SEATTLE, Wash. – Less than a year after being hired, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) has launched an internal investigation into its chief executive officer, Kelly Kinnison, following the filing of dozens of complaints.
The probe marks the latest turbulence for an agency already plagued by leadership turnover, political clashes, and struggles to meet its ambitious mandate of addressing homelessness in King County.
27 Pages of Complaints
According to KCRHA, at least 27 pages of complaints had been filed against Kinnison as of May. The agency denied a public records request for the complaints, citing an ongoing investigation.
The authority’s governing board, comprised of elected officials and their appointees, met in executive session on May 15 to evaluate the allegations. A month later, on June 16, the board created a Personnel Management Committee to provide day-to-day oversight of Kinnison.
As of last week, the investigation remained active, according to an agency spokesperson.
Suspension of Hiring Amid Tensions
Emails obtained by The Seattle Times through a public records request suggest internal friction between Kinnison and her executive leadership team.
On Wednesday, Kinnison notified staff that the board’s Personnel Management Committee had directed the agency to suspend the hiring of a chief program officer. The pause came after concerns were raised about “the validity and equity of the current recruitment/hiring process.”
Deputy CEO Simon Foster expressed unease with Kinnison’s hiring direction in one email, warning that without “clear scope, justification, and communication,” the executive team risked “internal dissonance that could impact morale and execution.”
A History of Leadership Instability
Kinnison is the fifth leader of the KCRHA since its founding in 2021 — underscoring the chronic instability of an agency tasked with solving one of the region’s most urgent challenges.
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Marc Dones, the inaugural CEO, clashed with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell over funding and encampment removals. Dones also faced criticism from service providers after delays in payments and failure to deliver on promises to curb downtown homelessness.
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Helen Howell, who stepped in as interim leader, shuttered the agency’s signature project.
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Darrell Powell, a nonprofit executive and high school football teammate of Harrell, briefly led the authority before being fired. His tenure ended after he sent a blistering letter accusing elected officials of micromanaging an agency that was meant to be independent.
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Hedda McLendon served in an acting capacity before Kinnison’s appointment last August.
Kinnison’s Background
Before joining KCRHA, Kinnison worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., where she built a reputation as a methodical federal bureaucrat. Her selection last year followed a long search process in which two other finalists withdrew.
Despite the ongoing investigation, several members of the governing board have continued to voice support for her leadership.
“I feel like things have gotten better. I feel like we’ve stabilized a bit, and I really do appreciate the leadership of Dr. Kinnison. I think she’s getting this on the right path,” said Ed Prince, Renton City Council member and KCRHA board member, in June.
Political Leaders Weigh In
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell acknowledged ongoing culture and morale challenges within the authority but refrained from blaming Kinnison directly.
“She certainly inherited a tough job,” Harrell said in a recent interview. “She has, I’m sure, ongoing challenges, but given the hand that she’s been dealt, I think she’s doing well.”
Other local officials have struck similar tones, stressing the difficulty of managing a fragmented regional agency with multiple stakeholders and constant political scrutiny.
Broader Challenges for the Authority
The investigation comes as KCRHA continues to grapple with broader problems:
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Chronic delays in delivering services to nonprofit providers.
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Friction between city and county governments over the agency’s role in homeless encampment removals.
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Mounting public pressure to show progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness.
Critics argue that the agency’s leadership churn has undermined both staff morale and external credibility. Supporters counter that the authority’s structure — with overlapping jurisdictions and competing political priorities — makes its mission uniquely challenging regardless of who holds the CEO position.
What’s Next
The outcome of the investigation into Kinnison remains uncertain. The board has not disclosed a timeline for completion or whether the findings will be made public.
For now, the Personnel Management Committee continues to oversee Kinnison’s work while the probe moves forward.
As Seattle and King County residents watch, the investigation represents yet another test for an agency struggling to prove it can deliver stability and results in the face of one of the region’s most persistent crises.
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