What's Tony Thinking

Compassion Seattle

I had a chance to visit with Tim Burgess, former member of the City Council and, for a spell, interim Mayor, about the “Compassion Seattle” effort he is leading (as a volunteer by the way). “Compassion Seattle” is now in the process of gathering signatures to appear on the fall ballot as an amendment to the City’s Charter. It was endorsed, unequivocally, by the Seattle Times last Sunday.

The beating heart of CS is the goal of getting chronic homelessness in Seattle to “functional zero.” No more. The end. And it is a plan to do so.

The implication of this goal is that to this point Seattle has been attempting to alleviate, but not solve, chronic homelessness. Meanwhile, everyone with eyes to see can see that the problem has only gotten worse. But there are cities that have taken the approach advocated by CS and gotten to “functional zero.” It can be done. It has been done. It takes resolve and it takes leadership.

This plan requires the City to do a bunch of stuff and do it now. 2,000 units of emergency housing (tiny houses, hotel/ motel rooms, enhanced shelters) within 12 months, cutting the usual red tape to get it done. More and better behavioral health services (mental health and addiction treatment) including creation of a rapid response behavioral health team are a big part of CS, as is outreach approach called “by name” with assessments and a service plan for each person.

A big part of it, according to Burgess, is tracking. “Tracking progress is crucial, as has been proven in other cities where ‘functional zero’ has been achieved.” So CS requires collection of precise data and availability of that data to all providing services.

There have, of course, been objections. I asked Tim about three.

Why write this into the City Charter rather than just have a ballot initiative? CS creators wanted it to have some things an initiative doesn’t allow, namely the capacity to budget for and administer the program. And there’s a built in “sunset provision” after six years. “If it hasn’t worked by then, it should be dropped. If it’s working the Mayor and Council can decide to continue it.”

What about those who claim this could make it harder than ever to curb encampments? Not so, says, Burgess who outlines a stair-step process for getting encampments off city streets, out of parks and off school playgrounds. First, is a people-centered approach to getting people into emergency housing. Basically, doing everything possible to get people to make the move to housing. But the measure also provides for action when health and safety are at risk or there is public obstruction.

Finally, who’s on first? Is there someone who has the responsibility for getting this done? Answer: the Mayor. No if’s, and’s or but’s.

Some are skeptical because CS doesn’t require any new taxes. How can that be? What it does require is a set aside of 12% of Seattle’s general fund to get the job done, which is a hefty chunk.

The CS coalition of business people, neighborhood leaders and service providers aren’t utopians. They get that there will still be nights when someone is curled up in a doorway or under a bridge. But that’s different than small villages of people dotting the city here, there and everywhere on a seemingly permanent basis. I applaud their efforts.

So, bottom line, I’ve signed the CS petition and will vote for it. I encourage you Seattle-based readers to do so as well.