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Photo Courtesy City of Seattle. Even after $25 billion is spent on homelessness in King County, the plan is that some residents will still be living in tiny houses, safe RV parking, and safe vehicle parks. Permanent housing will cost extra.
There’s been a lot of media and public commentary on the King County Regional Homelessness Authority’s (KCRHA) proposed 5-year plan, currently out for public comment. The main reaction has been shock and dismay at the high price tag. It runs roughly around 8 billion in capital costs and 17 billion in 5-year operating costs.
But one aspect of this plan is still not widely known, and deserves explanation. The KCRHA plan is a $25 Billion dollar 5-year plan to provide “Temporary Housing.” Permanent housing for the 23,000 homeless covered by the plan is still up to Cities, Counties, and local housing authorities. You read that right: when the $25 billion dollar plan is fully implemented, people will still be living in a conglomeration of shelters, safe vehicle parking spots, tiny houses, skilled nursing facilities, converted hotels, supportive apartments, and emergency shelters. Once individuals are healthy and independent enough to safely move to a proper long-term home, that will cost extra. Per item 2 on page 26 of the plan, “…responsibility for permanent housing capital financing and development remains with the federal, state, King County, and city/local jurisdictions..”
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