EVERETT—Scott Murphy, a former Everett City Councilmember challenging incumbent Mayor Cassie Franklin in the 2025 mayoral race, has criticized her administration’s handling of homelessness, in an op-ed submitted to the Lynnwood Times, citing a significant increase in unsheltered individuals in Everett.
According to the 2025 Snohomish County Point-in-Time (PIT) count, Everett’s unsheltered population has risen from 166 in 2018, when Franklin took office, to 324 this year, marking a 95% increase. Murphy contrasted this with declines in unsheltered populations in other parts of Snohomish County, except for Granite Falls.
Murphy attributed the rise to a lack of effective leadership and inadequate collaboration with service providers. He proposed a six-point plan to address the crisis, emphasizing transparency, increased safe housing, enhanced outreach for mental health and addiction treatment, ongoing assessments, elimination of unsanctioned encampments, and annual progress reports to the community.
The 2025 PIT count, conducted on January 22, 2025, with 340 volunteers, reported a countywide decrease of 21 people (1.8%) from 2024, totaling 1,140 individuals experiencing homelessness. Of the 536 unsheltered individuals countywide, 324 were in Everett, highlighting the city’s disproportionate share of the crisis.
“When Mayor Franklin took office in 2018, Everett’s PIT count was 166 unsheltered individuals. This year, it’s 324 — a staggering 95% increase,” Murphy said. “In just the past year, homelessness in Everett has jumped another 18%.”
“This is not just a policy failure — it’s a leadership failure,” he added. “Other communities in Snohomish County are seeing improvements, while Everett becomes ground zero for a crisis the Mayor can’t or won’t get under control.”
Franklin’s administration has previously highlighted efforts like the Pallet shelter village, a transitional housing initiative launched in 2021, as part of its response to homelessness. However, Murphy argued that these measures have been insufficient, calling for more accountability and results-driven strategies to restore safety and humanity to Everett’s streets.
Author: Mario Lotmore
One Response
That’s because Franklin is all about the illegals 1st while Druggies & Vet’s struggle. No programs to help those with mental health issues, also at homeless shelters they’re allowing the to continue their drug’s. Save Everett Save America ,Stop Demoncrat Fascistism