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Today marks the start of a new era in the fight against homelessness ? not just for the City of Seattle, but for our entire region. ?
For years, leaders in our region have talked about the need for one unified regional system that has governance, authority, and resources to address the crisis of homelessness.
So today ? after months of really hard work and shared commitment ? King County Executive Dow Constantine and I are both transmitting legislation to finally create that system our region needs ? and that people deserve: the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.
With this new step, we are taking years of talk and turning it into action.
This new entity we are creating won?t prevent everyone from falling into homelessness in the first place, and, it won?t help every person experiencing homelessness transition into a safer place.
But it?s a historic step. It will help us do more to prevent homelessness, to serve people experiencing homelessness, and to center race and social justice in everything we do.
 I?ve long said that truly addressing this challenge will take everyone at the table: government, business, service providers, people with lived experience, communities of faith, and so many more. We are coming together because we need to tackle this together.
In the last two years, we?ve seen more alignment in our region than ever before.?
Last year, working closely with King County, we increased our shelter capacity by 25% - the largest increase in shelter capacity in the history of Seattle. We?ve also expanded our Navigation Team to help us reach more people experiencing homelessness than ever before. And this May, the annual Point in Time count showed the first decline in homelessness in Seattle and King County since 2012.
We need to keep that progress going, and that?s why this next step to unify our regional response is so important.
True regional participation is critical to the success of this new homelessness authority. That?s why we?ve knocked down barriers that can otherwise limit participation: We have invited cities and housing authorities across King County to join us ? either immediately, or at their own pace over time.
I know that sometimes people feel that government cannot come together to take new steps to tackle some of the biggest challenges ? but today, we showed we can.
 I will keep you updated as we continue the important work of unifying our region?s response to the crisis of homelessness and work together for a better future.
As always, please continue to write me at?[email protected], reach out via?Twitter?and?Facebook, and stay up-to-date on the work we?re doing for the people of Seattle on?my?blog.
Sincerely,
 
Photos courtesy of Marcus Donner
At the fourth annual ?Be There Rally,? Mayor Durkan joined Chief of Police Carmen Best, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools Denise Juneau, and members of the community to welcome West Seattle Elementary school kids back to school for the first day of classes. The Be There Rally is an opportunity for the community to come together to greet and encourage kids as they enter into the new school year.
 As a member of the former 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) network, Seattle committed to increasing our capacity to survive and thrive, regardless of the challenge. Our first-ever?Resilience Roadmap?lays out a path to do exactly this. It includes our vision for a city of the future and outlines how our City can become more resilient to the shocks and stresses facing many major cities today.
Read the full roadmap here.
Established by Mayor Durkan via executive order in August 2018, the Innovation Advisory Council acts as an advisor on issues and policies affecting the City where data and technology solutions could be of benefit.
 Since its creation in August 2018, the Innovation Advisory Council has been working on seven ?phase one? projects focused on solutions for homelessness, affordability, and delivery of basic services. Many of these projects are nearing completion, with all of them expected to launch ? either in beta or as a final product ? by the end of 2019.?Recently, the Innovation Advisory Council released an update on the work that has gone into identifying the next phase of projects.
 Members of the public are invited to join first responders from the Seattle Police and Fire Departments on Sept. 11 as they commemorate the 18th anniversary of 9/11. This is an opportunity to gather as a community to remember the lives that were lost that day and the lives that were forever changed. Mayor Jenny Durkan, Police Chief Carmen Best and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins will speak at the event, followed by a Moment of Silence. The honor guards from both departments, and the Seattle Fire Pipes and Drums will be part of the ceremony.
WHEN:?Wednesday, Sept. 11 from noon - 12:30 p.m.
WHERE:?Seattle Center Memorial Garden (south of the International Fountain) 305 Harrison St., Seattle?
 For this edition?s recommended read, we encourage you to read Mayor Durkan?s op-ed in the Washington Post about the unique challenges facing workers today ? and what we must do to address these challenges.
We are living through the most disruptive era since the Industrial Revolution. From lifesaving discoveries to green technologies to better ways to stay connected, the new economy?s gains have been enormous. But, for too many workers, the shifts have been dramatic and unsettling. Hard-fought worker protections, wages and benefits have faded along with the brick and mortar of the old economy.
Now, long-term jobs are giving way to gig work. Real wages have barely budged for workers. For many Americans, owning a home is out of reach. The transition is threatening the fabric of our country. We need to change course.
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