The clearing of encampments along Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) rights-of-way has been completed, Homeless Response Program Manager Keylee Marineau told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, October 31.
These encampments were located on Lilly Road, Sleater Kinney Road, Wheeler Avenue, Pacific Avenue interchange, and the Olympia City Center exit., identified through Governor Jay Inslee’s rights-of-way initiative, which seeks to move people living on these rights-of-way to better housing.
Marineau said that WSDOT is currently still working to clear the structures along the City Center exit, and the people residing in the encampment had already moved two weeks ago.
Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) has agreed to clean and relocate the residents from the Nickerson property on Wheeler Avenue, Marineau added. The county aims to complete the relocation of the site by the end of November.
Around 19 individuals remain on the site, which would either move to the Franz Anderson Tiny Home Village or Maple Court Enhanced Shelter.
The county has also begun planning the annual point-in-time count, which is scheduled to take place in January. The activity is required by Commerce and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to measure the number of people experiencing homelessness.
The activity will be accompanied by a donation drive, so Marineau said that many volunteering opportunities will be available.
The cold weather shelter season has also begun and will run from November 1 through April 30. The county’s Public Health and Social Services Department will extend shelters and beds for families with children as winter begins.
The county, in partnership with the non-profit Interfaith Works, would also have shelter beds for single adults during hazardous weather events.
Marineau added that the county has sent a proposal to Commerce for the Encampment Resolution Program, which provides funding to cover the cost of housing-related needs of individuals residing in state rights-of-way.
Marineau said they expect to hear from Commerce about their proposal in around two weeks.
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Tractor1
Any idea how long it will be until "squatters" start moving back into these sites? Maybe after 7 November?
Thursday, November 2, 2023 Report this
estelleseeley
Calling groups of people by one name is a mistake. If I called all country folks: Rednecks or drugstore cowboys or hicks, it would be wrong. The homeless are a variety of people, some are users of the system, others can't pay the greedy rents being demanded, others are truly mentally ill, born with a family inherited gene gone wrong in the brain..like my son. They are Human Beings, not 'squatters'- like good farmers and flintskin ones.
Creator's people, all.
Respectfully,
Retired Cowgirl
Thursday, November 2, 2023 Report this
WayTooOld
estelleseeley - Thank you for your words here. May you and yours be well.
Sunday, November 5, 2023 Report this