Snohomish County is first in WA to end ‘Housing First’ funding preference; fentanyl exposure to children now lands you jail time

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council on June 10 approved two ordinances aimed at expanding treatment-focused approaches to addiction and housing while protecting children from fentanyl exposure, but postponed a third measure that would have carved out dedicated funding for behavioral health facilities. “These ordinances represent a step in the right direction for our fight […]

Beyond the False Binaries: A Pragmatic Path Out of Homelessness and Addiction

Forced rehabilitation rarely delivers better long-term results than voluntary approaches, but the opposite extreme—unconditional support without any expectations—fares no better. Housing First has proven effective at one critical task: keeping people housed. Studies consistently show one- to two-year retention rates of 70 to 90 percent, far exceeding traditional treatment-first models. A stable, lockable home can […]