Two months into her term, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has yet to change course on homelessness despite pledging to be different from predecessor Bruce Harrell, We Heart Seattle Executive Director Andrea Suarez contended.
Suarez told “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio that Wilson’s approach is just a “rinse and repeat” of the last four years.
Suarez: ‘Half the people in those encampments have housing’
In the State of the City address last month, Wilson highlighted sweeping a Ballard encampment. Although six people were placed in housing, Wilson acknowledged the city lacks enough housing, shelter, and services for every transient. But Suarez said a lack of housing and services isn’t the issue; it’s the people who refuse to accept help.
“Based on my experience over five years, half the people who are in those encampments have housing,” she said. “Any social outreach worker will tell you people have housing or had housing. And so we have to have a new plan for the service resistant.”…