Ohio-based activist Marc Dones has accepted an offer to become the first CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. He is scheduled to start work on April 26.
The authority’s task includes bringing Seattle, King County, and suburban cities together in a cohesive strategy to address homelessness throughout the region. Disagreements among some of the region’s cities on how to address homelessness have delayed getting the authority started.
The Covid-19 pandemic also has delayed the CEO selection process. The authority’s first selection, a racial equity consultant from Atlanta, turned down the job offer. The Seattle Times reports that Dones was originally the runner-up for the job.
The Seattle Times also reports that Seattle leaders hope the authority can encourage suburban cities to play a bigger role in addressing homelessness by helping to fund shelters and by allowing more shelters and low-income housing for the chronically homeless.
