New order prioritizes outreach and engagement with Seattle vehicle residents and improving programs and enforcement of local laws to improve both outcomes for vehicle residents and the conditions of Seattle Rights of Way.
Seattle — Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and they expect Seattle to be safe, clean, and welcoming for all.
Today, Mayor Katie B. Wilson signed Executive Order 2026-09, directing the City to strengthen outreach and services for people living in vehicles while improving the City’s response to neighborhood impacts, public safety concerns, and conditions in Seattle rights-of-way.
“Thousands of people living without housing in our city is a moral and humanitarian crisis, and it also impacts the quality of life for everyone,” said Mayor Katie Wilson. “This executive order strengthens outreach and services for people living in RVs, advances the City’s response to neighborhood and public safety concerns, and represents a balanced approach that combines compassion, accountability, and practical solutions to improve outcomes for vehicle residents and the broader community.”
The order has two sections:
Strengthening outreach and support: Expand engagement with people living in RVs, connect them to safe places to stay and supportive services, and improve the City’s understanding of the needs and barriers facing RV residents.
Coordinating city action: Bring together City departments and community partners to improve programs, evaluate enforcement and public safety strategies, and recommend policy changes that better address neighborhood impacts while supporting pathways to housing.
Strengthening Outreach and Support
The City is expanding outreach and support services for people living in vehicles, with a focus on connecting individuals to safer alternatives and pathways toward stable housing.
The Human Services Department will immediately deploy 2026 funding to support the operation of Glassyard Commons, which is expected to open later this month, and to strengthen engagement efforts with people residing in RVs across Seattle.
These investments will support intensive outreach efforts to:
- Connect people living in vehicles with Safe Lots, RV storage options, shelter opportunities, and other supportive services.
- Develop a citywide by-name list to better understand who is living in vehicles and connect individuals with available resources.
- Identify barriers that prevent people from accessing housing and services.
- Improve the City’s understanding of how vehicles are being used, including identifying vehicles that are not being used as residences.
Through these efforts, the City will build a stronger foundation for helping people move indoors while ensuring resources are targeted where they can have the greatest impact.
Coordinating City Action
The City is strengthening coordination across departments and community partners to address public safety concerns, neighborhood impacts, and service needs associated with vehicle residency.
Under this order, the Mayor will convene a cross-departmental working group that includes representatives from the City Budget Office, Human Services Department, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Department of Transportation, Department of Finance and Administrative Services, Seattle Public Utilities, and community organizations that work directly with people living in vehicles.
The working group will:
- Incorporate feedback from vehicle residents and service providers.
- Identify opportunities to improve existing programs and services.
- Evaluate current laws, regulations, and enforcement efforts and identify gaps.
- Assess additional service needs, including RV storage and related support programs.
- Review how the City addresses criminal activity associated with RVs and identify more effective strategies for reducing problematic behavior.
- Recommend policy and legislative changes that could improve outcomes for vehicle residents and surrounding neighborhoods.
Within 60 days, the working group will provide recommendations for programmatic, policy, and legal changes. The Mayor expects to transmit any necessary legislation to the City Council by March 31, 2027.
The goal of this work is simple: better outcomes for people living in vehicles, fewer people living in vehicles over time, and cleaner, safer public spaces for everyone.
Mayor Wilson’s administration will continue working in partnership with the City Council, service providers, community organizations, and neighborhood leaders to advance solutions to homelessness that are compassionate, practical, and effective.