Why Not Try a By-Name List?
What we’re doing now on homelessness isn’t working so we may as well try something new.
Mayor Wilson just announced a new homelessness response strategy modeled on an effort completed last summer in Pioneer Square with assistance from Community Solutions. Whether or not that strategy can be scaled citywide is a matter of debate but one its features stands out: the by-name list.
A by-name list (BNL) is a continuously updated list of people experiencing homelessness that allows better coordination among outreach workers, shelters, service providers, etc. Seattle was supposed to get one through KCRHA's Partnership for Zero, but that effort collapsed before delivering on the promise.
While it’s unconscionable that expanding access to on-demand addiction treatment isn’t central to the city’s homelessness response, if a BNL can get people into rehab more expeditiously, it’s worth a try.
*Don’t miss: Each piece in this week’s News About City Hall is about the Mayor’s new homelessness strategy so you can see a range of perspectives on the same topic – have fun!*
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