Businesses, hospitals pledge $49M for homeless housing

SEATTLE (AP) — Tech companies, hospitals and others have pledged nearly $49 million to help construct eight buildings to house chronically homeless in the Seattle area.

The Seattle Times reported Tuesday that Swedish Health Services, Premera Blue Cross and Providence St. Joseph Health announced $15 million in donations last month to support a Seattle nonprofit developer.

Plymouth Housing has launched a $75 million campaign to double its units in Seattle. It operates facilities for chronically homeless people where they have access to health care, social services and treatment.

Amazon and Microsoft have each pledged $5 million for the campaign

Plymouth says the donations will help it leverage up to $250 million in public funds for the project.