SEATTLE — Seattle leaders are calling for main modifications to the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) following a forensic analysis that discovered important monetary and operational failures throughout the company.
The overview, commissioned by the City of Seattle and King County and carried out by an outdoor agency, examined the company’s operations from its inception by means of mid-2025. It recognized critical points with inner controls, fiscal administration, and accountability, together with tens of millions of {dollars} in unaccounted public funds.
Seattle Councilmember Maritza Rivera mentioned she was “shocked and outraged” by the findings and is asking for the company to be dismantled.
It reveals an egregious mismanagement of funds and an unacceptable lack of monetary accountability,” Rivera mentioned in a press release. “KCRHA has a history of dysfunction and inefficiency, and it is time to acknowledge that it has failed in its mission.
Rivera urged Mayor Katie Wilson to present a plan to dismantle the agency and work with the Seattle City Council on how Seattle will move forward in addressing homelessness. She also reiterated her call for a separate audit of the city’s human services contracts.
The forensic evaluation was launched in August 2025 amid ongoing concerns about the agency, including leadership turnover, delayed payments, state auditor findings, unverified accounting practices, and cash flow challenges.
According to city officials, the investigation found the agency was unable to account for about $13 million in public funds. A separate audit cited a negative cash position of $44.7 million as of July 2025 and about $8 million that could not be accounted for.
Mayor Wilson said the findings raise serious concerns and signaled that changes could be coming.
Addressing homelessness is my highest priority, and I have serious concerns about KCRHA’s management of city funds,” Wilson mentioned in a press release. “We need to take swift action to protect public dollars. All options are on the table.
Councilmember Bob Kettle, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee, also criticized the agency’s leadership and broader oversight.
The results of the recent King County Regional Homelessness Authority audit are damning,” Kettle said. “It shows an epic, and consistent, failure of leadership at the top of the agency —especially at its start. It also reveals the failure of leadership of the county and city. The audit reveals troubling systemic issues that can no longer be ignored if we are to address the homelessness and public safety crisis in Seattle effectively.
Kettle said the findings highlight systemic issues that must be addressed to effectively respond to homelessness in Seattle. He called for a renewed focus on financial oversight and operational transparency, while maintaining a regional approach to the crisis.
“We have a regional homelessness problem on the streets of Seattle,” Kettle mentioned. “We need a unified, countywide approach that operates with a defined purpose, compassion, and accountability.”
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority was created to coordinate efforts between the town and county to deal with homelessness, however officers now say its future could possibly be in query as leaders weigh next steps.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay mentioned the forensic audit of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority raises critical considerations concerning the company’s monetary administration and accountability. He mentioned the county and Seattle have issued a letter outlining required corrective actions and can improve oversight because the company works to deal with the findings.
Zahilay added he’s centered on bettering transparency, stabilizing the company and making certain providers proceed, whereas working with companions within the coming weeks to find out next steps and strengthen monetary controls.
City officers mentioned they’re pursuing corrective actions following the findings.
