Message from polly trout 4/28/2017 --- click + to open >
Cross posted from Nextdoor.com 4-28-2017
Forwarding from Polly Trout - Patacara Community Services - http://patacara.org/ :
Dear Community:
Our next Community Advisory Committee Meeting for Camp Second Chance on Myers Way will be Sunday, May 7, 2-4 pm. We will meet at camp at 9701 Myers Way S. Seattle WA 98108. This will give everyone a chance to see recent improvements to the camp, like our potable water cistern and electricity! If the weather is fine and we have enough chairs, we will hold the meeting at the camp. If the weather is foul or we are short on chairs, then after the camp tour we will move to an indoor location. I have not yet secured a room but I'm working on it, and will get back to you with that location.
The official members of the committee have now been selected. If you would like to be wait listed for a spot on the official committee, please let me know. The committee members were selected by myself, committee chair Willow Fulton, and Tom Van Bronkhorst of the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. We prioritized trying to balance membership to include representatives from all four neighborhoods bordering the camp: Top Hat, White Center, South Delridge, and South Park.
These meetings are open to the public, and we will be posting minutes of the meeting online. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to add to the discussion, feel free to email me.
The purpose of this committee is to ensure good communication between the camp and the surrounding neighborhoods, so we can all work together for a safe and equitable neighborhood. Our goals at Camp Second Chance are: to be a safe and ethical community for people suffering from homelessness, to be good neighbors to both housed and unhoused people in our neighborhood, and to move participants up and out of homelessness as quickly as possible.
In addition to this meeting, which will specifically be about Camp Second Chance, the City of Seattle has also organized a public meeting about broader concerns about how homelessness is impacting Myers Way, including the unauthorized encampments outside of Camp Second Chance. Here is more info about that meeting:
Community Conversation re Homelessness at Myers Way
Monday, May 15
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Joint Training Facility
9401 Myers Way South
Thank you all for everything you do to make Seattle a safe and compassionate community for all.
Best wishes,
Polly Trout
Forwarding from Polly Trout - Patacara Community Services - http://patacara.org/ :
Dear Community:
Our next Community Advisory Committee Meeting for Camp Second Chance on Myers Way will be Sunday, May 7, 2-4 pm. We will meet at camp at 9701 Myers Way S. Seattle WA 98108. This will give everyone a chance to see recent improvements to the camp, like our potable water cistern and electricity! If the weather is fine and we have enough chairs, we will hold the meeting at the camp. If the weather is foul or we are short on chairs, then after the camp tour we will move to an indoor location. I have not yet secured a room but I'm working on it, and will get back to you with that location.
The official members of the committee have now been selected. If you would like to be wait listed for a spot on the official committee, please let me know. The committee members were selected by myself, committee chair Willow Fulton, and Tom Van Bronkhorst of the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. We prioritized trying to balance membership to include representatives from all four neighborhoods bordering the camp: Top Hat, White Center, South Delridge, and South Park.
These meetings are open to the public, and we will be posting minutes of the meeting online. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to add to the discussion, feel free to email me.
The purpose of this committee is to ensure good communication between the camp and the surrounding neighborhoods, so we can all work together for a safe and equitable neighborhood. Our goals at Camp Second Chance are: to be a safe and ethical community for people suffering from homelessness, to be good neighbors to both housed and unhoused people in our neighborhood, and to move participants up and out of homelessness as quickly as possible.
In addition to this meeting, which will specifically be about Camp Second Chance, the City of Seattle has also organized a public meeting about broader concerns about how homelessness is impacting Myers Way, including the unauthorized encampments outside of Camp Second Chance. Here is more info about that meeting:
Community Conversation re Homelessness at Myers Way
Monday, May 15
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Joint Training Facility
9401 Myers Way South
Thank you all for everything you do to make Seattle a safe and compassionate community for all.
Best wishes,
Polly Trout
3rd Community Conversation
re Myers Way Homeless Encampment
Monday, May 15th, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Joint Training Facility, 9401 Myers Way South
Previous updates: Camp Second Chance Category
(Be sure to click Read More if you see it at the end of a post.)
See also: Resources > Community > Camp Second Chance
April 25, 2017
Dear Community Member,
At the community meeting on February 1st, there was a request to arrange a third meeting that would focus on public safety issues related to homelessness along Myers Way South:
- Issues relating to the RVs parked along Myers Way and the unsanctioned encampments east of Myers Way;
- Concerns raised by community members regarding 9-1-1 calls;
- The City’s on-going efforts to remove the trash along Myers Way; and,
- A progress report from Camp Second Chance.
3rd Community Conversation
re Myers Way Homeless Encampment
Monday, May 15th, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Joint Training Facility, 9401 Myers Way South
NOTE: Due to safety concerns, the Training Facility does not allow children on the grounds.
