Everett council evaluates city responses to homelessness
EVERETT — The Everett City Council is reconsidering how to support people living on the streets but members disagree over which tactics to employ.
In a discussion during Wednesday’s regular meeting, two council members who will not be in office next year proposed taking a more stringent approach to some people experiencing homelessness.
“When we make this a softer place to land for individuals who do not seek help, they will land here,” Councilman Jeff Moore said, referring to people who decline offers from city employees to enter health treatment and housing programs.
Everett Community Development Director Julie Willie said staff and partners have contacted over 450 people without stable, permanent shelter in the past year. In the 2020 Snohomish County Point in Time Homeless count — the last full evaluation due to the pandemic scuttling this year’s tally — there were 673 unsheltered people, Snohomish County Human Services Director Mary Jane Brell Vujovic said. Of that total, 190 last had a permanent residence in Everett and 300 had slept in the city the night before the count.
Most of the people contacted in 2020, about 74%, said their last known residence was in Snohomish County.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-council-evaluates-city-responses-to-homelessness/