Ginny Burton is the founder of the O-UT Program, a holistic lived experience behavior change program focused on addressing underlying causes of homelessness, incarceration, and addiction.
The Price of Silence
The Price of Silence
When is the last time you visited downtown Seattle? Or Portland? Or San Francisco? Are these places the towns you once vacationed to and felt safe site seeing? Nearly thirteen years ago, I prayed for death as I wandered the streets of Tacoma in the middle of the night—no place to go, no belongings, everything...
From Addiction to Accountability: A Path Forward for Washington
From Addiction to Accountability: A Path Forward for Washington
The leniency in Washington’s judicial system was recently displayed by the repeat offender (36 arrests and 20 convictions) who killed a 20-year-old woman as he attempted to flee police in Pierce County. Despite serving numerous short sentences in his life, the suspect clearly has never been “rehabilitated.” It appears he views his many brief lockups...
Rethink Criminal Justice and Recovery
Rethink Criminal Justice and Recovery
By Ginny Burton After nearly 30 years of active drug use, the criminal justice system became the intervention that saved my life. When felony charges finally pulled me off the streets, it wasn’t punishment that made the difference—it was the pause. Incarceration removed me from homelessness, stopped the criminal behavior that fed my addiction, and...
“Safer Supply” policy is another failed harm reduction drug strategy
“Safer Supply” policy is another failed harm reduction drug strategy
A recent state drug proposal could further enable struggling addicts to keep using illegal substances while providing financial benefits to drug companies, bureaucrats, and disingenuous treatment centers, according to treatment advocate Ginny Burton in an op-ed for Center Square. She raises concerns over the effectiveness of the “Safer Supply” drug policy being discussed by Washington...
Breaking the Cycle: Why Self-Sufficiency Must Replace Perpetual Care
Breaking the Cycle: Why Self-Sufficiency Must Replace Perpetual Care
This article is the second in ChangeWA’s three-part series on the increasing costs of our region’s homeless strategy. We asked treatment advocate and founder of the O-UT Program Ginny Burton to examine the long-term costs associated with current policies addressing homelessness. ChangeWA supports a treatment-based approach to homelessness. Data shows that the expensive “Housing First” method has...
Lack of political courage on Antifa is making police recruitment more difficult
Lack of political courage on Antifa is making police recruitment more difficult
Once again, the domestic terror group Antifa has embarked on acts of political violence in Seattle and liberal politicians are again too afraid to stand up and condemn the Leftist activists’ aggression. This lack of political courage has police department leaders concerned that this will encourage more political violence and lead more officers to leave...
Candidate filings indicate that 2025 will have many important contests
Candidate filings indicate that 2025 will have many important contests
With the conclusion of the candidate filing period on May 9, we are fairly confident that 2025 will be another interesting year in local politics – especially in King County where not only are many important county and city positions on the ballot, but voters will also decide eight special state legislature contests. King...
Seattle residents support the city’s practical approach to public safety
Seattle residents support the city’s practical approach to public safety
A new survey of Seattle registered voters finds there is more optimism about public safety since extremists no longer control the city government. Residents also believe city hall needs to do more to help struggling employers to return businesses and their workers back downtown. At the end of April, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce...
Clark County Matters is holding politicians accountable for failed homeless policies
Clark County Matters is holding politicians accountable for failed homeless policies
New community citizen groups are forming across Washington to hold their local government accountable as politicians fail to adequately address the homelessness crisis. This is especially true where elected leaders adhere to the progressives’ “Housing First” policies which nearly always increases the homeless numbers. (Housing First policies advocate the building of a large housing bureaucracy...
A Housing-First Approach Won’t End Homelessness
A Housing-First Approach Won’t End Homelessness
By Ginny Burton In 2015 I secured my first position with one of Washington state’s largest nonprofits in Seattle. During my interview I was asked if I could explain harm reduction. My answer, which I called a friend ahead of time to inquire, was “meeting the person where they are at.” I didn’t really understand...