成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

‘This is not Free-attle;’ Mayor Murray outlines $275M levy for homelessness

Mar 8, 2017, 1:04 PM | Updated: 3:35 pm

Murray, homeless funding...

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced how the city would use the millions raised from a proposed property-tax levy on Wednesday. (City of Seattle)

(City of Seattle)

The money raised from a property-tax levy proposed by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray would provide rental subsidies to get people off the streets, Murray announced Wednesday.

The $275 million raised over five years would also be used to expand shelters and treatment services as well as pump more resources into the newly created navigation team — a group of outreach workers and police officers dedicated to the city’s homeless issue.

The mayor will try to qualify the levy for the August ballot as a citizens’ initiative, reports. In order to qualify for the ballot, 20,638 signature would be needed.

“I know there won’t be agreement on all sides, but business as usual has not worked,” Murray said.

, Murray said he wants to increase property taxes this year to generate more money for the city鈥檚 homelessness crisis.

“My hope is that this plan will put the squeeze on the problem,” he said on Wednesday.

As he announced his plans for the additional funding raised through property taxes, Murray said, again, that the help he’s been seeking from the federal government isn’t coming.

“It has become clear to me since the presidential election that we are on our own,” he said.

Murray said he formed an advisory group for how to raise $55 million. The city currently spends more than $8 million a year on emergency shelters, more than $4 million a year on transitional housing and more than $9 million a year on permanent supportive housing.

Last week, the city released the results of a $100,000 survey of about 1,000 homeless people, and officials with the city鈥檚 Human Services Department touted the importance of more affordable housing and more low-barrier shelters.

Related: Over half of homeless admit to using drugs, alcohol

Murray referred to the survey in his news conference on Wednesday, saying that it “busted many of myths” that we have about the homeless. He pointed out that 40 percent are employed, 20 percent said housing affordability is the main reason they’re homeless, 30 percent are under 30 (years old), 35 percent are suffering from a substance abuse disorder, and 23 percent come from our foster care system, 14 percent are veterans, and 25.5 percent are African Americans, according to the survey.

“We also learned that this is not Freeattle,” Murray said. “70 percent of the people who are homeless lived in this area. They worked and they are our neighbors.”

Murray also said that most — or 90 percent of those surveyed — want services and housing.

成人X站 7 News is tracking community-generated reports of to help illustrate the size and scope of this crisis. Seattle leaders do not keep a public map of homeless camps.

The city鈥檚 sanctioned homeless camps are a temporary fix to Seattle鈥檚 homeless crisis, according to the mayor鈥檚 office.

Murray鈥檚 long-term solution, 鈥,鈥 involves expanding 24-hour shelter services and refocusing the city鈥檚 homeless solutions to an individual-based approach. The program is expected to take a couple of years to set up.

Meanwhile, the city has implemented a 鈥渂ridging the gap鈥 program. Seattle only has a handful of sanctioned homeless camps under this program. The rest of the camps that pop up across the city are unauthorized.

The city of Seattle defines a camp as three or more tents.

More than 2,000 people are unsheltered in Seattle on any given night, according to the latest homeless count by volunteers.

If you have a question about a camp around your home, you can contact the city of Seattle by calling 206-684-2489 or聽.

成人X站 7 contributed to this story

MyNorthwest News

Titan...

Associated Press

Titan sub disaster was caused by weak safety and oversight, Coast Guard says

The Coast Guard said the Titan sub disaster was caused by weak safety and oversight.

21 minutes ago

Photo: With nine days until the election, Washington ballot returns are coming in at a slower pace ...

成人X站 Newsradio staff

It’s primary election day 鈥 here’s what you need to know

Primary election results will be released on August 5.

59 minutes ago

Alaska Airlines flights Iceland London...

MyNorthwest Staff

Alaska Airlines adds nonstop flights from Sea-Tac to Iceland and London

Seattleites will soon have more options for international travel, with Alaska Airlines announcing a major expansion of its long-haul routes, according to 成人X站 7.

1 hour ago

Starbucks close pick-up stores...

MyNorthwest Staff

Starbucks ending pick-up store format, up to 5 closures expected in Seattle

Starbucks plans to eliminate its mobile-order-only Pick Up store concept by 2026, a move that could impact up to five locations in the Seattle area.

2 hours ago

WA wine sales decline...

Jason Sutich

WA wineries hit by 18% sales decline over past 3 years

Wine sales in Washington have recorded a substantial drop in recent years, down more than 18% since 2021, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.

2 hours ago

Buffalo herd US 12 closed...

Jason Sutich

Buffalo herd closes both directions of US 12 in Elma

A herd of buffalo blocked both directions of the highway on US 12 in Elma at 6:40 a.m. on Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Transportation confirmed.

4 hours ago

‘This is not Free-attle;’ Mayor Murray outlines $275M levy for homelessness