‘I’ve seen our drug crisis worsen’: KIRO host says people who refuse shelter should face consequences as Capitol Hill gets first tiny home village

As Capitol Hill is set to get its first tiny home village, KIRO fill-in host Angela Poe Russell and KIRO host Spike O’Neill both voiced their support for the model as a stepping stone for people experiencing homelessness.

But Angela went further, saying on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio that people who refuse shelter should face consequences, a stance she acknowledged was controversial.

“I’m a big believer in — and this is controversial for some — I feel like if you’re not willing to go into a shelter, then you should have some kind of consequence,” she said. “And I know that’s controversial because, in other words, I don’t think that it should be OK to have an unsanctioned tent city in the middle of a public sidewalk or a public park.”

Capitol Hill tiny home village will have 31 units

Belmont Village will have 31 homes and be situated between apartment buildings along Belmont Avenue near East Olive Way, according to The Seattle Times. It will be operated by the Low Income Housing Institute and will have a case manager on site to help residents get jobs and apply for benefits.

“Here’s the thing: this is what I love. People will always say, ‘Oh, I’m down with the tiny homes. I love the tiny homes.’ But as soon as they hear there’s one coming to their street. They’re like, ‘Wait, not on my street,'” Angela said.

Angela said she was intrigued by the idea of requiring sobriety as a condition of shelter, and not allowing people to remain on the street if they refuse treatment.

“If you don’t want to get clean, you go to jail and get clean there,” Spike said.

“I would say I’m intrigued,” Angela responded.

Angela said she’s also interested in the Housing First approach, but that she wants to see more evidence that it’s working.

“I’ve seen our drug crisis worsen,” she said. “But I do agree that you have to get some kind of support to get better, but leaving them on the street, what we’re doing now, isn’t the answer.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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