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Mayor Wilson reveals new strategy to reduce homelessness
KOMO • • nation
Key Points:
- Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a new homelessness reduction strategy based on a successful framework from Community Solutions, aiming to address a $175 million budget shortfall.
- A pilot program in Pioneer Square matched 70 of 80 identified unsheltered individuals with sustained shelter or housing, many of whom had long-term homelessness or mental health and addiction issues.
- The administration plans to scale this approach citywide, focusing on those impacting public spaces, and proposes adding 960 shelter beds over two years, fewer than the originally pledged 1,000 beds per year.
- The homelessness plan is projected to serve about 1,750 people annually at a cost of $37 million, utilizing existing resources alongside the shelter acceleration initiative.
- Mayor Wilson's proposed $9.1 billion 2027 budget includes $500 million for affordable housing and homelessness services, with significant allocations for housing preservation, homelessness response, and food security.
