Seattle – Today, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and King County Executive Dow Constantine, who serve as Chairs of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) Governing Committee, released the following statement after CEO Marc Dones announced they will resign from their position in June:
“We thank KCRHA CEO Marc Dones for their service to communities across King County and their work supporting those experiencing homelessness and all our neighbors. Marc’s drive to innovate systems, improve housing stability, and help people move off the streets and inside with the supports they need is rooted in a staunch commitment to ending homelessness. From leading the design of the KCRHA to taking the reins as its first CEO, Marc has played an indispensable role in transforming ‘regional solutions to homelessness’ from an idea to tangible action.
“Helen Howell, KCRHA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, will step into the role of interim KCRHA CEO next month. We are grateful for Helen’s proven experience in this field, which will be critical for ensuring steady, capable leadership through this transition. The Governing Board will work with the Implementation Board and key partners to launch a search for KCRHA’s next CEO. It is our priority to identify a candidate with the expertise, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to equity to build on existing work and accelerate efforts to bring more people indoors.
“The crisis of homelessness doesn’t start and stop at municipal lines – it’s only through partnership that we can ensure sustained progress. The KCRHA provides the regional structure necessary to foster coordinated, collaborative efforts among governments toward our shared mission, and we remain committed to this approach. We look forward to continued collaboration with KCRHA as it expands to include more cities and develops as a learning organization.”