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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Homelessness

Wooden houses and heart on a blue background

What Factors Increase the Likelihood Unhoused People Will Seek Out Shelters? Part Two

March 4, 2024  by  Alicia Bones
Category:  Housing ,  Homelessness

In the second part of this blog series, we look at how local governments across Washington State are implementing best practices to reduce barriers that prevent unhoused people from accessing shelters, from funding diverse shelter types to developing regional service plans.

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A woman holds a young child while both sit on a shelter bed

What Factors Increase the Likelihood Unhoused People Will Seek Out Shelters? Part One

February 28, 2024  by  Alicia Bones
Category:  Housing ,  Homelessness

How can shelter operators make their shelters more welcoming? What are some of the best practices shelters can follow to ensure that they don't enact barriers which prevent unhoused individuals from seeking help?

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Two people ride bikes through a park

Recapping the November 2023 Local Ballot Measure Results

December 13, 2023  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Housing ,  Emergency Medical Services ,  Elections ,  Fire Protection ,  Homelessness ,  Law Enforcement

There were a 113 ballot measures before voters this past November, in an off-year election that drew record-low voter turnouts. How did that impact levy lid lifts requests, newly proposed districts, or citizen's initiatives? 

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New Ninth Circuit Ruling Addresses Anti-Camping Ordinances

October 17, 2022  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Homelessness

Last month, the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision that provides clarification and guidance to local governments on camping bans and ordinances. 

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A Primer on Safe Parking Programs for People Experiencing Homelessness

March 31, 2022  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Homelessness

Safe parking programs are operated on behalf of people who use a vehicle as their residence. They give users a sense of security while also connecting them to critical human and social services. 

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Severe Weather Shelters for Winter and Beyond

January 20, 2022  by  Justin Sharer
Category:  Guest Author ,  Homelessness

During a severe weather event, unsheltered individuals are most at risk of adverse impacts. This blog looks at how local governments in Washington State have prepared to care for at-risk populations during periods of extreme heat, extreme cold, or poor air quality.

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City of Seattle v. Long: Vehicle Homestead Rights and Excessive Fines

September 13, 2021  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Homelessness

Seattle v. Long challenged long-held practices regarding parking enforcement. The Washington Supreme Court finally issued its ruling on the case, expanding the circumstances under which fines may be challenged as excessive and clarifying how homestead rights apply to vehicles. 

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Non-Traditional Approaches Used by Local Governments to Address Homelessness

August 26, 2021  by  Emma Diamond ,  Justin Sharer
Category:  Guest Author ,  Homelessness

This blog looks at municipal programs that use hotels and motels to provide temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness. 

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2021 Housing and Planning-Related Legislative Outcomes

August 16, 2021  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Housing ,  Impact Fees ,  Homelessness ,  New Legislation and Regulations

This blog post summarizes several housing and planning-related bills that were passed during the 2021 legislative session.  

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Changing Your Zoning Code to Accommodate Housing and Shelters for the Homeless

June 29, 2021  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Homelessness ,  New Legislation and Regulations

This blog provides and overview and guidance regarding E2SHB 1220, which encourages local governments to take active steps to accommodate transitional housing, emergency shelters, and similar facilities via zoning and regulatory updates.

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Caring for the Homeless Challenged by Winter Weather, COVID-19

January 25, 2021  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  COVID-19 ,  Homelessness

This blog post looks at how local governments are providing for the homeless, despite the twin challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and winter weather.

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Keeping People Housed: Homelessness Prevention Strategies to Bridge Emergencies

September 10, 2020  by  Laura Crandall
Category:  COVID-19 ,  Housing ,  Homelessness

This blog post identifies root cause contributors to homelessness and details a variety of prevention strategies for local governments.

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Living in Vehicles: How Homestead Rights Affect Municipal Impounds

August 17, 2020  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Homelessness

This blog post suggests that local government impound procedures should be reviewed to ensure that these don't impede upon the 'homestead rights' of people living out of their vehicles. 

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New Legislation on Temporary Homeless Encampments

May 26, 2020  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Homelessness ,  New Legislation and Regulations

ESHB 1754 takes effect on June 11, 2020, and imposes additional conditions on cities and counties when regulating religious organizations hosting the homeless.

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What Are Local Governments Doing in Response to Martin v. City of Boise?

March 2, 2020  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Homelessness

This blog post looks at how Washington local governments are adjusting to the 2018 ruling Martin v. City of Boise, which addressed ordinances that prohibit sleeping or camping on public property. 

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Permanent Supportive Housing: One Option for Addressing Homelessness

February 13, 2020  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Homelessness

This blog post looks at permanent supportive housing, which offers low-barrier affordable housing, health care, and supportive services to formerly homeless individuals, by profiling a related project in Everett. 

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Announcing an Updated Homelessness & Housing Toolkit

October 18, 2019  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing ,  Homelessness

In 2017 MRSC partnered with the Association of Washington Cities to develop the Homelessness & Housing Toolkit for Cities. This publication has been updated for 2019 and covers such hot-topic items as SHB 1406, Martin v. City of Boise, and more. 

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Homelessness and the Limits of Enforcement

June 4, 2019  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Homelessness

This blog post looks at the legal issues involving homelessness, and how these issues can limit a municipality's response to unauthorized encampments, panhandling, and car camping. 

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Is Your Camping Ordinance Constitutional?

October 1, 2018  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Homelessness

This blog will examine the recent Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals case, Martin v. City of Boise, and discuss how this ruling may impact Washington local governments. 

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Land Use and Nuisances Legislative Update

August 1, 2018  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Homelessness ,  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Automobile Nuisances ,  Property Nuisances

In this blog post, Legal Consultant Oskar Rey looks at several bills passed in the last legislative session that address land use, nuisance, and code enforcement issues.

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