Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published April 11, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 11, 2008 at 7:47 PM

E-mail article     Print view

Seattle eases rules on clearing homeless encampments

After homeless people complained their survival gear had been destroyed while the city cleared out camps in greenbelts and parks, Seattle...

Seattle Times staff reporter

After homeless people complained their survival gear had been destroyed while the city cleared out camps in greenbelts and parks, Seattle officials said Friday they would take a new approach to removing unauthorized encampments on public property.

Under an executive order Mayor Greg Nickels signed this week:

• The city will give 72 hours' notice to people camping on public property before their tents and other belongings are removed.

• During that period, the city will dispatch outreach workers to connect homeless campers with services.

• The city will store people's belongings for 60 days instead of immediately throwing them away. Homeless people complained they had lost their tents, personal identification, prescriptions and photos.

• The city will add 20 shelter beds, which will be available Monday.

"We worked hard to strike a balance — there's a public-safety balance and a human-service balance," said Patricia McInturff, the city's director for human services. She added the city is continuing work on the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County.

Last month, homeless advocates protested the city's clearing of camp sites by pitching tents overnight on the steps of City Hall.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Local News headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Teen is beaten in bus tunnel; Metro to review policies

School levies passing in most area districts

King County library measure ahead by slight margin

Medical pot exceeds law, but no charges

Two names dominate as Seattle begins police-chief search

Advertising

Video

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Fatal crashes are down in Washington, and a national used-car database goes onlinenew
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising