Public Safety

Parks and Public Spaces

Seattle Clean City Initiative

The City of Seattle Clean City Initiative is a program that invests $3 million into new and existing programs to clean up litter and garbage across the city. The Clean City Initiative pulls together and expands efforts from Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Department of Transportation to address the backlog in maintenance. The Clean City Initiative includes: 

  • Additional SPU Litter Routes: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will add 10 new litter routes to the existing 8 Community Litter routes to more than double efforts to collect litter and illegally dumped trash throughout the city. Each 50-block face route is serviced twice a week. (Litter route map)
  • Weekly Park & Neighborhood Focuses: In addition to regular maintenance, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), SPU, and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will focus weekly on extensively cleaning specific parks, neighborhoods, and surrounding streets through street cleaning, pressure washing, grounds maintenance, stairway cleaning, graffiti cleaning, and trash, debris and needle collection.
  • Increased trash pick-up from encampments and RVs: In service of people living unhoused, SPR, SDOT and SPU will collect trash from encampments across the city through an expanded Purple Bag program and through on-site garbage collection.
  • Additional needle collection efforts: SPU will add 10 new needle boxes throughout the city, and the efforts above will all include needle collection from streets and park spaces. 

In addition to funding for graffiti removal efforts, the Southeast Community Clean Team removed over 2000 lbs. of trash from the Pioneer Square.

City of Seattle Homelessness Response

Homelessness Outreach and Provider Ecosystem (HOPE) Team

As part of the 2021 budget, the City of Seattle included funding for a Human Services Department (HSD) led eight-person Homelessness Outreach and Provider Ecosystem (HOPE) Team. This new Team will be the City’s coordinating body for its response to homelessness in partnership with the contracted local outreach providers and various City departments with the goal of getting people connected to services. The Hope Team replaces the former Navigation Team.

The Hope Team can be accessed via the Find-it, Fix-it app. Their priority is to lead with outreach but if there is a person living in a tent that is clearly obstructing a public right of way and they ultimately refuse all offers of services then tent removals can still happen.

City Outreach Resources on Homelessness in Seattle

Below is a list of city contacts for Seattle residents and businesses seeking assistance from the city, as well as a list of city services and resources for those experiencing homelessness. Being homeless is not a crime and vulnerable individuals living on our streets are deserving of empathy, care, and assistance from our city:

Reporting

How to Report
  • 9-1-1 for both emergency and non-emergency reporting. 9-1-1 data informs police resource allocation at the City level.
  • If police need to be aware of on-going drug activity but doesn’t require immediate response can be reported online as a Narcotics Activity Report or by calling 206-684-5797.
  • The “Find It, Fix It” app allows users to report selected issues to the City of Seattle, including abandoned vehicles, clogged storm drains, graffiti and illegal dumping. Once downloaded, report an issue in the app by submitting a photo with detailed information and using the map’s “drag and drop” feature to pinpoint the location. For more information and a full list of service request categories, visit the city’s customer service bureau website.
Who to Report to
  • 2-1-1: an easy-to-remember phone number for people to call for health and human service information and referrals and other assistance to meet their needs.
  • The Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) funded Clean Team is currently providing cleaning services limited to :
  • Trash removal from sidewalks, alleys and curb edges
  • Quick-response animal and human waste cleanup
  • Syringe removal
  • Alley cleaning

Ambassador hours of operation will be as follows:

  • Clean Team: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday and 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Safety Team: Monday-Wednesday, 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
  • Parks & Public Spaces Team: Sunday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Outreach Team: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

You can request service via phone at 206-441-3303 or submit a request online. If you see damage to private property or public infrastructure, report it using this form in addition to contacting SPD. You can leave a detailed message after hours or dial 911 in case of an emergency.

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Resources
  • Vacant Properties: The City of Seattle has regulations and standards for maintaining vacant properties. These standards focus on keeping buildings closed to unauthorized entry and maintaining the structure and yard areas to prevent the accumulation of waste and deterioration of the building. Click here for more information.
  • Crime Prevention Coordinator: Crime Prevention Coordinators are experts in crime prevention techniques. You can talk to them about ongoing crime problems in your neighborhood, getting involved in Block Watch, CPTED Assessments and setting up a meeting to train you and your neighbors on crime prevention tips. Email Barb Biondo at barbara.biondo@seattle.gov or call (206) 233-0015.
  • AlertSeattle: the official emergency notification system used by the City of Seattle to communicate with city residents during emergencies. Sign up now to receive free alerts from the City via text message, email, voice message or social media.