SEATTLE — The debate remains contentious over the city’s proposal to tax the biggest companies in Seattle and use the money to help ease the homeless crisis.

Under the proposal, about 600 companies would be taxed $500 per employee, raising $75 million a year.

That money would go to build nearly 1,800 units of affordable housing units over five years to fight homelessness.

At the same time, residents of the Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood became angry over what they said was the city’s lax attitude about an unsanctioned homeless camp that they said was a site for drug use, criminals and filthy conditions. Some of them showed up at a recent City Council town hall in the Ballard neighborhood to voice their displeasure.