homelessness Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Supporters of tenant rights bill make their voices heard at city hall

By Lauren Gallup May 26, 2023

On May 25, a number of supporters of the Tacoma For All initiative for tenant protections, rallied in front of the City Hall building. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

Organizers from the housing justice group Tacoma For All and their supporters gathered with signs and megaphones Thursday afternoon to show their support of the initiative, known colloquially as a tenant bill of rights, which Tacoma For All hopes to get on the ballot for voters this fall. The rally took place before a meeting of the city’s Community Vitality and Safety Read More

Gov. Inslee leans into housing and homelessness in 2023 State of the State address

By Tom Banse January 10, 2023

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee walks through the Capitol building in Olympia, en route to deliver his annual State of the State address, Jan. 10, 2023

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee emphasized housing construction and homelessness response during his 2023 State of the State address on Tuesday. The issue is a bipartisan priority for the state Legislature, but approaches differ among the lawmakers who convened in Olympia this week. Read More

Here are six issues atop the agenda for the 2023 Washington Legislature

By Tom Banse January 6, 2023

The flowers in the Washington State Capitol's sunken garden will be back in bloom by the time the 2023 Washington legislative session wraps up in April. The session starts Monday, January 9

Washington state voters and lawmakers appear to be in close alignment on their top priorities for the incoming Washington Legislature. The 2023 session gavels to order at noon on Monday, January 9. Continue Reading Here are six issues Read More

Tacoma’s new tent shelter site navigates weather, residents’ concerns

By Lauren Gallup December 14, 2022

The Forging Paths tent-shelter site, operated by the Tacoma Rescue Mission and the City of Tacoma, shelters 50 unhoused people on South 35th street and Pacific Avenue. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

It’s been cold and wet the past few weeks in Tacoma. That’s had an impact on the residents of Tacoma’s new temporary tent-shelter mitigation site, Forging Paths, off of 35th and Pacific Avenue. A resident at the site, who preferred to go by his first name Cash for privacy reasons, said one downside of living at the site has been a lack of preparation and foresight for Read More

Home in Tacoma For All says they will fight Tacoma camping ban

By Lauren Gallup October 14, 2022

Ty Moore, with the Tacoma & Pierce County Democratic Socialists of America, holds a sign in support of Home in Tacoma For All at a rally for housing justice outside the city municipal building. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

The Tacoma City Council passed an ordinance to ban camping within 10 blocks of emergency shelters in the city. Zev Cook, a staff organizer with Home in Tacoma For All, says they’ll be taking the city to court over the ordinance. Continue Read More

Tacoma City Council to vote on encampment ban around homeless shelters

By Lauren Gallup October 6, 2022

A protestor holds a sign that reads "Shelter All Before Camping Bans" at last week's Rally for Housing Justice, outside the Tacoma City Council meeting. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

Next week, Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance that would ban public-camping within 10 blocks of homeless shelters. Council member John Hines, who represents district one, introduced the ordinance. He said his goal is to make shelters, and the surrounding neighborhoods around them, safer. Read More

Local Health Care Provider Says Rate Of Homeless Patients Increased During Pandemic

By Rachel Sun April 29, 2022

Local Health Care Provider Says Rate Of Homeless Patients Increased During Pandemic Continue Reading Local Health Care Provider Says Rate Of Homeless Patients Increased During PandemicRead More

Pilot Program Looks At Equity In Helping The Homeless

By Lauren Gallup March 24, 2022

A HUD pilot program looks at ways of improving aid to help for homelessness in minority communities Listen NWPB’s Lauren Gallup looks at a pilot program aimed at better helping… Continue Reading Pilot Program Looks At Equity In Helping The Read More

Point In Time Counts in Columbia Basin

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour February 23, 2022

A flyer advertising a point in time count

The Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Department of Humans Services are coordinating to do the Annual Point in Time count this Thursday. Point-In-Time counts inform the agencies on how many individual homeless people are living in our community. Continue Read More

