Gentrification

Gentrification has been a glaring issue especially within Seattle. Gentrification is known to have impactful effects on housing, economy, public health, history, culture, and social capital. The many effects of gentrification also cause one of the most easily visible and well-known issues, homelessness. Enough so that Seattle first declared a State of Emergency for homelessness in 2015.

 

Northgate is no exception to this rampant crisis, containing tent cities that pose a risk not only to those left out in the cold, but also to the communities within proximity. However, there is also a known attempt being made to address the homelessness crisis within Seattle and Northgate.

 

The One Seattle Homelessness Initiative has been working to clean up tent cities and to provide safe, affordable, and accommodating shelter. In 2022, a Northgate tent city near the I-5 was cleared and over 20 persons were reported to have been housed. Within the same year, a Northgate hotel which was bought at $41 million by King County is now being used to house over 100 homeless persons.