North Sound News

In new budget, Mayor Murray proposes extra $12M to implement Seattle's new homelessness plan

As Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is set to unveil his 2017-2018 budget for Seattle Monday, he proposed an additional $12 million in new funding to implement the city’s new homelessness plan, “Pathways Home.”

Murray said the funding will be sourced through a combination of new general fund dollars, additional revenue from the housing levy and a continuation of funding for key programs originally funded under the 2015 State of Emergency.

The proposed budget includes nearly $1 million in investments that Murray said will help to create capacity to house the unsheltered families on the waitlist. The investments will fund rental assistance and one-time funding to immediately divert people from homelessness, rapid rehousing funding and funding for motel vouchers for families.

The proposed budget also includes $5 million to fund investments in new best practices, including funding to convert an existing shelter to a 24-hour model and funding for a new 24-hour shelter with case management.

The mayor is also expected to announce a call to extend the hours for paid parking.

The Seattle Department of Transportation began considering the extension in April.

Currently, paid street parking ends at 8 p.m.

The transportation committee says current hours do not free up spaces in high demand areas, like Capitol Hill and lower Queen Anne.

SDOT is considering whether pay to park times should be extended to 10 p.m. or midnight.