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The

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Box 353060 ·

University of Washington · Seattle WA 98195-

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This case was written by

Eileen Norton, J.D. and former Seattle City

Council Memb

er Thomas Weeks, Ph.D.

The case is

intended solely as a vehicle for classroom discussion, and is not intended to illustrate either effective or ineffective

handling of the situation described.

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Copyri

ght 2006 The Electronic Hallway

MAYOR SCHELL’S ZERO HOMELESS FAMILY PLEDGE

On June 2nd, 1998, Mayor Paul Schell spoke to the press about the needs of homeless

families, women and children. He asked for the City Council’s support in providing

“immediate emergency assistance to homeless families and single women, a critical step

in providing lasting housing solutions for these families and individuals.” He noted that

“the problem continues to grow and we absolutely must find better ways to help people

find and keep housing.” He closed

his remarks with a

firm pledge

that there will be no

homeless families with children or homeless single women on the streets of Seattle by

Christmas 1998. His pledge made headlines in both Seattle papers the next day.

Alan Painter, Director of the Community Services Division of the Department of

Housing and Human Services, listened attentively to the new Mayor’s remarks. Painter

has dedicated his professional career to serving the needs of homeless people. He was

proud and excited to hear Schell’s passion and commitment to addressing homelessness

in Seattle. At the same time, he viewed the pledge with some trepidation. Counting the

number of homeless people on the street at any given time is notoriously tricky,

influenced by many factors. Further, he wondered how this pledge would dovetail with

City priorities and plans for dealing with homelessness. These plans emphasize services

to homeless people rather than just providing beds and they stress the need for other

jurisdictions to share in funding

homeless services.

The next six months promised to keep

Alan Painter very busy.

Homeless People in Seattle

Homelessness in King County: A Background Report

, was published in February 1998 by

the Seattle-

King County Homelessness Advisory Group. The report begins with a profile

of King County demographics and housing, and then describes the numbers and

characteristics of the homeless population. Subsequent sections describe existing

homelessness programs and their funding. Most of the data presented here comes from

this report.

According to the Seattle-King County consolidated

plan, there are at least 5,500 people

who are homeless in King County on any given night. Of these, over 1,300 are on the

streets, while almost 4,200 have temporary housing

in shelters or

transitional units.

Thousands of people seeking shelter are turned away each year, primarily due to lack of

Mayor Schell’s Zero Homeless Family Pledge

2

space. In 1993, Operation Nightwatch assisted 16,615 people seeking shelter in Seattle.

By 1997, the total climbed to 45,529.

The majority of homeless

people range from 22 to 44

years old. Sixty-three percent

(63%) of those receiving shelter are single males, 17% single females, with the remaining

20% spread among families and youth. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of people sheltered in

King County in 1997, and 46% of youth sheltered in 1996 were people of color.

Of the approximately 1,300 people sleeping on the streets (not in shelters) on any given

night in King County, 300 are families, 360 are youth and teen parents and 700 are single

adults. Over 700 of these 1,300 homeless people are the “homeless families with children

or homeless single women” Schell promised to get off the street in his June 2

nd

speech;

the remainder are single men, or live in the county outside Seattle.

The shelter capacity in Seattle is higher for single males than for other groups. In 1997,

54% of homeless family units turned away from emergency shelter were single females,

and 35% were families with children. Two

-thirds of homeless families are single women

with children. One quarter of all shelter clients is children. Over 2,000 youth living

outside a family structure are estimated to be homeless in Seattle during a year.

Over 90% of the shelters in King County are located in Seattle, but the homeless people

in Seattle shelters come from a broad geographic area (Figure One). Homeless youth

apparently travel farther to reach the streets of Seattle.

Figure One

Previous Residence of King County Homeless

Last permanent residence of homeless

person being served in King County

All homeless people

(1997 survey)

Homeless youth

(1996 survey)

Seattle 53 28

King County, outside Seattle 16 35

Outside King County 31 37

The three major factors contributing to homelessness in King County are inadequate

income, the high cost of housing, and personal or family problems, such as domestic

violence, drug and alcohol abuse or mental illness. Surveys of homeless people show

rates of drug and alcohol addiction at about 65%. Research indicates that approximately

50% of homeless adults have a mental illness. Prominent reasons for homelessness

among youth include emotional conflict in homes, drug or alcohol problems, physical

abuse by a parent, and depression.

Seattle’s response to homelessness, 1980-1997

Under the leadership of Mayor Charles Royer (1978-1989), Seattle developed a national

reputation for its comprehensive approach to homelessness. Seattle citizens approved two