SeattleKing County Coalition on Homelessness sues City of Burien over unconstitutional Ordinance 827

The Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, along with three unhoused individuals, filed a lawsuit on January 3, 2024, against Burien’s Ordinance 827, asserting it violates constitutional rights. Passed on October 2, 2023, the ordinance restricts overnight camping on public property and follows an earlier ban, Ordinance 818. The plaintiffs contend that the ordinance criminalizes homelessness and fails to provide designated camping areas, which the city has not established. Alison Eisinger, Executive Director of the Coalition, stated that the law effectively bans unhoused individuals from living in Burien. The lawsuit seeks to stop the ordinance's enforcement and have it declared unconstitutional, citing the lack of shelter options for the homeless in Burien.

With over 53,000 King County residents experiencing homelessness at some point in 2022, this legal battle underscores the urgent need for viable solutions. The ordinance allows camping only when no shelter beds are available, which is often not the case in the region. This situation exemplifies the broader crisis of inadequate affordable housing and rising homelessness in the area.