Burien sues King County, Sheriff claiming breach of contract

By Anna Patrick The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless is supported by BECU, Campion Foundation, Raikes Foundation and Seattle Foundation. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over Project Homeless content. Burien is taking King County to court over claims that the Sheriff’s Office is violating a contract with the city by not enforcing a key part of the city’s

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Burien’s anti-camping ordinance is not an answer to homelessness

By  The Seattle Times editorial board If a lawsuit against the city of Burien wasn’t enough to give its leaders pause in its quest to move the unsheltered out of the city, maybe a directive by the King County sheriff to her deputies not to enforce the city’s latest ordinance on “camping’’ is enough to

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Burien tightens existing camping law, adds 500-foot ‘buffer’ zones

By  Anna Patrick Seattle Times staff reporter The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless is supported by BECU, Campion Foundation, Raikes Foundation and Seattle Foundation. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over Project Homeless content. In a 5-2 vote Monday night, Burien’s City Council tightened its existing camping ban and added that people can’t sleep within 500 feet of schools,

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Burien chooses site for homeless shelter as county deadline passes

Burien has chosen this lot owned by Seattle City Light at South 136th Street and 4th Avenue South as the future site for a tiny home village. The village will use King County money and resources, after months of delay and debate around how to handle a growing number of homeless people in the public

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Can a city banish its poor? WA’s highest court is asked to weigh in

Being in the Top 10 isn’t always a good thing. Especially when it comes to homelessness. Washington state ranks number nine in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals, or those living on the street, and in the top five of the total number of people experiencing homelessness. The crisis escalated between 2020 and 2022, when that number jumped

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Burien prohibits camping amid high-profile homeless encampment debate

By Anna Patrick Seattle Times staff reporter The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless is funded by BECU, Campion Foundation, Raikes Foundation and Seattle Foundation. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over Project Homeless content. After months of infighting over what to do about a small but growing unsheltered homeless population, Burien’s City Council approved a new

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Despite state law, South King County cities limit homeless shelters

By  Greg Kim Seattle Times staff reporter In 2021, the Washington Legislature passed a law that attempted to stop cities from banning homelessness facilities. Yet last month, Des Moines fined the city’s only existing homeless shelter and asked it to shut down. Earlier this year, Federal Way denied a permit for a fully funded shelter.

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