Flooding, drainage system issues prompt partial Seattle homeless camp sweep

SEATTLE -- It’s almost eviction day for a handful of homeless people who’ve built an unsanctioned encampment between Myers Way and Highway 509 in Seattle.City officials say they’re worried about flooding problems and illegal dumping that’s clogged a drainage system.

Man sentenced to 11 years for attack on homeless woman in White Center

SEATTLE -- A Washington man was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison for beating and sexually assaulting a homeless woman.The Seattle Times reports 22-year-old Robert German was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to first-degree assault and indecent liberties with forcible compulsion.German was also ordered to be placed on community supervision for life and will be required to register as a sex offender.German will be subject to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board due to the felony sex offense conviction.German was arrested last March after attacking a homeless woman in White Center.

King County judge’s ruling shines spotlight on homeless living in vehicles

SEATTLE – The number of homeless people on the streets across Western Washington continues to rise every year and those people are forced to figure out ways to stay warm and find shelter. ​Some people turn to vehicles, but one homeless man's truck was towed after he didn't move it after 72 hours.

300 volunteers prepare temporary housing for Seattle homeless

Seattle City Council members are considering a plan to tax big businesses like Amazon with the money going to fund homeless. But two groups aren’t waiting for the city council’s expected vote in March.

Critics worry housing plan will wreck Seattle's character

SEATTLE -- Seattle's booming tech industry has brought a massive influx of new residents with big wallets to the city.

Social workers paired up with police officers in the fight against homelessness and addiction

EVERETT, Wash. -- It’s a new and unconventional strategy against homelessness.Social workers are now paired up with police officers.On Friday, Q13 News went along with Kaitlyn Dowd.She was dressed in street clothes and looked like she was about to go on hike, but Dowd is a social worker embedded in the Everett Police Department.“We don’t ever give up hope on people,” Dowd said.She is one of two social workers in the department and they are not waiting for cases to come to them.Instead, they brave the elements, venturing into places most people would not go.

No one hurt after fire at homeless encampment

SEATTLE- A homeless encampment caught fire early Saturday morning.Fire crews responded to the camp between I-5 North and I-90 Eastbound just after 3:30 a.m.The Seattle Fire Department says three to four tents were destroyed by the fire.The fire was more intense because of woody pallets and propane tanks that had vented.It took firefighters about an hour to extinguish the flames.No one was hurt.

‘One Table’ discussions begin to try to curb homeless growth in King County

SEATTLE -- Monday marked the first time local government leaders, outreach services, business owners and rich donors met to come up with new ways to tackle our region's homelessness crisis.It’s being touted as a new plan to treat homelessness regionally rather than as it is now – fractured between cities and King County.The new approach is being called "One Table." The goal this time is to identify the root causes and stop people from falling into homelessness in the first place.“Everybody’s expressed a willingness to help but nobody knows where they’re supposed to be on the field,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Seattle property sale going to help ease homeless crisis

Mayor Jenny Durkan wants to use the proceeds from the expected sale of a city-owned property to fund new rental assistance and short-term housing options for the homeless.

Seattle mayor wants to use money from land sale for homeless

SEATTLE -- Mayor Jenny Durkan wants to use $11 million in proceeds from the expected sale of a city-owned property to fund new rental assistance and short-term housing options for the homeless.The Seattle Times reports the move is one of the first steps taken by her still-new administration toward delivering on a key campaign proposal — developing 1,000 new tiny houses for people in homelessness and ramping up rental-assistance programs.Durkan said the sale of the unspecified South Lake Union property is expected to net around $11 million.On Wednesday, she'll ask the Seattle City Council to pass a resolution asking to designate the new funds for her new Bridge Housing Investment program, which could include developing tiny homes, modular housing and backyard cottages, with a goal of quickly move people off the streets and into temporary shelter.

Seattle startup Blokable hopes to address housing crunch

SEATTLE - Here in the Puget Sound, many people are asking themselves if they can afford to live here, as housing inventory fails to keep up with demand.

Tacoma church plans family homeless shelter capable of housing 75

TACOMA, Wash. – A homeless crisis across Western Washington is challenging many to come up with options to get more people off the streets and into permanent housing.Problems like affordable housing, mental illness and addiction are making cities like Seattle and Tacoma declare homeless emergencies.The King County medical examiner says at least 133 homeless people died in 2017 -- an all-time high.

Body found along Skykomish River believed to be homeless man

GOLD BAR, Wash. -- Authorities say a man's body has been found along the banks of the Skykomish River east of Gold Bar.The Snohomish County sheriff's office said Monday that investigators believe it is a 44-year-old homeless man who has been living along the river for several years.A relative discovered the man's body Monday morning downstream of Big Eddy Park.

Critics say helpers of homeless do them no favors

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mohammed Aly does not see any reason why he shouldn't try to ease the lives of Orange County's homeless.

Chefs prepare 50,000+ holiday meals for region's homeless

The Union Gospel Mission serves more than 53,000 meals during the holiday season.And behind all that food, are a group of chefs who donate their time to prepare and cook for the region’s homeless population.One of those chefs is Eugene Kosch, who served Christmas brunch to the women at the Union Gospel Mission’s Hope Place in South Seattle.Kosch was homeless at one point, and he says the mission helped him get back on his feet, so he’s grateful to be able to give back.

3 men stabbed at Seattle homeless shelter; one in critical condition

SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say one man is in custody and three others were transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries following a stabbing at a Seattle homeless shelter.The Seattle Police Department says officers responded to the homeless shelter in a northern part of the city at about 11:45 p.m. Monday.Police say initial reports are that the four men began arguing inside a room and one man stabbed the other three.Emergency responders treated the injured men at the scene, and they were taken to Harborview Medical Center.