Lack of Wrap Around Services for Youth Within and Exiting the Foster System The response to homelessness has been divided among many agencies and government structures, with none having authority to establish clear priorities, reduce duplicative efforts, and align reporting measures across the board. Over the last decade, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested to address the problem, but a lack of coordination among governments and other stakeholders has limited the effectiveness of those investments. The response to the homelessness crisis has come from governments, businesses, service providers, philanthropists, and advocates across the region. This is a critical misstep: this data is needed to ensure that compliance requirements do not criminalize those who are homeless.Ī Decentralized Response to a Regional Crisis Booking criteria and sentencing guidelines do not reflect the historic and systemic issues of racial equity and social justice.
HOMELESSNESS DATA VSPD DRIVERS
The criminal justice system has failed to attain a comprehensive understanding of the drivers of homelessness. Of the 21,500 applications to the 2017 SHA Housing Choice Voucher program, more than 35% came from people of color. These disparities continue to show up in many ways - educational attainment, life expectancy and access to healthcare, access to affordable housing, and access to jobs training for family-wage jobs - and are key indicators in determining success in Seattle. The systemic issues of racial inequity and the policies that drive that inequity is woven throughout our City. People experiencing homelessness are disproportionately people of color. The City remains dedicated to creating affordable housing through the 2016 Seattle Housing Levy and other sources including incentive zoning and Mandatory Housing Affordability. More than 21,500 completed registrations were received for 3,500 places on the list. In 2017, the Seattle Housing Authority opened its lottery for the Housing Choice Voucher program, which helps low-income families, individuals, seniors and people with disabilities pay their monthly rent in privately-owned apartments or house. A recent study found that 47% of households that rent in the Seattle metro area are "housing cost burdened," meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent alone. Over the past six years, rents have increased 57%. As the number of affordable units shrinks, the cost of housing continues to skyrocket. Affordable housing development coupled with rising rents in the private market has not kept pace with the need. But too many residents are being pushed out in the face of rising housing and living costs, and the growth in our economy has not been shared nearly widely enough.Īccording to the Census Bureau, Seattle was the fastest growing city in the nation, with our population growing by almost 19 percent over the past ten years. Seattle has a booming economy and high-wage jobs. In 2014, the 156 opiate overdose deaths were the highest ever recorded in King County - more than triple the number of deaths in 2009. More than 3,600 people received methadone treatment in King County, but our region's lack of treatment capacity leaves more than 150 people on a waitlist each day. Washington State ranks 47th in the nation for psychiatric beds per capita. In King County, more people enter detox for heroin than they do alcohol. These root causes are inter-related and, for our unsheltered neighbors, each factor listed below is often compounded by the others.ĭrug overdose is currently the leading cause of death among people who are homeless. While there are many root causes, in many cases adverse life events such as a health issue, the loss of a job, or the need to escape a domestic violence situation can quickly catapult our neighbors into homelessness. Homelessness is a systemic problem that touches not just every major American city, but every city in the Puget Sound region. But we still must act - and are acting - to improve life in Seattle." - Mayor Jenny Durkan The Roots of Seattle's Homelessness Crisis Lasting, meaningful progress will take years. We have a responsibility to be honest that this crisis won't go away overnight. "Seattle's homelessness crisis has been years in the making, and its roots run deep, touching racial inequity, economic disparities, mental health treatment, rising housing costs, mental health, addiction, and so much more.