CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to homelessness in the City of Seattle; finding that a risk to public health and safety exists in the City of Seattle; authorizing the loan of funds from the City's Consolidated (Residual) Cash Pool, or its participating funds, in the amount of $5,000,000 into the General Subfund; providing for the repayment of said loan; and amending Ordinance 124648, which adopted the 2015 Budget, changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.
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WHEREAS, the City of Seattle, like many other cities across the United States, is facing a homelessness crisis; and
WHEREAS, the region's shelter bed capacity outweighs the increased demand, leaving too many seniors, families, and individuals sleeping on the streets; and
WHEREAS, the City's Human Services Department invests nearly $43,000,000 annually to assist single adults, youth and young adults, families, survivors of domestic violence, older adults, and veterans who are currently at-risk of or experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the City has undertaken numerous efforts to address the homelessness crisis, including creating an Emergency Task Force on Unsheltered Homelessness, developing a Homelessness Investment Analysis, completing the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, converting a City-owned building on Roy Street into an emergency shelter, supporting Mary's Place with temporary shelter capacity in a City-owned building, and authorizing legal encampments on City and private property; and
WHEREAS, despite these continued and enhanced efforts, the number of homeless in the city and the region continues to climb; and
WHEREAS, the 2015 One Night Count found that 3,772 individuals were living outside and unsheltered in King County, representing a 21 percent increase from the 2014 count; and
WHEREAS, ...
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