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 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