I would start by saying homelessness is out of control in our state, but that’s not exactly true. Washington has fewer homeless residents (per capita) than New York or Vermont (two other liberal states; this isn’t all about politics). However, 50 percent of Washington’s homeless population is unsheltered, compared to 4.7 percent and 1.4 percent in Vermont and New York.
But why do we see so many unsheltered homeless people here? Washington spends a much higher percentage of its budget on homelessness, compared to New York and Vermont.
Is it because of Washington’s lousy mental health system, which is ranked 31st in the nation, while Vermont’s ranks 19th and New York’s ranks first? Is it because of our ineffective drug treatment system, which led Washington to a 19 percent increase in drug overdoses last year, while the other two states both saw about a 9 percent decrease?
Whatever the reason, this is not working. We still see people suffering on our streets. We need an audit of all of the funds that we spend on all things related to homelessness. Unsheltered homelessness is a crisis in our state. Let’s stop doubling down, let’s stop burning money. We need an audit.
