After reading Joanne Brayden’s piece on Nickelsville, I was inspired to visit this tent community for myself. I wanted to verify that the space was indeed clean, comfortable and safe so that I may make an informed choice as to whether to advocate for its permanent existence. My impressions were very positive.
Located off of West Marginal Way and 2nd Ave S beyond a nearly empty parking lot and down a short hill lies the almost completely hidden Nicklesville. On approach to the camp in the serenity of the parking lot were four green portable toilets. On the other side of the lot like a scene from a Salvador Dali painting (but of course way more useful and utilitarian) were a standing sink and full length mirror to use for daily grooming.
My companion, who had visited just two short weeks earlier, was astounded by the sturdy new steps that replaced rickety old planks which formerly led down to the camp. As with all visitors, we checked in at the security tent located at the entrance of the community. Immediately we were greeted with smiles and inquiries of how we can be helped by neon vested Nickelsville security.
Our tour guide was a man in his early thirties with a shoulder length ponytail and a quiet demeanor. Our tour started with the common area that consisted of a dozen or more chairs in the configuration of a circle. Many of the chairs were occupied by residents (mostly white men but a few women) who were eating and conversing quietly amongst themselves. We walked along the carefully made path between a row of tents admiring the cleanliness and organization of the community. The tents were all numbered and all contents outside of the tent were orderly and well kept. A couple residences even had little picket fences that enclosed their small dogs.
By far the best part of the tour was conducted by resident Nate Martin. An articulate and straightforward 30-something former military weapons construction specialist, Nate is experiencing his first time living without a permanent home at Nickelsville. He spoke of the need for the homeless to have a community and a place to stay during the night as well as daytime. He also spoke of homeless people that have died this year alone living on the street and how that could have been avoided if they were given an opportunity to live within a caring community like Nickelsville.
Nate also shared with us the community’s dream of creating an eco-friendly village that will have neither plumbing nor high carbon generating electricity. In order to produce the energy needed for most of the camp’s electrical needs, he created a machine called the “Cycletron”. Through the use of a bicycle wheel, copper wires, magnets, and human force to turn the wheel, this machine generates about 13 1/2 volts of electricity (enough to recharge batteries and light a table lamp). The Cycletron cost $250 to make (loaned by a financial backer) and took less than two weeks to assemble. Water is an issue and there is no water source. Currently it is trucked in on a regular basis by friends of the community.
Residents of Nicklesville are doing for themselves what well meaning politicians have been trying to accomplish for decades: create a safe, comfortable and clean environment for those without permanent homes. This low cost, low impact community is providing a necessary service to over one hundred people in a cooperative, democratically governed environment. I’d say that is worth supporting.
See for yourself! The community is open from 8am-9pm and located at 7116 W Marginal Way.
Clothing and canned food items are also accepted at that location.
Visit them at http://www.nickelsvilleseattle.org
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