Opinion: Address housing crisis with transparency, accountability

The Seattle Times

"The regional approach to homelessness and affordable housing in Seattle and King County is a mess. With future investments predicted to be in the billions of dollars, strong fiscal accountability is essential. At the same time, we must increase the amount of publicly subsidized housing," writes Dr. Scott Barnhart, professor of global health and internal medicine at the UW School of Medicine.

Ban Homeless Encampment Sweeps During Winter

The Stranger

Unsheltered homelessness is a public health catastrophe. Homeless people are dying daily in King County and Seattle, it’s getting worse, and it’s preventable. Providing shelter or housing sufficient for all unsheltered people is an essential step to turn things around. 

Amy Hagopian, professor of global health and of health systems and population health, is featured.

Study reveals diabetic retinopathy affecting more people than previously estimated

Komo News

A new study found that 9.6 million people had diabetic retinopathy in 2021, which is about 30% higher than previous research had predicted. The eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes.

Abraham Flaxman, associate professor of global health and health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted.

Climate change keeps making wildfires and smoke worse. Scientists call it the ‘new abnormal’

AP News

As Earth’s climate continues to change from heat-trapping gases spewed into the air, ever fewer people are out of reach from the billowing and deadly fingers of wildfire smoke, scientists say. Already wildfires are consuming three times more of the U.S. and Canada each year than in the 1980s and studies predict fire and smoke to worsen.

Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.

How we can better protect all residents during WA’s next heat wave

The Seattle Times

"Two years ago, an unprecedented heat event slammed the Pacific Northwest, setting 128 all-time high temperature records and killing 441 people between June 27 and July 3. It overwhelmed our medical systems and caused untold suffering, particularly for those who are elderly, pregnant, have chronic diseases, living with mental health and substance abuse issues, work outdoors and communities of color," write the UW’s Dr. Jeremy Hess, professor of global health, of emergency medicine and of environmental and occupational health sciences.

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