The Seattle Is Dying documentary on KOMO-TV has triggered an avalanche of attention to the city’s homeless/drug/mental health/crime crisis. Never in my 55 years in Seattle have I seen local media recognize an issue raised by one of their competitors like the TV and radio stations, newspapers and blogs have done in response to the KOMO documentary. Each, of course, has been giving it their own spin, but all acknowledge the problem.
Last week’s posts about the Homeless Central idea, and Rick Stanton’s column on New York City’s approach to homelessness and crime, drew comments from our readers and one long and extraordinary analysis of the problem that’s posted last below.
Comments emailed to larrycoffman@frontier.com will be recorded, but names of the writers will not be published (unless requested), in the interest of gaining maximum possible participation. Here are some of the comments to date:
“It’s time to stop being tolerant of intolerance. The bureaucracy of Seattle politics has created a society of utopian drug addiction and unchecked mental illness. I’m as left-leaning as the next person, but enough is enough. Let the cops do their jobs and pass laws that will recapture the downtown as a “zero-tolerance” zone. Do away with needle exchanges, safe-injection sites (an oxymoron if there ever was one) and revolving-door judicial programs. Drug addiction is NOT a disease, it’s a choice. Time to take a stand.”
“You know something that I do think makes a lot of sense for the advertising community is to get involved in a campaign designed to try and stop more people from getting into the tent and taking that first hit. We know that advertising works and that we as an industry have been successful in the past cutting through things like smoking. I truly believe quitting is very hard or, in many cases, impossible. And advertising can only go so far. But can we be a part of a program that stops people from ever starting? We, as an industry, are uniquely positioned to help…”
“It seems to me the obvious way to better address the problem is by going to New York City and finding out in detail what they’re doing differently and apply it here.”
“A Different Solution and New Approach To Dealing with the Homeless Crisis in Seattle/King County
“Over the past year, I have collected Business Journal and Seattle Times articles as well as KOMO News and other media reports on homelessness in Seattle—-Getting more frustrated, and irritated with each article I read. Why?? Here’s why:
“In 2018 more than $1.06 Billion was spent to supply services to the 12,000 individuals now homeless in Seattle/King County, about $88,000 per homeless person.
“Over that past 10 years the City spent $90 million on the construction of 1,482 permanent supportive housing units, which hasn’t even kept pace with the increase of 3,000 in the homeless population over that same time period. The City spent another $32 million on temporary shelters for the homeless, and its budget for emergency shelters in 2009 which was $4.2 million ballooned to $16 million in 2018. Yet, the City of Seattle’s own “Point in Time” report, confirms that the number of those living un-sheltered on our streets has almost tripled– from 2,631 in 2009 to more than “6,300 homeless living on the street, parks, tents, vehicles or other places not meant for human habitation”. Obviously what we are doing isn’t working.
“Then there is the issue of the $1 billion currently being spent to provide the services to the homeless. $746 million are for services being provided by non-profits, another $119 million for health care, and $155 million on real estate. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/05/17/mckinsey-study-king-county-homelessness-crisis.html
“Barbara Poppe, former head of the U.S. Inter Agency Council on Homelessness and a consultant to the City doesn’t think we should be building temporary encampments and doesn’t believe that we are spending the money wisely. Here is what she had to say: “The system is too complex, too inconsistent, and to opaque with at least 350 programs across 135 different providers. That’s a lot of complexity and lot of small programs and that makes everything more challenging”
https://www.jakinney.com/all-blog/2017/12/5/should-seattle-be-building-tent-cities-for-the-homeless
“Adding insult to injury, we can’t even agree on the causes of the problem. Many blame the liberal policies of the City that attract homeless to the area, others to drug addiction and disability. The City Council appears to think the problem is the price of housing in the area and the wage disparity caused by Amazon and the tech companies. The McKinsey study did show a high correlation between rent hikes and homelessness in Seattle. However, ‘correlation is not causation’ as noted in an article in the Autumn addition of the City Journal entitled “Seattle Under Siege”. The article also pointed out that King County’s own study showed “only 6% of homeless people surveyed cited that not being able to afford rent increases was the precipitating cause of their situation”. This article is a must be read for anyone living in the Seattle King County area. https://www.city-journal.org/seattle-homelessness
“it seems the more money we spend, the more services we provide, the less we seem to understand, and the worse the problem becomes. It reminds me of a famous quote attributed to Albert Einstein. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing year after year expecting different results”.
“Let’s look at why it is not working:
- “The City of Seattle’s Housing First program’s goal is to provide a permanent housing solution for the homeless. It requires few or no pre-conditions such as mandatory participation in mental health or substance use disorder treatment for the people they serve, although voluntary help is offered, and cases are managed. They claim success even though others point to a lack of statistics on the rate of recidivism, and the cost when considering the percentage of the homeless population these cases represent.
