Blog

Last week we concluded one look at homelessness in Jackson, Tennessee, with the story of Tracey King, 50, and her back-and-forth relationships. First she married, had a daughter, and divorced. Next she married a police officer and gave birth to twin boys. She divorced the police officer and then remarried him. King said he began taking drugs so they divorced again and she “lost everything.” When drinking and smoking pot no longer numbed her emotional pain, she snorted fentanyl. Stints at seven different drug treatment centers—in Nashville, Savannah, and elsewhere—failed to bring healing. In February 2022, she moved in with her mother, who also battled addiction, King said. Two months later, her mother kicked her out. “I didn’t want to Read More ›

Happening Now This morning, city crews preparing to clear homeless encampment at Fremont Canal Park in #Seattle. But one outreach group’s been anticipating this SWEEP, and say they have already taken steps to stay in touch with the people who usually get lost in the shuffle. This is a New One Most of the homeless refused to go into SHARED shelter spaces being offered by outreach workers today after the Fremont encampment sweep in #Seattle. But some got concierge service to their next destination in a KAYAK. The Other Side West Ewing Mini Park is right behind @SeattlePacific on the Queen Anne side of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. It’s now a growing homeless encampment as more people move in Read More ›

Happening Now #Chinatown-ID protesters remain outside proposed site of Dow Constantine’s(@kcexec) HOMELESS MEGAPLEX as some community members get a tour. But SENIOR CITIZENS say they don’t care what it’s like inside. What’s the plan if problems spill OUTSIDE into #CID? Angry Confrontation Wow, several people from homeless encampment already on site of Dow Constantine’s(@kcexec) HOMELESS MEGAPLEX are yelling at #Chinatown-ID elders. But they aren’t standing down. Protest organizers say they are not against the homeless. Just at WAR with Dow. Tempers and Racism Flare A homeless person walking back to her encampment just cursed out #Chinatown-ID elders and yelled, “Go back to your country!”

Exclusive They’re back! RV’s set up again near 7th Ave S. & S. Fidalgo St in GEORGETOWN after sweep. I’ve obtained surveillance video showing guy removing “ECO-blocks.” Neighbors+biz owners pleading with @seattledot and @MayorofSeattle to enforce. Right Now Entire street was cleared by @seattledot@SeattleSPU@MayorofSeattle a few months ago. I was there when crews moved in. I also saw aftermath when biz owners quietly moved in “ECO-blocks.” Technically illegal to use. This is now a FULL BLOWN street war. The Dude Biz owners say guy with the hat and orange shirt chained up “ECO-blocks” and dragged several to the side of the road so RV’s could move back and park.@seattledot says anyone bringing in these blocks are illegal. What about moving Read More ›

As Stephanie Woodley, 42, sat last month in the dayroom of Area Relief Ministries (ARM) in Jackson, Tenn., she said the stabbing of her ex-husband was no big deal. “The gash is only this big,” she said as she extended her right thumb and index finger to demonstrate a one-incher.  Woodley said her ex-husband tried to push their daughter, Maddie, down the stairs, so Maddie stabbed him. Maddie moved in with her aunt in Memphis, and Woodley was sleeping on the streets in Jackson, 88 miles away. Woodley’s dark almond eyes teared up: “I miss my daughter.”  Woodley showed the homescreen on her phone: a picture of Maddie standing next to a pink agapanthus flower. She said Maddie has offered Read More ›

Dow Constantine Speaks He dodged my questions last week, but today @kcexec stood in there and responded after I asked him about PUBLIC SAFETY plan around HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. He’s refusing #Chinatown-ID’s request for 6 month moratorium on project. I guess I’m a JOURNALIST again. Major Public Safety Concerns Dow’s response shows there is NO new plan for PUBLIC SAFETY around this HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. Relying on current law enforcement agencies when they’re already down officers is not reassuring. This is what I was referring to. What About Moratorium? Leo Flor is Director of King County Department of Community and Human Services. He’s in charge of getting Dow Constantine’s (@kcexec) HOMELESS MEGAPLEX up and running. Listen to his SPIN when I ask Read More ›

Last week on Fix Homelessness and in my monthly OlaskyBooks newsletter, I gave highlights and lowlights from Andrew Scull’s Desperate Remedies: Psychiatry’s Turbulent Quest to Cure Mental Illness (Harvard University Press, 2022). He notes that many mentally ill people are now homeless and on the streets instead of in state-funded mental hospitals. (Those institutions, like Michigan’s Lapeer State Home and Training School, housed sufferers. Then the 1960s brought in new drugs and new Washington-paid health plans, Medicare and Medicaid.) I didn’t have room last week to dive into an important question: Which came first, medical panaceas (that turned out not to be so) or money incentives? Scull says money, in many instances: “In at least seventeen states, inpatient censuses had Read More ›

It’s a National Story Did a quick wrap for @newsmax this morning on the WAR being waged by #Chinatown-ID community against Dow Constantine’s (@kcexec) HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. There are so many angles that need digging. More protests on way. Will have another update today. Still No Answers But looking forward to the next opportunity with Dow Constantine.