As a reminder, Sanctioned encampments are a temporary measure to provide people living without shelter a safer alternative place to live while caseworkers help them secure long-term stable housing. I have included the fact sheet and FAQs we distributed previously. (See accordion expansions below.)
We encourage you to attend.
George Scarola
Director of Homelessness
City of Seattle | Office of the Mayor
O: 206.684.0969 | george.scarola@seattle.gov
Facebook | Twitter
* For accommodations or accessibility information, contact Katoya Grant| 206-727-8812 | katoya.grant@seattle.gov | or visit http://www.seattle.gov/americans-with-disabilities-act.
Sanctioned Encampment - fact sheet V3 4-25-17 (003).docx - 1/2
1 / 2 FACT SHEET
New Authorized Encampments for People Experiencing Homelessness
Fact Sheet and FAQ – April 25, 2017
City of Seattle Response to Homelessness Crisis
* Pathways Home: In September, the Human Services Department released new reports and a plan to transform our homeless service delivery system so that it may better meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness by focusing on longer-term solutions.
Read more about these reports, action plan, and the City’s current investments of over $50 million in shelter and services at www.seattle.gov/homelessness.
* Bridging the Gap Interim Action Plan: While transforming our system will take time, there are thousands of individuals who are in crisis now. In August, the Mayor convened a Task Force on Unsanctioned Encampment Cleanup Protocols to provide recommendations on how the City can best respond to the needs of people who are unsheltered in our community and the impacts that unsanctioned encampments have on our businesses and neighborhoods.
A central principle recommended from the Task Force was that the City should offer specific safer alternative spaces in order to remove existing unsanctioned tent encampments.
Additional Sanctioned Encampments
* In 2015, the Mayor and City Council passed legislation to permit three sanctioned encampments on City-owned or private property. Three locations were permitted: Interbay and Ballard in November 2015 and Othello in March 2016.
* On December 1st of this year, the City announced three new sanctioned encampment locations to provide additional capacity for individuals who are unsheltered:
o 1000 S. Myrtle Street with capacity to serve 60-70 people
o 8620 Nesbit Avenue N. with capacity to serve 60-70 people
o 9701 Myers Way S. with capacity to serve 60-70 people
* A fourth location will be determined as the City continues to review available land parcels.
* Each encampment will be permitted for 12 months with an option to renew for an additional 12 months.
* The Low Income Housing Institute will operate the sites at Nesbit Ave N. and S. Myrtle St., and Patacara will operate the Myers Way encampment (Camp 2nd Chance).
New Authorized Encampments for People Experiencing Homelessness
Fact Sheet and FAQ – April 25, 2017
City of Seattle Response to Homelessness Crisis
* Pathways Home: In September, the Human Services Department released new reports and a plan to transform our homeless service delivery system so that it may better meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness by focusing on longer-term solutions.
Read more about these reports, action plan, and the City’s current investments of over $50 million in shelter and services at www.seattle.gov/homelessness.
* Bridging the Gap Interim Action Plan: While transforming our system will take time, there are thousands of individuals who are in crisis now. In August, the Mayor convened a Task Force on Unsanctioned Encampment Cleanup Protocols to provide recommendations on how the City can best respond to the needs of people who are unsheltered in our community and the impacts that unsanctioned encampments have on our businesses and neighborhoods.
A central principle recommended from the Task Force was that the City should offer specific safer alternative spaces in order to remove existing unsanctioned tent encampments.
Additional Sanctioned Encampments
* In 2015, the Mayor and City Council passed legislation to permit three sanctioned encampments on City-owned or private property. Three locations were permitted: Interbay and Ballard in November 2015 and Othello in March 2016.
* On December 1st of this year, the City announced three new sanctioned encampment locations to provide additional capacity for individuals who are unsheltered:
o 1000 S. Myrtle Street with capacity to serve 60-70 people
o 8620 Nesbit Avenue N. with capacity to serve 60-70 people
o 9701 Myers Way S. with capacity to serve 60-70 people
* A fourth location will be determined as the City continues to review available land parcels.
* Each encampment will be permitted for 12 months with an option to renew for an additional 12 months.
* The Low Income Housing Institute will operate the sites at Nesbit Ave N. and S. Myrtle St., and Patacara will operate the Myers Way encampment (Camp 2nd Chance).
SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENT - FAQ V3 4-25-17 (003).DOCX - 2/2
2 / 2 FAQ
New Authorized Encampments for People Experiencing Homelessness
Fact Sheet and FAQ – April 25, 2017
How were the sites selected?
The City evaluated dozens of sites, largely those that are City-owned and could be available very quickly.
The assessment included a concerted effort to geographically distribute the sites across the city and to ensure that no encampment was within 1 mile of any other sanctioned encampment.
