The following article was adapted from a monologue on The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI and reflects the author’s opinion.
A recent article from The Seattle Times touts a record number of homeless encampment removals across the city. On the surface, that may seem like progress. After all, clearing out encampments sounds like a step toward a cleaner, safer Seattle. But dig a little deeper, and the numbers reveal a far more troubling reality.
If the city is breaking records for encampment removals, that also means it’s breaking records for how many encampments exist in the first place. And just because more tents are being swept away doesn’t mean the underlying issues are being solved. There’s a strong argument to be made that this is simply a game of optics and displacement, making the issue less visible without making it go away.
"'Seattle breaks records on homeless tents removed, encampments cleared.' That sounds like a good thing, but it means you have record tents & record encampments. Just because you're clearing out more doesn't mean you're actually accomplishing anything"
Do you think… pic.twitter.com/kkahKyE3Sy
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) April 23, 2025
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Yes, downtown may look a bit cleaner these days. But that seems to be because the unhoused population is being pushed out of the city core and into more forested areas of the city and King County—places where they are less likely to be seen by tourists or voters, but far more vulnerable to overdoses, assaults, and extreme weather.
This is a strategy straight from the playbook of the old Seattle City Council. Many of the same people involved back then are now in Mayor Bruce Harrell’s administration, including former councilmember Tim Burgess and Harrell himself. The tactic is familiar: out of sight, out of mind. There’s no real effort to provide jobs, treatment, or permanent housing solutions. And the housing that has been built simply isn’t enough to meet the demand.
The Numbers Tell the Story
In his February State of the City address, Mayor Harrell claimed that the number of tents in Seattle had dropped nearly 80% since 2022. That’s a striking figure, and he’s taken credit for fulfilling his campaign promise to clear public spaces. Over 5,000 encampments have been removed during his tenure—far more than pre-pandemic numbers.
But here’s what Harrell didn’t say: more people are living outside than ever before. Even he doesn’t dispute that. And while the city is removing encampments at a rapid pace, it hasn’t added nearly enough shelter capacity. In fact, the number of shelter units has declined under Harrell’s leadership—and may continue to do so as funding drops.
A Failure to Audit
This isn’t about a lack of funding. Seattle has funneled billions into what critics call “Homeless Inc.,” a complex of nonprofits, service providers, and bureaucracies that have yet to demonstrate real results. And yet, despite the staggering expense, no meaningful audit has been done to understand where the money is going or why it’s not working.
If Seattle took a page from Los Angeles’ playbook, it might see what happens when a system is finally scrutinized. A federal investigation into California’s homeless programs revealed that after $24 billion spent, the crisis worsened. It was a colossal failure, one so serious it drew national attention. Seattle may be smaller in scale, but the dysfunction is all too familiar.
Encouraging the Crisis
Meanwhile, critics argue that Seattle is attracting more homeless individuals from outside the city—and even from out of state—due to the generous services provided. With free tents, phones, gift cards, and in some cases, drugs, the city has become a destination for those living unsheltered.
It’s also become clear that some activist networks, including Antifa-aligned mutual aid groups, are coordinating responses to encampment removals. When a sweep is announced, new encampments pop up just blocks away. Activists reportedly hand out fliers telling people exactly where to go next, creating a never-ending cycle of relocation.
Political Optics Over Practical Solutions
So why now? Why the sudden uptick in sweeps and public cleanliness? The answer may lie in political strategy. Mayor Harrell is facing a tough re-election battle, with challengers from both the left and right. And while rumors of scandals brewing within City Hall have yet to surface publicly, it’s clear the mayor is looking for a visible win.
Sweeping tents may provide good headlines, but it does little to change the reality on the ground. In the meantime, those most in need continue to fall through the cracks—and voters are left wondering whether any real progress is possible under the current system.
Until the city confronts the root causes of homelessness and holds its sprawling network of service providers accountable, Seattle’s crisis will persist—no matter how many tents are swept away.
Listen to The Ari Hoffman Show, weekdays 3-6 PM Pacific on Talk Radio 570 KVI, 101.5 FM HD-3, KVI.com & the KVI app. Subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast platform.
