An I-5 camp (Image: City of Seattle)
Local officials say a program to fund removal of encampments from state property along I-5 has successfully cleared three camps in Seattle including one near the base of Capitol Hill at the Olive Way onramp to I-5.
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority announced the latest “successful encampment resolution this week under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Right of Way Safety Initiative and its $144 million in statewide funding for the removals along the busy freeway up and down the state. The KCRHA says the state has already provided $13.8 million in funds for “the first round of encampment work in King County.”
The latest clearance under the program moved 75 people “previously living unsheltered” at I-5 and Dearborn to “shelter, lodging, inpatient treatment, and housing resources,” the KCRHA said, touting its “intensive six-week” process to provide outreach and clear the camp.
“We know that helping people who have complex challenges, including behavioral health needs, requires a trusting relationship,” KCRHA head Marc Dones said in the announcement. “Taking the time to understand people’s needs, developing a clear plan to meet those needs, and providing the appropriate housing pathway—that’s what we were able to do for the people living at Dearborn. We provided options that meet people’s needs.”
In addition to the Dearborn site most recently cleared, the funding also backed the clearance of two other encampments on state property in Seattle at I-5 and Olive Way, and another at the I-5 and the 520 interchange, “with a similar approach of intensive outreach followed by placement in dignified and desirable housing and shelter options.”
The announcement follows the leak of statement by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell criticizing the response to homelessness in Seattle including pointed words about the work of KCRHA and Dones. But the mayor is quoted in the authority’s announcement of the latest clearance, saying “the complexity of the homelessness crisis requires collaboration to deliver effective solutions.”
“While no jurisdiction, authority, or non-profit can solve it all alone, effective resolution efforts like this demonstrate we can make progress when we align on our mission and values,” Harrell said. “Working together, we can get people off the streets with the support, services, shelter, and housing they need for safety, stability, and recovery.”
Meanwhile, city efforts to clear camps from public property continue. On Capitol Hill, the largest encampment in the neighborhood was swept in early August on Belmont Ave. The city says it documented 20 people at the site before the clearance with 28 tents, seven “living structures,” and two vehicles. Out of the 20 “offers of shelter,” the city says 10 people accepted referrals.
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Good, don’t stop until there are 0 people living in public spaces – providing them with the care they need; but not losing the sight on the rest of the people’s right to safe + usable public spaces.
A vibrant, pedestrian/people friendly, mixed use city will solve MUCH of the problem
I agree. I just hate seeing all the homeless people! 1. It’s sad, but difficult because there are homeless people everywhere, and sometime they can get violent. I’ve observed this, and I hate getting screamed at because some girl forgot to take her meds, and is high on meth.
Also need more affordable housing for all. Enough $3000 conglomerate megacorp one bedrooms replacing it.
The problem is that even if you house them, it remains that no one wants to live next to a screamer who forgot to take their meds and is high on meth… nothing will be solved until there is treatment.
How about yes, and… We need affordable housing, we need treatment, we need to have real services that provides opportunitiea to get off of the street.
I do think we also need to accept that there will never be a society without a public commons, and that some people may prefer living outside, and we should figure out how to provide those options in a humane and healthy way.
Matt, you are right about affordable housing, treatment and a jobs program to help people get off the street. We also need people to take responsibility for themselves so once we give them a hand up they can support themselves and thrive but we have to acknowledge that isn’t the direction our homeless services are going. They are designed to sustain homelessness thus the continuing influx of revenue to their organizations. If people prefer to live outside then they should be required to buy or rent a space to pitch their tent, pay for their water, sewer, garbage pick up and comfort needs.
I prefer living in a 6000sqft mansion and we should figure out how to provide that option in a humane and healthy way.