MYNORTHWEST NEWS

More homeless people camping under Seattle’s freeways

Jul 27, 2015, 8:44 AM | Updated: 1:29 pm

The Washington State Department of Transportation confirms there’s a significant increase in ...

The Washington State Department of Transportation confirms there's a significant increase in homeless people camping under I-5 in Seattle. (MyNorthwest/Kipp Robertson)

(MyNorthwest/Kipp Robertson)

Garbage is spotted along I-5 where homeless camps have been known to sit. Garbage is spotted along I-5 where homeless camps have been known to be located.

If it seems like there are a lot more tents along I-5 in Seattle, you’re not imagining it.

Despite ongoing efforts to tackle the problem, don’t expect the illegal campsites to go away anytime soon.

Related: Jason Rantz says this is how you help solve homelessness

No one has an accurate count, but Travis Phelps, spokesperson with the Washington State Department of Transportation, confirms it’s a significant increase.

“It has grown quite a bit. It’s not just something you’re noticing; we’re noticing it as well,” Phelps said.

It’s the WSDOT’s problem, in part, because the state owns much of the land alongside the freeway. The camping is illegal and considered trespassing.

Phelps says crews do their best to clean up and clear out the camps at least every few months. But even spending upwards of $250,000 a year, resources are spread thin.

“Our maintenance crews are balancing this need with other things like filling potholes, repairing guardrails, and keeping up with the rest of the freeway system,” he said.

Phelps admits WSDOT isn’t eager to simply roust those down on their luck, even if it is the law.

So what’s fueling the increase?

Sola Plumacher with the Department of Human Services in Seattle says homelessness has increased 21 percent this year over last.

She says the city works closely with WSDOT and sends teams out regularly to try to counsel the homeless campers about shelters and other services. But she says there just aren’t enough beds to go around.

“Our sheltering services are full,” Plumacher said. “Beds do not go un-utilized. There are more people outside than we are able to shelter inside.”

It seems like things have gotten worse, not better since the city launched its 10-year effort to end homelessness in 2005.

A study by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released earlier this year ranked Seattle and King County fourth overall for homelessness behind only New York City, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

But Plumacher says in the last six months, the city has taken a number of steps based on the recommendations of a mayoral task force to chip away at the problem.

“First recommendations to be set in motion was to open up a youth shelter facility in the Capitol Hill area for 20 individuals,” she said.

The city also recently opened a new shelter in North Seattle for 80 women and men and their children. Another new shelter will open on lower Queen Anne this fall for up to 100 men a night.

“And then we are planning to open three transitional encampments at some point during this year to be sited in three different areas,” Plumacher said.

None of that alone will solve the homelessness crisis. Many simply choose to stay out there for a number of reasons &#8212 a big one being most shelters won’t take couples or people with pets.

But Plumacher says you have to start somewhere.

“It’s very slow, but it’s steady right now,” she said. “These are really unprecedented investments for the city. In the last several years, we’ve really kind of had a moratorium on new shelter beds. So these are big steps in the right direction. ”

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

10 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

11 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

13 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

13 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

14 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

17 hours ago

More homeless people camping under Seattle’s freeways