City’s Homelessness & Safety Update: Optimism, Data – and Some Big Gaps

At this month’s City Council Community Health & Safety Committee meeting, staff rolled out a polished update on homelessness response and buffer zones. With the mayoral election weeks away, it’s hard not to notice how the administration is framing its work in the rosiest possible light.

Are we viewing the current state of homelessness in Everett through rose colored glasses?

Staff leaned heavily on words like balance, compassion, and progress, and praised their own “dashboards” and “data portals.” But when you look closer, the picture is less tidy.

The Buffer Zone Numbers

A key chart showed police calls around buffer zones. The city pointed out that calls have dropped since the 2023 ordinance took effect.

But the chart also shows something else:

• Fred Meyer, even after declines, remained by far the most active buffer zone for police responses.

• Despite the city’s claim that crime is “decreasing,” this area has consistently required far more attention than others.

• Kroger’s statement that crime influenced their closure of the South Everett store may have had more merit than city leaders admit.

  
  

Oddly, the statistics stop in March 2025—even though this report-out happened in September. Why? If things are truly improving, why not show us the whole picture?

Council Questions Show Doubt

Several council members raised points that suggest skepticism:

• Council members asked why calls at Andy’s Place haven’t gone down much, and why neighbors still feel unsafe despite management plans and extra policing.

• One asked why the ordinance allows the mayor to create buffer zones unilaterally without a direct council vote, raising concerns about accountability.

• Another pressed about how much of the county’s shelter burden Everett is carrying compared to surrounding cities like Marysville or Mill Creek.

  
  

Even supportive comments often came with caveats—praising progress but pointing out continued frustrations with Compass Health, encampments, and the slow pace of promised projects.

The Election Context

An average of nearly 5000 free hot meals are provided throughout Everett each month.

The timing of this upbeat presentation is notable. The administration highlighted every success—from hot meal programs to new shelter beds—but downplayed ongoing crises and the real strain on neighborhoods. By ending charts in March and avoiding tougher comparisons to “average” neighborhoods, the city leaves residents with more questions than answers.

If crime around Fred Meyer has truly gone down, why is it still the highest-activity hotspot in Everett? If homelessness response is “balanced,” why are we still short hundreds of shelter beds? And why is Everett left carrying a disproportionate share of the county’s load while other cities remain quiet?

The administration may want voters to see steady progress. The data, though, suggests a more complicated—and less flattering—story.

Want to get involved?

If you or an organization you are a part of have ideas and want to contribute to solutions, the point of contact (as of publishing) is Ben Breeden, Homeless Response Coordinator bbreeden@everettwa.gov. One key takeaway from the meeting was that it is important to filter initiatives through Ben and the proper channels in Community Development as they have a big picture view of what has and hasn't been successful in recent years.