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1. WesCAddle
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   I'm just wondering what the long term projection for Nicklesville is.. At one point I think I read it was proposed as a temporary shelter on public land...

   Driving by it every day on my way to work it appears to be growing, and I am noticing more and more "permanent" looking wooden structures in the camp. (maybe they have always been there and I just didn't notice, since I haven't actually been inside).

   I think it's a great concept, I'm just looking for more information than what's on their website.

   My only concern is that I've noticed tents starting to spring up in the woods around Nickelsville....specifically on the west side of West Marginal Way. If you look back into the woods to the right as you approach the stop lights at the intersection of highland park drive and West Marginal Way you can see people are now living back there.

   Anyway...kudos to all the volunteers who are giving their time to make the camp run. It looks very organized and orderly, at least from the outside.

   Posted 3 months ago #         

2. JoB
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   Wes...

   Nickelsville is growing.. though at present what is growing most is it's infrastructure and not it's population.

   That is likely to change as the weather improves and people transition from the temporary winter shelters...

   The vision for Nickelsville is a semi-permanent encampment that houses at least half of it's residents in simple living structures.

   i say semi-permanent because they hope to move only once if at all... and because the simple living structures are all built in a manner that would allow them to be moved.

   the last time i heard anyone from the city council or the mayor's office say anything substantive about timelines regarding finding a permanent solution for Nickelsville, we were looking at two years or more for any solution.

   There has been a new perspective that shifts the focus of the conversation slightly hinging on transitional housing, but it remains to be seen if that will actually speed or hinder progress.

   As for those tents you notice in the greenbelt.. if you drive around seattle and look you will notice them in nearly every greenbelt.

   i would like to be able to say that they have always been there and that they are simply more visible this time of year.. that would be a half truth i could defend.

   but the whole truth is that as our homeless population increases, the number of people who seek the relatively safe shelter of our greenbelts and create small encampments increases.

   the Take Back the Night count tells part of the story.. but it pretty much only counts a fraction the people living on the streets... those living in the greenbelts are generally not part of that count.

   We really need to solve this problem if we want our greenbelts to remain greenbelts

   Posted 3 months ago #         

3. JoB
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   i forgot to second Wes's thanks to those who volunteer and donate to Nickelsville...

   Just yesterday they received an incredible propane cookstove and huge reels of heavy duty hose that will make it easier to drain the field when it overflows.

   People have been more than generous.

   but, we still need to figure out a way to help them securely fund the most basic services .. porta-potties, a phone and garbage.

   The camp is currently working on reducing the garbage bills at nickelsville through a recyling program which will help... but the need for more sanitation facilities will increase with the population.

   they have been funding them through pancake breakfast fundraisers and private donations, but they are feeling the same drop in donations that every other charity has faced and the bills still have to be met.

   they haven't had an angel pop out of the woodwork yet to fund basic services though there are people interested in helping to fund the simple living structures and someone is looking into options for sheltered communal space.

   i can understand why donations for structures are easier to come by than those for operating expenses, but if the operating expenses aren't paid, the structures are useless.

   The nickelsville project is sheltered by a 501c3 organization, so it would be possible to put a "utilities" fund together...

   anyone out there have a good idea for a mechanism and an ad campaign to sell it?

   we have put together a fledgling donor's organization to help coordinate services for the people at Nickelsville ...

   but between working at the camp and trying to organize .. we are off to a slow start:)

   any input would be greatly appreciated.

   Posted 3 months ago #         

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