Seattle's Hotel Shelter Program Hits Roadblock: Millions Spent, But Rooms Remain Empty

Seattle's Hotel Shelter Program Hit with Controversy Over Unfilled Rooms In a move that has left advocates for the homeless community stunned, the city of Seattle stopped filling hotel rooms designated as shelter space despite committing to pay millions in rent. The decision, made by the city's Department of Human Services, has raised questions about the effectiveness and transparency of the program. According to documents obtained by KUOW, the city signed a 2.7 million lease extension with the Civic Hotel in January 2024 to continue using its rooms as shelter space for unhoused individuals. However, despite this commitment, the nonprofit organization responsible for placing people in these rooms was told to stop filling them in May of that year. "We were instructed by the city to let the rooms empty out," said a spokesperson for the nonprofit, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retribution. "It didn't make sense to us. We had been working with the city to fill these rooms, and suddenly we're being told not to." The decision has left many in the community wondering why the city would commit to paying millions in rent only to leave the rooms empty. According to a report by KUOW, an average of 3 out of an estimated 5,000 shelter beds in Seattle's city limits were available each night last year. Background on the program reveals that the Civic Hotel was initially leased as part of a larger effort to address homelessness in the city. The hotel's rooms were used in conjunction with other buildings to provide shelter for individuals coming off the city's troubled Third Avenue, which had become notorious for its high concentration of homeless services and encampments. While some have praised the program for providing much-needed shelter space, others have criticized it for being too expensive and inefficient. "We need to be looking at more sustainable solutions that don't involve throwing money at hotels," said a local advocate for affordable housing. "There are better ways to address homelessness in this city." The current status of the hotel shelter program is unclear. City officials have declined to comment on why they stopped filling the rooms, and it remains to be seen whether the program will continue or be restructured. As the city continues to grapple with its homelessness crisis, advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. "We need to make sure that our tax dollars are being used effectively," said a spokesperson for a local coalition of homeless service providers. "This incident highlights the need for more oversight and scrutiny of programs like this one." In the meantime, those affected by the decision remain concerned about their future. "I was counting on getting into a hotel room through this program," said a woman who has been living on the streets for months. "Now I'm not sure what's going to happen to me." *Reporting by Propublica.*