City, state crews finish cleanup of "Jungle" encampments
Cleanup resumed after homicide investigation

SEATTLE - After suspending clean-up efforts for a murder investigation, city and state crews returned to the east Duwamish greenbelt this week to complete a three-day cleanup, removing illegal encampments from public property.

Approximately five tons of garbage were removed from the greenbelt extending from South Holgate Street to Dr. Jose Rizal Park, covering both city-owned property and land owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation. Before the cleanup, outreach workers offered shelter to about 20 encampment occupants.

The cleanup began on Sept. 10, but had to be suspended because later that night, a man was found shot and killed in the encampment. The immediate area was handled as a crime scene and six encampment occupants were arrested on outstanding warrants for other crimes. The homicide investigation remains open; anyone with information about the murder is asked to contact the Seattle Police homicide department at (206) 684-5550. This was the third reported murder in the encampment area in the past three years; police also have an open investigation into the rape of a woman in the encampment on June 8.

The city has been dealing with the problems associated with encampments in greenbelts and public properties for many years. Residents have long complained about public safety and health problems including the collection of human waste, increased population of rats, illegal behavior including drug use and excessive noise, large quantities of garbage including used hypodermic needles, and reports of fires and destruction of property.

In April 2008, the city of Seattle enacted a new administrative rule to improve the way it deals with encampments. The rule provides for a consistent and coordinated process for providing encampment occupants with advanced notice of encampment removal, outreach to connect the campers with needed services and shelter and additional shelter space. The city has also provided temporary storage for hundreds of personal items that encampment occupants have left behind. Personal items left behind at the east Duwamish greenbelt will be held for 60 days at the Westbridge Parks facility at 4209 West Marginal Way.

Since April, the city has cleaned up about 30 sites involving unauthorized camping and encampments. More than 50 tons of garbage have been disposed of including human waste and hundreds of syringes.

Seattle’s Human Services Department has provided outreach services to those who are living in encampments. To date, 76 people have accepted the city’s offer of shelter. Eight people have already transitioned from these shelters to more stable housing and two people have entered treatment programs.

The Human Services Department has also opened a new shelter on Roy Street with a capacity of more than 30 beds. All individuals who live in unauthorized encampments are offered shelter by the outreach workers before the encampment is removed.

The city of Seattle allocates nearly $40 million a year toward ending homelessness. The city is an active partner in the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, focusing on finding permanent housing for homeless people. The city has also invested heavily in “Housing First,” an innovative strategy launched several years ago to move the homeless into housing with in-house medical, mental health and other support programs. Other city services and programs include:

• Hygiene facilities and day centers, including job training, counseling
• Meal programs
• Eviction and rental assistance
• 16 shelter programs serving homeless single adults and families with 1,189 beds and 100 family voucher units
• 792 transitional housing units
• Permanent supportive housing for homeless people

Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s inside view on efforts to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.

###

Office of the Mayor