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‘Fundamental shift’ in Seattle’s approach to homelessness — Here’s how $34M will be put to use

As the smoke clears from Seattle’s 2018 budget process, officials are able to more clearly spell out where some of the critical elements of the city’s spending will be headed in the coming year. Monday, Mayor Tim Burgess marked his final full day in office before turning over the reins to Jenny Durkan on Tuesday with an announcement detailing $34 million in planned spending for homelessness services in 2018:

Today, Mayor Tim Burgess stood with community partners to announce $34 million in funding awards for homeless services. The Human Services Department (HSD) will fund 30 agencies, who submitted proposals in a competitive process, in 98 high-performing programs to help people move into permanent housing (See Funding Awards Attachment). The awarded agencies propose to move more than twice as many people into permanent housing in 2018 than in the previous year, thereby ending their homelessness. Further, the awards focus on addressing the specific needs of African American/Black and Native American/Alaska Native peoples, who experience homelessness at five times and seven times their representation in the overall population, respectively.

“By moving people from living on the street to permanent homes, we provide them a springboard to better opportunities and a more stable life,” Burgess said. Burgess called the funding plan a “fundamental shift in the city government’s approach to homelessness.”

“We are focused on the only result that ends homelessness: housing. We are holding our providers accountable to that same result,” he said.

According to the city, the 98 funded projects receiving the $34 million funding across nine categories will see a more than 70% boost from 2017 spending levels including big jumps in diversion and rapid re-housing:

The Human Services Department announcement says the organizations vying for the funding documented “strategies to move more than 7,000 households experiencing homelessness into permanent housing in 2018.”

A full roster of the organizations recommended for allocations is below.

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JayH
JayH
6 years ago

I’ve made this comment before. It bears repeating. By providing more services are we attracting more homeless from outside the area because these services are available? A study a few months ago discovered 11% of the homeless are here specifically for that reason.

Homeless help is needed, but it must be regional. Seattle going it alone just repurposes the saying “If we build it, will they come?”.

Sloopy
Sloopy
6 years ago
Reply to  JayH

To be honest, I don’t think even a regional response is enough. It really has to be a national one. People are desperate and why wouldn’t they come here where the climate is moderate and there is more help than most other places. Unfortunately, I think we are going to get more refugees from the other states (because let’s face it, that’s what they are). They will be happy to let us pay for the problem.

I don’t expect to see any structural progress on homelessness without a national effort. On a local level, sure we can build housing but the demand will instantly eat up any housing we build and any surplus will attract more people. We can make a difference in specific individuals’ lives, but structurally the problems remain the same.

JayH
JayH
6 years ago

Totally agree, but current national politics makes this virtually impossible. At least the Puget Sound area has the potential of progressive regional action.

poop
poop
6 years ago

Seattle should find out if other cities are encouraging the homeless that this is a fine place to be. No amount of money will be enough if that’s the case.

Sloopy
Sloopy
6 years ago
Reply to  poop

Why would a case worker dissuade a homeless person from moving to a place with better services? If you are homeless, moving here (or PDX or SFO) makes total sense. Who wouldn’t? Word gets around. People are desperate and they will go where they think they can get help (or be left alone).

11% of homeless from out of town seems optimistic. As I recall, the question the survey asked was the last place they person had lodging. So if someone had enough money for a hotel or crashed with a friends before becoming homeless, they are considered local. Not that those people don’t deserve help, as they are human beings. But the agencies doing these studies are slicing it in a way to look more sympathetic for local donors. Local homeless persons (rather than people coming here for benefits) is a lot better PR.

The problem is that a few places (like Seattle) are disproportionately bearing the burden.

Bob Knudson
Bob Knudson
6 years ago
Reply to  poop

I think you’re right, Sloopy, to be skeptical of that 11% figure….my hunch is that it’s significantly more than that, depending on how detailed the questioning is to ascertain “local” vs. “elsewhere.”

I’m glad the City is putting more money into the truly effective agencies and ditching those who have failed to perform. And more funds for rapid re-housing makes sense. But my fear is that, for every homeless person who gets into longer-term shelter, there will be another one who takes their place on the streets, and we will be back at square one.