Ron Upshaw: Seattleites need to get over homeless hang-ups and accept change

If Seattle residents just stopped for a second and thought about the benefit of more permanent places for homeless people to live, one of the city’s major issues might not be as severe.

University of Washington students are hosting a workshop focused on design ideas for a proposed homeless camp in Ballard. Though many have vocally opposed the camp, mainly because of its central location and proximity to businesses that sell alcohol, KIRO Radio’s Ron Upshaw says at least the students are forward-thinking.

Ron believes what the architecture students are planning for is something that should be supported in Seattle. With the amount of money the city spends on the issue of homelessness, officials should think about working closely with people who might have some fresh ideas and work for credit.

He makes a good point. The City of Seattle spent $40.8 million in 2014 on services for the homeless, according to the Humane Services Department. That’s the third highest spent on homelessness in the country, behind Los Angeles and New York City. Of that money, $21.8 million was spent on single adults, less than half of that was allocated for permanent housing.

With the amount the city spends on homeless already, Ron suggests it buys up some unused land and develops it specifically for homeless. Even the land under overpasses, some of which is already being used by homeless people, should be considered, he argues.

The problem, KIRO Radio’s Don O’Neill reminded Ron, is that when a city takes a plot of land designated for homeless people and builds a semi-permanent structure, people start to freak out.

Consider this though: If more homeless people had places to live with actual addresses attached to them, more people could apply for jobs. When someone without an address applies for a job and doesn’t have an address, that application is tossed in the trash immediately, Ron explains.

Still, there is more than sleeping and cooking going on under those overpasses, Don says. People are getting drunk and stoned.

But the homeless problem is not going away any time soon. The city has the fourth highest homeless population in the country. If local students were given some money to help solve the problem, it could lead to a more permanent solution than clearing land for tents; which the city seems to have a problem doing.

Seattle residents just need to change their attitudes towards homeless camps, Ron says.