With 10,000 living without shelter, Seattle and King County have new plan for Regional Homelessness Authority

Seattle and King County have restructured the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (RHA) to enhance its effectiveness in addressing the area's homelessness crisis. The newly established 12-member Governing Board will oversee the agency's $250 million budget and ensure greater coordination and accountability. This significant change comes after five years of struggles for the RHA, which faced challenges in setting priorities and lacked stable leadership following the resignation of its founding CEO. Nearly 10,000 individuals currently live without shelter in King County, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Officials attribute the ongoing crisis to a lack of affordable housing, emphasizing that nearly half of new homes needed must be affordable for low-income households.

The new agreement allows city and county officials to redirect funding towards their own projects while ensuring that 2019 funding levels are maintained. The RHA's revised structure aims to focus on implementing initiatives determined by the Governing Board, positioning the agency for more effective action. This restructuring reflects broader efforts to address homelessness and improve housing stability in the region.