‘Nickelsville’ fundraiser in West Seattle this Saturday

If you’re interested in helping the encampment that calls itself ‘Nickelsville’ pay for essential services – trash, portable sanitation, phone, generator fuel – here’s an easy way to do it: A pancake breakfast is planned this Saturday morning, 8 am-11 am, at the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene, 4201 SW Juneau. The price is whatever you can afford to donate. WSB Forums member JoB shared the announcement and says there’s also a donor who has committed to matching the first $500 raised at the breakfast.

As for the camp’s status, it remains in a sort of official limbo – the city isn’t evicting them, but it’s not helping them access services such as utilities, either. The Highland Park Action Committee, neighborhood council for the area that includes Nickelsville’s HP Way/W. Marginal Way site, has been talking with the city about how long it intends to let the encampment stay and whether it plans to change city rules regarding encampments. HPAC leaders have published an update on their new webpage, and will likely have an update at their next meeting (7 pm next Wednesday, February 29th, at HP Improvement Club, 12th/Holden).

CB February 23, 2012 (8:21 pm)

Why is the term “nickeslville” not a violation of the rules of this blog? It is offensive and derogatory.

Aman February 23, 2012 (11:08 pm)

“Nickelsville” is ‘what it is’ and has been called that for some time. I too think it could benefit from a more relevant name. Maybe some day, eh?

That said, do you prefer syrup on your pancakes or just butter and maybe preserves?

Either way, on Saturday morning PLEASE drag your rear-end and your wallet and meet me and my North Admiral neighbors for breakfast and a chance to make an immediate difference in the lives of folks who need a helping-hand.

We will also MATCH the “First $500.00 raised” as graciously proposed by the previously posted (anonymous) donor. Thanks for showing the way…

Thank you to EVERYONE in West Seattle for your support, understanding, generosity and your kindness! See you Saturday morning 8-11 a.m. at:

West Seattle Church of the Nazarene
4201 SW Juneau
West Seattle

Barley February 23, 2012 (11:33 pm)

CB, Nickelsville should not be in quotation marks. It has been established since 2008, and it is not derogatory at all. If you had a sense of local and national history, you may understand the meaning of the name.

Mike February 23, 2012 (11:35 pm)

I’d rather give more money to support Human Services and try to help get people back on their own and not living in a tent

http://www.seattle.gov/humanservices/emergencyservices/shelter/default.htm
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To each their own. We all get to make decisions on where we live and how we live, no matter what our financial circumstances are.
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The name “Nickelsville” is outdated. How long has our new mayor been in office? Has he done anything to help get people out of the tents and into better living conditions? Didn’t think so…

datamuse February 24, 2012 (12:56 am)

It’s what the residents call it.
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Why don’t you take it up with them?

Karen February 24, 2012 (7:24 am)

@ mike ‘to each his own?’

I hope you never need a helping hand if that is your attitude

Snow Wimp February 24, 2012 (8:22 am)

I agree with you Mike. I have a sense of local history, as well as national history. I don’t like the derogatory name. Of course the residents in the West Seattle homeless encampment can call it what they want. I still don’t like the name and somewhat feel it is a violation of the rules of this blog. But it isn’t my blog, so what I think doesn’t matter.

I do LOVE the West Seattle Blog, however, and have a lot of respect for TR.

WSB February 24, 2012 (8:38 am)

This isn’t a blog, it’s a news publication, and no, it is not a violation of the rules. It is not only what this encampment calls itself, it is how it is described in MYRIAD places, including official government documents. CB has posted that comment so many times that it could be considered trolling at this point, which IS a violation of our rules. It would be ridiculous not to use its name. By the way, I expect to interview the former mayor sometime soon in connection with his Secretary of State campaign, and will likely ask him what he thinks and whether he’s ever asked them to change it. His reply won’t change the fact that we and everyone else who has cause to refer to the encampment will use its name, but I’ll be interested to hear what if anything he has to say. – TR

vraxvalahalla February 24, 2012 (8:36 am)

For years this has been going on, and you’re telling me these “residents” have been unable to get help? Or could it be that they just don’t want help? The city needs to evict them, put them into programs (substance abuse, job training, housing) and if they refuse help, a 1-way bus ticket to their next of kin.

