Housing

Money. American one hundred dollar bill on the grate of the storm drain.

^{Donald Nielsen
May 12, 2026
Economic Policy, Energy, Homelessness, Housing, Taxes

5}

Seattle’s Transformation Spawns a Long List of Problems

_{Donald Nielsen
May 12, 2026
Economic Policy, Energy, Homelessness, Housing, Taxes

5}

My wife and I returned to Seattle in early 1993 after nearly 23 years on the East Coast. We were delighted to come home. Our fair city was booming, with the qualities we always loved about Seattle still intact. Over the past three decades, however, we have witnessed a steady erosion in the livability of both our city and our state. Today, Seattle bears little resemblance to its former self, and Washington is becoming a less attractive place to live or work. Read More ›

^{Caitlyn McKenney
February 11, 2025
Housing

3}

The Bellevue Squatting Case Reveals a Broken Eviction System in King County

_{Caitlyn McKenney
February 11, 2025
Housing

3}

Let's unpack the unlawful detainer case(s) to find out how this family lived without paying rent for 2.5 years in a $2 million Bellevue, Washington home. The Kims signed a 9-month lease in July 2022 and paid first month's rent of $4,400. Read More ›

^{Jonathan Choe
February 9, 2025
Housing

6}

Bellevue Squatter Sang Kim Kicked Out of Rental Property

_{Jonathan Choe
February 9, 2025
Housing

6}

After two years of hell, Bellevue deadbeat tenants Sang and Youjin Kim have finally been kicked out of their rental property. After numerous legal rulings against them, the Kims were supposed to vacate by Saturday. But they went past the deadline and left a mess. Read More ›

^{Caitlyn McKenney
February 6, 2025
Housing

1}

Caitlyn McKenney Discusses Her Seattle Times Op-Ed with Brandi Kruse

_{Caitlyn McKenney
February 6, 2025
Housing

1}

Discovery Institute Research Fellow Caitlyn McKenney appeared on [un]Divided with Brandi Kruse this week to discuss McKenney's op-ed in The Seattle Times, "Sensible WA Tenancy Laws Will Help Housing Stability." McKenney argues that nonsensical laws protecting tenants from eviction cause harm to housing stability. Watch McKenney and Kruse discuss. Read More ›

^{Caitlyn McKenney
February 5, 2025
Housing

67}

Is Housing a Human Right?

_{Caitlyn McKenney
February 5, 2025
Housing

67}

The U.S. Constitution establishes life, liberty and property as unalienable rights but makes no room for a human right to the provision of housing. Read More ›

^{Caitlyn McKenney
January 15, 2025
Housing

4}

The YIMBY Movement Faces Challenges on Both Sides of the Aisle

_{Caitlyn McKenney
January 15, 2025
Housing

4}

“Yes In My Backyard” — if the phrase has yet to enter your lexicon, the YIMBY movement is a growing cultural and political response to its predecessor, NIMBY (“Not In My Backyard”). As the nation faces a shortage of nearly 4 million homes, a pro-housing response is understandably on the rise. And while the YIMBY movement has garnered impressive traction on both sides of the political aisle — Harris and Trump have both vocalized pro-housing development sentiment — it is also not immune to criticism from both sides. Read More ›

^{Jonathan Choe
January 15, 2025
Housing

1}

Steve Hickey Finally Vacates House He Was Illegally Occupying

_{Jonathan Choe
January 15, 2025
Housing

1}

Serial squatter Steve Hickey has vacated the Ravensdale house he's been illegally occupying for more than a year. It is now in the hands of homeowner Katrina Freitag, but she's now accusing him of attempted arson. Before Hickey left, she believes the disgraced former King County Fire Commissioner turned on the stove and tried to burn down the house. Read More ›

^{Jonathan Choe
January 13, 2025
Housing

2}

Criminal Squatter Steve Hickey Selling Possessions While Remaining in House He Does Not Own

_{Jonathan Choe
January 13, 2025
Housing

2}

Accused conman and criminal squatter Steve Hickey is now selling his personal belongings including the table where he shot many of his social media videos for Instagram and TikTok. It appears the law is finally catching up. Read More ›

^{Jonathan Choe
December 22, 2024
Housing

2}

Steve Hickey Resigns from Position as Fire Commissioner

_{Jonathan Choe
December 22, 2024
Housing

2}

Embattled King County Fire Commissioner Steve Hickey resigned Saturday evening from Fire Protection District #47 in Ravensdale. Hickey was being investigated for corruption. Read More ›

^{Caitlyn McKenney
December 18, 2024
Housing

5}

As Region Faces Shortage, Seattle Needs to Preserve its Existing Housing

_{Caitlyn McKenney
December 18, 2024
Housing

5}

According to a 2024 report on housing production from Up For Growth, the metro area encompassing Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue is facing a shortage of 71,060 homes. That amounts to 4.2% of the region’s total housing stock. While the production of new homes is vital to closing the gap between supply and demand, so is the preservation of existing housing, especially affordable housing. A recent op-ed in the Seattle Times called on Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to suspend the city’s winter eviction moratorium, a law that halts evictions for the nonpayment of rent from December through March every year. The article is authored by Sharon Lee, executive Director of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), and Emily Thompson, a partner at GMD Development. LIHI Read More ›