Legislators ask governor to let “Nickelsville” encampment stay

Today we spotted that additional “no trespassing” sign stenciled onto a concrete barrier at the homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” (note the hand-lettered sign on the left side of the photo), now in its second week on state-owned land on the east edge of West Seattle (2nd SW/Highland Park Way; map). We had a request out to the camp spokesperson for comment on where things stand, when this arrived from a group of state legislators including West Seattle’s Reps. Sharon Nelson and Eileen Cody:

Dear Governor Gregoire,

As you know, the tent city providing housing for approximately fifty homeless men and women has relocated once again, to land in West Seattle owned by WSDOT and currently not in use.

We write today to respectfully request that WSDOT allow the residents to stay on this unused land temporarily while they work towards a long-term solution for their community.

Due in large part to our troubled economic situation, homelessness has sharply increased in recent months. The 2009 annual One Night Count, conducted on January 30, found 2,827 individuals without shelter in King County, in addition to the approximately 5,800 who found shelter at emergency shelters and transitional housing programs.

Meanwhile, 50 homeless men and women died outside or by violence in 2008, and 16 have already died this year. Our state’s willingness to be patient and compassionate towards those without homes will mean the difference between life and death for many of these individuals.

Please consider negotiating with the residents of the tent city to work towards a mutually agreeable solution.

Sincerely,

Sen. Karen Keiser, 33rd District
Rep. Maralyn Chase, 32nd District
Rep. Eileen Cody, 34th District
Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, 36th District
Rep. Bob Hasegawa, 11th District
Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, 46th District
Rep. Sharon Nelson, 34th District
Rep. Jamie Pedersen, 43rd District
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, 37th District

We note that West Seattle’s State Sen. Joe McDermott is not among the signatories and will be asking him for comment; the most recent statement from encampment organizers is on their website, noting the original trespass posting last Tuesday (WSB coverage here) and saying, “… The good news is that there has not YET been any time and date set for forcible expulsion, or d-day. …” 10:39 PM UPDATE: First – heard back from Sen. McDermott; he is out of state, in a study program this month at Harvard, so that’s the only reason he isn’t involved in this right now. Second, also heard back from Nickelsville spokesperson Revel Smith, who says “… nothing new tonight. Arranging hot food, donations and things like that.” Smith also shared this photo of the camp, beyond the barrier we showed above:

More of Smith’s photos from the camp can be found here.

Mike June 15, 2009 (6:38 pm)

These locations need to require onsite toilet facilities, even portable types and adequate potable water supply. Otherwise it’s not a livable area within city limits.

Christi S June 15, 2009 (7:32 pm)

Joe is gone at Harvard!

WSB June 15, 2009 (7:57 pm)

I just heard something to that effect from his communications person. Nonetheless, we will be checking for a comment (and continuing to watch the overall situation) – TR

Alcina June 15, 2009 (11:25 pm)

Mike, if you go down to Nickelsville you will see that they have about 6 port-a-potties. And they are bringing in water. The camp is very clean and tidy.

Dorli Rainey June 16, 2009 (10:18 am)

Great Pictures and good news. Seems like some people are waking up to the needs of people in their community.His Highness really missed a great photo-op. Just think, he could have been there and welcomed the Nicolodeons instead of sending the cops like he did last fall He gets bad advice!

Ms Pam June 16, 2009 (11:32 am)

We need to be taking the homeless situation a hell of a lot more seriously! Many of us are within a few+ paychecks away of joining these folks.

Where the heck do we expect these people to go? If we don’t have enough facilities to take care of these people than they are forced to break laws just to survive.

Come on Nickels and Associates.

Sage June 16, 2009 (11:36 am)

Thank you to 34th District legislators for their leadership on this issue. Supporting an encampment in your own district isn’t necessarily an easy choice. Special kudos to Rep. Nelson, who has already shown impressive leadership on several tough-but-important issues like this in her short term in office so far.

Jim June 16, 2009 (11:52 am)

The state should drop in a dumpster, bring over some basic landscaping tools, and have a landscape engineer stop by a few times a day. We might be surprised with what happens. Then again we might not be. But it would give a feel to the kind of people using this camp. If they left it better than the way they found it, then move them to the next ugly empty lot and have at it.

TheJunctionHobo June 16, 2009 (12:26 pm)

It must be a nightmare for those who have to sleep outside at night and worry about getting killed in their sleep. It’s a ggod thing now that they have established a less stressful situation for those people. How do they determine who get’s to stay their? Are you allowed to use your own small tent?

Rick Reynolds June 16, 2009 (1:50 pm)

Really happy to see my rep on the list of supporters – Sharon Tomiko Santos, D-37. Community folks should go visit – I’m always amazed at the people I’ve met there.

troy June 16, 2009 (2:19 pm)

i hope that all of the people saying how great this encampment is will support the Seattle housing levy this fall — a better answer to the problems of homelessness. Better because people are provided with transitional housing not just a tent and a porta pottie.

