Like Many U.S. Cities, Seattle Struggles With Crime And Homelessness During Pandemic Era

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 12: People collect garbage from a homeless encampment on March 12, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. The non-profit We Heart Seattle staged the trash cleanup, using volunteers as well as homeless residents of the camp, who they paid with gift cards. The city government is currently working to remove such encampments from shared spaces throughout Seattle. According to a recent report commissioned by Seattle Councilmember Andrew Lewis, the COVID-19 pandemic put undue pressure on the city's shelter system and delayed funds for new housing, leading to an increase in homelessness. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)