Fix Homelessness How to rebuild human lives

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Searching for solutions

In July, walking around the fifty blocks of the Tenderloin, San Francisco’s fentanyl epicenter, I often saw notes like this one posted on lampposts: “Mimi—5’, 100 lbs.—we miss you terribly. Please call any family member. Please call 202 [number].” The Mimis are often hidden in tents, but even for a first-time visitor like me, the dealers and their deals were highly visible. Dealers, often teenagers in clean Nikes, walked alongside potential buyers. They did not just stand at particular corners, as a great streaming television series based in Baltimore, The Wire, showed: These dealers floated up and down a block. Police say they are independent contractors, trying to establish their own clientele, and earning $300 or more on an average Read More ›

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Burien Deputy Mayor Clarifies Encampment Law Martin v. Boise

Interpreting Homeless Law Once again, I asked Burien Deputy Mayor Kevin Schilling how the city is interpreting the landmark ruling Martin V. Boise that says cities cannot enforce anti-camping ordinances if there aren’t enough homeless shelter beds available. This piece is frequently cited and misinterpreted by FAR-LEFT activists and other homeless advocates against SWEEPS. Even King County Executive Dow Constantine (@kcexec)weaponized it earlier this year and blocked sheriff’s deputies from assisting during the Burien dog park encampment removal. But Schilling makes it very clear, nowhere in the law does it say the offers of shelter must be in the city where the homeless are camping. In other words, if there is an open shelter bed in nearby Seattle or Renton, Read More ›

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Burien Passes “no camping” Ordinance

What’s Next Burien After weeks of contentious debate and public comment, the Burien City Council finally passed a “no camping” ordinance this week. This common sense bill was first championed by CM Stephanie Mora (@CmStephaniemora) and ended up being a close 4-3 vote. Now the heavy lifting begins. More than 60 people remain at the Ambaum Blvd encampment. I went there again this week. The open air drug use and trash is out of control. And sadly, Burien PD has taken multiple reports of young women being trafficked out of this encampment. Meanwhile, listen to Deputy Mayor Kevin Schilling describe what Highline Public School Dist. is doing in response to this situation. The city is now in talks to bring Read More ›

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Police Increase Presence in Little Saigon, Neighbors Grateful

Positive Signs Neighbors in Little Saigon are thrilled to see Seattle Police patrols Tuesday afternoon near 12th Ave & Jackson St. They say officers are trying to make clear distinctions between people simply waiting to catch the bus VS. the drug addicts smoking fentanyl and selling stolen merchandise on the corner. Need more of this each day.

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Social Housing Commission building Australia
Social Housing Commission building Australia

One Size Does Not Fit All

Let’s take a one-week break from my reporting on California homelessness to celebrate this Big News! FR-6700-N-25! Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)! Maybe that sentence was MEGO to you (mine eyes glaze over) but it’s GOGOGO for government and nonprofit executives looking for federal dollars. The Department of Housing and Urban Affairs is passing out billions “in competitive funding to homeless services organizations across the country for supportive services and housing programs for people experiencing homelessness.” HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge announced, “As our nation faces a worsening housing crisis, it is imperative that we continue to invest in communities’ efforts.” Specifically, HUD is looking for projects that “end homelessness for all persons experiencing homelessness” and “use a Housing First approach.”  Read More ›

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Homeless camp on the street - Generative AI illustration
Homeless camp on the street - Generative AI illustration

Report: Homelessness Data Reveal Reasons for Collapse of King County Outreach Program

Download the report here. Shoddy Data Hid Failed State of Homelessness Program, Study Shows Seattle, WA – A study from the Fix Homelessness Initiative of Discovery Institute reveals the expensive failure of the government to run a now-defunct downtown outreach program in Seattle funded by the region’s leading foundations and corporations. It also reveals a lack of transparency from non-profits receiving millions in contracts from King County to address homelessness. “Information about the downtown program is hard to come by,” said Caitlyn Axe of Discovery Institute “But the data we have reveals ineffective use of millions in funding while private nonprofits are accomplishing far more with far less.” Axe’s research examined the multi-million dollar Partnership for Zero (PfZ) homelessness program Read More ›

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“Stop your blackface for the white agenda,” says Entrepreneur to Sawant at Council Meeting

Sawant Blasted Before Tuesday evening’s Seattle council drug vote, self proclaimed socialist councilmember Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama) went on her usual cop hating, blame the billionaires, class warfare monologue. But after she evoked her version of the black experience in America to further her agenda, local entrepreneur Michael Asai (@ECCG206) had enough. He got up and blasted Sawant saying, “Stop doing your blackface for the white agenda.” Asai went on to say, “Vote for this bill and clean up this damn city.” Asai is simply saying what everyone is thinking. The FAR-LEFT/ Commie/Marxists in Seattle are majority white and do not care at all about the interests of the black community or minorities. And Asai is tired of being used for Read More ›

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Activists Mock Man Who Lost Son to Gun Violence

Total Disrespect During Tuesday evening’s Seattle Council meeting, Larry Marshall went up during the public comment period and shared from the bottom of his heart. He courageously talked about losing his son to gun violence and also advocated for a common sense drug bill for the sake of his daughter. Marshall works in downtown and believes Seattle is worth saving. He also supports Seattle Police (@SeattlePD.) But on cue, the FAR-LEFT activists selfishly disrupted and mocked his testimony. Look at the kid in the jean jacket and the rest of his associates. The Sawant, Morales, and Mosqueda disciples don’t care about anyone with a different opinion. Others in the audience like We Heart Seattle’s Andrea Suarez (@weheartseattle) were appalled by Read More ›