Homelessness

SEATTLE, WA — “Federal reforms have finally created space for local leaders to put treatment and recovery back at the center of homelessness policy,” says Discovery Institute President Steve Buri. “Real compassion means helping people reclaim stability and dignity, not leaving them trapped in addiction and illness without a path to restoration.” Following a newly-released reformed funding package from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Discovery Institute published an essential policy brief calling on local governments, Continuums of Care (CoCs), and service agencies to leverage these new federal reforms and make treatment and recovery central to local homelessness solutions. The brief outlines how “Housing First” and “Harm Reduction” policies failed the homeless by misdiagnosing the crisis as primarily Read More ›

Lengthy Standoff Massive police response late Tuesday evening to Interbay Place in Seattle’s West Queen Anne neighborhood. Cops arrested 28 year old Benjamin G. White after a lengthy standoff. He allegedly threatened to kill another resident with a knife and barricaded himself in a room. While in custody, White reportedly bit, kicked, and spat on officers. This is just the latest Downtown Emergency Service Center property responsible for more chaos in the community. DESC remains the crown jewel in the region’s homeless industrial complex. Trespassed I’ve been exposing taxpayer funded DESC now for more than five years. And this Housing First provider hates it. The leaders have officially banned me from their properties. My mug is now on pretty much Read More ›

Chaos Continues at Plymouth Housing The cancer continues to spread in Bellevue’s Eastgate community. The @FactoriaLLS team and I have gone through dozens of 911 calls to uncover another horrific incident at the Plymouth Housing/PorchLight campus. On October 30, a PorchLight worker called cops to trespass a homeless man who threatened to kill employees and police. The unhinged individual claimed to be infected with HIV after a tussle with the worker. When will City Manager Diane Carlson and Mayor Lynne Robinson finally admit this permanent supportive housing project and homeless shelter are destroying the community with crime, chaos, and death? Some neighbors believe these elected officials are running cover for the homeless industrial complex. What an epic failure. Anthony Williams Read More ›

Michele Steeb appeared on Furthermore with Amanda Head on November 4 to discuss California’s failed Housing First strategy and its growing homelessness crisis.

Moves by President Trump to crack down on cities drowning in crime and public disorder are long overdue. For years, liberal jurisdictions have let chaos run wild, with banners calling for defunding the police waving high, antisemitism parading through public parks and drug use running rampant. As Uncle Sam works to reclaim the streets, another battle is taking place elsewhere. The same left-wing groups whose antics helped drive urban disorder have also infiltrated the sprawling network of nonprofits that are supposedly addressing the homelessness crisis. Newsflash: The groups are collecting billions of dollars to support politics over people and smart reform. According to new research — the result of collaboration between the Capital Research Center and the Discovery Institute — several Read More ›

Booted Jennifer Friedenbach is the queen of San Francisco’s homeless industrial complex. Looks like she’s getting booted from the “Our City Our Home Oversight Committee.” This collective is responsible for looking after a billion dollars in homeless and housing services. I spoke to Friedenbach earlier this year. She took shots at recovery advocates like @Twolfrecovery and defended the failed Housing First and “harm reduction” policies that have led to record drug overdose deaths in the city. Final Vote Nov. 11 The Board of Supervisors will take a final vote on Friedenbach’s future with the committee on November 11. At Odds with New Mayor Friedenbach’s approach to fixing the city’s homeless drug crisis did not align with Mayor Daniel Lurie’s game Read More ›

Exclusive Witnesses say two teens were offered alcohol, sexually propositioned, and nearly assaulted at the Eastgate Park & Ride in Bellevue late Sunday evening. The 15-year-old victim managed to protect her younger cousin by pepper spraying her alleged attacker. A good samaritan also jumped out of his car to help. Cops say two homeless men staying at the Plymouth Housing/PorchLight campus were involved in this incident. One Arrested Only Jose Morales Juan was arrested. He’s facing several charges. Plymouth 911 Calls The 911 calls keep stacking up at the Plymouth Housing/PorchLight campus in Bellevue. Violent repeat offender “Manny” the wheelchair bound maniac is terrorizing residents again. This latest incident happened on October 26. Problematic Clientele These so called permanent supportive Read More ›

Exclusive The 911 calls keep stacking up at the Plymouth Housing/PorchLight campus in Bellevue. Violent repeat offender “Manny” the wheelchair bound maniac is terrorizing residents again. Credit to @FactoriaLLS for sifting through dozens of emergency calls to find this incident on October 26. There are even more problems we are about to expose. City Leaders Downplay the Problem The mayor and other city leaders continue to downplay the severity of problems coming from this permanent supportive housing complex and homeless shelter in the Eastgate neighborhood. This is their response to crime, open air drug use, and fights. Merrell “Manny” James Gorham As we have reported before, “Manny” is actually Merrell James Gorham. He is known for spitting and kicking people. Read More ›