- Fraud & Scams
- Nov 5, 2026
Seattle LOST $13 Million As Audit REVEALS Where Homeless Funds Actually Went to
In April 2026, a forensic evaluation of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority found $13 million in public funds the agency could not fully account for: about $8 million in receivables that could not be matched to records, $4.26 million in administrative overspending, and $1.26 million in interest. At one point the agency's cash position was $44.7 million in the negative. The evaluation found no evidence of fraud, but described weak internal controls, missing records and invoices filed months late.
City and county councilmembers called for the agency to be shut down. The agency said much of the $8 million was money it never billed back to Seattle and King County. On July 1, Mayor Katie Wilson and County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced that about $160 million and roughly 200 contracts would move back to the city and county, leaving the agency only its federal role. Meanwhile, King County's homeless count reached a record of more than 18,000 people.
No one has been charged with a crime in connection with the evaluation.
News clips are used for commentary and reporting under fair use.
Presumption of innocence
Anyone accused in this report who has not been convicted is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Sources
Forensic evaluation of KCRHA, commissioned by the City of Seattle and King County (April 2026); King County Council and Seattle City Council proceedings; reporting by KOMO News, KING 5, KIRO 7, FOX 13 Seattle and KUOW.
