Seattle Approves Regional Homelessness Authority Plan

KING COUNTY, WA — King County is moving forward with the creation of a new, regional homelessness authority after the Seattle City Council voted to approve the plan during a meeting Monday. The Seattle Times reports the new organization will operate on a $132 million budget, with $75 million coming from the City of Seattle.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan praised the council passage of the plan as a step toward streamlining services across the region.

“Today is a historic day. After many years of talk, today we act as a region to move forward together to provide comprehensive services using evidence-based practices and centering people with lived experience of homelessness, to bring more people inside. In 2020, we set forth on a new path to consolidate services that are too fractured and don’t serve individuals experiencing homelessness. "

The Stranger reports the plan does not include the ability to raise money for programs through taxation, and some Seattle councilmembers have expressed concerns the plan falls short of establishing a groundwork for meaningful change.

In a statement Monday, King County Executive Dow Constantine acknowledged the final version of the plan differed from earlier proposals but remained an innovative approach to addressing homelessness.

"It will reduce disproportionality, improve the use of data, and put the right people at the table to create and implement solutions," Constantine said.

KOMO News reports the new Regional Homeless Authority will consist of nine elected officials and three people who have experienced homelessness. Mayor Durkan said she will sign the agreement Wednesday.