News Magazine of the UW Department of Communication
By Julian Martin, UW
While hundreds of 10-year plans to end homelessness have been implemented around the country, the Pacific Northwest has stood out for having an unparalleled amount of proposals.
“There are now 48 10-year plans in the Pacific Northwest, and half of the plans have been produced so far,” said Paul Carlson, Regional Interagency Homeless Coordinator.
The results of these many programs have been largely positive, with many cities and counties in the region experiencing a decline in homelessness. While HUD can be thought of as being a leading agency on the fight against homelessness, it is just one of many organizations dedicated to ending homelessness and assisting the homeless in the area. Each 10-year plan is the result of a broad coalition between governmental agencies, nonprofits groups, religious organizations and others.
Participants in the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County for example include the Plymouth Housing Group, the United Way of King County and the Seattle/King County Coalition for the Homeless.
Surprisingly the largest city in the region is also the most notable for having a 10-year plan mired by setbacks.
Carlson said that Seattle has been “bogged down” and that the new program has been met with hostility for requiring a complete transformation in homeless support systems that have been in place for decades. While many organizations provide assistance in the city, they focus on managing people living with homelessness and not on the issue of homeless prevention.
