In Capitol Hill there is a sculpture of a man sleeping on a bench which is symbolizing homelessness and there happens to be a homeless man sleeping right next to it. pic.twitter.com/AfyWh0hIle — boundless in cap hill (@caphillfig2019) December 4, 2019

Instead of letting hopes for the new effort become mired in process, the Seattle City Council’s committee on homelessness approved plans Thursday for the formation of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority despite lingering concerns about Seattle’s power in the new effort.

The key? An accompanying ordinance that lays out Seattle’s asks for the new body and gives the council the power to yank the city’s $73 million contribution to the regional effort if the priorities aren’t met:

A) Amendments to the Authority’s goals, policies, and plans, or the Authority’s annual budget shall be based upon the affirmative vote of at least eight (8) Governing Committee members; B) The Authority’s funds and provision of services shall be consistent with evidence-based practices and the Authority’s guiding principles outlined in Article IV, Section 3 of the Interlocal Agreement found in Attachment A; C) The Authority’s Five-Year Plan and subsequent plans shall be aligned with evidence-based practices and the Authority’s guiding principles outlined in Article IV, Section 3 of the Interlocal Agreement found in Attachment A; D) Sub-regional plans will form the basis of the development of subsequent Five-Year Plans or successor planning documents, which may be informed by the Regional Action Plan and will align with evidence-based practices and the guiding principles outlined Article IV, Section 3 of the Interlocal Agreement found in Attachment A; E) Appointing entities for the Implementation Board will strive to appoint members who reflect the racial and ethnic make-up of King County residents. However, overall a majority of such members must credibly represent the perspectives of, and be accountable to, Marginalized Demographic Populations (as defined in the Interlocal Agreement) that are statistically disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness in King County; F) The Authority shall provide an annual performance report to the Seattle City Council and the King County Council; and G) The Office of the Ombuds shall provide an annual report to the Governing Committee at least once per year, which shall include discussion of any feedback related to the Implementation Board.

CHS reported previously on concerns that the plan ceded too much power to suburban officials who will be part of the authority even as Seattle stepped forward to foot the majority of the some $132 million bill for the new regional effort.

The city’s Select Committee on Homelessness and Housing Affordability is co-chaired by District 3 representative Kshama Sawant. She was not present for Thursday’s vote on the agreement and the accompanying ordinance on the city’s priorities.

With the committee’s sign off on the plan, approval of Seattle’s agreement on the new regional authority will now move to the full council for a vote expected Monday.

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