Homelessness

Why Burien is suing King County over the city's own camping ban

The battle between the city of Burien and King County reflects a struggle places up and down the West Coast are experiencing: trying to understand how to regulate the rising number of visibly homeless people on their streets, and what can be done to support those people.

Week in Review: Burien, police, and uncommitted delegates

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with The Stranger’s Rich Smith, Seattle Channel’s Brian Callanan, and political analyst and contributing columnist Joni Balter

Burien's camping ban draws (more) legal scrutiny

The debate over homeless encampments in Burien is getting messier. Last week after the city widened a controversial ban on camping, the King County Sheriff’s Office said deputies would not enforce the rule, which they suspect is unconstitutional. A lawsuit from the Sheriff’s Office followed, and now a federal court will decide. Publicola Editor and Publisher Erica Barnett is here to talk about this escalating situation.

Libraries in Western Washington confront the challenges of being open to all

Libraries are taking on a new role as social service providers, hiring mental health professionals and in some cases building an entire in-house social services team to help people in crisis who come to the library because they have nowhere else to go.

Government

Tukwila is swelling with asylum-seekers. What can be done?

When asylum-seekers began showing up at the door of Tukwila's Riverton Park United Methodist Church last year, Rev. Jan Bolerjack felt it was the church's duty to care for them. But as the situation worsened over the months, the reverend said it's now more than one church, in one Washington town, can handle.

Safe parking lots are trending, but can the Seattle area meet the need?

Safe parking programs have gained traction in recent years – there are now an estimated dozen lots available across the state, many sponsored by churches. They’re responding to an often invisible problem: people who sleep in their vehicles, with nowhere to legally park and access a restroom. But identifying the need – and ramping up services – are two different challenges.