Residents and advocates urge council to expand rental assistance, find sites for Tent City 3 and 4

Dozens of residents and housing advocates told the Seattle City Council Select Budget Committee on Oct. 15 that immediate funding and site-finding are needed to prevent people in Tent City 3 and Tent City 4 from losing shelter.

Speakers at the hybrid public comment period included staff from the Low Income Housing Institute and multiple Tent City residents and organizers who described imminent moves and rising housing instability. "My belief that housing is a human right guides my work at the Low Income Housing Institute," said Kara Williams, a LIHI staff member, who urged the committee to adopt a total of $21,400,000 for tenant‑based rental assistance — an $11,400,000 baseline the mayor proposed plus an additional $10,000,000 to support nonprofit affordable housing portfolios.

The appeals came during the committee's public comment block, where people spoke in person then online. Council Chair Dan Strauss and staff explained the time limits and called the speakers in the order they registered.

Why it matters: Several speakers said the city faces both an urgent shelter crisis for encampment residents and rising operating…