things like a sink to wash his hands is a luxury.But when the grime gets too much to handle, he and others knock on a urban reststop.Ashley stopped by the one in the U District.It’s one of three urban reststops in Seattle where the homeless can shower and do laundry.“It feels good and lifts me up for the day I am clean,” Seth Fluker said.Fluker is clean for now and trying to stay away from a number of infectious outbreaks plaguing the homeless population.“We are seeing an increase in Group Strep A infections, we are seeing an increase in Shigella, which is a form of diarrhea,” Dr.
Homeless to housed: Cities pair police and social workers to help turn lives around
In the beginning, some saw it as an unlikely pairing.“It was a struggle at first, I have to say,” said Yvonne Nelson, a social worker with an organization called REACH.She had mixed feelings about working alongside police officers to tackle the city’s homeless crisis.“We asked them to stand back while we talked to people,” she said, worried that the presence of uniformed officers would prevent people from being honest about things like drug abuse.
In the beginning, some saw it as an unlikely pairing.“It was a struggle at first, I have to say,” said Yvonne Nelson, a social worker with an organization called REACH.She had mixed feelings about working alongside police officers to tackle the city’s homeless crisis.“We asked them to stand back while we talked to people,” she said, worried that the presence of uniformed officers would prevent people from being honest about things like drug abuse.