Half of Seattle's homeless from outside the region: report

A new study has revealed that half of the people experiencing homeless in Seattle came from outside the area and have no connection to the Emerald City or surrounding area. The Discover Institute’s Center on Wealth and Poverty noted in its New Approach to Homelessness in Seattle report that the city’s homelessness crisis is the third worst in the nation, adding that the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in King County is at an all-time high and on pace to double in less than three years.

According to the report, “In addition to the tragic negative impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness, the crisis also impacts the safety and livability of the surrounding community."

The study used data of Seattle’s population experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in service programs. The information revealed that “half of those experiencing homelessness first experienced homelessness outside of Seattle or King County and have no direct connection to the area.”

The report posited “that three policies have contributed to Seattle’s homelessness crisis: 1) halting treatment requirements, 2) redistributing of funds away from an emergency response towards permanent supportive housing, and 3) utilizing a one-size-fits-all approach to different populations with unique needs.”

In King County, the latest data reveal an estimated 16,385 individuals experiencing homelessness, a 23 percent increase from the previous count in 2022. According to the report, homelessness in King County has increased every year since 2019, according to annual Point-in-Time (PIT) counts. The county’s homelessness crisis is one of the worst in the nation, with the third largest population experiencing homelessness and a per capita rate of homelessness on par with Los Angeles.

While the national population experiencing unsheltered homelessness is increasing by 12 percent, King County’s homelessness growth rate is at 28 percent and if nothing changes, the unsheltered population will double to 19,620 in under three years.

The report pointed to the adoption of the “Housing First” policy, prohibiting that federal funding for homelessness programs be combined with treatment or training requirements. By prohibiting treatment requirements, this policy change created major service gaps in substance use disorder and mental illness treatment.

The report cited a study conducted by UC Berkeley and UCLA which revealed 75 percent of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness self-report a substance use disorder or untreated mental illness. The study also found that almost half self-report that substance use disorders and/or a mental health condition contributed to their loss of housing.

In 2023, 49 percent of overdose deaths in King County were of people living unsheltered, in temporary housing, or in subsidized supportive housing. The report cited a July 2024 audit from the City of Seattle that acknowledged the high rates of fatal overdose inside permanent supportive housing, noting a 282 percent increase in overdose deaths in permanent supportive housing between 2020 and 2023.

According to the report, 10 years ago, federal funding for Continuums of Care (CoCs) was required to be divided equally among emergency beds, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing, but over the last decade, the distribution of emergency beds, transitional housing beds, and permanent supportive housing beds became heavily skewed towards the latter.

The same time span saw unsheltered homelessness increase nationwide year over year. As a result, prevailing policies aimed at addressing homelessness in Seattle and King County have halted treatment requirements, redistributed funds away from an emergency response in favor of permanent supportive housing, and utilized a one-size-fits-all approach to populations with different needs.

The Center on Wealth and Poverty recommended allocating all unrestricted funds towards treatment and recovery programs, with the goal of self-sufficiency for those experiencing homelessness. Additionally, redirecting 20 percent of homelessness and housing funding towards an emergency treatment response for the 2,450 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who have direct connection to Seattle, as well as creating two clinical tracks and requiring all service providers to align their services accordingly.