Sweeps of homeless encampments are inhumane. They target people who are homeless rather than the economic cause of homelessness: too little affordable housing and cuts to social services. They're expensive--according to the Seattle Weekly, one city sweep cost as much as running an emergency shelt... more
Sweeps of homeless encampments are inhumane. They target people who are homeless rather than the economic cause of homelessness: too little affordable housing and cuts to social services. They're expensive--according to the Seattle Weekly, one city sweep cost as much as running an emergency shelter for 75 people, for three months!
Nickelsville is an example of people taking control of their own lives and creating community among themselves without needing much support from the state or city. It should be fostered and nurtured so that its members can build their lives and transition into stable housing, not chased around the city in an exhausting ritual of moving every three months or less.
crichardson
I don't think tent city is as much about homelessness as it is about alcoholism. Offer help to those who want it: temporary housing, job training, sustance abuse counseling, etc. A lot of the residents of tent city don't want any interference, they just want the land and a check. No rules. I don't agree with that.
Sudopinion
S.H.A.R.E's Tent Cities and Nickelsville are not at all the same organization and though both communities serve the homeless populations, they should not be confused with each other. Nickelsville is where homeless people go after they've fucked up in homeless society.
Mirvia Meyer
Seattle has become a magnet for the homeless from everywhere we cannot fix it for the whole nation right now I have bee laid off for 10 months and could end up as one of them.we need n
more police, fire,courts, like it or not this population brings crime at the same time, the city as a parent of sorts owes its citizens enough police and not security guards, as it is right now there is not enough man power to send police to accidents unless someone is hurt and the insurance companies are using this to de... more
Seattle has become a magnet for the homeless from everywhere we cannot fix it for the whole nation right now I have bee laid off for 10 months and could end up as one of them.we need n
more police, fire,courts, like it or not this population brings crime at the same time, the city as a parent of sorts owes its citizens enough police and not security guards, as it is right now there is not enough man power to send police to accidents unless someone is hurt and the insurance companies are using this to deny paying claims, our jails are too full so people that should be kept in are being let out putting the rest of the community in danger or just fear.
City Halls first responsability is to provide, police, fire and to prosecute those that commit crimes and do the follow up with jails.
We are also dealing with imported gangs, our justice system is known to be soft on crime , be it real or not, we have a good police force that feels somewhat abandoned and grossly picked upon Cuts on their budget is the very last thing we the citizens of Seattle need.
Michael Trepp
http://www.ideasforseattle.org/pages/27772-general/suggestions/432233-until-a-permanent-site-is-found-nickelsville-b-given-6-month-winter-stays-sandpoint-naval-base
JeanD
The point of Nickelsville is not to end homelessness, far from it. Nickelsville is a temporary answer that some people have found in order to respond to an on-going emergency.
jesusshaves
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. what is at the center of this debate is the question, "does a chronically homeless person Want to change?" If the answer is yes, then there are resources available. I think the Mayor should increase funding incrementally, but folks should not expect a miracle from McGinn. He is not a drug and alcohol councilor. Lot's of these folks need to face their own demons. The infrastructure of the shelters, food banks, free meals, clothing... more
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. what is at the center of this debate is the question, "does a chronically homeless person Want to change?" If the answer is yes, then there are resources available. I think the Mayor should increase funding incrementally, but folks should not expect a miracle from McGinn. He is not a drug and alcohol councilor. Lot's of these folks need to face their own demons. The infrastructure of the shelters, food banks, free meals, clothing, Central Library, etc. have created a culture of comfort where the average homeless dude never hit's bottom, so there's not motive to change. Regarding the sweeps...I think they already have. There are masses of homeless living under the Spokane st. bridge on 1 ave South.
JeanD
I agree that there SHOULD be better answers than tent cities. However, until better alternatives are available which provide shelter and safety for people living on the streets, I will continue to support such grass roots efforts as Nickelsville.
Rev Aaron Elijah Colyer
I agree with stopping the sweeps, but I do not support Nickelsville. There are too many logistical challenges of having 1,000 homeless persons living together in that way. What we need is in door emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing. If you just want to live in a tent then that is your business but there should be no reason why people should have to sleep outside in a tent, unless they just want to.
abarnard
I can agree that such a sweep of encampments is a gross misuse of money. However, I do not think the answer to ending homelessness is to necessarily allow for people to set up camp somewhere. The answer will have to be a multi-dimensional tactic as the reasons for homelessness are not the same. Nearly a quarter of the homeless population have serious mental illnesses, over a quarter have drug abuse problems and well over one third have alcohol abuse problems. Some of those issues are combined with each o... more
I can agree that such a sweep of encampments is a gross misuse of money. However, I do not think the answer to ending homelessness is to necessarily allow for people to set up camp somewhere. The answer will have to be a multi-dimensional tactic as the reasons for homelessness are not the same. Nearly a quarter of the homeless population have serious mental illnesses, over a quarter have drug abuse problems and well over one third have alcohol abuse problems. Some of those issues are combined with each other and all are combined with poverty. (http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/homelessness/)
Simply ensuring adequate shelter space is available, while great, will not deal with the root causes. More resources need to be diverted to physical and mental health programs as well as social services aimed at helping people end substance abuse and begin a life of responsibility.
JeanD
YES!! It's time to stop criminalizing homelessness and for the City to admit that it cannot do it all. It's time to reach out to the citizenry to find creative solutions to providing basic shelter and safety to people who are homeless.
Nickelsville and the other tent cities are one example of people helping each other with shelter, sanitation, and safety. This should be a partnership between city government and the people themselves.
Portland found a way to partner with the people of Dignity Villag... more
YES!! It's time to stop criminalizing homelessness and for the City to admit that it cannot do it all. It's time to reach out to the citizenry to find creative solutions to providing basic shelter and safety to people who are homeless.
Nickelsville and the other tent cities are one example of people helping each other with shelter, sanitation, and safety. This should be a partnership between city government and the people themselves.
Portland found a way to partner with the people of Dignity Village and it worked! Let's build on their successful model. With a stable "home" people are much more likely to be able to work their way out of homelessness and into real homes.
mr.cr.list
NO!! These people do not deserve special treatment. They do not deserve a free ride. They should be expected to be responsible for themselves, not encouraged to expect the government to take care of them. And sweeping them out of our public areas is a public service not inhumane. They are trashing the greenbelt and breaking the law.
Chad Newton
City funding for low-income housing should include providing land and infrastructure for tent villages. They are a substainable, low-cost and scalable method to provide housing. There is no reason that Tent City should have to move every few months. Hopefully the residents of these villages will change as people find the support they need to get back on their feet, but the need for the villages will always remain.
travis.s.thomas
"The two-day sweep was expensive: $27,866 for staff, a rented tractor, portable toilets, safety equipment, immunizations, and dump fees. According to Eisinger, it's about half of what the city spends to house 75 people during the entire six-month season at its emergency winter shelter in the basement of City Hall." http://www.seattleweekly.com/2008-08-20/news/welcome-to-nickelsville-population-unknown/4