Cclarue February 24, 2012 (8:49 am)

Aman! That is awesome ! Thank you. A 20$ donation means a 60$ donation on the first 500. That is wonderful!!! Now if i can get there before work tomorrow;)

wseattle1 February 24, 2012 (8:51 am)

Complaining about the name? Really? C’mon, find a real issue, please. In fact, the residents call themselves Nickalodiens. I know this because I have stopped there to donate items they can use instead of throwing it out. There has never been a better location for the camp and why make them move again? Everyone cried “not in my backyard” when they were looking for a place to set up camp, now they have an ideal location that most people don’t even know is there. I understand there is no perfect solution.

datamuse February 24, 2012 (9:06 am)

vraxvalahalla, there’s actually considerable turnover in the camp’s population. People move in or out as their circumstances change; the same people haven’t been living there the entire time.
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If you’d spoken to or even e-mailed/phoned anyone connected with the place, you’d know that.

miws February 24, 2012 (10:22 am)

Although Mayor McGinn hasn’t necessarily welcomed Nickelsville with open arms, early last summer, or possibly late spring, he did say that he would not actively seek the Camp’s eviction.

The stumbling block has pretty much been the City Council. Nick Licata has been a strong supporter of Nickelsville, with Mike O’Brien, and Sally Bagshaw being very supportive as well. Others, including former Council President Richard Conlin have been more resistant to accepting Nickelsville, with yet other Councilmembers seeming to be on the fence.

Basically, all that Nickelsville and it’s supporters have been asking of the Council, is to be recognized to legally occupy the current site, and for the City to provide water/sewer hookups, as well as possibly electricity. the ongoing costs of these services, as well as other costs borne by the Camp, would be paid by donations to Nickelsville, as is done now.

Regarding the link to City Services to the homeless, and other shelter options; it’s nice that there are some options out there. However, many of the other shelters are often full. May not allow couples/families to stay together. May not allow kids at all. May not allow pets. Many of them require their people staying there to vacate the shelter during the day, including the persons belongings, and even if the person can stay there during the day, they must literally carry their belongs with them everywhere they go on the premises, including the bathroom, (unless they can find a trusted person to watch their stuff for a few minutes) because there is little/no personal storage available on-site, even for the person’s toiletries. Many of the shelter options have curfews, some as restrictive as the residents must be in during certain hours, with absolutely no allowances for jobs, schooling, medical and other appointments that may be on an evening schedule. The DESC shelter downtown requires residents to be in by 5:00pm!

Also, many indoor shelters are extremely crowded, and bedbugs, lice, and crabs are not unheard of, not to mention the general colds and flus that go around, especially this time of year.

Is Nickelsville the best and healthiest option for the homeless? No, of course not. It’s outdoors, cold and damp this time of year, and the wood smoke from the campfires hangs in the air. That’s why I had to leave after two bouts of pneumonia, a month apart, this last holiday season. I am now in the process of moving into a healthier environment , and getting in to transitional housing, on the road to permanent subsidized housing, which can be 3 to 5 years away. There’s even a process to acquiring transitional housing that is time consuming; applications, interviews/screenings, waitlists (which often favor people with certain backgrounds or needs) some kind of income to pay for the housing. It’s a process that can take weeks to months

Nickelsville is not the perfect solution, but it is an important alternative that is organized and has rules, and is much better for both the homeless community, and the surrounding neighborhoods, than for the homeless to be living under bridges, freeway overpasses, or in greenbelts.

