FOLLOWUP: RV ‘safe lot’ at least two weeks away

rvlot

We’re at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council and there’s been one bit of news to share separately from our forthcoming full-meeting wrapup: The upcoming “safe lot” for vehicle campers in Highland Park is NOT opening this Friday, said Michael Taylor-Judd of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, who had mentioned that likely opening date at his group’s meeting last week. He and city neighborhood-district coordinator Kerry Wade both said the opening date is “at least two weeks away,” and said that’s all they can say about it.

We’ve been monitoring the site and had noted again today (photo above) that no work has been done yet – no sign of the facilities (dumpsters, portable toilets, etc.) that were supposed to be in place before the projected 12 vehicles show up. The lot is one of two (along with a site in Ballard) to be operated by the Low-Income Housing Institute, with Compass Housing Alliance expected to offer services to help those using it get housing and more. When Mayor Murray announced the “safe lots,” they were “expected to” be up and running within a month; this Friday marks exactly a month since his announcement.

9 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: RV 'safe lot' at least two weeks away"

  • Dale February 17, 2016 (10:26 pm)

    Progress on the site so far:  a temporary fence that fell down last week, and is still down.  I guess no public officials noticed or cared.   Hope they monitor the RV encampment better than that…

  • wsea98116 February 18, 2016 (12:57 am)

    C’mon, Dale- what do you expect for a million bucks- an upright temporary fence?!  

    (Tonight, I also noticed the fallen fence..)  

    this could be a funny sitcom, like Barney Miller- with a kooky mayor, a tragically optimistic council person, and the lazy, jaded cheif of police! 

  • M February 18, 2016 (5:59 am)

    I wish they would require Van campers to remove the trash from his or her om existing parked locations before being allowed to move to this lot. 

  • Born on Alki 59 February 18, 2016 (7:49 am)

     @WSEA98116, Too funny. I thought the same thing yesterday as I passed the fallen fence.

  • Robbie February 18, 2016 (8:59 am)

    Has everyone forgotten that our mayor invited the current explosion in homeless in Seattle when he declared Free to Camp all over the city zones?

    This is ridiculous…he created the problem now he want you and me to spend our money meant to raise our kids, feed ourselves and live in the form of trying to tax us for $50mil…

    LAME…

  • Mickymse February 18, 2016 (1:00 pm)

    There are TWO City-sanctioned encampment sites, and perhaps 2 or 3 other sites that are tolerated by the City at the moment. The City has not “declared Free to Camp all over the city zones” or “invited” people to come here. The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness are from Seattle and King County. If you go with Seattle Public Schools’ more expansive definition there are over 120 homeless youth attending Chief Sealth alone. And I imagine the numbers are similar for West Seattle High. Just stop and ponder that for a moment if you have any children attending there… 

  • Pile-o-Rox February 18, 2016 (1:42 pm)

     Mickymse – let’s get real – as noted by Sally Bagshaw in her recent proposal to provide a micro- housing/pod solution to homelessness, the City most certainly DOES allow people to camp anywhere they want. Do you ever walk around the city? Alleys, sidewalks, underpasses, you name it – and the police have been instructed not to do anything about it. Yeah, I think that means you are free to camp all over the city.

     

     

    And I don’t go with the SPS definition because its not reality. If you have a home to stay in – even if its your uncle’s or aunt’s or grandparent’s home you have a home. You are not homeless. Living with extended family is a great option – and its unfortunate more people don’t have access to that (often times as a result of the now-homeless individual being kicked out for using drugs or other understandably objectionable behavior).

     

    I recognize people need a place to sleep; and we should be looking to provide that – even if its a combination worker shelter, family shelter, warehouse solution. Quite frankly, its pretty simple to provide that shelter in a safe and efficient manner (including the $1,800 cost of a metal detector at the entrance to each such area). Once you have that system in place, there is simply no ground for allowing people to sleep on the street or in other public places. There is no excuse, and all unlawful camping should at that point be dealt with on a zero tolerance basis. You are either willing to go to the shelter and adhere to all the rules that go with it (no guns, drugs, have a job/be looking for a job, enroll in mental health/addition counseling) or you need to get out of our city because you have no purpose here. 

     

  • JanS February 18, 2016 (3:17 pm)

    it’s not camping…camping reeks of “oh, this is a fun weekend”. These are human beings trying to survive in a world of people with attitudes that those who live on the streets do it because they are lazy bums who just don’t want to do better.  Obviously, none of you have lost everything in your life. One of our own posters here did exactly that not too long ago because of health issues. That tent he lived in was a godsend at the time. With the help of friends and community members here, he has become self sufficient again, no longer on the streets. Sending big hugs to him, and wishing more people were at least a little more tolerant than they are.  We all deserve respect, in my opinion, even if our station in life is not to others liking. Just an opinion.

  • Oscar the Grouch February 18, 2016 (8:36 pm)

    Being homeless, thru no fault of your own is not a crime.  Spreading filth, biohazards and dirty needles however is a crime.   It’s also a violation of city code.  I can’t have my yard full of trash, poo or needles, but I am forced to walk by it all over this city.  Right now, we are unable to call out those who are homeless and doing these horrible things to turn our city into a dump without inciting an argument that we are inhumane, insensitive or just don’t qualify to comment.  That’s the issue for me.  Does one lose all responsibility to society when they become homeless?   Do they get to put others at real risk if they engage in illegal activity?  I think not. Can we please have a civil conversation about the filth that is taking over our city without being labeled as uncaring?   

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