Homelessness in Seattle a 'public health disaster,' providers say

Officials want Seattle and King County to do more to address homelessness and prevent death and disease among the homeless population during winter, according to a report from The Seattle Times.

Three healthcare providers on the King County Board of Health issued a petition for the panel to declare homelessness a "public health disaster" and find housing solutions before winter, including the use of temporary tents like those used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The providers are Bill Daniell, MD, a physician and professor at Seattle-based University of Washington School of Public Health; Christopher Delecki, DDS, a dentist at Seattle Children's; and Benjamin Danielson, MD, a pediatrician at Seattle Children's.

The city declared a state of emergency for homelessness two and a half years ago, but Drs. Daniell, Danielson and Delecki say not enough has been done to address the issue. Homelessness has nearly doubled since 2015 in Seattle, when the city had 3,772 people without homes, to 2018 when the city counts 6,330, according to the report.

As of July 23, the petition has collected 228 signatures. Read more about the petition here and read the full story here.

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