Seattle to Expand Pioneer Square Homeless Effort Citywide Ahead of World Cup

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson plans to expand citywide a Pioneer Square effort that moved 70 of 80 people experiencing homelessness into housing or shelter ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The strategy will coordinate outreach and prioritize intensive shelter, treatment and housing services for people facing the greatest barriers and having the biggest impact on public spaces, while encampment removals will continue. The city says it will build on approaches used in Denver, Houston and other cities; Wilson pointed to Denver’s reported reductions in unsheltered homelessness as evidence of potential progress. The proposal includes 960 shelter beds over two years and is expected to serve about 1,750 people annually at an estimated cost of $37 million, drawing on planned city funding amid budget constraints.