- ‘While Housing First is a sound idea, it should be prioritized. Most important it is not feasible to provide a home for every homeless person. An analysis of the results to date show, and the “Seattle Under Siege” article points out “even with the money from the proposed head tax, which was voted down, the city would have built at most 187 units per year. It would have taken 60 years to provide housing for all of those who are currently homeless”.
- “The City of Seattle’s own survey states that 70% or approximately 8,000+ homeless suffer from one or a combination of the following disorders: psychiatric or emotional conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, physical disability, or chronic health problems. More than 50% (4,000+) of those stated that their disorder prevented them from holding employment, living in stable housing, or taking care of themselves. This element represents the vast majority of the 6,300 homeless who now live on the ‘street, parks, tents, vehicles or other encampments not meant for human habitation,’ as well as those living in the 9 existing City authorized homeless encampments. The conditions and activity in the surrounding areas support these findings.
- “The encampments themselves are riddled with human waste, hypodermic needles, hazardous waste, and rats. They are a blight on the city, present a significant public safety risk, and cost to the tax payer to police and clean-up. https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-clears-out-sodo-homeless-camp
http://mynorthwest.com/1267010/lawmaker-more-wsdot-clear-freeway-homeless-camps/
• “The neighborhoods surrounding these locations, and the locations providing services to the homeless have reported a significant increase in crime ranging from drug deals, car break-ins, petty theft, vandalism, assault, rape and murder. In SODO a 26% increase, In Ballard, a 103% increase in an area surrounding a tiny home village. The potential cost to business in terms of additional security, cleanup and loss of revenues as well the loss in property values is a cost that has never been properly calculated and is being ignored by the City Council. Despite the opposition by business owners, and residents to the establishment of such shelters in their neighborhoods, and the mountains of evidence supporting their claims about property values, business disruption, and the risk that shelters might increase crime rates the City chooses to carry on with business as usual. http://mynorthwest.com/1182082/homeless-crime-crisis-sodo-seattle/
http://mynorthwest.com/1167146/rantz-homeless-punching-urinating-seattle-pioneer-square/
“Given this background and dismal performance to date, is there really a practical solution to deal with this issue? Yes, but it requires a change in our mindset on homelessness, and it may be equally expensive because it requires dealing with the causes, not the symptoms of homelessness.
“Regarding ‘mindset’:
- “Individual rights assume obligations. We all have a right to drive a car. However, we have an obligation to pass a driver’s test, maintain a valid driver’s license, and secure insurance, all for the protection of the individual and the public at large. In the same vein a homeless person living on public streets, encampments or in housing at the expense of non-profits and tax payer dollars has obligations as well. More on that later.
• “We have a moral obligation to help those who need a helping hand or who cannot help themselves, However, we have no obligation to those who are unwilling to help themselves. We also must remember the City’s own surveys indicate that 8,000 of the homeless suffer from one or a combination of disorders including psychiatric or emotional conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, physical disability, or chronic health problems. As previously noted, more than 4,000+ of those stated that their disorder prevented them from holding employment, living in stable housing, or taking care of themselves. Many of these individuals may refuse help not because they do not want or need it, but because of a lack of trust or an inability to understand. Some “tough love” may be needed in these cases. As you evaluate my solution and approach to dealing with this group you need to ask: Will they be better off living in their current conditions?
• “As difficult as it is to believe for the more empathetic among us, there are those living homeless on our streets who are “gaming the system” They choose to live a drug filled life on the street with no rules. Some have come to our City because of the liberal policies we have toward the homeless and will not accept any restrictions imposed.
• “Providing shelter for the homeless does not address the underlying cause of why the person is homeless. It simply masks the underlying problem. We have been treating the symptoms. We should be treating the causes.
Now the solution:
“First: In a data driven world, given the scope and complexity of the problem, as well as the enormous costs incurred, it is amazing how little real-life data we have on the underlying cause of homelessness. We can’t simply rely on sample surveys, if we really want to deal with the cause of why that person is homeless. We must rely on information based on extensive penetrating interviews conducted by medical and psychiatric professionals. We can’t really help a homeless person if we don’t know the underlying problems.
“My approach would require each of the previously mentioned 6,300 homeless now living on the streets, parks, tents, vehicles or other places not meant for human habitation” to register as homeless at which time they would be fingerprinted, facially identified and provided an identification card. They would undergo an intensive interview to determine how long they have lived in Seattle, and their reasons for being homeless. They will then undergo a physical as well as a psychological interview. (For every right there is an obligation). Is it expensive? Yes– Assuming $1500 to $2,000 per person- a guestimate! — the cost will be $9.5 to $13 million. However, it is a small price to pay for the information we receive and considering the $1 billion+ per year we are currently spending. For the first time we will be able to answer the Liberal and Conservative voices on all sides of this issue, and deal with the cause, not the symptom of homelessness. We can begin to address the help they really need.
