As the CEO of INRIX, I’ve spent 18 years building our company in Kirkland—a community we’ve been proud to call home. Last week, we signed a lease to move our headquarters out of Kirkland, a decision I never anticipated. Why? The Kirkland City Council chose to put a homeless hotel near our current headquarters, and in the backyard of multiple schools and businesses.  No drug testing is required, no treatment is required, and no real supervision will happen on-site.

There are several reasons the “homeless hotel” idea for Kirkland is a bad idea.

The Kirkland homeless hotel is a threat to our safety

King County’s homelessness crisis is dire, with over 16,000 people without stable housing, ranking it third worst in the U.S. We understand the urgency. But placing a homeless hotel—so close to our workplace and schools, with no drug testing, treatment mandates, or on-site oversight—is a reckless choice. There are 3 schools within 100 yards of the pending facility and nine others within 1.5 miles.  It’s hard to imagine a worse location to put a facility such as this.

In Seattle, facilities run by groups such as Plymouth Housing, the same operator tapped for Kirkland, generate the most 911 calls in the city, often linked to drug overdoses. As a CEO, I can’t ask our team to work in an environment where their safety hangs in the balance. As a community member, I stand with parents worried about their kids. This location isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a risk we can’t afford.

To be clear, we would have supported and welcomed a shelter with a drug-free policy and on-site supervision such as the Salvation Army or Union Gospel Mission. Our team at INRIX has even held numerous volunteer days at facilities like these. However, the absence of real supervision and clear drug-use policies in this project is what makes it untenable for us.

“Housing First” isn’t working

The “housing first” approach promises shelter without tackling root causes. King County has poured millions into it, yet the unsheltered homeless population is set to double from 10,000 to 20,000 over the past three years.

Why the failure? Roughly 75% of homelessness ties back to addiction and/or mental illness—issues the “housing first” model sidesteps. Providing a hotel room without requiring treatment doesn’t lift people up; it keeps them trapped.

Seattle’s permanent supportive housing saw overdose deaths skyrocket 282% from 2020 to 2023, according to a July 2024 audit. Kirkland is doubling down on a flawed strategy, and they don’t seem to care if the community pays the price.

Compassion needs more than keys

We all believe in helping the homeless, but true compassion goes beyond handing out hotel keys.

Plymouth Housing’s Seattle sites are emergency call hotspots, showing this approach often enables struggle rather than ending it. A better way exists: “treatment first” programs, like those from the Salvation Army, Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission or Mary’s Place, address addiction and mental health directly and see stronger results.

Kirkland’s plan that offers no treatment or support, isn’t kindness—it’s a setup for more overdoses and despair. We need solutions that heal, not just house.

The toll on employers—and Kirkland’s future

The proposed hotel project presents significant challenges for employers in Kirkland.

As a business leader, my primary responsibility is to ensure employee safety, yet evidence from similar facilities in the Seattle area shows a troubling increase in crime rates. This raises critical concerns: How can we attract top talent when employees feel unsafe coming into work? How can we confidently host clients and partners in an environment perceived as insecure?

This past year, INRIX had a homeless person enter our offices, go to our kitchen and take food – and this is before the new project comes on-line.  We’ve also had break-ins.  Sure, we’ve added security, but shouldn’t Kirkland be better than this?

After nearly two decades in Kirkland, we are reluctantly relocating to Bellevue because this project threatens our growth and our long-standing investment in the community. Kirkland’s economy depends on businesses like ours, and if this project moves forward without supervision or a drug-free requirement, it risks driving other employers away—a loss that would impact the entire city.

A Council That Won’t Hear Us

Many businesses and citizens have tried to engage on this issue.  Approximately a year ago, I signed a letter with other business leaders, laying out our concerns. The City Council didn’t respond. We then attended a meeting of the City Council but were not allowed to speak.

This isn’t governance—it’s a dismissal of the people that elected officials are supposed to serve. Democracy demands dialogue. By ignoring the concerns of citizens, employers and schools, Kirkland left us no choice but to leave.

Homelessness demands action, but policies must work—for everyone. Pair housing with treatment, require drug testing and treatment, listen to the community, and rebuild faith in leadership. If leaders won’t adapt, I suspect more businesses and jobs will find homes elsewhere as well.

Bryan Mistele is a special contributor to MyNorthwest and is the CEO of INRIX.