Homelessness

Week in Review: Burien, police, and uncommitted delegates

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with The Stranger’s Rich Smith, Seattle Channel’s Brian Callanan, and political analyst and contributing columnist Joni Balter

Burien's camping ban draws (more) legal scrutiny

The debate over homeless encampments in Burien is getting messier. Last week after the city widened a controversial ban on camping, the King County Sheriff’s Office said deputies would not enforce the rule, which they suspect is unconstitutional. A lawsuit from the Sheriff’s Office followed, and now a federal court will decide. Publicola Editor and Publisher Erica Barnett is here to talk about this escalating situation.

Libraries in Western Washington confront the challenges of being open to all

Libraries are taking on a new role as social service providers, hiring mental health professionals and in some cases building an entire in-house social services team to help people in crisis who come to the library because they have nowhere else to go.

Tukwila is swelling with asylum-seekers. What can be done?

When asylum-seekers began showing up at the door of Tukwila's Riverton Park United Methodist Church last year, Rev. Jan Bolerjack felt it was the church's duty to care for them. But as the situation worsened over the months, the reverend said it's now more than one church, in one Washington town, can handle.

Safe parking lots are trending, but can the Seattle area meet the need?

Safe parking programs have gained traction in recent years – there are now an estimated dozen lots available across the state, many sponsored by churches. They’re responding to an often invisible problem: people who sleep in their vehicles, with nowhere to legally park and access a restroom. But identifying the need – and ramping up services – are two different challenges.

Rocky times leave homelessness philanthropy a question mark

Homelessness 'is no longer just Seattle’s problem'

Homelessness, and especially people living outside is a growing problem across the country. Seattle and other expensive cities feel the brunt of that rise, but the crisis is showing up in smaller, suburban cities too. Seattle Times reporter Anna Patrick explains how one King County city’s experience details how things can cycle, and how we might be able to make change.