“This process will allow us to:
- “Prioritize those ready to enter the Housing First program. Single mothers with children, subjects of domestic violence, those who have mild disorders, those who recently lost their job and or are mentally and physically capable of working, or totally disabled should be given preference for housing in their local area and offered job training. Even they need to be held accountable
- ‘Identify those who have recently come to our City because of liberal policies toward drugs and homelessness, have not held a job and prefer to live an autonomous unregulated life on the street. They will be given 48 hours to leave the City and bus fare to the City from which they came.
- ‘Identify any person subsequently living on the street without an ID card. If they refuse to register or leave the City, they would be arrested and confined to an isolated cell for a period of 30 days, during which time they would again be asked to register. If they still refuse to register, they will be required once again to leave the City. The premise: We should be willing to use our tax dollars to help those who are willing to help themselves but have no obligation to help those who are not. As I discussed my ideas others, many said “Can we really put them in jail if they refuse to register and accept help? I completed this essay, when I stumbled upon the approach taken by the City of Marysville, See the link below. So, I ask: If Marysville can, why can’t Seattle? http://mynorthwest.com/1211486/marysville-mayor-homeless-problem-social-workers/
- “Identify those who are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, mental, physical disorders that require short, intermediate or long-term rehabilitation programs in a centralized setting. If national statistics are any guide this segment comprises a large percentage of the homeless population. The only way we will find out is through a data driven registration process. If the statistics prove out, we can now effectively house and provide programs for the remaining homeless
“Second, Homelessness should be the “national emergency” not a border wall. Unfortunately involving the Federal government would be a painstakingly long process. However, Homelessness is a statewide issue as you can see by the similar problems with encampments in Chehalis. The State needs to be involved in solving the problem.
“There are an additional 12,000 homeless in smaller cities in the State of Washington experiencing the same type of homeless issues as Seattle. I have personal experience with homeless issues on properties in Everett, Kelso, and Longview.
“The first step is to have the State of Washington donate a large surplus land parcel, sized for facilities that you would find on a typical military base. The improvements to be built would include barracks (temporary housing], kitchen and medical facilities. These improvements could be completed in a fraction of the time, and cost that is now being paid and could provide all the services needed in one place. Construction funding would come from donations, state and local taxes, federal grants etc. The purpose would be to provide:
- “Housing for those interviewees found to be severely mentally disabled or have psychiatric disorders, who are a danger to others or are in danger of abuse by others on the street, The extensive interview process, the state of their current living conditions, and the condition, and care associated with the new temporary housing will demonstrate that the rights of these mentally ill individuals have been carefully considered. The long-term objective is to transfer these individuals to permanent mental hospitals. Studies show that we need at least 50 beds per 100,000 of population We currently have 19 per 100,000. Governor Inslee’s $675 million proposal would fund hundreds of new community mental-health beds and create a partnership with the University of Washington to establish a new teaching hospital focused on behavioral health is a start. My approach should help to put pressure on the State to meet its obligations in this regard. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/inslee-unveils-plan-to-reverse-crisis-in-washingtons-mental-health-system/
• “Temporary or long-term housing and treatment for the drug and alcohol addicted in a no drug / no alcohol environment. The scope of services and overall operation offered would need to be carefully thought out, but the immediate program would be detox or medical detox in a controlled supervised environment. While abstinence is the first step additional treatment would follow. The intermediate objective is to stop compulsive drug use and improve his or her medical condition so that they can re-enter the community capable of becoming employed and a responsible family member. Once in the community there would be an obligation for continued follow-up treatment and support at the local level. We also need to understand that some will never be able to do so.
“The New York Times writes that state and federal governments spend in excess of $15 billion, insurers contribute $5 billion more on substance abuse services. The Times goes on to confirm that it’s difficult to measure the effectiveness of these services. The uniqueness and scale of this operation if properly managed and supervised could be appealing to both the Federal and State and non- profits who are looking for accountability. Consider the $150 million pledge by the Gates Foundation to fight poverty.
“While the plan may seem radical to some, the fact is that we are at a crisis point in dealing with this issue. The Seattle under Siege article points out, as homelessness increased property crime has risen two and a half times higher than Los Angeles’s and four times higher than New York City’s. Clean up crews pick up tens of thousands of dirty needles from streets and parks every day. Car break-ins and drug deals on our downtown streets are a common occurrence. Eventually it will have a significant impact on all business and tourism as well, which is why there should be a strong interest in the plan I outlined.
“As with any new plan the ‘devil is in the details’ and my plan is lacking in detail. My hope is that someone in the trenches will like the idea and run with it. I am confident that a panel drawn from influential business leaders, city officials, and nonprofits could fill in those details and make a strong case to the State to get on board.
“Solving the homeless problem requires strong leaders willing to make bold decisions.
“Let’s return to the ‘Can Do’ attitude for which Seattle once was famous.”
—Larry Coffman
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