Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's ambitious plan to combat rising homelessness is a start, according to an independent data scientist and UW Professor who has written ex
SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's ambitious plan to combat rising homelessness is a start, according to an independent data scientist and UW Professor who has written extensively about the issue.
Gregg Colburn co-authored "Homelessness is a Housing Problem" with Data Scientist Clayton Aldern. The two men studied how Seattle's issues are related to other cities of similar size across the country, and came to a conclusion.
"There's more poverty in Detroit than in Seattle, there's more drug use in in Appalachia than there is here. But they don't have the same problem with homelessness, because housing is much more accessible," says Colburn.
In fact, he said permitting and construction costs are factors as well in building permanent supportive or transitional housing. Regulations and space are working against Seattle, according to Colburn.
"It's kind of the double whammy for us," said Colburn, who is also a member of the Gates Foundation Family Homelessness Evaluation Committee and University of Washington’s Homelessness Research Initiative. "When you get behind and we're behind right now, the costs of fixing it are significant, both in terms of financial costs, and just the human cost of, of that what we observe when we when we live and work in Seattle and observe people who are experiencing homelessness."
Harrell says he wants to create 2,000 new units of housing by the end of the year. The City's new dashboard is actively tracking construction and permitting, and is lagging behind that goal.
Given the argument about construction times, it perhaps adds fuel to the King County Regional Homeless Authority's request to build out 6-7 RV lots, which would create additional space for the 225 RV's that are currently on the street according to the city.
Harrell fully admits the RV encampments, on city streets and near city parks are out of hand. On Monday, there were rows of dilapidated recreational vehicles near the city's Georgetown playfield. By Wednesday, many had been cleared out, and moved to parts unknown.
Harrell is vowing to speed up permitting for any of the related housing, to transition people out of unsheltered conditions.
Colburn credits the Mayor for transparency, and that the data will also create some accountability. He believes his book will also make a case.
"The purpose of the book was to answer a question that I think a lot of people who live in our city have, which is, why is homelessness so bad here and not in other places. Seattle has five times the per capita rate of homelessness of Chicago, which if you visit Chicago, think here's another vibrant, you know, healthy city that has a very different experience than we have," Colburn said, adding, "It's a costly intervention."
FAQs
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, two key drivers of homelessness are lack of affordable housing and poverty.
How does Seattle approach homelessness? ›
This dynamic framework represents Mayor Harrell's vision for focused action to address homelessness by providing upstream services to help at risk communities, crisis response to help those in need, and long-term housing development to improve affordability and availability.
What is the Seattle homeless Program? ›
The HOPE Team, within the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD), coordinates citywide efforts by outreach, shelter providers, City departments, and community to connect people living unsheltered in Seattle to services and shelter.
Who is in charge of homelessness in Seattle? ›
King County Regional Homelessness Authority is here to create change now and for the future.
Is homelessness worse in LA or Seattle? ›
Cities with the largest homeless populations in 2023
| City | New York City |
|---|
| City | Los Angeles City & County |
| Homeless population 2023 | 71,320 |
| City | Seattle/King County |
| Homeless population 2023 | 14,149 |
24 more rowsMar 29, 2024
Every bad trend Seattle has been struggling with is arguably worse down in Portland. Last year Portland had twice as many homicides as Seattle, and about 4,000 more car thefts (11,000 versus 7,000), in a city with 100,000 fewer residents. It also has an estimated 800 homeless encampments.
How much does the city of Seattle spend on homelessness? ›
As KOMO previously reported, Seattle has spent more than a $1 billion on homelessness, only as the number of unsheltered people grew.
How much does Seattle spend per homeless person per year? ›
Homelessness services spending in King County in 2021
| City | Homelessness spending | Homelessness spending per capita |
|---|
| Seattle | $109,300,000 | $148 $148 $148 |
| Bellevue | $3,234,087 | $21 $21 $21 |
| Auburn | $1,641,540 | $19 $19 $19 |
| Kirkland | $1,487,351 | $16 $16 $16 |
13 more rowsMar 5, 2023
On a global scale, poverty is one of the most significant root causes of homelessness. Stagnant wages, unemployment, and high housing and healthcare costs all play into poverty. Being unable to afford essentials like housing, food, education, and more greatly increases a person's or family's risk.
What city in Washington has the most homeless? ›
Overall, the U.S. experienced a 12% increase in homelessness from 2007-2023, with over 653,000 total. More locally, the Seattle and wider King County region had the third-highest total homeless population among major U.S. cities, behind New York City and Los Angeles County.
The Downtown Emergency Service Center's shelters were full every night pre-pandemic, and they're full every night now, according to Fay. The difference lies in the throughput, the organization's capacity to take new people into their shelters. Fay said that has slowed down considerably.
What is the 10 year plan to end homelessness in Seattle? ›
The Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County, introduced in March 2005, set ambitious goals, including increasing housing for homeless people by 9,500 units in 10 years and realigning the homelessness system and related systems such as criminal justice and foster care.
What city has the most homeless people? ›
With 432 homeless people per 100,000 residents, Eugene in Oregon has by far the highest per capita rate of homelessness. The corresponding figures for Los Angeles and New York City are 397 and 394. Of the 32 US cities examined, only Columbus (OH) has a per capita rate of less than 100.
Who has the highest homeless rate? ›
New York and Vermont have the nation's highest homelessness rates among US states.
| State | Homeless people per 10,000 |
|---|
| New York | 52.7 52.7 52.7 |
| Vermont | 50.9 50.9 50.9 |
| Oregon | 47.6 47.6 47.6 |
| California | 46.6 46.6 46.6 |
16 more rowsDespite the high cost of living, many people still choose to live in Seattle because of its many attractions and opportunities. The city is home to a thriving arts and culture scene, a wide range of outdoor activities, and a diverse population that offers a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives.
What is the biggest reason for homelessness? ›
ADDICTION
68% of U.S. cities report that addiction is a their single largest cause of homelessness. * “Housing First” initiatives are well intentioned, but can be short-sighted.
What is the cause of homelessness in King County? ›
Here's what we know – the root causes of homelessness are at the societal level and include a lack of affordable housing. Institutional racism is interconnected. As is a lack of affordable health care.
What is homelessness primarily caused by? ›
More than at any other time, there is a lack of housing that low income people can afford. Without housing options, people face eviction, instability and homelessness.
What causes homelessness in Washington? ›
Lack of affordable housing and stagnant wages
Homelessness in Washington is primarily driven by a lack of affordable housing and wages that have not kept pace with increasing housing costs.
