Seattle faces many of the same issues as Portland. If you have trouble getting past the paywall to read these stories, please let me know and I'll send you the full text. The first story quotes PSU Prof. Marisa Zapata-- sb
How many homeless people are in King County? Depends who you ask
July 4, 2022 at 6:00 am Updated July 6, 2022 at 2:37 pm
By
Greg Kim
Seattle Times staff reporter
Since the data-driven Marc Dones was hired to lead the new King County Regional Homelessness Authority, one of their main priorities has been to get an accurate count of the homeless population.
“You have to understand the scope and scale of the problem in order to design solutions to meet the need,” Dones said.....(etc.)
Can a new encampment strategy get people housed permanently? Two Seattle campers find different answers
July 17, 2022 at 6:00 am Updated July 19, 2022 at 8:05 am
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/can-a-new-encampment-strategy-get-people-housed-permanently-two-seattle-campers-find-different-answers/
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By
Scott Greenstone
Seattle Times staff reporter
The social safety net in the U.S. can sometimes feel like more gaps than threads.
Last fall, a Seattle Times reporter and photographer followed Grandma and Gonzo, two longtime campers who hoped to be caught in it. They moved from tents in an encampment near Bitter Lake to temporary housing in a hotel, as a step — they hoped — toward a permanent home.
They share a life spent mostly outside, conflicted relationships with their addictions, personalities roughened by the realities of survival and an ability to build and foster community on the streets.
One made it to housing, one didn’t.
During the months of reporting, the city was testing a slow-and-steady approach of clearing encampments, focused on helping people who are often left out of the homelessness system because their challenges are so complex. Since then, a new mayor has accelerated the pace of rousting encampments.
As Seattle wrestles to find the best approach, these two show how tenuous the path to a stable home can be for each person walking it.
(etc.)
