Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell is releasing the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget. In this budget, Mayor Harrell is continuing to make needed investments and take bold action to address the urgent needs of our communities and advance our One Seattle priorities.

Mayor Harrell’s budget proposal remains focused on strengthening public safety, creating housing affordability, and supporting healthy, vibrant, and thriving communities, while also responding to a $251 million general fund deficit with a balanced budget. The general fund deficit and fiscal position meant difficult choices that were not required in recent past budget cycles. The proposed budget seeks to continue to deliver positive progress, in addition to optimizing use of limited dollars toward key priorities and driving efficiencies.

With the investments in this budget proposal, we can work together to advance our shared #OneSeattle vision and an agenda that will inspire the best in our city and keep us moving forward.

I am particularly pleased that Mayor Harrell’s proposed Human Services Department (HSD) budget of nearly $365M sustains our core investments while addressing urgent needs. HSD focuses its investments on six key impact areas including: preparing youth for success; supporting affordability and livability; supporting safe communities; addressing homelessness; promoting public health; and promoting healthy aging. With this budget, we continue to invest in our core services such as:

• Long-term services and supports for clients who receive in-home care, nutrition services, and caregiver support so people are able to age in place
• Seattle Youth Employment Program and mental health supports so young people will thrive
• Nutritious and culturally relevant food and utility discounts to make living more affordable
• Victim support and strategies to reduce gender-based violence
• Shelter, rapid rehousing, outreach, and housing programs in partnership with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to address homelessness

The following is a summary of HSD’s key changes in the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget:

• $9.8M in 2025 and $16.9M in 2026 to provide an inflationary increase for human services provider contracts.
• $5.5M in 2025 to keep open needed shelter spaces for unhoused community members and $7.5M in 2026 to also provide increased wraparound and behavioral health services. Investments in this category ensure that nearly 300 shelter beds that otherwise would have closed due to expiring federal and one-time grants remain open.
• $4.25M in 2025 and 2026 to support school-based violence intervention specialists, expand safe passage programs, expand case management for students most impacted by gun violence, and establish a family resource fund for those participating in case management. This is a core element of Mayor Harrell’s plan for youth mental health and safety.
• $2M in 2025 and 2026 to support victims of human trafficking, including providing appropriate community-based resources and advocates for resource navigation, with a specific focus on people trafficked and exploited on Aurora Avenue.