This past Tuesday, I attended the Nickelsville community meeting held at the UW Fisheries building down on Boat St. There were about 40 people in attendance, and the mood was mostly positive.
For those of you just joining us, the Ballard Nickelsville sanctioned homeless encampment is scheduled to move to Wallingford shortly, down by Ivar’s and Dunn Lumber. This has created some understandable concern among those nearby who fear the impact of an increased homeless population in their neighborhood, as well as some open arms by those sympathetic to the plight of the indigent. Often, these are the same people.
There were a number of people on hand to talk about the move and answer questions: George Scarolo, Seattle’s Homeless Czar, Lynn Best of Seattle City Light (who own the property), Sharon Lee, found Executive Director of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI, the organization that helps manage the self-managed Nickelsville), Dianne Newsom of the Seattle Police Department and, importantly, several residents of the Nickelsville encampment.
The various presenters created a multi-perspective portrait of the encampment: it houses up to 40 people, including couples, people with pets and service animals, and families with teenagers (all categories excluded from city shelters). Resident managed and patrolled, it is drug, alcohol, and violence-free (violation can lead to temporary or permanent banishment). The encampment includes kitchens, bathrooms and showers, and on-site services including medical resources and, importantly, support for finding and securing permanent housing.
Seattle City Light owns the property the camp will be moving to and is leasing it to the city at market rate (as mandated by law). While the property presently holds a homely little home, the structure has been scheduled to be demolished for over a year: the existing tenant, on a month-to-month lease, was given notice in 2016 that he would have to move, and the city has provided relocation and storage assistance to him.
There is a strong drive to move people through Nickelsville and out to permanent housing. Several people raised questions probing this issue, backing into concerns that it becomes effectively permanent housing for a small, static population of otherwise homeless, and while we weren’t provided with enough data to put the issue to rest, they did say that 161 people had moved from the encampments into permanent housing in the past year.
The roles filled by the residents are varied, including security, arbiter, internal affairs, external affairs, donation coordinator, kitchen master, trash master and 24-hour security. All residents must have a valid government ID, and sex offenders are barred.
One interesting conversation wound around what happened when people were ejected from camp for a violation of terms. One person who had worked near the Ballard camp related how removing the offender from the camp didn’t remove them from the neighborhood: in fact, it deposited them in the neighborhood just outside the camp, where they were likely to stay and potentially cause trouble. In Ballard, some people who left the camp (as well as others unaffiliated with the camp) set up an unsanctioned camp nearby and ruined the surrounding property. The police confirmed that, as all citizens have civil rights, they can’t intercede unless someone is committing a crime.
On the other hand, the residents of the camp said, and the the police confirmed, that when people unaffiliated with the camp are causing trouble in the area, they will call in the police for help, and can act as eyes for security in general. It is, of course, in their interest that there not be problems in the area around their camp.
The police present reminded everyone present that the best way to report a problem with an unsanctioned camp was through the city’s Find It, Fix It mobile app. We were told it’s better than calling in a report because you will be provided a tracking number, and it connects with services such as 24-hour needle pickup. We were told that if you’re reporting an issue that is near Nickelsville or another sanctioned camp, to note that through the app, because the fact that the issue is near a “vulnerable population” will give extra priority to it when the issue is triaged by the navigation team.
A number of business owners from the Northlake area were present and raised concerns of a repeat situation in which a number of RV’s encamped along Northlake Way brought in crime, needles, feces, and other hazards. That said, the general attitude of all who spoke up was “we don’t want that again, but we understand Nickelsville is different, so we’re not objecting, we’re just asking for everyone, including Nickelsville residents themselves, to be proactive to make sure it is different.”
In addition, a number of people at the meeting asked how they could help. The camp welcomes everything from food donations to tiny house donations (they have six now with several more being built at approximately $2,000 apiece.)
The move date, originally scheduled for mid-November and then pushed out to mid-December, could well slide into January. The structure on the intended property still needs to be demolished, and services installed to support the encampment. When it is ready, there will be work parties, which I offered to announce through Wallyhood, so keep your ears out here if you’re interested.
