Homelessness

More case workers needed to help tackle homelessness, group advises

Ashley Gross — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:35:13 +0000

More case workers are needed in Seattle to help move people out of emergency shelters into other kinds of housing. That’s one of the messages the Seattle City Council will hear today as they get an update on ways to tackle homelessness.

New apartment building for homeless people opens in South Lake Union

Ashley Gross — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:36:47 +0000

King County has been working to reduce homelessness, but the need for housing and shelter is still large. In Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, 81 homeless people will soon move into a brand-new building called the Pat Williams Apartments.

Gong ringers count-off for homeless population

Seka Ojdrovic-Phillips — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:38:13 +0000

Over 2,000 people sleep outside in the cold according to One Night Count which tracks King County’s homeless population. Outside Seattle City Hall today, many involved with the count struck a gong for every homeless person found during this year's count.

Seattle's mentally ill on streets helped by 'roaming counselor'

Keith Seinfeld — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:03:20 +0000

If you’ve been to downtown Seattle, you’ve probably seen people talking to themselves on street corners, or shouting at strangers. Now there’s a fresh face trying to help those in psychiatric crisis.

He’s a roaming mental health counselor, hired by the Union Gospel Mission and downtown’s business-funded Metropolitan Improvement District.

New tally raises estimate of King County homeless youth

Gabriel Spitzer — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0000

There are many more homeless children and young adults in King County than previous tallies have found, according to a new count out this month. The count found more than 140 children on the streets, in shelters or in unstable housing, and another 530 or so young adults 25 and under. Volunteers and social service agencies conducted the second annual one-night count in May, targeting homeless youth.

Count: Number of homeless in Bellingham drops

The Associated Press — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:24:38 +0000

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A count by a volunteers showed the number of homeless people in Bellingham is declining.

Housing advocates say their organizations have had success in a difficult economy by targeting services to the most vulnerable. The Bellingham Herald reports that volunteers counted 500 homeless people during the Jan. 26 "point in time" count, compared to 700 last year.

Homelessness as defined for the count includes living on the street or in a vehicle, an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

Homeless find home at Occupy Seattle, so is it still a protest?

Paula Wissel — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:34:14 +0000

More and more homeless people are joining protesters occupying Seattle’s Westlake Park. The Occupy Wall Street movement has a special attraction for people who sleep on the streets.

When you walk through Westlake Park, in the heart of downtown Seattle’s shopping district, you notice the donated tarps and sleeping bags on hand to keep people warm. And there's a big tent where you can get a cheese sandwich or receive first aid.

If you don’t have a home, it seems like a good place to hang out.

Vancouver, B.C., wants to end homelessness, expects a battle

Craig McCulloch — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:30:00 +0000

City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia, is debating a strategy to end homelessness within ten years, and the always contentious issue has comparisons to efforts already under way in King County.

Kitsap considering tax to benefit homeless

Keith Seinfeld — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:22:09 +0000

Advocates for the homeless in Kitsap County say there’s not enough money to provide services – so they’re talking about the possibility of a new tax.

Gates family, employees celebrate opening of new campus

Keith Seinfeld — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:08:05 +0000

More than a thousand workers at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have moved into their new campus across the street from Seattle Center. Celebrations are planned tonight (Thursday) and this weekend. Foundation leaders say they want to be more visible to the public.

(A public open-house is this Saturday, from 10am-4pm. Advance registration is required, here.)

Alternative for mentally ill in crisis stirs debate

Keith Seinfeld — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:01:42 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-950950.mp3

Crisis centers for the mentally ill are gaining popularity across Washington, as a way to help people and potentially save taxpayers' money. They’re an alternative to jails and emergency rooms.

But these short-term treatment centers are also running into hostility. Potential neighbors are unhappy about being next door to a facility where patients arrive by police car and ambulance, in the middle of a mental health or drug crisis.

In central Seattle, an angry backlash of homeowners is threatening to delay the opening of a proposed “Crisis Solutions Center.” The location is on a block near Rainier Avenue and Dearborn, where businesses and stores give way to single-family homes.

Poet in Seattle's Tent City

KPLU News Staff — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:02:30 +0000

Is there poetry in homelessness? Poet A.K. Mimi Allin is exploring that question while she lives with Seattle's Ten City homeless encampment this winter.

Allin is in the last few weeks of her three-month experiment. In December, she joined about 80 people who make up Tent City's current digs in the parking lot of Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in northeast Seattle.

Cold snap hard on the homeless

Liam Moriarty — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:36:38 +0000

The recent icy winds and frigid temperatures have been making life uncomfortable for pretty much everybody. But for folks without a place to call home, the cold snap can make an already-difficult life miserable.

Nickelsville moving to former Lake City fire station

Gary Davis — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:23:49 +0000

The Nickelsville homeless encampment will soon occupy a former Seattle fire station in Lake City. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced the camp could have immediate use the old Fire Station 39, left vacant after a facility was constructed next door.