FOLLOWUP: What the city says about this week’s two West Seattle encampment sweeps

Three days after a death at the encampment near Rotary Viewpoint Park (35th/Alaska) and West Seattle Stadium, city crews swept the area – “resolution” is the official city term. But it wasn’t a reaction to the death; the city had told a reader – in November 7 communication on which we were CC’d – that the site was “elevated to be resolved soon, pending availability of the necessary shelter resources.” Then another reader told us late Wednesday that they had seen crews there earlier in the day. So we followed up with the city’s Unified Care Team spokesperson Kate Jacobs, who confirmed:

Rotary Viewpoint Park/West Seattle Stadium vicinity: The Unified Care Team completed resolutions at two unauthorized encampments in this area on December 3 after official notice was posted on November 29. UCT outreach counselors offered shelter and supportive services to all 30 people residing across the two locations. Four offers were accepted.

(WSB photo, 16th/Barton, Tuesday)

We also asked about the results of the city operation reported here Tuesday at 16th/Barton, long an RV encampment zone. Jacobs replied:

SW Barton: UCT outreach counselors offered shelter and supportive services to both individuals residing at this location. Neither offer was accepted.

Jacobs said that’s not the end of their work at those sites:

Outreach counselors will continue engaging with people who declined resources to learn more about each person’s needs and keep building trust. It often takes numerous interactions before someone is willing to accept services, shelter, or complete an assessment for permanent supportive housing.

The reader who tipped us about the stadium/Rotary Viewpoint Park sweep wondered if the people there had had much notice, so we asked Jacobs about the current policy:

UCT gives people as much notice as possible for a resolution. The amount of notice is determined by local regulations, the unique circumstances of each site, and available resources.

Sites that require 72-hour notice under the Multi-Department Administrative Rule (MDAR) receive at least that much notice and sometimes significantly more.

Immediate Hazards/Obstructions are situations in which UCT must act quickly due to health or safety risks, or because an encampment significantly obstructs access to public spaces. In these cases, UCT notifies individuals of the resolution when they arrive on site, typically providing 30 minutes of notice before work begins. Once immediate safety risks and hazards are addressed, UCT works to provide reasonable time for people to pack personal belongings and identify items they’d like UCT to store versus debris that can be thrown away. 

Sites that do not qualify for a 72-hour notice under MDAR and are not an immediate hazard or obstruction typically receive between 24 and 72 hours of notice.

Tired December 5, 2025 (5:58 pm)

There is still access to the brambles area east as there has been no repair to the cut open cyclone fence visible east of 35th Ave SW. A tent is already back up just uphill from the totem pole on the grass 2pm today Fri. 12/5. Other tent campers have queued up with their stuff just below street level next to the 35th Ave SW & SW Avalon Way stop # 22820 northbound and just off sidewalk at north end of stop there. Another is using the parking area & south facing deck of Pecos Pit BBQ as a home base. No use in reporting the movements as the unhoused simply move about revolving back & forth. Even shanty’s burning like near the Home Depot are simply rebuilt.

Krista Kirkman December 5, 2025 (7:49 pm)

I don’t think camping drug addicts need years of outreach and trust building exercises from social workers . Its a waste of time and tax dollars. They don’t want to go to treatment: that’s the bottom line .We need to write tickets to campers . If they have enough money to buy drugs , they can pay for their camp spot . Get 3 tickets on record , they have to leave the city. No payment of tickets means , mandatory community service. 4 people out of 30 accepted services???? This is to low of a success rate . Zero people accepted services from outreach in RVs . 26 folks , plus RV tennents, refused assistance. I would say there’s 26 hard core drug addicts and RV tennents are also hard core addicts. Nothing and no one is going to change their minds ” have the come to Jesus meeting”. No quit wasting money , and time , to beg drug addicts to get treatment…… Just give them a ticket and assignment for mandatory community service, that day , or they need to leave the camping spot . Cannot camp in public spaces. Period. Did the 4 people who accepted shelter , go to a low or no barrier one ??? Did they have a drug or ETOH problem???? Did they accept treatment if they have an addiction???

Kyle December 5, 2025 (8:46 pm)

How many times can services be denied before you actually impound a vehicle? Or you know issue some consequences to change behavior.

1994 December 5, 2025 (9:37 pm)

“UCT outreach counselors offered shelter and supportive services to all 30 people residing across the two locations. Four offers were accepted.” How about shelter being required and not offered? Of course the service and shelter is not accepted because it is only suggested. How about the city requiring unhoused people be relocated to a shelter because they should not be allowed to camp anywhere they want. The community suffers with the years of ongoing offering of shelter and services – make it required.