I’ve also volunteered to serve on the seven person Community Advisory Council for the encampment, to act as a liaison between the camp and the community, and hopefully help ensure a good communication in both directions.
Jordan, what a nice and informative article. Thank you. I was unable to attend because I had a chorus rehearsal, really did want to go.I am hoping all of us in the community will help make their stay in Wallingford as pleasant as possible for a ll concerned. We are so privileged to have a an address, as opposed to being homeless. I appreciate the concerns of the Northlake businesses, and their willingness to do their part in being proactive in making their presence as optimal as possible. The other part of that equation, as you mentioned, is for the homeless population to be vigilant about their own management.
If we wanted to contribute, where should we direct our contribution? IF we want to provide food, how do do that? Any information about that? Thank you again for the information article.
You will live in interesting times.
Good luck to the Northlake neighborhood. Thanks for hosting the next turn for the camp. Here are some lessons learned from Ballard:
– the camp should use coordinated entry, not first-come-first-serve, which draws ongoing, unmitigated neighborhood impacts
– the camp and city need a follow-up plan with support/mitigation for people who are barred for behavorial/substance use issues (so they have somewhere safe to sleep it off or receive viable options for alternate shelter, not just angry/desperate eviction into the nearby elements). In Ballard, with a population of under 25, the camp had a regular flow of 3-5 or more bars/evictions every month, in a neighborhood that also saw a surge in disturbances/assaults/trespassing. See the Nickelsville CAC monthly meeting notes for details: https://ballardnickelsville.wordpress.com/important-documents/.
– an accountable city representative should holistically review and report on FIFI and 911 calls in the surrounding area and coordinate accountable community policing and social service support to the neighborhood, beyond the very limited scope of the CAC, which in Ballard only took into account a couple hundred yard radius around the camp (a bubble in which neighboring residents/businesses are likely to say “things are fine”). As with the Urban Rest Stop, all issues are nudged just beyond this and no one (not city/police/camp/outreach) tracks or is accountable for mitigating neighborhood impacts.
· the city should not allow political advocacy work to be required of campers, formally or informally (service providers should keep the focus on improved individual health/sufficiency/ outcomes)
– monthly meeting minutes need to be produced on a regular, timely basis. Ballard went many many months with no reporting or very delayed, irregular reporting.
– keep asking about “exit to housing” outcomes. Per the metrics from the Ballard CAC site, the camp achieved just 6% (when metrics were even available). The numbers LIHI/SHARE produce are usually an amalgamation from numerous camps — intentionally fuzzy (like the 161 noted in your article). This service provider is not in the business of trying to end homelessness and a more intentional focus on person-focused outcomes (over political activism) is well-needed.
– talk to the campers. In Ballard, it has felt safe and easy to stop by the welcome hut and drop off donations or interact and help in various ways. Different campers are happy to talk about their experiences. There are mafia-esque aspects and a lot of media/activism spin to Nickelsville’s “family” approach that deserve more awareness as Seattle works to change its focus toward bringing more people to stability and self-sufficiency, beyond life-long urban camping.
it is sad that the meeting was not better publicized- I might have gone.
The move was supposed to be November 19. It still hasn’t happened. Given that th e’powers” started with a definite date– kind of like a promise– how would anyone want to trust their further promises? I am glad I do not live in that area. While eveyrone can hope the area and situations do not replicate that of the RV issue hope has rarely stopped a sadly inevitable process.
Was my post deleted?
And now another Ballard post has been deleted?
For Seattle to make better progress on these issues, it’s important that constructive dialogue can be shared from neighborhood to neighborhood. I wouldn’t ignore Ballard if you want to champion best results for everyone involved.
Comments from people in other parts of town have been allowed before. Maybe to be on the Nickelsville CAC you need to have a very specific point of view that aligns to that of the city and SHARE?
I am curious abou tthis deletion of comments. Why would Wallhood delete your coment/ They leave comments from some people including some very negatively pointed personal ones. I cannot eimagine tha tyour comment would be deleted because you ar enot in Wallyhood. They allow Marie of Roumania to post regualrly and she has said she moved to Ballard.
I appears my post was restored this morning. (Thank you whoever restored it.)
