Homeless In Seattle Will Go To Jail, But Not For Any Crime

SEATTLE, WA - King County Executive Dow Constantine this week said that he would open up hundreds of beds at the county jail in Seattle to the homeless. The west wing of the jail will be operated as a 24-hour emergency shelter during the winter months.

Constantine called the idea an "innovation" to deal with the region's ever-worsening homelessness crisis.

"These actions will help bring more people inside for the winter, and provide more outreach to those living on sidewalks, and in doorways, and parks," he said in a press release.

As many as 150 beds will be available at the jail shelter. The county will spend about $2 million throughout the year to operate the shelter. People housed there will be given cots or bunks, have access to bathing facilities, and will have personal storage lockers.

Constantine also announced two other homeless housing efforts. The county will spend about $2.4 million on modular four-bedroom housing units, enough to shelter about 160 people. A site for the modular units has not been selected, however. The county will also spend about $1 million to provide daytime services at the overnight shelter near 4th Avenue and Jefferson Street.

File photo by Neal McNamara/Patch