Tri-Cities Prepare For Homeless Count

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour February 23, 2022

The Tri-Cities are preparing to count the homeless population. CREDIT: Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Tri-Cities prepare to hit the streets to count the homeless population Listen Read The Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Department of Humans Services are coordinating to do the… Continue Reading Tri-Cities Prepare For Homeless CountRead More

Third Violent Incident Closes Parkway On Washington’s Capitol Campus

By Austin Jenkins October 28, 2021

Police tape blocks access to Deschutes Parkway on the edge of Washington's Capitol Campus on Wednesday, October 27. The Washington State Patrol was investigating a midday shooting that sent one man to the hospital. It was the third violent crime in the same area in the month of October.

For the third time this month, Deschutes Parkway, which curves past Capitol Lake along the edge of Washington’s Capitol Campus, has been closed due to a violent crime. Continue Reading Third Violent Incident Closes Parkway On Washington’s Read More

Governor Issues Newly Revamped Washington Eviction Moratorium Until September 30

By Austin Jenkins June 24, 2021

File photo of a posted rental eviction notice. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has put a revamped eviction moratorium, with some exceptions, in place until Sept. 30. The current ban was set to expire on June 30, 2021. CREDIT: Flickr/Rental Realities/ CC By 2.0

Renters who are behind on their rent in Washington will get a few more months of protection from eviction. On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a new eviction moratorium that will run through September 30. The current moratorium expires June 30 — the same day the state is set to fully reopen. Read More

For Many Areas, Count Of Homeless Population Is Canceled, Or Delayed

By NPR News January 18, 2021

Every January, in the middle of the night, thousands of volunteers and outreach workers spread out across the country to count the nation's homeless population. They search highway underpasses, wooded areas, abandoned buildings and sidewalks to locate those who are living outside. But this year, because of the pandemic, the annual street count has been canceled or modified Read More

In Seattle, People Living In Their RVs Get Help From City Waste Pumper

By NWPB News January 4, 2021

With the help of a contractor, Chris Wilkerson makes monthly visits to RVs and motor homes around the city that don't have access to dumping stations.

Starting around 2010, there has been a significant increase in spills coming from RVs and other vehicles in Seattle. It was happening as the number of people living out of their vehicles was on the rise. By one count, 891 people lived out of their vehicles in Seattle and the surrounding area in 2010. Now that number is close to 3,000. Read More

Governor Jay Inslee Extends Washington Eviction Moratorium Through End Of The Year

By NWPB News October 8, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks during an Oct. 8, 2020 news conference. CREDIT: TVW

The governor said in a news conference Wednesday that he’s concerned about housing insecurity during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Continue Reading Governor Jay Inslee Extends Washington Eviction Moratorium Through End Of Read More

To Address Homelessness, Spokane Is Starting To Put Relationships Before Punishments

By NPR News February 19, 2020

Julia Garcia started the nonprofit Jewels Helping Hands, which began by operating mobile shower units to serve Spokane's growing homeless population. CREDIT: Kirk Siegler/NPR

There's a growing consensus that a more punitive approach hasn't worked for Spokane. Nationwide, the homeless population is rising. In many communities, it can feel like an intractable problem. Yet cities like Spokane are starting to show some incremental progress with some prevention programs. Read More

Gun Safety, Homelessness, Fate Of Matt Shea: Big Issues Loom As Washington Legislature Convenes

By Austin Jenkins January 13, 2020

File photo. The Washington State Capitol campus in Olympia. CREDIT: WSDOT - TINYURL.COM/YDDSPL8B

When Washington lawmakers convene a short, election year session on Monday, Jan. 13 they’ll confront a range of issues from homelessness to gun control to whether to expel state Rep. Matt Shea. Continue Reading Gun Read More

Seattle Shelter Steps In To Address Needs Of Native Peoples Experiencing Homelessness

