Sweep of encampment near I-5 gets mixed reaction from community

This weekend the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT ) cleaned out a large encampment at 10th and Dearborn near I-5 and I-90 in Seattle.

WSDOT posted a notice that the authorized crews would be working in the area beginning this past Friday, Aug. 26, and most of the residents were gone when the removal began.

People KIRO Newsradio talked with had mixed reactions to Friday’s sweep.

Encampment sweep in Eastlake, no residents accepted shelter referrals.

“Maybe they cleaned up that area over there, but it’s not like they moved out of town,” one person said.

“People are upset at the ones that are homeless, but not upset at the system that made them homeless,” another person said.

By Monday, the rest of the items left behind were hauled away.

A trucking business owner hopes the sweep fixes a recurring problem.

“A lot of drug use, graffiti, vandalism, our diesel gets stolen, there are needles,” he said. “It’s been a real problem.”

Just Care, who partners with WSDOT, offered assistance to find shelter for the people moved during the sweep.