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Mike (miws)

datamuse February 24, 2012 (10:33 am)

Thanks for the perspective, Mike. It’s hard sometimes for those of us who haven’t been there to realize that while getting help sounds simple, it’s frequently more complicated than just turning up at the nearest shelter.
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Nickelsville isn’t the only encampment on the edge of West Seattle. It IS one with an address, an intake process, and rules. I rode past three more (all smaller, admittedly) on a bike ride between Highland Park and downtown last weekend.

proudpugetridger February 24, 2012 (10:46 am)

@ CB and others: I agree that using “Nickelsville” is completely disrespectful, but also agree that the WSB folks are simply using the encampment’s own self-proclaimed title. I also have lots of respect for TR and her team.
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@ Mike, vraxvalahalla, and (partially) Snow Wimp: I agree. It is my impression that these folks are–at least partially–choosing their circumstances, willingly. To some degree, we’re ENABLING them unless we make them responsible participants in the fundraisers and other efforts on their behalf. I contend that simply holding a hand out to receive benefits is NOT participating! Teaching them to fish is good, providing fish…not-so-much. Life is very tough, but work is an important element of existence.
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I read in Highland Park’s blog that the police have decided that the surrounding greenbelt is not impacted by Nickelsville’s presence. Hogwash, go look for yourself at the number of tent groups who’ve moved in our woods. Of course, those rogue campers are not subject to the implied “rules” of Nickelsville. Providing permanent “free” acceptance at the current location will only exasperate the number of people wandering in our greenbelt…and even personal back yards!
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@ wseattle1: help me understand why a permanent encampment in MY backyard is somehow OK with you, while (presumably) your backyard is not??

HP Rez February 24, 2012 (11:49 am)

@Proudpugetridger

I am also very concerned about people camping in the greenbelt behind my house. I wish I could use the trails to walk my dog, but have run into too many drug users actively using to feel safe.

carlton February 24, 2012 (12:23 pm)

You can’t let them get too comfortable and give them free ameneties, or they’ll never leave and try to find their own place.

ohthehorror February 24, 2012 (1:44 pm)

@proudpugetridger – I have a very similar problem in my neighborhood. Every weekday hordes of screaming, shouting people walk past my house, throwing trash into my bushes and sometimes even trampling them. Some of them seem like they may be under the influence of something. And to add insult to injury, I know for a fact that my tax dollars are subsidizing these very people! Any idea who I could talk to about moving Madison Middle School?

HP Rez February 24, 2012 (2:13 pm)

@ohthehorror – I will absolutely trade you, any day of the week. Please let me know when you’d like to swap!

proudpugetridger February 24, 2012 (2:35 pm)

@ ohthehorror-

Your North Admiral neighborhood is clearly overwhelmed with homeless people.
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If they start defecating or leaving needles in the bushes near your house consider taking action.
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If they burn trash and green wood, even on “burn ban” days, causing the air you breathe to be nearly intolerable, consider taking action.
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If they hide sex offenders without attempting to comply with the legal requirement of registering at the King County Sherriff’s office, take action.
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Most importantly, if your neighbors in the Delridge and Highland Park communities keep insisting that you’re a heartless NIMBY for caring about your own neighborhood…take action!
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Until then, it is hard to respect your cynicism!

Cclarue February 24, 2012 (3:14 pm)

Proudpr’r causing the air you brrathe to be nearly intolerable?? Really??? Are you standing at the campfire in nicklesville? There is not a house close enough to the encampment to have the smoke affect your breathing. By the way you live in a city near a steel mill and freeways, are you petitioning to get rid of those also?? Maybe a place in the country would be more pleasant for you.

Genesee Hill February 24, 2012 (5:57 pm)

TR,

All of this is fine. But, earlier you stated:
This isn’t a blog, it’s a news publication, and no, it is not a violation of the rules.

Why do you still call your news publication: West Seattle Blog?

Just curious.

Though, I still love your “news publication.” And, as I have stated ad nauseum, think you, TR, are a very special person. In the best sense of the word “special.”

Though, for reasons cited earlier, I HATE the name Nickelsville. Utter turnoff for me, personally. Always has been, and always will be.

