King County Buys Hotel In Effort To House More Homeless People

KING COUNTY, WA — Forgoing a traditional State of the County address Tuesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine released a pre-produced, 27-minute video highlighting new investments to reduce economic inequalities, provide more shelter for people experiencing homelessness, increase rental assistance and offer COVID-19 vaccines to every middle and high school student before classes resume in the fall.

Among the key announcements in Constantine's address was the county's plan to purchase a small Seattle hotel as the first to provide permanent housing to chronically homeless people under the "Health Through Housing" program. In the next year, the county's goal is to add housing for another 1,600 unhoused people. According to the Seattle Times, the Inn at Queen Anne is the first of four or five hotels in the region that King County intends to purchase over the next few weeks.

"COVID 19 exacerbated the crisis of homelessness," Constantine said. "While the privileged among us can reasonably look forward to a quick and robust recovery, those of us who’ve been pushed further back in line during this time look warily to a future of widening pay gaps, housing gaps, health gaps, and disparities of all types. We are determined in our COVID response not to accept those disparities, but to bring that same urgency and humanity to helping our unsheltered neighbors in off the streets. Out of crisis comes opportunity – the opportunity to advance our shared vision for King County."

Using funds from the legislature and the American Rescue Plan, Constantine announced another $150 million will be available for rental assistance grants, which could help up to 27,000 families that are behind on their rent. Tenant applications are scheduled to begin next week.

Constantine continued:

"Last fall we distributed the first round of rental assistance grants. We worked with landlords and tenants to forge agreements to pay back rent and partnered with community groups to find applicants and manage the program. With an initial investment of $40 million, we were able to help keep more than 9,000 families in their homes, able to focus on getting back to work, without the strain and burden of becoming homeless. Keeping 9,000 families off the streets or from living their cars is a tremendous achievement, and something we can all be proud of. But while were able to help more than 9,000 families – more than 25,000 said they were in need. There are thousands of our friends and neighbors still behind on rent, and that’s why I am excited to announce the next phase of rental assistance in King County."

With final approvals expected this week to authorize Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, Constantine said King County also plans to host several popup youth vaccine clinics, intending to offer immunizations to every middle school and high school student before the next school year begins.

Tuesday's address also included good news for hikers, as King County Metro plans to relaunch Trailhead Direct bus service in June. The seasonal bus routes let hikers hitch a ride to some of King County's most popular trailheads, including Mount Si and the "Issaquah Alps."

Watch the full 2021 State of the County address below:

Constantine is seeking a fourth term as King County Executive this year and faces a strong challenge from state Sen. Joe Nguyen (D-White Center). This week, the Nguyen campaign announced it had raised nearly $60,000 in the first five days of the race, significantly outpacing total fundraising from challengers who ran in 2017 and 2013.

Nguyen released a brief statement Tuesday, following Constantine's address:

“People need action, not talking points. Based on this speech, it seems like we both agree that we need systemic change. But in my experience, it is very hard for people to create systemic change when they benefit from that system. We need leaders who will fight with the urgency to get things done. If you watched this speech, you'd think things are going great in King County — but that ignores a lot of the pain people are feeling right now. We can’t be celebrating when people are still suffering. We have a lot of reasons to be hopeful, but we need leaders who will do the work for real change — not just talk about it.”