Homelessness Response Blog

Following Mayor Durkan’s announcement to increase the City of Seattle’s bridge housing and shelter units by 25 percent by creating 500 safer spaces, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) has worked with partners to bring resources online and available to people experiencing homelessness. With Seattle’s shelters operating at or near capacity on a nightly […]

The City of Seattle makes significant investments to clean up trash resulting from the homelessness crisis. The numbers below have been updated to reflect amounts collected during all of 2018. Removing Trash from Unmanaged Encampments: In 2017, City removed 3,205 tons (6,410,000 pounds) of garbage and waste from unmanaged encampments. In 2018, the City has removed more than […]

Due to increasing rent and chronic illness, Sarah Childs feared that she would become homeless before she received her Housing Choice Voucher (formerly Section 8). Through the Seattle Rental Housing Assistance Pilot, Ms. Childs and her family received financial assistance to help them remain housed. Read more about her story here. The Human Services Department […]

Seattle is the first city in the country to open tiny house villages to people living unsheltered.  These villages are outdoor, temporary accommodations for people who are living in conditions that threaten their health and safety. Villages offer tiny house-like living structures, community kitchens, hygiene services and case management to clients that have lived outside […]