Mosqueda Makes Statement on Homeless Encampment in Burien

On August 7, 2024, Burien.News sent an email to the King County Council, including Burien's Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. We sent our article about children rescued from the homeless encampment on King County property next to the Burien District Courthouse.

We asked, "When do you plan to do something about King County's homeless camp in Burien?" 

Today, August 23, 2024, we received the following email response from KC CM Teresa Mosqueda:

Thank you for writing my office with your concerns about unsheltered people in Burien. I agree the situation is not tenable, and my colleagues at the County and I, in partnership with the County Executive, have moved resources and funded outreach providers to directly house and shelter folks currently camping outside of the Burien District Court through collaboration with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA).  

King County has not established or sanctioned this encampment in Burien – the individuals on the King County District Court property began camping there on their own. Outreach workers funded by the City are allowed and encouraged to help house and respond to the residents at that location. Additionally, the King County Executive has deployed funding and resources to respond to the public health concerns, including port-a-potties, hand washing stations, a dumpster and garbage pickup, along with a fence to protect stormwater system from encampment-related impacts. 

Last Spring, King County Executive offered $1 Million and 35 tiny houses to the City of Burien to support in addressing homelessness, but after more than a year that funding had not been deployed due to ongoing siting concerns, thus the County reallocated that original $1 Million to the KCRHA for outreach, intake, and placement which started this Summer.  

Additionally, earlier this Spring, the King County Executive announced $1 Million to go to the City of Burien to help fund a new emergency shelter with Mary’s Place that will add 50 additional beds for families with children in response to a grant request submitted by the City. Then, in late July, my office awarded $20,000 to the Highline United Methodist Church to operate their day center in Burien. 

While the County cannot determine how cities allocate resources, nor can we direct how they provide services, what we can do is offer resources – which we have awarded to Burien and will continue to do so in partnership with the Mayor and Council, recognizing that homelessness is a regional crisis and far bigger than any one jurisdiction’s responsibility. We know it’s better for the health of residents, housed and unhoused, and the health of our local economy when folks have shelter and housing go out of the elements and out of doorways of public spaces.  

Thanks again for reaching out. I hope this addresses the shared concerns you noted, and the importance of the County acting in partnership to get folks into housing immediately. 

Sincerely,

Teresa Mosqueda

King County Councilmember, District 8
‍Teresa.Mosqueda@KingCounty.gov

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Burien.News reached out to Burien City Council and the City of Burien for comment. We will publish any response.

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Related article 8/22/24 : County Executive Dow Constantine promises to have the Burien homeless campers in shelters and housing by September 30, 2024.

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(image courtesy of kingcounty.gov)