Homelessness Crisis

For at least a month, an encampment has been visible outside the Renton Library, raising concerns about its ecological impact and its effects on children and the elderly.

The U.S. Supreme Court has empowered cities to ban homeless encampments even if no shelter space is available, and the response in western Washington is mixed.

Pierce County officials report that at least 2,600 people are living on the streets, largely due to a lack of affordable housing, which has led to the rise of makeshift communities.

Affordable housing advocates fear the City of Seattle could raid funds intended for affordable housing to fix its staggering budget deficit of more than $200 million.

Asylum seekers are begging for a long-term solution to living in tents — they have been moved between Seattle, Tukwila and Kent, and now have less than a day to move again.

City data shows the number of unhoused individuals in Seattle is decreasing, but for commuters traveling south on the 99 Tunnel, encampments remain a visible reality.

Despite available funds and property, zoning regulations have stalled progress on a proposed pallet shelter project in Burien, and could kill it altogether.

King County has set up fencing around dozens of tents at 6th Avenue SW and SW 149th Street in Burien.

A new Unsheltered Point-In-Time (PIT) Count found that over 16,000 people experience homelessness in King County on any given night.

Homeless people who camp on public property in Portland, Oregon, and reject offers of shelter could be fined up to $100 or sentenced to up to seven days in jail under new rules approved unanimously by the City Council on Wednesday.

The tug-of-war over how to properly police the homeless population in Burien may leave the community with a major police shortage.

A recent decision by the Burien City Council regarding zoning regulations has sparked controversy over the fate of a proposed tiny home project, aimed at aiding individuals experiencing homelessness. 

On a day marked by protests, non-profits and homeless advocates gathered outside Burien City Hall for a silent vigil, honoring nearly two dozen unhoused individuals who lost their lives while being without shelter since 2017.

Hundreds of asylum seekers find themselves without shelter once again as their stay at a local hotel has come to an end. With funding depleted, they now reside in Powell Barnett Park in Seattle's Central District, facing uncertainty and hardship.

The Burien City Council was anticipated to offer potential solutions to address the issue of homelessness during their scheduled vote on transitional housing units on Monday evening. However, the vote has been postponed to the next meeting, prolonging answers for the dozens of individuals sleeping on city sidewalks.

The city of Burien and the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) are clashing once again.