March 29, 2006

Director's Corner

By TIM HARRIS

Last week the City announced they will continue funding for another month to all the survival service programs they’d previously opted to cut. If you haven’t been following this, the city transferred $325,000 from baseline emergency services—mats on floors, if you will—to transitional housing, under the premise that there is a new paradigm in town and shelter without services is no longer enough.

Oh, and they’re also on the verge of defunding about 300 of the least-expensive beds in a spat over how data is recorded.

Apparently, they’ve now realized that this “new paradigm” means you either identify new funding or leave more vulnerable people without the benefit of the most basic shelter. When the goal is to “end homelessness,” this seems counter-intuitive at best.

While the City and advocates haggle over just how the Mayor’s promise of no net loss of shelter beds will be fulfilled, here’s a reality check for all concerned: Seattle has never managed to meet demand more than half-way. There are twice as many homeless people as there are available beds. When demand is this high, to even consider reducing emergency shelter in the name of solving homelessness is a logical absurdity and an ethical catastrophe.

It’s awfully easy to say that a mat on the floor without services isn’t enough. But unless you’re truly prepared to do better, it’ll have to do.