The sites also had to meet the requirements of the existing encampment ordinance, including location in non-residential zones, proximity to transit, and minimum lot size of 5000 square feet, among others.
When will these encampments open?
The Myers Way encampment would expand the number of tents starting in February.
The Myrtle Street site would begin serving residents in February.
The Nesbit Ave site would begin serving residents in March.
What is a low barrier encampment and how will be it different from the other sites?
One of our new encampment locations, the 86th & Nesbit site, will operate as a low barrier encampment.
Low barrier sites are designed to meet people as they are and haver fewer restrictions than traditional shelters.
Residents may bring their partners, pets and possessions.
Residents with substance use disorders are not barred.
Because we are relaxing restrictions in this location we will also increase staffing to increase access to critical services and provide security.
Does an authorized encampment result in an increase in neighborhood crime?
A review by the Seattle Police Department on managed encampments, sited at faith-based organizations, showed no significant uptick in crime, nor have the authorized, managed encampments in Ballard and Interbay seen an increase in criminal activity.
What will the City do to ensure the encampments and surrounding communities are safe and clean?
The Seattle Police Department will increase patrols in the immediate area, and the Community Policing Team will work closely with staff and residents and neighbors of the encampments. All sites will have regularly scheduled garbage pickup. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is stepping up its efforts to pick up garbage in rights of way, and has initiated a program to pick up needles within 24 hours of notification. Citizens can report garbage or needles in right of ways to the City’s 24-hour reporting line for illegal dumping at 206-684-7587.
Are encampments an effective way to address homelessness?
Encampments are emergency survival services and not a solution for homelessness. As laid out in our Bridging the Gap plan, we must provide a safer alternative for individuals who are not ready to come inside during the interim as the city implements its Pathways Home plan to address the homelessness crisis.
Who can community members contact if they have questions or want more information?
While the encampments are being planned, please contact George Scarola, Director of Homelessness. Email: george.scarola@seattle.gov or call 206-727-8514.
Once an encampment is opened, the community may contact the operator directly. Each encampment will establish a Community Advisory Committee, whose members will include representatives from stakeholder group in the area.
The meetings will be monthly and open to the public.
New Authorized Encampments for People Experiencing Homelessness
Fact Sheet and FAQ – April 25, 2017
How were the sites selected?
The City evaluated dozens of sites, largely those that are City-owned and could be available very quickly.
The assessment included a concerted effort to geographically distribute the sites across the city and to ensure that no encampment was within 1 mile of any other sanctioned encampment.
The sites also had to meet the requirements of the existing encampment ordinance, including location in non-residential zones, proximity to transit, and minimum lot size of 5000 square feet, among others.
When will these encampments open?
The Myers Way encampment would expand the number of tents starting in February.
The Myrtle Street site would begin serving residents in February.
The Nesbit Ave site would begin serving residents in March.
What is a low barrier encampment and how will be it different from the other sites?
One of our new encampment locations, the 86th & Nesbit site, will operate as a low barrier encampment.
Low barrier sites are designed to meet people as they are and haver fewer restrictions than traditional shelters.
Residents may bring their partners, pets and possessions.
Residents with substance use disorders are not barred.
Because we are relaxing restrictions in this location we will also increase staffing to increase access to critical services and provide security.
Does an authorized encampment result in an increase in neighborhood crime?
A review by the Seattle Police Department on managed encampments, sited at faith-based organizations, showed no significant uptick in crime, nor have the authorized, managed encampments in Ballard and Interbay seen an increase in criminal activity.
What will the City do to ensure the encampments and surrounding communities are safe and clean?
The Seattle Police Department will increase patrols in the immediate area, and the Community Policing Team will work closely with staff and residents and neighbors of the encampments. All sites will have regularly scheduled garbage pickup. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is stepping up its efforts to pick up garbage in rights of way, and has initiated a program to pick up needles within 24 hours of notification. Citizens can report garbage or needles in right of ways to the City’s 24-hour reporting line for illegal dumping at 206-684-7587.
Are encampments an effective way to address homelessness?
Encampments are emergency survival services and not a solution for homelessness. As laid out in our Bridging the Gap plan, we must provide a safer alternative for individuals who are not ready to come inside during the interim as the city implements its Pathways Home plan to address the homelessness crisis.
Who can community members contact if they have questions or want more information?
While the encampments are being planned, please contact George Scarola, Director of Homelessness. Email: george.scarola@seattle.gov or call 206-727-8514.
Once an encampment is opened, the community may contact the operator directly. Each encampment will establish a Community Advisory Committee, whose members will include representatives from stakeholder group in the area.
The meetings will be monthly and open to the public.
| sanctioned_encampment_faq_v3_4-25-17__003_.docx |
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