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

Seattle's Hotel Shelter Program Raises Questions After City Stops Filling Rooms In a move that has left advocates for the homeless community perplexed, the city of Seattle stopped filling hotel rooms designated as shelter space, despite committing to pay millions in rent. According to documents obtained by KUOW, the city signed a 2.7 million lease extension with the Civic Hotel in January 2024, but failed to send people to occupy the rooms. The decision has raised questions about the city's commitment to addressing homelessness and its willingness to follow through on promises made to address the issue. "It's frustrating to see that we're not using a resource that could be helping people," said Rachel Solano, executive director of the nonprofit organization, Bellwether Housing, which had been placing homeless individuals in the hotel rooms. The Civic Hotel was one of several hotels leased by the city as part of its effort to provide shelter space for those experiencing homelessness. The program was designed to provide a safe and stable environment for people coming off the streets, particularly those who were struggling with addiction or mental health issues. However, despite the city's commitment to pay rent on the hotel rooms, placements were halted in February 2024. According to Solano, the nonprofit organization had been placing an average of 20-30 individuals in the hotel rooms each month. "We were able to provide a safe and supportive environment for people who were struggling," she said. However, after the city stopped sending people to occupy the rooms, the nonprofit was left with empty space. The decision to stop filling the hotel rooms has been met with criticism from advocates for the homeless community. "It's a missed opportunity to provide critical support services to individuals in need," said Mark Putnam, executive director of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. "We urge the city to revisit its commitment to providing shelter space and to work with organizations like ours to ensure that people are getting the help they need." The city's decision to stop filling the hotel rooms has also raised questions about the effectiveness of the program in addressing homelessness. According to data from the Seattle Human Services Department, an average of 3 out of 5,000 shelter beds were available each night last year. In a statement, the city said that it was "exploring alternative solutions" to address homelessness and that it was committed to providing support services to individuals in need. However, advocates for the homeless community remain skeptical about the city's commitment to addressing the issue. As the city continues to grapple with the complexities of homelessness, one thing is clear: more needs to be done to provide shelter space and support services to those in need. The decision to stop filling hotel rooms designated as shelter space has raised questions about the city's willingness to follow through on promises made to address homelessness. As advocates for the homeless community continue to push for solutions, it remains to be seen whether the city will revisit its commitment to providing shelter space and support services. Background: The city of Seattle has been struggling to address homelessness for years, with an estimated 5,000 individuals experiencing homelessness within the city boundaries and on nearby Vashon Island. In 2022, the city signed a lease agreement with several hotels to provide shelter space for those in need. However, despite committing to pay millions in rent, the city stopped filling hotel rooms designated as shelter space. Additional Perspectives: The decision to stop filling hotel rooms has also raised questions about the role of government in addressing homelessness. "Government agencies have a responsibility to provide critical support services to individuals in need," said Putnam. "We urge the city to revisit its commitment to providing shelter space and to work with organizations like ours to ensure that people are getting the help they need." Current Status: The city continues to explore alternative solutions to address homelessness, including the development of new shelter facilities and the expansion of support services. However, advocates for the homeless community remain skeptical about the city's commitment to addressing the issue. Next Developments: As the city continues to grapple with the complexities of homelessness, it remains to be seen whether the city will revisit its commitment to providing shelter space and support services. In the meantime, advocates for the homeless community continue to push for solutions that prioritize the needs of those in need. *Reporting by Propublica.*