By NWPB News December 30, 2019

Eagle Village resident Jolene Neiss says it's important to make each room feel like the resident's home with decorations, knickknacks and family photos. CREDIT: Casey Martin/KUOW

A new homeless shelter in Seattle is exclusively serving Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders. It's one of the first facilities of its kind in the country helping to house the more than 1,000 Native people in the city experiencing homelessness. Read More

Boise Is Trying To Address Homelessness Through Courts. It’s Rippling Across Western Cities

By NPR News December 16, 2019

This undated file photo shows the entrance to an alley known as Cooper Court, a homeless camp in Boise, Idaho. A federal appellate court says cities can't prosecute people for sleeping on the streets if they have nowhere else to go. CREDIT: Adam Cotterell/Boise State Public Radio via AP

It's billed as one of the most livable places in the country with its good schools, leafy streets and safe neighborhoods. That's what makes Boise, Idaho, an odd backdrop for a heated legal fight around homelessness that is reverberating across the western United States. Read More

Tensions Rise In Olympia As People With Few Options Park RVs Outside Washington Capitol

By Austin Jenkins November 22, 2019

Austin Hall, left, his fiance Victoria Swan and a man who identified himself as Mark Goddard sit in one of the RVs parked on Deschutes Parkway on Washington's Capitol campus. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

The state of Washington now finds itself grappling with an issue that’s been front and center in Seattle, Portland and many other cities -- people who are homeless living in dilapidated recreational vehicles parked on public streets. Read More

Seattle Man’s Toilet Kit For Homeless Individuals Brings Privacy, Opens Doors

By NWPB News August 3, 2019

Seattle tech worker Mark Lloyd navigates the city's homeless encampments, giving away toilet kits and connecting with people. Gabriel Spitzer /KNKX

Mark Lloyd started his guerrilla toilet distribution project after he saw encampments popping up and spreading in his Seattle neighborhood, just east of downtown. He felt compelled to become involved, get to know the people and see what they needed. Read More

Seattle Faces Backlash After Easing Up On Punishing Crimes Involving Mental Illness

By NPR News July 12, 2019

In this incident in April, captured on a police officer's body camera, it took nearly two hours of negotiations and at least a dozen police officers to safely subdue a man with mental illness who had taken over an alleyway. Courtesy of city of Seattle

Seattle is grappling with a crisis of what is sometimes called "visible homelessness" — people who live in the street and struggle with mental illness or drug addiction. It's a population that often commits small crimes, such as disorderly conduct or shoplifting to pay for drugs. And public frustration is growing. Read More

Rural Homelessness Is Very Real — But Harder To See And Help

By NPR News July 4, 2019

Homeless residents often live outdoors in tents in rural Kentucky. Rarely pitched out in the open, like this one in Lexington, most are hidden in thick bushes of wooded areas. CREDIT: Mary Meehan/WEKU

Homelessness is often considered an urban phenomenon. But those who work on homeless issues say rural homelessness is a growing problem, too. That's true across the state and across the country. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NPR, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported in May that one in three rural Americans say homelessness is a problem in their Read More

Homelessness On The Palouse

By Murrow News - Lindsey Jensen February 24, 2019

A new proposed bill aims to employ the homeless in three cities in Washington. Washington State Senator, Hans Zeiger of District 25, sponsors this bill and hopes it passes in April. Continue Reading Homelessness On The PalouseRead More

Microsoft Pledges $500 Million To Address Homelessness And Affordable Housing In Seattle Area

By NPR News January 17, 2019

Brad Smith, president of Microsoft Corp., speaks during a presentation on affordable housing in Bellevue, Wash., on Thursday. Microsoft Corp. said it will spend $500 million to develop affordable housing and help alleviate homelessness in the Seattle area. CREDIT: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Microsoft is investing $500 million to help develop affordable housing and address homelessness in the Seattle area as the growth of tech companies in the region continues to flood the real estate market with high-salaried workers, leaving many other people behind. Read More