“Nickelsville” update: Showdown ahead?

(File photo of “Nickelsville” by Christopher Boffoli)
If you’ve wondered what’s up with “Nickelsville,” as the homeless encampment now headquartered at West Seattle’s Terminal 107 Park has been calling itself, we just happened onto a new communique on its website, dated today:

September 22, 2009 – yesterday – was our first full year! Friday will be the anniversary of the day the Nickelsville 25 took their stand and (thanks to them) the rest of us successfully moved to state land.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING WITH NICKELSVILLE’S 1st BIRTHDAY PARTY! IT’S AT 3 PM AT NICKELSVILLE AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AND THE REST OF OUR OLD AND NEW FRIENDS.

On hand will be hamburgers, hot dogs, Leslie’s Nickelsville Birthday Cake, Peggy’s 18 Minute Video of the Highs and Lows of Nickelsville’s first year, music from our many friends and etc.

To speed the cooking of the hamburgers, we are looking for a big new grill that can handle our firewood. After a year, one of our two major grills bit the dust last week.

This is the extent of the good news.

The bad news is that the Port still wants to sweep us next Wednesday – September 30th. While we are grateful for Port Commissioners Tarleton and Creighton for meeting with us last week, no permanent location has been found for us to move to.

Without a permanent location, Nickelsville will not move.

If you believe homeless people should have a place like Nickelsville in Seattle, this is your week to take a stand. You are needed September 30th. Please check in at the Camp any time after first light next Wednesday. For that week (September 30th) only, the Nickelsville Central Committee Meeting (always at 9 AM) will be meeting at Nickelsville. You are invited.

The more our friends are standing with us, the better the chance for a good resolution.

Finally, SHARE’s bus ticket crisis will come to a head the evening of Monday, September 28th. They desperately need drivers to help them reach the homes the local politicians whose sidewalks they will be sleeping in front of until this problem is solved. (Thank you to the 14 drivers who’ve already volunteered to help! Vans and trucks are particularly needed!)

Please give SHARE a call at (206) 448-7889 or (206) 956-0334 if you can help.

We’ll check with the port tomorrow for its official comment.

proudpugetridger September 23, 2009 (9:24 pm)

Gee, what a surprise…the Nickelsville folks are threatening to “make a stand” rather than living up to their end of the bargain!
.
Did anyone realistically think this wouldn’t happen?? The Port has been patient and compassionate in allowing this situation to progress, but they’ve also been very clear with the encampment folks and impacted neighborhood representatives. The 30th is a fair (generous!) and firm deadline.
.
Please find time to read about the Scott Morrow situation in Ballard (link below), perhaps that will help you understand our ongoing concerns
.
http://www.myballard.com/2009/09/14/sex-offender-removed-from-share-shelter/
.
I sincerely wish these folks well, but it’s time to move on. Shelters are readily available throughout our region.

Ms Pam September 23, 2009 (10:38 pm)

Where do we expect folks to go? As far as shelters go there are not enough spaces for everyone. (Especially if you have a pet). It would be best for everyone to come up with the right answer to benefit all involved. We need to come up with some better ideas especially with worse weather just around the corner. This should/could be a workable problem.

Michael September 23, 2009 (10:49 pm)

Wait, why do homeless people have pets? If they can’t feed and clothe themselves, how can they ensure their pet eats regularly, has a warm bed and gets any health problems cared for?
.
It seems like they’re doing everything within their power to NOT win the hearts of the community, from the deliberate slam of their camp name to showboating “sleeping on peoples’ sidewalks” tactics to apparently getting a large donation of food…which they’re giving away.
.
The homeless “advocates” should be finding private facilities for their “clients.” I have sympathy for the homeless, but not for those who use them as a political football.

mark September 24, 2009 (6:52 am)

Shelters are readily available? What shelter? Where? Please let me know, I will personally go down and tell them about all those available shelters that have open space. I understand there are issues but for you to say something that totally unfounded and off base is, well, this is a family newspaper after all.

As for the pets, well, I am not homeless, but if I was I imagine a dog would be great protection. Check under the Viaduct some warm summer night and you might also feel the need for a little protection. Be glad they are not armed (in city parks).

WSM September 24, 2009 (7:55 am)

Nickels lost. Time for a new name.

wsresident September 24, 2009 (8:33 am)

I think there comes a point where compassion for this situation becomes counter-productive. They have been there for a year? In a year they have not found a place to live, a job, or just a new location to move on to? The helping hand given to these people has become a crutch to further their dependency on others to provide. Instead of focusing energy on fighting the port and Nickels maybe they could spend it on job training or rehabilitaion, etc. Capable of organizing a demonstration but not capable of finding permament housing? C’mon its time to move on.

