Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay released the following statement after a court ruled in favor of King County and a coalition of other local governments and nonprofits to block the federal government from imposing unlawful restrictions on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care funding:
“Protecting Continuum of Care funding is a top priority for my administration, and we’re pleased that the court blocked the Trump administration’s rushed, politicized, and unlawful attempt to rewrite the rules for federal homelessness funding. This ruling protects the progress King County has made to stably house thousands of our most vulnerable neighbors.
“Making sustainable progress on reducing homelessness requires investment and partnership from all levels of government. This is not the end of this legal fight, and we will continue to stand up for helping bring more people indoors so that they can access the support they need to live safe, healthy and stable lives.”
Background:
The Seattle/King County Continuum of Care receives around $66 million in federal Continuum of Care funding which supports housing and homelessness services for over 4,500 residents.
The county has been involved in multiple successful lawsuits against HUD’s unlawful restrictions on homelessness funding, including one in December 2025.
King County’s Health through Housing initiative has shown positive outcomes for helping people exiting homelessness, including fewer hospitalizations, fewer emergency department visits, and reduced involvement in the criminal legal system.