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00000181-fa79-da89-a38d-fb7f2b910000KUOW is joining forces with other Seattle media outlets to highlight the homeless crisis in the city and region on Wednesday, June 29, 2017.The effort was modeled after a collaboration by more than 70 San Francisco outlets to focus a day of news attention on the issue and possible solutions.Read more about the Seattle project and check out our coverage below. Follow the city's coverage by using #SeaHomeless.HighlightsThe Jungle: an ongoing coverage project going into the notorious homeless encampment under Interstate 5.Ask Seattle's Homeless Community: KUOW is launching a Facebook group where anyone may ask a question about homelessness, but only people who have experienced it may answer. This was inspired by a recent event KUOW co-presented with Seattle Public Library and Real Change, where residents of the Jungle answered audience questions. No End In Sight: an award-winning investigative project from KUOW about King County's 10-year plan to end homelessness.

Paul Allen gives Seattle $30M to house homeless

File photo of a homeless encampment under a bridge.
KUOW Photo
The homeless encampment known as the Jungle was he scene of a Jan. 26, 2016 shooting that killed two and wounded three.

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen is giving Seattle $30 million to house homeless families.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced the partnership Wednesday, saying that the city will add another $5 million to the project.

"This money will be focused on building permanent housing for homeless families and children so that we can reach our commitment in the next 18 months that there are no children and their families on our streets," Murray said.

Bill Hilf, CEO of Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc., said the facility will go further than just giving people a place to sleep.

"This center will bring together permanent housing along with on-site services that are so critical to disrupt the cycle of homelessness. And we will provide those services beyond the physical building itself to the broader community that's in need," Hilf said.   

He said it's important for the whole community to step up. 

"We believe that tackling homelessness is everyone's responsibility, from businesses to nonprofits to public institutions."

In his state of the city address earlier this year, Mayor Murray put a call out to local businesses asking them to consider giving $25 million over five years to help combat homelessness.

"I asked for 25 million, we got 30. That's one company. It just tells you how generous the city of Seattle is and how if we come together, and if we take those risks, we can grow this amount of money even larger," Murray said.

The new housing complex will be owned and run by nonprofit group Mercy Housing Northwest.

A site for the development has yet to be chosen, but officials say the project could have up to 100 apartments and could open within two years.

Families who stay at the space will pay no more than 30 percent of their income for housing.

According to the city, there are currently 1,684 families waiting for housing in King County.

Year started with KUOW: 2015