Homelessness

Breaking Chinatown-ID residents are furious and ready to protest after Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell delays closure of controversial DESC shelter for homeless drug addicts in Little Saigon. Community advocates say this “low barrier” facility is a magnet for crime, chaos, and death. Look at this hoard of addicts smoking and dealing fentanyl. “There is about 30 to 40 to 50 people — I can’t tell, they’re all massed together — standing right outside on the corner,” describes former City Councilmember Tanya Woo. Others are starting fires to stay warm on the corner of 12th Avenue and Weller Street. “They’re not really homeless people, they’re just people who are selling goods, buying stolen stuff, and then using drugs,” says community activist Read More ›

Washington, D.C. — Homelessness reached the highest number on record nationwide in 2024 according to a report the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released on December 27 in a likely attempt to avoid public attention. Dr. Robert Marbut, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and former Federal Homelessness Czar, says, “HUD spent over 3.16 billion on homelessness in 2024 and continues to attribute rising homelessness to unavailable housing and systemic racism, while ignoring the fentanyl epidemic and untreated mental illness.” According to the national Point-In-Time count report, homelessness increased by 18.1% since 2023 to the highest number on record. Of the 771,840 people experiencing homelessness, 274,224 are unsheltered. The data reveals a 32.9% increase in people experiencing homelessness from 2020 Read More ›

Happening Now WA’s homeless crisis is worse than ever. Aside from Seattle, look at the disaster unfolding in places like Tacoma. Will Governor-elect Bob Ferguson continue with the status quo? If he pushes “Housing First,” nothing will change. Please Consider Donating We need to spotlight the homeless crisis in other parts of WA and hold more public officials accountable. Please consider making a donation in 2025 so we can expand our team. Donate | Fix Homelessness

After writing weekly columns about homelessness for two-and-a-half years, I’m ready to put what I’ve learned into book form. It will be my 30th book and maybe my last, although (as chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes states) “of making many books there is no end.” But since I have written a lot, I’ll paraphrase the opening of the Declaration of Independence: “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires” that I declare the reason for writing a book on homelessness when a bunch already exist. Some of those books are by reporters who have lived with homeless people. Others are by opinion writers who have sat in their offices and proposed policies. The “unique selling proposition” of my book is Read More ›

With Christmas coming, I’m taking a timeout from my usual columnizing to send greetings to Tony, a homeless man in Colorado. He is 67 years old and may be sleeping in a North Face sleeping bag within an abandoned 144-square-foot wooden structure adjacent to a cemetery. (His summer bed has been a picnic bench about a third of a mile from a Safeway/Starbucks.) Tony was born in Japan to a military dad. His family subsequently moved to Florida and then Arvada, a northwest suburb of Denver with a population that’s soared from 50,000 in 1970 to 124,000 now. When Tony was 16, he had some issues with his parents “just because I’m me,” and they sent him to a foster Read More ›

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.