Jordan,
I attended the meeting and wanted to thank you for your write-up. It fairly conclusively summarizes what I heard and I appreciate that.
As a resident of Ballard within 8 blocks of Ballard Nickeslville and in Ballard for over 30 years, I would like to share a little more perspective or “lessons learned.”
The authorized encampment in Ballard was well-maintained inside and within about a block of its perimeter. I emailed my support that it stay the full two years and also more recently that it stay put until the new site was ready. I visited there three or four times and only had positive experiences.
That said, SHARE, LIHI and the City (George Scarola and Sgt. Newsome) presented a rosier picture than the reality of the Ballard encampment on Tuesday.
With an average of 25 residents (half the size of the Northlake site), the Ballard site had between 3 and 5 evictions every month for behavior issues. Some were temporary, up to 3 nights outside, and others were permanent. This had a negative impact on the surrounding neighborhood beyond the block where Nickelsville was sited with increased crime, vandalism, theft and new or expanded unauthorized encampments set up. Here is a link to the minutes which took several months to become available and the most current dates back over six months. https://ballardnickelsville.wordpress.com/important-documents/
My advice at the meeting was to work with the camp operators so that when someone is evicted, the Navigation Team, police and neighborhood groups are contacted right away to diminish negative neighborhood impacts. Calling Mr. Scarola and filing Find It Fix It complaints was offered for any problems experienced in the neighborhood, but my experience was that the City was and remains not very responsive or effective. It is reasonable for a neighborhood to expect that SHARE, LIHI and the City come up with a better solution, such as a “Time-Out Tent” or something and I encourage Wallingford neighbors and residents write the city and demand this. I spoke with Scott Morrow of SHARE after the meeting and he stated it was something SHARE was considering, so this would be a great thing to contact me about.
The other issue is the outcomes to stable housing. Tent encampments, even the ones with sheds providing electricity, heat and insulation, do not meet even the most basic UN standards of habitability, and are not intended for anything more than temporary shelter. The outcomes at Ballard were very low. Several residents were there the entire time and will be moving to Northlake. This past year, only 6% exited to permanent housing. 41% exited back to the street or other shelters, 6% were listed as unknown. See link to latest minutes from May 2017.
Finally, I have come to learn a lot about the SHARE model of self-governance. SHARE residents must volunteer their time and services around 20 hours per week. While obviously the encampment needs to work together for security, group meals and planning, SHARE also requires its residents to engage in political advocacy for homeless causes including demonstrating for the Stop the Sweeps rallies, showing up with signs and speaking during public comment at city and county council meetings. Folks who are being housed in sheds or tents should not be required to do anything more than ensure their space is safe and that they are accessing the social services they need to get them back on their feet. It is also troubling that these folks are not being paid any salary for their advocacy time.
Jordan, I do hope that you are accepted as a member on the CAC board and can educate the Wallingford neighborhood about your new neighbors.
Some very substantive and constructive posts have been deleted from this comment thread.
Weird, your reply to me in which you posted that article has been deleted as well.
Wallyhood doesn’t appear all that interested in explaining what’s going on so who knows. All I can tell you is that, unless there’s a different explanation here (system glitch?), the blog leaders don’t want any content that might remotely call into question what was shared by the city and SHARE. Hopefully the ongoing coverage of your new Nickelsville will be balanced and not the city’s approved talking points. You’ll see for yourself how the tent city goes and whether coverage here is accurate or not, I guess.
Sorry, I don’t know what’s going on. I was out of town this weekend, just coming back. I haven’t deleted anything.
There was one post that was marked “pending” (which can happen if the spam filter thinks it’s spam or enough people “flag” it, which I don’t think happened here, as I didn’t see any flags), but I approved it.
Well, someone made a comment tha tyou were removing or deleting comments from people who do not liv ein the Wallyhood area. This though not the truth apparently is somethign to consider.. why have people from other areas of the city or state or country have rights to comment on the conversations about issues in Wallyhood area?/
Weird…Disqus (the comments engine) had taken a bunch of comments that contained links and hid them. I’m not sure why, but I’ve told it not to.