Mike in Greenwood September 24, 2009 (9:51 am)

“Where do we expect folks to go? As far as shelters go there are not enough spaces for everyone. ”

This is ridiculous. I previously stayed in 3 or 4 Seattle shelters and that’s not true. If you have a “pet” and you’re “homeless”, you need to give up the pet.

And if you need a shelter bed, just go to Operation Night Watch, like I did many times last year. (Or one of the church-sponsored shelters if that’s not good enough for you.)It doesn’t take long to get in somewhere.

Also, I currently live in transitional housing with five other “homeless” people. There is plenty of shelter space and housing for “homeless” people trying to do the right thing. Most “homeless” people that I’ve met have some excuse for NOT doing the right thing.

“Nickelsville” or “Tent City” is just a propaganda tool that isn’t helping any of the people it’s supposedly helping. Everyone would be best served if the concept ended right now.

So many things that Seattle residents believe about the “homeless” are just myths!

laurie September 24, 2009 (10:56 am)

Anything that Share touches is a piece of crap. The city and or state need to man up and kick these squatters to the curb. And clean up the illegal camps in Seattle as well – like Beacon Hill.

ProudPugetRidger September 24, 2009 (12:30 pm)

Wsresident is sooooooo insightful!
.
At this point we’re only enabling these folks with our misguided efforts….”a crutch” is the perfect description for what we’ve become.
.
With our economy of the rebound, there shouldn’t be any legitimate reason the majority of Nickelsville folks cannot return to productive existence. The key is getting them to embrace the challenge themselves!
.
Perhaps a couple of nights on the cold pavement are just the ticket needed to motivate self-improvement.
.

P.Dieter September 24, 2009 (3:12 pm)

The park is getting trashed at this point…they have lost my support.

Kayleigh September 24, 2009 (5:03 pm)

So many homelessness “experts” here. Who knew that such a complex problem could be solved by simply sleeping overnight in shelters that are full and/or dangerous and that kick them out in the morning….and by getting rid of their pets, which may be the only comfort they have….and by Getting A Job, even though many of the homeless have jobs and many white-collar people can’t even find jobs now, let alone people in desperate situations…and by getting on years-long waiting lists for supportive or affordable housing…
.
Oh, per Seattle Housing Authority’s website: they’re not issuing Section 8 vouchers for the remainder of 2009. But not to worry: people can just sleep on the cold pavement a couple nights and that will magically fix that.
.
But I’m sure that you “experts” are right: it’s just a matter of taking away all the social safety nets. That’ll teach ’em.

Gabriele September 24, 2009 (11:12 pm)

What ever happened to compassion? Especially now that so many of us are only one paycheck away from being in the same situation?

It’s the old ‘not in my backyard’ syndrome, right?

laurie September 25, 2009 (11:01 am)

I wish more people knew that the majority of the homeless are addicts and/or mentally ill. They should not be allowed to continue their destructive behavior – it is not humane. The city has built several drunk residences to keep them out of Harborview and this has helped. These homeless are not houseable or do not want to be housed in temporary shelter or even permanent shelter – that requires lifestyle changes such as following rules. They need to get out of the park. I hope the city and the port finally take a stand – this is getting ridiculous.

What? September 25, 2009 (12:31 pm)

The majority of homeless ARE NOT addicts and mentally ill. I work with homeless children, teens and seniors everyday. There has been national reports on homeless children who still try to go to school. I have 2 homeless teens working in the community center I work in. The ones we see all the time, the ones who call attention to them selves, the ones out on the street corners yelling… They might have a drug addiction or mental disability. There are thousands of homeless who do not call attention to themselves. There are camps who don’t call attention to it’s self. I know of 3 hosted by churches near my work, and my home. The bloggers here might even KNOW a homeless person, and not realize it. I met a woman who is afraid to go to a shelter. Her split lip, her missing teeth and her broken arm are due to her husbands fist- not addiction. She thought she was following the rules of society and her husband beat her up anyway. He’s NOT homeless so I guess he’s in the right? But he still goes to shelters looking for her. She’s afraid.
But I guess a FEW bloggers here; feel she deserves this treatment? I guess a FEW bloggers here feel that “ALL” homeless deserve a night on the cold pavement…. Or she should “follow the rules”! Go home and get beaten up again? The police? They can do a little… But only after the fact.
Blanket statements about the homeless situation does nothing to solve any of the problems. The ones you see are not representative of the whole picture.

