King County Council launches 90-day review of troubled homelessness authority
The King County Council has ordered a 90-day review of the future of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). This follows a forensic audit revealing financial irregularities and rising homelessness figures in the region. A recent forensic audit uncovered $13 million missing and $45 million in debt at KCRHA. Mayor Jim Ferrell, a former King County prosecutor, read the findings and expressed deep concern. He now demands greater transparency and accountability from the organisation.
Ferrell has called for a halt to further funding until the missing money is explained. He also proposes suspending KCRHA’s activities, securing its records, and launching a full forensic accounting. Since its creation in 2019, KCRHA has received about $534 million to tackle homelessness.
In 2024, the authority reported 16,868 individuals experiencing homelessness, a 26% rise since 2022. CEO Kelly Kinnison has acknowledged gaps in financial systems and pledged to address the audit’s concerns. Ferrell remains critical, stating that KCRHA’s formation was the wrong approach from the start. The council’s review will examine KCRHA’s operations and financial management over the next three months. The audit’s findings and the growing homelessness crisis have intensified calls for reform. Local leaders are now weighing the authority’s next steps carefully.
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