We’ve often remarked that if you can’t identify the source of a problem then you can’t solve it. When it comes to the ongoing homelessness crisis in Seattle, among the causes are dysfunctional or counterproductive organizations that undermine efforts to fix it.

Thankfully, it seems Mayor Bruce Harrell has identified one of them.

In June when Harrell released his homelessness plan we said it needed some changes, one of which was greater accountability and transparency around how tax dollars are being spent. Further, there needs to be meaningful goals, because simply spending more money on homelessness is not an outcome.

According to a recent news article, Harrell spoke at a private meeting with Seattle Police Department officers, remarking on his frustration with the King County Regional Homeless Authority (KCRHA), which has received $118 million as part of his homelessness plan.  

“I’m funding an organization that seems to be working against what I’m trying to do. So now we’re looking to revisiting that because my public safety strategy that I’m funding … they criticize that. So why would I then, as mayor, invest $118 million into a group that’s really working against me? That’s the hand that I’ve dealt.”

Make Your Voice Heard!

Contact Mayor Harrell’s office today and tell him you support encampment removal efforts, along with transparency and accountability for homeless organizations that receive taxpayer dollars!

Harrell also reportedly took a hard stance regarding the use of public spaces for homeless camps.

“No one has a right to camp out in a park where our children are supposed to play. I’m not supposed to see freaking syringes in a park.”

This is why it’s difficult to understand the opposition to removing homeless camps from public spaces. Their presence robs children of a safe place to play and deprives others of spaces paid for by their tax dollars. Any organization that receives public money needs to acknowledge homeless encampment removal as a fundamental component of any plan.

Ideally this will be a lesson learned for Harrell and other city councilmembers moving forward, as well as a call to action on the part of KCRHA. The city needs to make the entire process transparent and open, from top to bottom. We need to know not only who is getting how much money, but what they are spending it on and whether it is in keeping with the overall plan.

Of course, it’s not enough to just have a plan. That plan needs to be grounded in reality, and that means investing funds toward reachable, effective goals.

For example, homeless groups in the past have cited the number of people they’ve put in temporary housing or the number of tiny homes they’ve built. By itself, this means nothing in terms of reducing the number of homeless in the long-term, because the problem doesn’t go away once they’re housed. A more critical goal would be tracking many homeless are put in long-term care facilities where they are off the street and either receiving treatment for substance addiction or mental illness. Also more important are the number of mental health facilities built and properly staffed.

That all will require significant investments, but unlike the current strategy of making homeless more comfortable in their present conditions it would address the crisis. However, in addition to proper goal-setting, the groups receiving taxpayer dollars need to be vetted and monitored to ensure the money is spent efficiently but also spent where it’s supposed to be.

It’s perfectly acceptable for the KCRHSA to focus specifically on addressing immediate concerns, such as homeless encampments, provided that the understanding is other orgs involved in the overall plan are working on the systemic problems.

Harrell’s comments offer an opportunity to rework his plan and for KCRHA to revise their strategies. If they can do that, we will have reached an important turning point toward actually reducing homelessness in the region. 

Contact Mayor Harrell’s office today and tell him you support encampment removal efforts, along with transparency and accountability for homeless organizations that receive taxpayer dollars!