But, all, use Nicklesville to your hearts’ content. I know Greg helped me off the ropes in the past. And nothing will change that. Ever.

WSB February 24, 2012 (6:14 pm)

Blog is a publishing format. Like TV is a broadcast format, newspaper is a publishing format, etc. We named this before we went into the news business with it and while we frequently reassess this decision, it still seems as if changing the name would cause more problems than it would solve, so at this point we’re kind of stuck with it. But whenever we are consulted by folks who are considering doing this in their own communities around the country, we advise them to stay as far away from the “b” word as they can, right from the start! – TR

Genesee Hill February 24, 2012 (6:28 pm)

Thank you, TR. Whatever you call your news organization, it is simply the finest! Particularly, since you regularly have to put up with the likes of me. And, select others.

P.S. I still admire West Seattleite, Greg Nickels. Hehe.

Christie February 24, 2012 (7:51 pm)

ok i just want to know what i get with my pancakes?

JoB February 24, 2012 (8:04 pm)

proudpugetridger

no matter how you feel about the homeless in general and Nickelsville in particular it is still in your best interests to help them fund honeybuckets and garbage removal.

JoB February 24, 2012 (8:14 pm)

i have to add that this month alone, several people have been able to move from nickelville to regular housing in the community.

they worked hard and jumped through more hoops than you can imagine to do so.. but they managed it.

i know that flies in the face of the preconceived notion that the people in Nickelsville are there because they don’t want to live inside with indoor plumbing and kitchens.. but there you go.

for many, Nickelsville is just the first step in transitional housing. they need Nickelsville for the stability to pursue opportunities to move on.

Am I the only one? February 24, 2012 (8:32 pm)

Has anyone else been met with a less-than-friendly/appreciative attitude when donating to Nickelsville? I know of a handful of others with the same experience, so I’m not enthusiastic to help again, WSB cheerleaders or no.

Genesee Hill February 24, 2012 (11:16 pm)

TR;

I am also interested in your questioning of former Mayor Nickels, A West Seattleite whose one claim to fame is Nickelsville being named after him. He has been out of office for a couple of years. I would also appreciate an interview with the current mayor, Mike Mcginn. And to hear his thoughts on the use of City of Seattle property for use as a homeless encampment.

And, since you run a rather excellent news organization, perhaps you can ask AG Robbie McKenna on his thoughts on allowing city property to be used for a homeless encampment on City of Seattle property. And his plans for mitigating this somewhat difficult situation in the future.

As a potential governor of this state, maybe he has some great funding ideas. Perhaps, offering public land throughout the State of Washington, including other locales outside of the city of Seattle. Medina, Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish, Kirkland, and Woodinville, perhaps? I would be very happy to hear his thoughts on the matter.

dame_folie February 25, 2012 (6:41 am)

To the people who “don’t like the name” and find it “offensive”.. do you live there? no? then shut it.. YOU aren’t in the circumstances that THEY are.. they can call it whatever they please..

As others have already stated, the camp provides an address for those who otherwise wouldn’t have one (have you tried getting any kind of service without an address? no? try it.. it’s not easy.. and if you find a “friend” who will let you use their address, it doesn’t mean you’re getting your mail), there is a turnover rate (people don’t generally CHOOSE to be homeless.. they have run into circumstances that have put them in that situation and perhaps don’t have all of the faculties to take care of things.. who are you to judge?) due to move ins/outs.. new people, new circumstances, old people moving out because they HAVE clawed their way back up.. hey even have some sort of their own committee right? to make sure there aren’t any trouble makers i think..

as far as i’m concerned, some of THESE people are a lot better citizens than the ones who have fancy houses and cars who are out their complaining of the AUDACITY that these people exist.. in their l.l. bean and north face coats with their 7 dollar cups of coffee in hand, toting their 2.3 snotty bratty kids behind them..

the blog was posted to announce a fund raiser to help out.. i find some of these comments to be indicative of the unempathetic and unthinking culture we are creating.. didn’t your mama teach you if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything?.. mine did.. i certainly don’t use that adage when someone is attacking me verbally.. but c’mon.. they’re not bugging anyone, they’re in a spot where you probably don’t even know.. (i didn’t know where they were located until riding the bus with a few tenants myself – and ya know what? they were clean, polite, and just getting back from looking for JOBS and other ASSISTANCE to get out of the camp..

