Housing First

The City Turns a Blind Eye Seattle’s latest out-of-control drug encampment is the former Joann Fabrics site in Ballard. Business owners and neighbors say Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Dan Strauss have totally ignored this problem since this is happening on private property. But dozens of drug addicts have trashed the area and all the crime and chaos from this location keeps spilling into the side streets. Meanwhile, one guy living in a tent told me he’s rejecting free housing because the provider requires all dogs to be neutered. Make it make sense.

As I prepare to bring this series of weekly columns to a close after three years, I think back to 1989 when I started to research three centuries of American poverty-fighters. I wrote about them in a 1992 book, The Tragedy of American Compassion, that became the historical basis for the “compassionate conservatism” popularized by Texas Governor George W. Bush, whom I informally advised (and still like). The project fizzled during his presidency, ground down by Washington politics but also by some internal realities. Regarding help for those sunk into long-term homelessness, two of my notions proved inadequate. First, in promoting “compassionate conservatism” I emphasized the literal meaning of “com-passion”: with suffering. My goal was for the homed, particularly Christians, Read More ›

Federal Funding to Be Re-Allocated With even more federal funding cuts on the way, one of the biggest players in WA’s homeless industrial complex is crying poverty. That’s because the days of top executive salaries and zero accountability could be coming to an end. The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) has received millions of taxpayer dollars for pushing the failed Housing First model along with “harm reduction” policies. But for more than a decade, this approach has led to record homelessness in the region, more crime, and countless drug overdose deaths behind closed doors. So Trump administration sources are telling me the hammer will finally be dropped on this madness. Expect federal funding to be re-allocated and pushed toward housing Read More ›

New I finally had an opportunity to ask Governor Bob Ferguson about Washington’s homeless crisis and the possibility of more federal funding cuts impacting the state’s response. Ferguson didn’t say policies like “Housing First” would be shelved. But he did double down the need for more fiscal responsibility and emphasized the importance of shoring up a “rainy day” fund.

Today’s biggest public policy error concerning homelessness emerges from the fallacy that everyone deserves his own apartment and that true compassion means providing one. The federal government’s “Housing First” mandate sits on the materialistic assumption that an apartment is the appropriate response to addiction, mental illness, loneliness, and purposeless living. Thirty-six years ago, I came out with a book entitled The Tragedy of American Compassion. It included seven ways to fight poverty in alphabetical order. The first two were Affiliation and Bonding: restoring social ties that were broken or weaving new ones. Many recent trends have battered affiliation and bonding, but they are still key. Falling into addiction instead of falling in love is a frequent failure. Although some are Read More ›

From “Doom Loop” to “Boom Loop,” San Francisco could be turning the corner on all the crime, chaos and death. A new mayor and new approach to the homeless drug crisis could be the game changer. Here’s part 1 of our series in the Bay Area. Parts of San Francisco have been described as being stuck in a perpetual doom loop. A never-ending pattern of crime, chaos, and death. But some of the most problematic neighborhoods in the city could be getting ready to break out of this vicious cycle. “Is the Tenderloin looking better?” I ask a local resident. “Oh yeah, it is,” he responds. That’s because new mayor Daniel Lurie is on a mission to reclaim what was Read More ›

New King County’s latest homeless hotel is set to open in Kirkland this summer. It’s “low barrier” and drug addicts will be allowed on site without any requirements to seek treatment. They call it “Health Through Housing.” During Tuesday evening’s community forum, concerned residents were not satisfied with the responses and non-answers to their questions. Despite major community concerns about crime and 911 calls spiking in the area, the woke city council capitulated and gave into Dow Constantine’s demands. It’s now pretty much a done deal. Controversial housing provider Plymouth Housing will run the joint.

“Don’t Talk to Him” Not sure if this DESC Navigation Center worker shows up for Monday’s press conference in Little Saigon. I don’t think she likes all the attention and scrutiny.

New Chinatown-ID is fighting back and demanding more support and security from Seattle leaders. Monday morning, community activists will be holding a press conference at 10:00 am in front of DESC’s Navigation Center. This controversial “low barrier” homeless shelter is being blamed for attracting crime, chaos, and death to this neighborhood. That’s because drug use is allowed and supplies are freely given out without any requirements for treatment. This past weekend a hoard of addicts overwhelmed the sidewalk right outside this facility, corroborating neighbor concerns. It was supposed to finally close by the end of January. But Mayor Bruce Harrell delayed the move until March, enraging neighbors and biz owners who have already sacrificed so much. Press Release Leading the Read More ›

New Even after hundreds of millions of dollars poured into “Housing First” and “harm reduction” programs, we are now encountering more senior citizens addicted to fentanyl on the streets of Seattle. How many more Patty’s are out there and falling through the cracks?