Re: “Seattle residents report encampments in record numbers” (Oct. 3, Undertaking Homeless):
The rise in campsite studies is proof of our system’s failure, not that Seattle is enhancing. Greg Kim writes, “Greater than 50,000 studies have been made within the first eight months of this yr, a 66% enhance in comparison with the identical time interval final yr, regardless of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s declare that the variety of tents has dropped 80% since he entered workplace.” That’s displacement, not development.
“Our Unified Care Staff was not designed to finish homelessness,” Harrell stated. As a substitute, it forces people to maneuver from one block to a different with out offering them with viable options. Whereas greater than 4,300 folks sleep exterior each evening, Seattle has solely added 13 shelter items since 2021. Tent elimination merely conceals homelessness; it doesn’t handle it.
We are able to spend tens of millions on issues that actually profit us, reminiscent of inexpensive housing, drug therapy and psychological well being companies, if we are able to additionally allocate funds to “maintain parks and sidewalks clear.” Sure, everybody ought to have entry to scrub parks, however first, they want a spot to go.
Dylan Martinez, Seattle
