


“Housing First” Five Year Plan will Cost King County Billions
Five Year Plan Today, @KC_RHA released strategy to “Dramatically Reduce Unsheltered Homelessness.” Agency says there will be “measurable, accountable success.” But it’s based on failed “HOUSING FIRST” policy. No requirements for drug addiction and mental health treatment. #Seattle Costs Nearly 12 Billion Bucks @KCCReaganDunn blasting @KC_RHA 5 year plan essentially saying the agency is focused on funding the wrong things. Says it will be a failure and black hole for tax payers. #Seattle#KingCounty#Bellevue#Kirkland#Redmond#FederalWay#Kent#Renton Mark Dones’s Baby Here is the Executive Summary. Click image below. #Seattle#KingCounty Quite A Read I’m still digesting @KC_RHA and Marc Dones’ game plan. Notice the agency is careful not to say this will end homelessness. Ultimately, what does success or failure look like after 5 years? Read More ›

Assessing Alternatives to Homelessness

Discovery Institute Joins North America Recovers Coalition to Combat Homelessness

Seattle’s DESC Reveals Pitfalls of “Housing First”
Where’s the Accountability? @DESCSeattle properties remain a massive drain on #Seattle especially when city is already down officers. These units house formerly homeless, but do not require treatment for drug addiction or mental illness. This is the “HOUSING FIRST” model in action. DESC Problems #Seattle‘s first homicide of year on Jan. 2 happened inside CANADAY HOUSE. @DESCSeattle properties deal with high rates of complaints and 911 calls. Units house formerly homeless, drug addicts, and people struggling with mental health issues. Complaints Stacking Up Homeowners near @DESCSeattle’s Clement Place(“HOUSING FIRST”model) documented numerous problems caused by some residents. Fights, drugs, attempted burglary. Neighbors claim DESC building managers are ignoring them. #seattleicestorm Downtown Disaster City has cleared tents off 3rd Ave and Cherry Read More ›

Crews Clear Ballard Encampment, But Campers Say They Will Return
Repeat Performance Monday, I arrived after crews removed Ballard encampment near Fred Meyer and Albert Lee stores. City cleared several times in past. Few homeless fellas returned and showed me how to get high off fentanyl residue.

Seattle’s Addiction Crisis Comes to Greenwood
Absolute Tragedy Earlier, I walked through growing encampment near @LIHIhousing Cate Apartments in Greenwood. Saw 3 guys completely shredded on fentanyl/”blues.” This is PROOF POSITIVE an addiction crisis. Back in December Look how minor this situation was @LIHIhousing Cate Apartments just a few weeks ago. @CampSiteSeattle first to report on this. City had ample warning, but nothing was done and more campers are setting up. Hot Mess At least this spot across street from @LIHIhousing Cate Apartments got cleaned up and fenced off. For months, homeless took over former Georgia’s Greek Restaurant parking lot in Greenwood.

Community Fights Back Against Incoming Opioid Clinic
Momentum Builds #Lynnwood protesters hit streets for second weekend in a row to fight Acadia Healthcare’s controversial OPIOD CLINIC near Boys & Girls Club. @safeLynnwood organizers promising to protect community and now calling in more reinforcements. @WADeptHealth @GovInslee Same Concerns @safeLynnwood community coalition is worried about drug dealers preying on addicts, crime increasing, and more tents going up nearby since some clients are homeless. They’re also trying to find out if any clients are registered sex offenders.

Examining the Scholarly Record
The academic journal literature on homelessness is vast, but during the past decade oversimplification has ruled. The Obama administration made “Housing First!” the official U.S. policy, with homeless people to be given their own apartments. Programs that emphasized “Clean and Sober first” became ineligible for federal aid, and mental health issues became secondary. Typical academic analyses of homelessness found — surprise! — that “Housing First!” is great. A lot of scholarly research up to 2009, though, revealed homelessness complexities. Here are four examples: Key insights:Homeless adults who are alcoholics have “unusually high levels of mental health symptomatology…. Adults with alcohol problems are so debilitated that they readily become homeless (as compared to being domiciled under very trying circumstances) when also Read More ›

Authorities Sweep Capitol Hill, But Problematic Encampment Still Remains
More Work On Thursday city cleared encampments along E. Howell St. in Capitol Hill including one near Greek Orthodox Church with 3 people. But city did not include one that’s really problematic on 17th Ave. blamed for fires, drugs, and trash piles. Capitol Hill Crisis This is what it looked like for weeks leading up to Thursday’s sweep. And 17th Ave. is still a hot mess. Next Stretch Explosive growth of tents at 17th Ave and E. Howell St. First week of January, cops got called for “incendiary device.” Ended up being guy burning fire to stay warm. Camps remain major liability and drain on city.

King County Seeks to Turn Federal Way Motel Into Temporary Homeless Shelter
Homeless Motel King County’s latest move is not a purchase but permit application to convert Stevenson Motel into temp shelter in #FederalWay. However it’s already drawing scrutiny from some city leaders and KOREAN immigrant biz community next door.