Homelessness
—Affront to Working People—
Political patrons flip on taxes.
By Krist Novoselić (March 7, 2025)
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 2024 Assessment on Homelessness, unfortunately, shows homelessness increasing in the country — with our state as one of the worst. The HUD study states, “Between 2023 and 2024, Washington reported a 56 percent increase in the number of individuals experiencing chronic patterns of homelessness (4,295 more individuals).”
The Seattle Times wrote, The new report on homelessness shows a catastrophe for WA; making the point that government spending focused more on housing than basic shelter.
Here is the difference in approaches:
The permanent supportive housing approach is expensive and slow to build. This explains how we have spent so much money on the crisis while not progressing.
HUD policy prioritizes Housing First, tying the concept to federal funding. Facilities which accept HUD funds cannot promote abstinence.
The 2024 HUD report is a bad look for King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA).
The authority’s governance has also been a rocky road. The agency used to have three governing boards. One of them, the Implementation Board, has been scuttled. This now leaves the respective Governing and the Continuum of Care boards. The latter carries out mandatory functions required by HUD funding requirements.
The new agreement among the jurisdictions within the Authority not only changed the governance structure, it specifies the mission of KCRHA to provide for “immediate needs” i.e. transitional housing / shelter. This implies moving away from permanent supportive housing / Housing First. This is a good move as people need shelter and care. Housing First is too expensive and not working.
If you wonder why Governor Ferguson is promoting fiscal responsibility, consider last year’s battle over the initiatives. The massive funders which supported the taxes are now opposing Olympia's new revenue proposals. The Washington Observer writes,
Let’s remember that in last year’s initiative campaigns, business writ large was on the Legislature’s side. Microsoft itself gave $1 million to the campaign to defend the Climate Commitment Act, and the conservative slate of initiatives were generally starved for money, which helped lead to their failures.
Also, Let’s Go Washington, the largely DIY committee behind that slate, was putting on a show in a barn, and it showed in the results. When Corporate America goes to the ballot, they bust out the big checkbook and hire a crew of ruthless mercenaries to scorch the earth. [My emphasis]
No wonder there was a bill making qualifying for initiatives and referendum harder! Legislators supporting the bill could have been reacting to this political situation.🤷♀️
At any rate, considering how November's tax repeal initiatives lost, leaders of the majority caucuses were supremely confident voters would be agreeable to tax increases for the 2025 session. According to the WA Observer article quoted, that wind no longer fills their sails — last year’s corporate guardian angels have now fell to earth as business interests opposing new taxes.
Let's follow Gov. Ferguson’s lead of cutting state spending. A great way to save money is to drop the expensive Housing First policy, and instead maintain spending for shelter and care for people in need.
Here is a scenario regarding the sense of fairness:
Let’s say you’re Generation Z, getting started. You’re working an entry level job in a state with a housing crisis resulting in expensive rent. You have to work almost every day to pay your bills.
On the other hand, you’re the same age, but a drug addict panhandling and stealing. Apparently, this entitles you to a free apartment!
There were abundant 2024 election post mortems by Democrats dismayed at losing the Whitehouse. Most lamented how the party had disconnected from the working class. DC Democrats, instead of looking at the consequences of their own policies, are responding by flashing ping pong paddles with slogans.
Housing First exemplifies urban elites oblivious to the notion of the work ethic. This ethic has a role in shaping individual character, which ultimately contributes to society.
Housing First is a bad message that’s paid for with borrowed money.
Federal HUD funds emerged from an accumulated $36.2 trillion in federal debt. Unlike many aging urban elites, hard working youth will eventually have to pay off this colossal debt.
Regardless of pervasive slogans from young urban renters, there will not be “Tax the Rich” federal policy for at least four years.
I understand concern over the current slash and burn approach to federal finances, however, shed no tears over dumping Housing First.
Considering what's happening federally, it’s safe to predict HUD policy for Housing First will be repealed. Federal funds / incentives to local contractors for implementing this terrible policy will stop.
A new direction for federal policy also lines up with KCRHA’s recent changes prioritizing shelter, which is good news. Nevertheless, we’ll still hear from some candidates, and the forces supporting them, how we need to spend more with addressing homelessness — even though HUD says our state, which already spends hundreds of millions on the issue, is now almost at the top of the country with the problem.
Housing First can be destructive to individuals by enabling addiction. Many people need more care than an exclusive apartment will ever provide. Housing First is expensive and slow to implement. It’s not fair to working people.
Let's spend our money better. Cutting Housing First reallocates tax money towards care and shelter to really help those in need.
Krist Novoselić is Cascade Party Chair. He serves on the board of directors in an at-large position.
(Image: Andrea Suarez)
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