Washington state officials are committing to a policy pledge that gives priority to a “treatment-first” approach in tackling the issue of homelessness.
Future 42, a nonprofit organization, developed a policy pledge as an alternative to the “housing-first” strategy adopted by regions like Seattle and King County.
Related posts
Incorporated within the pledge are alternative solutions to the housing-first approach, which include:
The proposal suggests mandating drug treatment programs for individuals receiving subsidized housing who are struggling with addiction. It also proposes defunding safe consumption sites that provide clean needles for drug use. Additionally, it recommends implementing land-use regulations to prohibit the establishment of future safe consumption facilities. The proposal advocates for funding the creation of additional mental health treatment beds. It also calls for mandatory minimum sentencing for repeat drug-related offenders. Once alternative shelter capacity is made more available, the proposal suggests enacting strict laws to address unauthorized encampments. It also discourages panhandling in public spaces. Finally, the proposal recommends partnering with successful nonprofits to tackle homelessness and drug addiction.
According to Nate Nehring, the Director of Future 42 Snohomish County, although the housing-first approach has proven successful for certain populations such as victims of domestic violence or families with children facing financial insecurity, it has not been as effective in dealing with the escalating opioid crisis.
According to Nehring, the housing-first approach is not working for those battling drug addiction. He believes that giving individuals suffering from severe drug addiction their own housing unit often leads to drug contamination within the units. “It’s evident that the housing-first approach is failing this population,” Nehring stated in a phone call with The Center Square.
Treating individuals who are both unhoused and resistant to treatment presents a unique set of difficulties.
According to Nehring, involuntary commitment can be a viable solution in situations where incarceration is not a feasible option.
He expressed his disapproval by stating, “Leaving individuals on the streets to engage in drug use is not acceptable.”
According to Nehring, the focus of the pledge is on creating additional resources to support involuntary commitment under Ricky’s Law, also known as the involuntary treatment act. Historically, in Washington, involuntary commitment has been used for individuals with mental illness who are a danger to themselves or others, and a judge can order involuntary commitment.
Involuntary treatment can be court-ordered for individuals who are unwilling to voluntarily seek treatment under Ricky’s Law.
According to the latest Point-In-Time Count of homeless individuals, Snohomish County has witnessed a 9.7% reduction in homelessness, which is undoubtedly a positive development. Despite this, Nehring emphasized that homelessness continues to be a significant concern. Moreover, the problem of drug addiction remains a prevalent issue in the area.
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority, also known as KCRHA, has approved a five-year plan in 2023 to address the escalating homelessness crisis in the county. The plan aims to boost the housing stock as a viable solution to the problem.
According to the KCRHA’s proposal, it is estimated that the cost to increase housing as a solution to homelessness could range from $450 million to $1.1 billion annually over the course of the next decade. The agency has been the primary coordinator of funding and services for unhoused individuals throughout King County since 2019.
Seattle officials have publicly expressed doubt in the region’s housing-first approach, as reported by The Center Square. The Seattle Housing & Human Services Committee meeting in March saw Seattle Deputy Mayor Tiffany Washington acknowledging the impact of fentanyl and behavioral health crises on the city’s housing-first approach. Washington believes that the current system is inadequate to address the mass behavioral health crisis.
At present, the Future 42 policy pledge boasts over 50 signatures from various government officials across the state. It is worth noting that there are currently no signatures from officials in King County or Seattle, as of the time of this publication.
Nehring expressed hope that individuals would take action by proposing legislation in their local communities to initiate progress.
