In the spirit of the holiday season, Seattle and King County should continue trying new approaches to help the area’s growing homeless population.
FAR too many men, women and children are having trouble reflecting on the blessings of the season because they are among thousands who become homeless in King County every month.
Nearly seven weeks after Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine declared a state of emergency on homelessness in the region, the city and county together have pledged about $7 million toward addressing this crisis with the same vigor usually applied to natural disasters.
A slew of fresh ideas have since been put into practice and offer important lessons heading into the cold winter months:
• More emergency shelters are needed. Seattle has opened three city-owned properties to the homeless and a parking lot for people living in cars, but it’s not enough. King County is doubling shelter capacity at its administration building in downtown from 50 to 100 beds. A new shelter with 50 beds is opening Saturday evening at 420 Fourth Ave. The county also plans to make $325,000 available next year for additional emergency beds outside Seattle. More cities and organizations must join the effort to find spaces countywide that could serve as shelters.
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• People living in illegal encampments should be treated with sensitivity. Seattle is cleaning up more unauthorized encampments than ever before. The city is wisely taking a more comprehensive approach by issuing warnings, offering personalized help and distributing cash to help with transportation and rehousing. However, advocates warn some people are losing their personal belongings during the cleanups and falling deeper into despair. They are also concerned about a chronic lack of shelter beds for the displaced.
• Every veteran should be housed.About 250 veterans have housing vouchers but remain homeless. Landlords could help by renting out units at affordable prices.
• Communities must get involved. After one year of fundraising and planning led by the Low Income Housing Institute, 15 tiny, 120-square feet houses with electricity are opening in January. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is donating space for these transitional homes next to its building in the Central District. The village — the first of its kind in Seattle with sewage and water — was constructed by volunteers and students from area schools.
Addressing an emergency requires all these short-term solutions and so much more.
The holiday spirit should extend into the new year. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity. Those struggling with homelessness are no exception.