Aman February 25, 2012 (7:34 am)

See you TODAY! Saturday Feb. 25th 8-11 a.m. at:

West Seattle Church of the Nazarene
4201 SW Juneau
West Seattle

HOT Pancakes!!!

karenanne February 25, 2012 (8:38 am)

I’m going to comment on the original intent of this post —– YAY pancakes !!! I hope they have a successful day.

Jeez

Aman February 25, 2012 (10:03 am)

Just left the Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for Nickelsville. LOT’S of HOT, Delicious Pancakes cooked to perfection! Blueberry, Strawberry, Banana, Plain and combinations of each available on request. HURRY on over to:

West Seattle Church of the Nazarene
4201 SW Juneau
West Seattle

There is also LIVE Music and LOT’S of good fellowship. Stop by if you can…

jiggers February 25, 2012 (11:03 am)

I’ve never seen proudthe..respond to anything else except a homeless issue. And its always negative. But that’s the beauty of what freedom of speech is. Our freedom to say what we want to in this country is being taken away if you hadn’t noticed.

miws February 25, 2012 (2:08 pm)

Aman, I must have seen you, and wish I could have actually met you!

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dame_folie, I think I love you! ;-)

Mike

Aman February 25, 2012 (2:40 pm)

Likewise Mike! Hopefully at the next event. I met a lot of good people today.

Do you happen to know if the Nickelsville Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser met it’s financial goals?

miws February 25, 2012 (4:14 pm)

I haven’t heard yet, Aman. I’ll keep checking out the Nickelsville FB page to see if someone posts an update there.

Mike

jiggers February 25, 2012 (6:09 pm)

I guess it is what it is TR…I wish they could hold this pancake event once a month. It would give us more oppurtunity to make one of these instead of this one time. Can anyone provide an update into how they did and was that total matched?

JoB February 25, 2012 (10:33 pm)

Aman..
yes, i believe they did meet their goals..
there were a lot of very happy faces when they closed up shop.

Peggy posted on the Nickeslville facebook page that they had covered 2/3 of this month’s bills… and Kevin posted some pics.

Aman February 26, 2012 (12:00 am)

GREAT News to hear that the Pancake Breakfast held Saturday morning at The West Seattle Church of the Nazarene was successful in assisting Nickelsville in meeting their immediate short-term needs!

I walked into the breakfast this morning and was physically struck by the positive-vibe. It damn near brought me to tears it was so palatable. It was a beautiful thing to see so many caring people selfishly “pitching-in” for their neighbors benefit.

To have homeless neighbors given the great humanitarian wealth of our city is wrong. We need to eliminate homelessness here and now. If not by us, who?

For those detractors of Nickelsville and the approx. 3,5000 ADDITIONAL neighbors in OUR city who sleep under the stars every night I offer this for your consideration.

Please NEVER look down upon a man/woman unless your gaze is followed by a helping hand to help that person up.

As a West Seattle neighbor I want to thank my fellow neighbors and the organizations that assisted Nickelsville today and everyday.

Jiggers February 26, 2012 (9:26 am)

proudthe….any response? I’ve gone through the DESC system. It is very depressing to be there. A lot of very sick unhealthy humans congregate there. I can’t use their servicess(like overnight shelter)because I am very susceptable in getting sick from other chronic druggies and alcoholics. There’s a lot of coughing that goes on and they don’t cover up when they cough. They could have TB for all I know. I don’t produce natural anti-bodies which is an important ingredient in your body to live a functional life.

Sorry, comment time is over.