Seattle among six areas to get help from Biden administration to address homeless crisis

SEATTLE — The Biden Administration unveiled a new initiative on Thursday to partner with six places -- including Seattle -- to address the ongoing homelessness crisis.

Seattle will be joined by Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the state of California. Labeled the “All INside” initiative, it will embed a federal official in each locale to “accelerate locally-driven strategies and enact system-level changes to reduce unsheltered homelessness.” Federal teams will also work to identify funding streams, while philanthropic and private sector organizations step in to help as well.

The overarching goal of the White House is to reduce homelessness by 25% by January 2025.

“This plan meets the urgency of the moment,” President Biden said in an initial release outlining the program. “It recognizes that it’s not enough to go back to the way things were before the pandemic.”

“We must build a better future for all Americans,” he continued. “This plan also recognizes that homelessness should not be a partisan issue. A great nation has a moral obligation to ensure housing, but it’s also the smart thing to do.”

Several agencies within the Biden administration will work together to address issues related to equitable housing across the six areas included in the All INside initiative. That includes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Labor, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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