The Burien Triangle of Homelessness and Crime

The City of Burien continues to be at the mercy of escalating criminal and drug activities, especially in its downtown core. The number of new homeless - and “formerly homeless” - people is rising, and the city’s confidence in “public health and safety” is falling. Burien’s Homeless Crisis is reaching a crescendo.

Businesses are leaving, and residents are feeling disheartened and distraught by the lack of law enforcement in their city. Communities are at odds with each other over how to help. Root issues of “housing, addiction, and mental health” are all cited, but competing resolution models are vastly different. 

‍“The Burien Triangle”

Currently, Burien is host to three King-County-funded-and-supported homeless locations: 

1. DESC Bloomside is DESC's first “permanent support housing” facility built outside of Seattle. DESC does not require any drug restriction or drug rehabilitation services in order to live there. In this low-income apartment, residents sign a lease and a “Good Neighbor Agreement,” then they are free to come and go as they please. [94 residents]
2. King County District Courthouse Parking Lot. Formerly a pristine Rain Garden, this location is now a contaminated homeless camp which King County supports with homeless support services, including “harm reduction” tools, food, water, electricity, port-a-potties and weekly waste removal. KC recently built permanent fencing around the site. Criminal activity and drug use is rampant, and children have recently been rescued from the camp. [74 tents]
3. Starbucks on Ambaum and SW 148th St has a thin strip of land just to the south of its parking lot. A rapidly growing number of homeless tents are visible. Drug use and domestic violence has been reported. Homeless agencies are aware, and they are providing services to campers. [Approximately 20 tents.]

‍Nearby Business Owner Experiences

According to local business owners we interviewed, there is now a steady stream of homeless people walking between the three locations. The business owners see open air drug use, needles, foil and feces on their property. They have experienced break-ins, theft of property, lewd behavior, trespassing, and violence. 

King County ”Support Services”

King County is funding the majority of the “homelessness services” through REACH, LEAD, and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). It seems the more they spend on the problem, the worse it gets, and yet, they are still placing the blame on the City of Burien.  

According to Burien City Council and City Manager Bailon, King County has not been willing to cooperate with the city leaders on how to resolve this crisis in Burien.

‍KC Appointed Sheriff Cole-Tindall Sues Burien

In early March 2024, the Burien City Council passed Ordinance 832 which limited the location and time of allowable camping in the city of Burien. However, instead of enforcing the ordinance, it was challenged by King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall, who called it “unconstitutional,” and immediately told her deputies to NOT enforce the ordinance. She also skipped any arbitration and filed a lawsuit the following week. The city of Burien countersued shortly thereafter. 

Even with recent court rulings like the Supreme Court of the United States [Grant's Pass v. Johnson], the county-appointed sheriff Cole-Tindall has refused to budge. Both suits are awaiting trial.

‍New Police Chief

This week, Burien replaced the exiting Police Chief Ted Boe with Tom Calabrese. However, the Burien Police will still be contracted through an Interlocal-Agreement (ILA) with King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). Burien law enforcement officers will still report to Cole-Tindall and her boss, County Executive Dow Constantine.

‍Dow promises to clear the Courthouse camp

On August 14, 2024, County Executive Dow Constantine told the 33/34th Democrat leaders that within four to six weeks he planned to find shelter/housing for people currently living in the parking lot of the Burien District Courthouse. He said they would be helping to relocate people “individually” - however, nothing has visibly changed at the camp. There are still 74 tents.

Burien.News will continue to investigate and report on this situation.

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