Kate Walters
Reporter
About
Kate Walters is a reporter covering Covid-19 and the many ways the pandemic has impacted our lives. She's covered personal experiences of community members, state and local policies, affects on the healthcare system, and more. In the past, Kate has reported on homelessness for KUOW, as well as general assignment stories ranging from city hall politics to sea stars. Originally from Australia, Kate studied journalism at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She started her career in public radio at WXXI in Rochester, NY.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Stories
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Politics
Got a spare room? This program wants to use it to help homeless youth
All over the county there are bedrooms sitting empty. At the same time, thousands of people are sleeping on the streets. The Host Homes program aims to shelter youth who are homeless, or on the brink of homelessness, by pairing them with hosts in the community who have a room to spare and are willing to take them in for up to six months.
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Fragmented homeless services, no more. Seattle area to consolidate response
Officials in Seattle and King County say they plan to create a single, independent body to oversee the regional response to homelessness.
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Seattle homeless population is third largest in U.S., after LA and NYC
In Seattle and Washington state, increases in the homeless population outpace the national rate.
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Law & Courts
Head of Bellevue sex ring sentenced
In 2015, the Bellevue Police Department and the King County Sheriff's Office started a large investigation into the local online sex trade.
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Local community feels the impact of HIV cases in North Seattle
The number of new HIV cases among people who are homeless in North Seattle has continued to rise in recent weeks. Public health officials say there are now 14 confirmed cases in a cluster that's causing serious concern.
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‘It really feels like a tipping point.’ North Seattle on edge after shooting of homeless man
In a room filled with flickering candles on Aurora Avenue in North Seattle, dozens of people from all walks of life gathered on a recent gray Sunday to mourn another loss. Here in King County, 171 people presumed to be homeless have died so far this year, an increase over last. Death in this community has become routine.
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Government
As people age, homeless service providers face new challenge
Permanent supportive housing is an effective intervention that gets many people who are chronically homeless and dealing with significant issues off the street, and keeps them off the street. It’s been around for a few decades. The issue people in Seattle, and across the US, are now facing is how to continue caring for people as they’re aging in place in this kind of housing.
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Head tax, round two? Councilmember Kshama Sawant wants to revive tax on big business
Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant wants to raise $48 million in next year’s budget for public affordable housing. And reviving the city's controversial head tax is one option she’s considering to make that happen.
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Government
You don't need a home to vote
Voter registration forms require a residential address, but you don't need a home to vote. People who are homeless can register using the address of a shelter or a cross street where they camp.
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Pearl Jam to donate $11M for Seattle homelessness
When Pearl Jam returned to Seattle in August, the band wasn’t just intent on entertaining fans. Their two sold-out shows at Safeco Field were part of an initiative to raise money to address homelessness in the region.