And I hope that the representatives who signed this letter with suburban cities in their jurisdiction will talk to the suburban leaders about their responsibilities to house the homeless. the homeless live in all of king county – not just in seattle.

Mike June 16, 2009 (2:22 pm)

Not that it’s fun work or high pay… but eastern WA is hurting from labor shortages to help with farming. It’s a lot of work but cost of living is insanely cheap over there. Good opportunity for some people to make money and live in better conditions than a tent off to the side of a road in city.

Alcina June 16, 2009 (2:55 pm)

Mike, many of the peoople currently living at Nickelsville are currently employed, but just don’t make enough to get into housing here. It would be tough for many to move to E. Washington as many don’t have a car.

Troy, I agree that the housing levy should be supported, but it takes years to get that transitional housing built. What are people in need of affordable housing to do in the meantime?

The only solution right now is more shelters since the ones that exist all over King County are full. If elected leaders aren’t willing to address that, the only safe option for many people is a tent city of some sort.

Michael June 16, 2009 (7:55 pm)

One of the first things the Governor should require (in addition to restrooms and an accountable garbage patrol) is that the camp stop politicizing itself by referring to itself as “Nickelsville.”
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I don’t like the Mayor that much myself, but I think the homeless and their “advocates” frequently do some stepping over the line that harms their cause more than it helps.

WJC June 17, 2009 (9:17 am)

Our mayor borders on buffonery. Keep the visibility of suffering low as to not reflect on the values of our city. While he toots some asine program on plastic bags, and spends money like a drunk sailor on shore leave, we leave our highest duty to take care of the less fortunate at the doorstep. All of these new condos and apartment developers, place a surcharge on them for the homeless. The Pauk Allen folly trolley would have gone a long way to solve this problem!

The Mayor June 17, 2009 (11:50 am)

These people should be ashamed to blame the mayor for their lack of planning, responsibility and work ethic. How many bridges do you have to burn before none of your friends or family will help you out and you are forced to illegally squat on land that is not yours. We all have our sob stories; however some of us bust our butts work multiple jobs to pay the mortgage or rent.

jiggers June 17, 2009 (3:14 pm)

Mayor Nickels will get my vote back if he helps provide Tent City some permanent land to establish themselves on and not be tossed around like cattle every two-three months. They already police their own security on site 24/7 and screen folks who need a temporary place to recoop themselves. It is necessary to help build high self-esteem once agin for those who have been placed in a situation that the majority of us don’t want to be in. It also gives working individuals time to save money so they can rent a regular place later on.

jiggers June 17, 2009 (3:15 pm)

Oh yeah.. this also shouldn’t be a way of life.

West Seattle June 18, 2009 (2:03 pm)

Seattle’s dog and pony show, known as Nickelsville, ‘sprouted’ long before the economic crisis. One tent member, Leo Rhodes, has been homeless for 20 years. That’s not homeless, that’s a lifestyle choice, one tax payers do not need to pay for. Greg Nickels can wear Nickelsville as a badge of honor for not caving into SHare/Wheel’s extortion tactics.

Now let’s brush away the fake pretense surrounding this camp. Scott Morrow, Anitra Freeman, Peggy Hoates, and all the rest of the people in this ‘homeless” camp are not “homeless” they are political activists, most with jobs, many with homes, who belong to a group called “SHARE” that abuses the homeless in order to extract public money and property under the pretense that they want to “help the homeless”.

Those of you who are good hearted and want to help with real solutions for homelessness get sucked into helping this group that is trying to build a permanant squaters camp because they take advantage of your good nature and hope you will believe their lies and not do any research.

HUD and the Committee to End Homelessness have stated that Tent Cities are not a viable option in the fight to end homelessness. No legitimate homeless advocacy group supports these frauds.

SHARE is in violation of the consent decree between them and the city over the creation of what is now TC3. Because the gravy train was drying up and they wanted public land for free they created TC4 that was intended to squeeze King County for free land. That failed and the cities that host TC4 have put restrictions on the camp to protect the campers and communities they “visit”. Again the gravy train has started to run dry on that camp so now SHARE has created “Nickelsville” with the same purpose, to extract free property for squaters to live on.

These people are dishonest, untrustworthy, and have no interest in helping the homeless. They will lie to your face to take what they want from you and then turn on you when it suits their purpose.

Yes there is a need for homeless services, but there is no need for these Tent Cities. Most “real homeless” shun these camps after a few days when they realize the scam going on and the abuse of the homeless by SHARE. Those that are there could be in legitimate shelters but because they have chosen the squaters life style they have no interest in anything that advocates for getting them back into being productive members of society.

TC3 and TC4 are nowhere near full. The 47 people at Nickelsville are mostly people from those other camps, or people that have places to live, who are there to push this political agenda.

Follow this closely and you will see the School Teacher with the Million dollar home in Bellevue and others who are not homeless pretending to be “campers” there. You will see the same people in these camps year after year hiding from taxes, child support, warrants, sex offender resgistration, and on and on.