Mayor, King County declare state of emergency over homelessness
To address the growing epidemic, the mayor also signed what could be the first of many executive orders to take action with efforts being coordinated with local and county agencies. The mayor introduced a $5.3 million investment to immediately address homelessness, including more than $2.5 million to move individuals and families out of emergency shelters and into permanent housing.
The Seattle City Council unanimously approved Murray’s proclamation on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with one amendment that outlines reporting requirements for the mayor’s office about how funds are spent. The council also approved a bill authorizing the loan of $5 million, which is to be paid back with the sale of city-owned property at 9401 Myers Way S. in West Seattle.
In all, the mayor’s proclamation included three orders, two of which called for support and resources from state and federal levels. A third directed Seattle departments and agencies to create programs and services to specifically address homeless students attending public schools and their families.
“Seattle is facing an emergency as a result of the growing crisis in homelessness,” Murray said. “The city is prepared to do more as the number of people in crisis continues to rise, but our federal and state partners must also do more — cities cannot do this alone. Addressing homelessness must be a national priority with a federal response.”
Constantine said, “Emergency declarations are associated with natural disasters, but the persistent and growing phenomenon of homelessness, here and nationwide, is a human-made crisis just as devastating to thousands as a flood or fire. We call on the federal and state governments to take action, including shouldering more responsibility for affordable housing, mental health treatment and addiction services.”
Constantine has introduced a $2 million spending bill — yet to be considered by the Metropolitan King County Council — for funds to immediately address people living without shelter and basic service needs and to look into the root causes of homelessness.
The growing homeless population
According to reports from the mayor’s and executive’s offices, there are 35,000 newly or recently homeless in King County this year, along with 3,000 homeless children who attend Seattle Public Schools. It is estimated that there are 32,000 homeless children in the state.
The City of Seattle currently spends $40 million annually to address homelessness, amounting to $241.3 million over the last 30 years, while King County spends $36 million yearly. Seattle currently funds 1,600 shelter beds that see 13,000 individuals each year, half of whom do not experience homelessness again.
That figure apparently falls short with 3,772 people counted during last winter’s One Night Count — 2,800 of which were reported in Seattle — living without shelter in King County, an increase that was also reported during a budget committee meeting focused on a proposed budget introduced by the mayor in October.
Sixty-six homeless people have died so far in 2015, including 47 who expired on the streets.
“As a result of the economic recession, along with federal and Washington state budget cuts, Seattle’s safety net has been significantly eroded,” the proclamation reads. “Those cuts have resulted in more people becoming marginalized and homeless. Large numbers of homeless citizens regularly camp on roads and highways in the city of Seattle, including Interstate 90 and Interstate 5. During 2015, more than 45 individuals have died on Seattle streets without shelter.”
Citing municipal code, Murray said, “I have the power — and indeed the responsibility — to act in those situations where there exists within the City of Seattle a threat to the health and safety of its citizens and which requires that action be taken to ensure public welfare.”
The mayor also outlined how his administration has handled the homeless crisis, including creating an emergency task force in 2014 to forward recommendations for addressing the issue of increasing homelessness, converting a city-owned building into a 100-bed emergency shelter and increasing spending by 7 percent. The administration has also allocated $620,000 for non-chronically homeless single adults, with a focus on veterans.
Enough funding?
According to several organizations that protested proposed funding allocations for the city’s human services department, particularly the reimbursement for inflation for contracts to cover cost-of-living adjustments, monies devoted to the crisis are inadequate in the face of increasing homelessness.
Funding proposed for the department does not maintain previous levels, compared to increases in the amount paid to employees to compensate for the cost of living, they said, which is negotiated through collective bargaining units as it relates to contracts and would result in a $800,000 loss.
Murray’s budget also provides for a new 100-bed shelter in Seattle, something that may change after Monday’s announcement. It was reported that with shelters at 90 percent occupancy, the mayor said Monday, “The city announced a commitment for another 100 beds.”
The full council is expected to approve the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda’s (HALA) work plan proposal during a meeting 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at City Hall. The work plan was forwarded by HALA, which was created to look at housing and affordability and includes directives for more affordable housing units to be created over the next 20 years.
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