Housing, Not Harassment. Justice for Homeless Campers.
On any given night, at least a quarter of the 8,000 people who are homeless in King County are without any shelter. They sleep in cars, camp in greenbelts, ride buses, and try to find warmth and safety in any way that they can. Nobody should have to live outside, but there simply is not enough low-income housing and emergency shelter for everyone who needs assistance.
Current City of Seattle clearance policies (and implementation of those policies) devastate the lives of people who are already marginalized and vulnerable. People's campsites are being systematically destroyed, and their basic survival gear and personal effects are being taken away and discarded. So far, the city has not made public what its policies are, nor has it permitted human services professionals or homeless advocates to review and comment on those policies.
Extensive protocols for responsible campsite outreach and clearance exist. They include on-going human services outreach to homeless campers, assistance in accessing emergency services, and provision of long-term housing. The City of Seattle has done none of these things.
Real Change News
2129 2nd Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
Tel: 206.441.3247 Email:rchange@speakeasy.org
Real Change is a member of the North American Street Newspaper
Association
and the International Network of Street Papers. Problems with the site? Contact webmaster@realchangenews.org