I’m writing to you from Seattle, Washington. At the risk of offending my Patriots fan friends, I want to share about what the Seahawks call “The Twelve." As a person who’s only ever watched or cared about football when my son-in-law was playing...I wondered why number 12 flags were flying everywhere around the city. Turns out, it’s the official number of the 12th person on the team—the fans. The love for the team is palpable and ubiquitous—and clearly reciprocated.

I was part of a group of ten Connecticut leaders in the housing and behavioral health space who had the opportunity to visit and learn from the team at PDA (formerly the Public Defenders Association, now Purpose, Dignity, and Action). In 2011, they established the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, followed in 2020 by a transitional housing initiative called Co-LEAD. Together, these efforts have helped hundreds of individuals who were living unhoused in public encampments across the city move safely indoors.

The program represents a multi-pronged, deeply thoughtful, and highly skilled response. In short, it is extraordinary. It came to life because a group of compassionate leaders sat together—police, lawmakers, business owners, and unhoused individuals—and asked a simple but powerful question: What solutions would work for each of us? From those conversations came changes in public policy, increased resources, and ultimately, meaningful impact felt across the community. The work is ongoing and ever-evolving, with structures in place to respond quickly and thoughtfully to people in need—whether that is someone in crisis, a business owner, or law enforcement. Relationships are foundational to their success, and they are intentionally nurtured across every sector. While the work is framed as a public safety model—which makes sense—it represents a shift in perspective for many of us in Connecticut, where similar efforts have traditionally been viewed through a public health lens.

The Co-LEAD model emerged during a time of intense national scrutiny. In 2020, images of multiple homeless encampments across Seattle dominated the news cycle. City and state officials were frustrated, tensions were high, and many felt that nothing was working. Into that moment stepped the PDA team with a collaborative, human-centered approach. They are transparent in saying, “People need a lot more help than what is convenient.” From there began the work of encampment resolution, guided by a commitment to move at the speed of trust and a simple but powerful principle: never leave anyone worse off than when you started. The results have been visible and impactful—and they work.

Across our nation, we are experiencing profound and far-reaching challenges to our collective health and well-being, with direct consequences for public safety. The policies we adopt guide how resources are allocated and reflect what we value. While shared public safety is widely seen as a priority, the paths chosen to achieve it can differ sharply.

What we are witnessing in Minnesota is the pain and suffering that result from approaches that dehumanize and punish people for their circumstances. This is not working, and it is not making anyone safer.

There is an important distinction between being political and being partisan. We are living in a moment in our nation’s history that calls us to be political—to recognize what is at stake—without vilifying those with whom we may disagree. On the contrary, we must work together to find solutions to the complex challenges before us. That is sound policy.

Seattle offers a powerful example of what is possible when there is a shared commitment to dignity, stable housing, and humane pathways to health. The result is measurably safer communities—and a wise investment. Seattle residents proudly see themselves as The Twelve: valued extensions of the team, each with an important role to play. As a lifelong New Englander, I can’t quite bring myself to say “Go Seahawks,” but I most certainly carry the spirit of The Twelve in my grateful and inspired heart.

Maria Coutant Skinner, LCSW

President and CEO