Seattle extended a $2.7 million lease for hotel rooms to shelter unhoused people, then paused placements for 16 months, leaving dozens of rooms vacant at about $4,200 per empty room per month. Officials cited budget uncertainty, but records show rejection of a cheaper site and personal animus toward a nonprofit leader factored into the decision. The result was fewer people sheltered while taxpayers funded unused capacity amid scarce beds.
— It shows how administrative hedging and political grudges can turn homelessness money into idle spend, suggesting performance‑tied contracts, occupancy guarantees, and transparent oversight are as crucial as funding levels.
Judge Glock
2025.12.02
55% relevant
The CTA bailout exemplifies how large public expenditures—here a new sales‑tax‑funded rescue—can perpetuate institutional bloat and misaligned incentives (higher pay, expanded service with declining riders), similar to how other local programs have produced costly, underused capacity; both point to governance and oversight failures that redirect taxpayer funds without clear performance accountability.
by Ashley Hiruko, KUOW
2025.10.06
100% relevant
Seattle’s Civic Hotel lease extension (Feb 2024), the vacancy costs ($4,200/month per unused room), 3% average nightly shelter availability, and internal emails about ending support for the program.
← Back to All Ideas