Thank you. I was hoping it was something like that. Thanks for the blogging you do — it’s a great thing for neighborhoods.
Thank you for restoring my post.
I wish I could have gone to this meeting. A year from now the city has the opportunity to renew the lease for the sanctioned encampment in Wallingford for another year. They have promised to not allow any illegal encampments to pop up in the proximity of the village. I would really like to know if the citizens of Wallingford would be allowed to have any say in whether or not the lease renewal gets denied if they break their promise to us and things go downhill.
Hayduke have you seen this? http://business.financialpost.com/opinion/lawrence-solomon-ban-the-bike-how-cities-made-a-huge-mistake-in-promoting-cycling
Where did you see that “promise”? I never heard / saw that.
Jordan, in the Ballard Nickelsville proposal to the neighborhood, there was language along the lines of “no unauthorized encampments would be allowed within XXX yards of the authorized encampment.” This was not followed – a rather “problematic” unauthorized encampment popped up near the Ballard Locks that was composed, in part, of individuals banned by Nickelsville. There may or may not be similar language in whatever is being proposed for Wallingford.
I saw it in your November 12th posting about the encampment:
“Residents are screened for acceptance and must follow camp rules to stay. Banned residents will not be allowed to return to camp or to illegally camp in proximity to the City-owned sites.”
The area that SHARE will keep free of unauthorized encampments will be very small, essentially about a block around their perimeter. Near the end of the first year, neighbors will give a chance to give the city and SHARE input.
I saw it in your previous article about this camp.
This topic essentially was discussed before and covered in the post. It’s not a trade where you allow a nicer encampment in to exchange for the guarantee of no unsanctioned camps. You just got new neighbors living in this camp that’d act as concerned citizens like you are to report activities around their new home.
TJ, the sanctioned camp doesn’t operate in a vacuum. The concern here, which, as others have pointed out, is a legitimate one, is that the sanctioned camp will attract sketchy characters who will then be banned by the camp. Where will they go when that happens? They’re going to be wandering around the neighborhood, angry that they weren’t allowed to stay.
So will the city actually ensure that the people living in these nearby illegal encampments nearby aren’t the same people who were banned? Because if the banned people go pitch their tents nearby, then that means that the sanctioned encampment isn’t just drawing these people in temporarily until they’re banned. It means that these people will add to the numbers of miscreants already here, setting up shop and preying on Wallingford for extended periods.
And let’s face it, can anyone say with a straight face that the city has done a good job of getting rid of illegal encampments? And what should happen to the sanctioned camp a year from now if this turns out to be the case?
These are questions that George Scarola should answer.
It’s not about if the concern is legitimate, but what’s relevant. You are asking for using this camp as a bargaining chip to make the city
guarantee something that they’ll not be able to guarantee, this camp or
not.
Where right now are the sketchy characters that you think will be attracted to the camp? They are already wandering around the neighborhood, this camp or not.
So we shouldn’t hold the city to task for what they said they would do about illegal encampments? In other words, words mean nothing. The city is just saying what they think we want to hear, to allay our concerns. And if things start to go south then it’s…..”Owell, sorry, but we can’t guarantee anything, so you’re stuck with it for anther year.”
This is why I don’t trust the city on anything anymore. And again, maybe it won’t, but if the situation does deteriorate, then we’re going to have MORE of them wandering around neighborhood victimizing people. Tell me how that’s a good thing for Wallingford?
So we shouldn’t hold the city to task for what they said they would do about illegal encampments? In other words, words mean nothing. The city is just saying what they think we want to hear, to allay our concerns. And if things start to go south then it’s…..”Owell, sorry, but we can’t guarantee anything, so you’re stuck with it for anther year.”
This is why I don’t trust the city on anything anymore. And again, maybe it won’t, but if the situation does deteriorate, then we’re going to have MORE of them wandering around neighborhood victimizing people. Tell me how that’s a good thing for Wallingford?
Again and again, the city did do what they say they’d do. It’s also clear what they meant by what they said by now, since there are track records for what happened. Words mean what they mean, just not what you want them to mean in this case. You picked an interpretation of the words not in line with what they intend and what has been happening.
What has happened here? Did they move in? Is there any change?