The oldest codger September 25, 2009 (12:55 pm)

Ahhh, What?
Don’t take the bait.
I’ve seen you post before. Sorry to say, your talking to a few stone walls on this one.
“As long as I’m o.k. screw everyone else.”
It’s just the way it is for some.
If someone looks a little different, in economy, religion, ethnicity… Height, or anything else you could mention, then the old cries of “they should be locked away.” and “Not in my backyard man” Start coming along.
Time’s never really change that attitude.
..
My old neighbors kicked their 15 year old out of the house because he didn’t want to go to the family church any more. That kid was homeless for a good 10 months, living out of a friends car by a park that I used to walk my dog in. My first wife and I used to bring him food. His parent’s never asked about him, or offered to let him come home. He finally got old enough to get a job and move away.
…
Don’t let the blanket statements get you down. They are just gonna happen. People don’t want to think of the homeless as people too. I could say something about how a certain man in Germany in the 40s didn’t want to think of the Jewish… as people. He thought of them as a “blight on society”
Hmmm..
My minister says… It’s easier to threaten, attack, and ignore if you don’t look them in the eye and see them as human too.
Good luck and keep up the compassion.

Mike in Greenwood September 25, 2009 (12:58 pm)

Again, as someone who has lived in shelters over the past year, and who lives in transitional housing with five other “homeless” people, I find the comments by activists to be more propaganda (and hystrionics) than the truth.

It’s true that most “homeless” are NOT mentally ill, however there is a LOT of substance abuse.

Mike in Greenwood September 25, 2009 (1:11 pm)

As I continue to read these comments, the people who seem to think they know something about homelessness and shelters are really clueless. (Kayleigh, for example.) Not all shelters are “dangerous”, and almost all have supervisory staff all night long!

And again with the pets — that’s just ridiculous for a homeless person! Go to a shelter, then to transitional housing, and finally get a job (gasp) and a real apartment. THEN get a pet, if you absolutely have to. If you can’t take care of yourself properly, what the heck are you doing with a pet?

Besides “tent city”, the other group that is just ridiculous is the teens and others who hang out at Westlake Mall’s plaza area, often begging in front of the Gap or Pacific Place. These people do not deserve pity at all. They’re not even trying to help themselves.

Anyway, after spending more time this past year than I ever thought I would with “homeless” people, I think they (we) need less compassion and more “tough love”. There are far too many enablers, clueless activists, and propagandists out there to effectively deal with the problem.

ENUF! September 25, 2009 (1:28 pm)

I believe the main point that “laurie” and others are trying to get across is: the occupants of Nickelsville are NOT WILLING TO MAKE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE!!!

Why should they? Nickelsville does not have any type of program in place to actually HELP these “homeless” – THEY WANT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES W/THEIR OWN RULES – they are SQUATTERS! They choose not to try to better themselves/to try to comply with the rules.

I have known many people who have looked for housing and have had to give up their pets (dogs/cats/etc.) so they could move into somewhere they could afford. These SQUATTERS w/their pets are CHOOSING NOT TO. Why should any of us help THEM if THEY are not willing to give a little to help themselves!

ProudPugetRidger September 25, 2009 (2:06 pm)

I can’t resist responding to “What”…

I call, you’re bluffing.

If there are teens (minors) who are homeless call CPS. There are plenty of foster/temporary/eager options for those children. CCS, amongst others, is a great start.

If the woman whose husband is supposedly beating her does not have a current valid/legitimate restraining order then get one.

None of us are saying these less-fortunate folks “deserve” what’s happening, we’re simply saying they need to self-strive for improvement rather than wait for somebody else to make their improvements for them. Life is a balance of work and reward…they apparently “get” the reward aspect, now let’s encourage the work portion.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for that day, but teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.

Nickelsville is an illegal band of renegades, not (as you say) “…representative of the whole picture”.

I know I’m going to regret writing this so bluntly, but it is frustrating that Nickelsville is pulling resources from other (legitimate!) ministries in need.

That was fun September 25, 2009 (2:28 pm)

Wow, people sure are nice in West Seattle.

Been here a long time September 25, 2009 (2:33 pm)

The above people must have had a really hard life to have such cut and dried answers for the entire homeless population.
Please, if the people who have posted know so much about it;
Then erase homelessness. Cure it and make the whole topic go away.

What? September 25, 2009 (3:29 pm)

Sorry but, I didn’t not say that Nicholsville were representative of the whole picture. I said I know of 3 that don’t bring attention to themselves.
My point was to the statement above mine that posted;
“I wish more people knew that the majority of the homeless are addicts and/or mentally ill.”
…
No, sorry, but the majority is not.
I said “the ones you see ARE NOT representative of the whole picture.” (the last line of my last post)
There are many hidden homeless.
Some readers out there might even know a person who is homeless and never even guess.
….
CPS can’t help kids who’s already been through abusive foster homes and won’t go back and will work, and live under a bridge until they are able to get premature emancipation.
I used their example to note that not all homeless are drug addicts, or mental patients.
…
The homeless kids that CPS does have their hands full with, and are trying to find, help, relocate are also NOT drug addicts and mental patients.
….
The woman that has been beat up is happy to be in hiding. I used her example again to note that not all homeless are drug addicts and mental patients.

