King County just reported record high homelessness numbers despite record high spending to solve homelessness. That’s a result only plausible under the leadership of unaccountable bureaucrats at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) who are intent on impending unproven, far-left policies to solve a serious problem. It’s leftist ideologues playing with taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.

In what likely amounts to an undercount, the 2024 “Point-In-Time Count” found that 16,385 people experience homelessness on a given day. This is the largest number ever reported in Seattle and King County, despite a 10-Year Plan launched in 2005 to end homelessness by 2015. Since then, homelessness has risen exponentially, with the 2024 figures showing a 23 percent increase from 2022. Unsheltered homelessness increased by over 27 percent, from 7,685 people in 2022 to 9,810 in 2024, while sheltered homelessness rose by more than 15 percent.

But even those dire numbers may not be the full story. As the Post Millennial points out, the federal Point-In-Time Count only reflects “a one-day snapshot rather than showing the homeless population over time.” So, using the Washington Department of Commerce’s estimate “nearly 54,000 people experienced homelessness in King County throughout 2024.”

Despite the findings, King County Executive Dow Constantine’s office wants to go full force ahead and continue the “housing first” model. As the voice of reason in King County, Councilmember Reagan Dunn called for ending the KCRHA due to the more than obvious poor returns on investment. For its part, the City of Seattle, a top funder of KCRHA, has asked the failing organization to reduce its budget – but only due to a forecasted budget deficit. Read more at The Post Millennial.

King County isn’t alone in spending an unprecedented amount of taxpayer dollars on the homelessness (and housing affordability) crisis with little to no return on investment. According to an analysis over at the Washington Standard, Washington state increased its spending on housing and homelessness from around $200 million to $400 million in each two-year budget cycle between 2013 and 2021. But, during the last four years, spending surged with over $4 billion allocated in the past two state budgets, amounting to 80% of the $5 billion spent since 2013. The spike includes more than $1 billion in federal COVID aid.

All in all, Washington has invested about $3.4 billion in homelessness prevention and $1.9 billion in housing construction since 2013, totaling around $5.3 billion. Between 2013 and 2021, spending averaged $262 million per two-year budget, while the past two budgets combined saw over $4.2 billion. The current two-year state budget is around $72 billion.

Where is all this taxpayer money going? The state’s housing and essential needs support program received $130 million this cycle, compared to $114 million in the last cycle and $78 million in 2019-2021. Since 2021, $1.5 billion has been spent on housing construction, compared to $446 million between 2013 and 2021. The Housing Trust Fund, initially the only funding source for affordable housing, received $56 million in 2013 and a record $500 million in the past two years. The state has also funded emergency housing, temporary shelters, rural housing rehabilitation, and mobile home preservation.

And what are the results of the record spending? Despite the spending spike in recent year, affordable housing has not kept up with population growth, with only one affordable home available for every five households in need. As for the homelessness crisis, well, that’s increased too – as is self-evident in communities across our state. Read more at the Washington Standard.

If you didn’t get a chance to read Friday’s Daily Briefing, the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) is spearheading Initiative 2066, aiming to repeal parts of the Democrats’ burdensome new state law that effectively bans natural gas. The initiative not only seeks to overturn the law but also aims to prevent local governments from prohibiting or discouraging the use of gas in buildings. Additionally, if passed, it would nullify recent energy code changes that heavily encourage builders to choose electric heat pumps for new constructions.

In addition to BIAW, I-2066 is backed by organizations like Washington Hospitality Association, Washington Realtors, and Let’s Go Washington. To qualify for the November ballot, the initiative requires 324,516 valid signatures by July 5. To ensure enough valid signatures, the initiative must secure at least 405,000. For more information, click here.

UW admin appears all too ready to play cover-up for antisemitic so-called “protestors”…

The Seattle Times appears all too ready to play cover-up for, well, Democrats…

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