2-week extension for “Nickelsville” homeless camp in West Seattle

| Highland Park | West Seattle news

(mid-June photo courtesy Revel Smith)
We reported earlier this week that the camp at 2nd SW/West Marginal had been told to clear out by Monday. Now, spokesperson Revel Smith just sent word they’ve been given two extra weeks:

The Washington State Department of Transportation says Nickelsville can stay at its present site until July 20th

Michael Ramos, Executive Director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, confirms WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond has extended the deadline for Nickelsville to stay at its present site for 2 weeks – to July 20th.

Nickelsville will continue to do all it can to find another adequate and permanent site. We will then look forward to the City of Seattle keeping its pledge to work with the property owner and Nickelsville to make sure Nickelsville succeeds.

Nickelsville thanks Governor Gregoire, Sr. Adviser Ron Judd of the Governor’s office, Michael Ramos of the Church Council, and all others involved with these negotiations. We also thank friends and supporters for contacting State and City Officials and explaining the need for Nickelsville and the depth of support it has.

drew m July 3, 2009 (11:36 pm)

Get rid of them. Seattle has already done too much for these people.

mike green July 4, 2009 (8:08 am)

yeah, let them eat cake !!!!!!!!

Michael July 4, 2009 (4:36 pm)

LOL, the spokesman certainly makes sure to use the word “Nickelsville” as often as possible.
.
Until they call the camp something less intentionally incendiary, they can count me out of their “depth of support.”

Sage July 4, 2009 (7:28 pm)

@Michael … because why not decide what you think about housing justice based on marketing strategies, right? If it works for deciding which cola to buy, it works for deciding what to think about homelessness.

Joe Schmoe July 5, 2009 (5:28 am)

Personally I do not support Nickels.
I think he sucks as a mayor.

However, this entire “Nickelsville” thing is a lame political statement that does not appear to offer any “solution” to the plight of the homeless.

Overall Nickels has done quite a bit more for the homeless than many big city mayors.

He still sucks.

theshell July 5, 2009 (12:43 pm)

And yet we go home and sleep in our nice cushy beds at night. Easy to say get rid of them when we have the luxury of having a place to call home. Count your blessings

Mean Gene July 5, 2009 (11:15 pm)

Indeed a tent city is a policy problem, to say the least.

However, for those unfortunate enough to find
themselves homeless, it is so much better than being alone on the street – and, some residents have argued to me – advantageous over daily shelters. The “Nickelsville” handle is certainly a cheap attempt at political pressure by people grasping for some control over their lives. They cling to the hope that Mayor Nickels will come to their rescue and the name will become a proud one.

Here are some advantages of the tent city for the residents:

1. Security – imagine the fear of sleeping alone under a bridge. “Nickelsville” has very clear rules and they kick people out who can’t deal with them. I have no % figure, but you’d find that the residents are quite competent and aware, despite their current circumstances.

2. Cooperation – “many hands make light work” (isn’t that the adage?) People group together because they can accomplish a lot more for themselves by cooperating.

3. Confidence of Being Needed – Imagine the feeling of being a “surplus” person on the street. In the camp the same person knows they are needed by the others. This is important.

4. Semi- permanence – Most people don’t realize that many of the tent city residents work when they can. I have no personal experience of this, but I’m told that the daily shelter system doesn’t take this into consideration. That means that the residents have to have so much attention on finding a bed every day that it makes working or job hunting very difficult, if not near impossible.

5. Control over ones’ life – In shelters the residents be come “inmates” in that they must be completely dependant. The rules at many of the shelters impose extensive restrictions that may be practical for facility but are designed to deal with the lowest common denominator. “Nickelodians” are “smarter than the average …”. I would liken them to accidental “colonists” who are trying to take care of themselves.

6. Cleanliness – I’ve been told that the beds in the shelters have bugs more often than not. Also, the residents have no control over who is in the next cot — maybe psychotic or tubercular.