She feels a shelter or half way house would be dangerous.
We will keep trying to get her into a protected battered woman’s shelter. But wouldn’t you guess, their over crowded and full too.
….
To just dismiss the majority of homeless as drug addicts and mental patients makes it very hard for many to even mention that they are homeless. Keeps many from seeking help, or knowing what chances they have at help.
Many do work, they try, they strive, and this is the attitude they get hit with. This dismissive— OH, their druggies….. it’s their own fault then…..
That dismissive blanket statement helps nothing!
Sorry this post was so long.

the realist September 25, 2009 (6:55 pm)

What?
Let me enlighten someone to how it works in the real world.
If one can not keep up with the heard, it’s eaten or left to die. That’s how this should be handled.
Your not in bleeding heart Boston with it’s inner city problems, and – “boo hoo”- poor starving children.
We don’t have inner city problems. We have an inner city that is gleaming with money. We have $10.00 coffee and designer jeans for infants. I wouldn’t have it any other way. God bless our wealth.

What proudpugerridger and the rest of us are trying to say is, this isn’t happy helper fiction town with nuns giving out food and people giving away love and compassion- ick.
This is Rich White West Seattle.
We have wealth and power and were not about to waste it on others who are not worthy.
Sorry to say, but not everyone belongs here.
If someone can’t keep up, well- they can be eaten or left to die.
It’s the way of nature.
If someone is a “nature lover” they would understand this.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Been here a long time September 25, 2009 (9:03 pm)

Realist,
Please correct me if I am misreading this, but you make it sound like the agreed climate of the above bloggers is;
people should be rich and white to live here?
I am misreading this? correct?

Realist September 25, 2009 (9:22 pm)

That’s what I said.
If I said it, I meant it.
I know my town and it agrees with me.
Hard times… bah hooey.
If one is too stupid to get a job then they should be thinned from the heard.
There are more realistic and logical people like me than these bleeding heart, social worker cry babies.
We could sure do with a lot less of these social workers.
No excuses, if someone can’t keep up… Then it’s not our problem.
I think the above post show, the logical non-social worker types are in agreement.

That was fun September 26, 2009 (8:29 am)

Ouch; that’s a new definition of the mean streets of Seattle.

Just here to say, I’m not in the “Rich White West Seattle.” camp.

miws September 26, 2009 (8:44 am)

Realist, I can’t quite figure out if you’re being sarcastic or not, but, are you saying that I, as a lifetime resident of 51 years, (other than 4.5 years into my mid-teens when I lived in Kitsap County), that I shouldn’t be here, because I’m not rich? Thank god I’m white at least!

Again, if you’re being dead serious, and you are a lifetime West Seattle resident, then you are an embarrasment to the rest of us, who have chosen to stay here, and continue to be part of the community we love. Many of who, like myself, have a long family history here.

If you’re a “transplant”, you are an insult to those that have chosen to move here, become part of our community, and respect and embrace it as much as us lifetimers have.

West Seattle has long had a mix of people of diffferent levels of wealth. It was long known as a widely blue collar communty, with many relatively affordable homes. It’s also had its share of homes that have spectacular views, and may be out of reach for many. It has also long had low-income housing. This has been a blend that, for the most part, has worked just fine.

Sadly, due to “progress”, West Seattle is not as affordable as it once was. As frustrating as that is, I understand that it happens. But, for you to make such an elitest statement, is an insult to those, “natives” and “newcomers” that have worked their butts to build, and maintain, our great community.

Mike

proudpugetridger September 26, 2009 (2:48 pm)

Well said Mike!

I’m certain Realist is being sarcastic.

My “bottom line” regarding Nickelsville is simply that it is a political pawn, not at all representative of the homeless community that’s out there. Pulling resources from minstries that actually do good for true persons-in-need is sinful.

There is also a proven history of Level-3 sex offenders being knowingly allowed in SHARE encampments, which is completely unacceptable.

Again, I wish all you folks well.

Realist September 26, 2009 (4:48 pm)

Why do you assume it”s sarcastic.
They are not keeping up
you either get with the program or get left to die
Don’t go liberal hippy on me now guys.
You know the way it is around here.
WE don’t need cry baby social workers and the unemployed ruining what we have built.

Rusty Olson September 26, 2009 (6:44 pm)

Let’s keep this in perspective. Even the poorest in the US live better than the poor half of the people on the planet.
If they are “starving”, they would not have pets. Starving people eat whatever is available.