Homelessness

Exclusive Animal abuse, sex trafficking, and open-air drug use are overwhelming a Seattle apartment complex for the homeless. After months of mounting complaints, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority is being blamed for creating this chaotic situation. Homeless Resident Punched Dog This is the same Capitol Hill apartment complex that made news last month after a homeless resident was caught on camera punching a dog. Residents Moved from Burien Encampment Back in October, I first told you about this problematic drug encampment being moved from Burien into this Seattle apartment complex. Seattle councilmember Joy Hollingsworth says KCRHA failed to notify the community. Housing First is Failing Discovery Institute’s data shows “Housing First” is failing. But politicians deeply aligned with the Read More ›

New It’s that time of year again where we look at the performance and salaries at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. With the street crisis worse than ever in the Seattle area, is any of this compensation justified? Hey @elonmusk, take a look. Join Us If you believe our journalism and research made a difference this year, please consider a donation and join our team. Donate | Fix Homelessness Last Year’s KCRHA Salary Report Here is our KCRHA salary report from last year. Caitlyn McKenney’s Report on KCRHA’s “Partnership for Zero” My colleague @CaitlynMcKenney also authored this report on KCRHA’s failed “Partnership for Zero” initiative that aimed to dramatically reduce street homelessness. Instead, the agency blew through $10M. Report: Read More ›

Where Is All the Money Going? King County homelessness authority CEO’s salary is $290,000 — that’s more than the Seattle median income and average tech salary COMBINED. Taxpayer funded. Meanwhile, Seattle’s homelessness crisis is third worst in the nation. Let’s take a look. KCRHA Employee Salaries The King County Regional Homelessness Authority has been embroiled in controversy since its start in 2022. Former CEO Marc Dones made $247,200. Hired this year, new CEO Kelly Kinnison is being paid $290,000. Kinnison is not the only one making $200k+. More Salaries King County Regional Homelessness Authority Salaries: CEO Kelly Kinnison – $290,000 CPO Irene Agustin – $205,000 CFO James Rouse – $285,000 Prior to the leadership change:Interim CEO Darell Powell – $285,000 Read More ›

Epic Failure Neighbors and biz owners in Seattle’s Chinatown-ID say Mayor Harrell is ignoring their pleas for help as crime and open-air drug use surge in this predominantly Asian-American community. So they’re mobilizing for a potential class action lawsuit against the city. After I put the city on blast, the Mayor’s office is also ignoring my requests for comment on this unending disaster.

Seattle Times Finally Picks Up Story For months now I’ve been reporting on the movement of drug addicts from downtown Seattle to Chinatown-ID. The Seattle Times is finally jumping on this story. The squeeze is now on Mayor Bruce Harrell to do something about it. Councilmember Morales Quits Former Seattle Councilmember Tammy Morales left her district a mess. But she quit her post this month. So now sources say this Asian American community is getting ready to mobilize against Mayor Harrell if the crime and urban decay are not addressed.

After two years of learning about homelessness, next month I’ll start writing a book, with columns week by week showing chapter-by-chapter development. But before leaving my week-by-week miscellaneous approach, I want to mention that Christmas Eve this year is also the beginning of Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish festival — and Jews are less likely to be homeless than non-Jewish Americans. That’s not a new phenomenon. Between 1880 and 1914, about 1.5 million Jews (including my grandparents) emigrated from czarist Russia to North America. They lived apart from the mainly Christian charity networks, yet observers at the time noted very little Jewish homelessness. Why? One reason: The deeply engrained work ethic within Jewish culture made a big difference. Another: Men needed Read More ›

Chased Sunday evening, social media influencer Nick Shirley was chased by a broomstick wielding maniac in Seattle’s Chinatown-ID during a YouTube livestream. Then a fentanyl addict cracked my phone at the notorious 12th Ave & Jackson St drug den. We got more coverage on the way. This part of the city is dying. Here’s a preview. Open-Air Drug Use Mentally ill tweakers were also running wild through the CID this weekend. Drug Addiction and Mental Illness in Hing Hay Park Hing Hay Park is a disaster. Encampment Across from High School Homeless drug addicts have also ripped through a fence and are now setting up an encampment right across the street from Summit Sierra High School in Chinatown-ID.

Saturday evening, Hing Hay Park looks like a human dumping ground. The crown jewel of Seattle’s Chinatown-ID has been hijacked by drug addicts, the mentally ill, and homeless. The dude tweaking earlier in the day is now causing a stir at night. Since Councilmember Tammy Morales has abdicated all responsibility in her district, it’s now on Mayor Bruce Harrell to restore this Asian American neighborhood before it’s completely lost.

Happening Now Homeless drug addicts have ripped through a fence and are now setting up an encampment right across the street from Summit Sierra High School in Chinatown-ID. Last year, I first told you about all the open-air drug use and crime disrupting student life in the area. Sadly, nothing has changed. Councilmember Tammy Morales was MIA then. She remains MIA today. Her District-2 is a disaster. She voted against all the CID public safety amendments this year. It’s almost like she wants this neighborhood to fail.