The King County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a motion aimed at strengthening oversight of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) and launching a formal review process that could ultimately reshape or end the county’s participation in the regional homelessness agency.
The motion comes in response to a recent forensic evaluation that identified patterns of financial mismanagement and weaknesses in internal controls within KCRHA, raising concerns among county leaders about accountability, operational stability, and long-term viability.
Sponsored by Councilmembers Jorge L. Barón, Steffanie Fain, and Rod Dembowski, the motion directs the King County Executive to provide both an initial briefing and a comprehensive report evaluating the Authority’s financial condition, corrective actions, and future structure before any long-term decisions are made.
“The findings of this evaluation are serious and require a thoughtful, fact-based response,” the councilmembers said in a joint statement. “Gaps in financial oversight and internal controls point to the need for meaningful change to ensure we are effectively delivering shelter and services to the people who need them.”
Created to coordinate homelessness services across Seattle and King County, KCRHA was intended to streamline regional collaboration and improve the delivery of shelter, outreach, and housing services. However, the agency has faced growing criticism in recent years over financial oversight issues, administrative challenges, and concerns about system performance as homelessness across the region continues to rise.
Under the motion approved Tuesday, the Executive must provide a detailed report by Aug. 1, 2026, outlining corrective actions taken by KCRHA, identifying administrative funding shortfalls, and evaluating options for addressing operational gaps.
The report must also include a formal decision-making framework with performance benchmarks, accountability measures, and evaluation criteria to help determine whether King County should continue, amend, or terminate its participation in the interlocal agreement governing the Authority.
In addition to reviewing KCRHA’s current structure, the motion requires analysis of what a potential transition away from the agency would involve, including the transfer of contracts, continuity of provider payments, and risks tied to federal Continuum of Care funding that supports homelessness services throughout the region.
Councilmembers emphasized that any future changes must prioritize maintaining services for vulnerable residents and minimizing disruptions to providers and housing systems.
“Continuity of services and system stability are our top priorities,” the joint statement said. “Any necessary reforms must be implemented in a way that protects providers, preserves critical federal funding, and ensures continued support for those who need it.”
The Executive is expected to provide an initial briefing in June, followed by the final report later this summer. The findings will help inform future council decisions, including consideration of a separate motion that proposes ending King County’s participation in the KCRHA interlocal agreement altogether.
While the motion itself stops short of formally dismantling the regional authority, Dembowski issued a separate statement Tuesday making clear that he believes the county should move toward withdrawing from the agency.
“The region’s leaders and service providers have increasingly acknowledged that the Regional Homelessness Authority has failed to make any progress and should be shut down,” Dembowski said. “Since its formation, the number of people living on our streets has nearly doubled.”
Dembowski also pointed to ongoing financial concerns and potential risks to county taxpayers.
“Coupled with its repeated inability to get its financial affairs in order, and the serious risk to King County’s budget, investment pool, and taxpayers, it’s clear to me that we must exercise the County’s right to withdraw from the KCRHA as soon as practicable,” he said.
Despite growing criticism of the agency, councilmembers stressed that the review process is intended to ensure any future decisions are driven by data, operational analysis, and long-term system stability rather than political reaction.
“KCRHA was created to bring greater regional coordination and partnership to our homelessness response. That goal remains critical, but we must conduct an honest assessment of what is working, what is not, and what changes may be necessary to ensure the system is delivering results,” the councilmembers said. “Our responsibility is to ensure the system that emerges is more accountable, more effective, and better equipped to meet the scale of this challenge.”