Homelessness | Change Washington

State politicians keep same homelessness plan that has brought suffering to many

Those seeking to decrease the number of homeless individuals in Washington received heartbreaking news last week. Despite overwhelming evidence that the current homeless strategy (i.e. “Housing First”) is one of the worst and most expensive policy failures in modern history, state government officials released a five-year plan saying they will continue to waste even more...

Poll shows Seattle voters seek bolder remedies from failed extreme policies

A new survey of Seattle residents reveals the public is becoming more optimistic about Seattle’s future after voters in 2023 replaced extremist city councilmembers with practical moderates, who thus far are keeping their campaign promises on public safety and not raising taxes. The numbers have improved enough for one to wonder whether the public would...

Burien (again) prevails over Dow Constantine’s hopeless homeless strategy

King County Executive Dow Constantine’s homeless strategy suffered yet another blow as a federal court threw out the county’s lawsuit against the City of Burien over enforcement of the city’s no camping laws. U.S. District Judge Richard Jones ruled on September 25 that the county’s legal claims were “nebulous,” and Burien’s public-area camping ban is...

The Tale of Two Counties – King and Pierce

In Washington State’s two most populous counties there are two differing approaches to combatting the homelessness crisis. If past results are any indication, one county will continue to break records for the number of people who are homeless and for the number of homeless deaths, while the other will see significant positive results helping those...

What is Seattle getting for its ‘highest in nation’ sales tax?

Seattle has claimed the top spot in the nation as the city with the highest sales tax. Even with this incredible revenue stream, Seattle is now less safe. It has been misguided politicians and policies, not the lack of funds, that have made it a city where criminals feel comfortable while charities flee. Earlier this...

Time to close the ineffective and wasteful KCRHA

Last week King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a proposal to scrap the King County Regional Homelessness Authority’s (KCRHA) Implementation Board, the 13-person committee of “experience in the housing and homelessness fields” which shares responsibility for managing the much-maligned authority. According to the proposal, nearly all of the board’s responsibilities...

Seattle City Council takes a steady approach to correct past mistakes

A recently released midyear crime report from the Council on Criminal Justice revealed that while murder is down across the U.S. when compared to 2019, Seattle’s homicide rate is 50% higher than it was five years ago. Frustrated Seattle voters, fed up with the mass exodus of police officers (Seattle currently has fewer police officers...

Executive Constantine stuck in the past

King County Executive Dow Constantine recent battle with Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison over incarceration of criminals is the latest proof that the 15-year incumbent is stubbornly holding onto failed progressive public safety and homelessness policies, which many now blame for making conditions worse. Constantine appears stuck in 2020 as he continues to advocate combatting...

Are we witnessing the “beginning of the end” for KCRHA?

A Seattle Times report reveals that political support for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) continues to erode as such former advocates as King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, are being very cautious about its future. But before we get to that, let’s recap the...

Taxpayer money paying for protests and defending chronic illegal squatters

It was revealed earlier this week that a local non-profit organization which receives taxpayer funds, is the group behind the Friday, July 5 protests on I-5 which clogged the freeway near Boeing Field in South Seattle. Urban Family is a non-profit organization focused on youth and crime in Seattle’s Skyway neighborhood. They are funded by...

SCOTUS decision on homelessness is a win for common sense

Advocates of a common sense approach to homelessness are pleased with Friday’s United States Supreme Court decision which allows local jurisdictions to again impose a ban on camping in order to stop large homeless encampments from being constructed on public property. Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling, who has been locked in a battle with King County...

Why homelessness continues to increase despite record breaking spending

As regional homelessness numbers continue to break records, the crisis has driven the unprecedented growth in the size and cost of government in the City of Seattle, King County, and Washington State. Moreover, nearly every department, agency, commission, council and authority at all levels of government have used the crisis to justify its budget expansion...

More than 50 elected officials demand alternatives to failed homeless & drug policies

As homelessness and drug overdose deaths continue to spiral out-of-control in Washington State, a group of more than 50 local officials have taken steps to provide alternatives to the political philosophies which they believe are at the root of the problem – progressives’ Housing First homeless strategy and Harm Reduction drug policy. Last Thursday, Future...

Seattle and King County’s disturbing results of Housing First and Harm Reduction

Two very troublesome facts were revealed last week which provide more evidence that the progressives’ “Housing First” homeless policy and “Harm Reduction” drug policy are failing to end the suffering that is taking place on our streets. These numbers are similar to those in other progressive West Coast cities and states. These facts require us...