Chief Seattle Club addresses urban native homelessness amid federal funding cuts

The Seattle City Council Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes convened on April 3, 2025, to discuss critical issues affecting homelessness and housing for Native American populations in the region. A significant focus of the meeting was the impact of federal funding cuts on local organizations, particularly the Chief Seattle Club and DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center), which serve vulnerable communities.

During the meeting, representatives highlighted the historical context of Native American urbanization, noting that many Indigenous people were relocated to urban areas due to federal policies in the 1950s. This has resulted in a disproportionate representation of Native Americans among the homeless population in Seattle and King County, where they make up 1-2% of the total population but accounted for 32% of the chronically homeless in 2020.

The Chief Seattle Club, founded in 1970 to address homelessness among urban Native Americans, reported significant progress in providing housing. Since 2022, they have opened 405 units of permanent supportive housing, thanks to federal funding from the HUD Section 4 program. However, recent cuts to this funding threaten their ability to expand and sustain these efforts. The organization emphasized the importance of culturally relevant services in improving housing stability and health outcomes for Native populations.

DESC also expressed concern over the loss of federal funding, which constitutes a quarter of their $140 million operating budget. This funding is crucial for their operations, which support approximately 8,000 individuals annually, including those with serious behavioral health conditions.

Both organizations underscored the urgent need for continued federal support to address the ongoing homelessness crisis and to ensure that they can effectively plan for future needs. The meeting concluded with a call for collaborative efforts to secure necessary resources and to advocate for policies that support vulnerable populations in Seattle.