Seattle’s plan for the Jungle awaiting city council permission

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is asking the city council to allow the city to roam through the Jungle, oust homeless residents, and repair and restore the area. Those living under and around I-5 will be offered space in a new Jungle in SoDo.

“It is now time for the council to authorize us to proceed with addressing the outstanding public safety and health concerns present in the area,” Murray said.

Homeless return to Jungle after city rescinds deadline to leave

On Thursday, the mayor sent the council a resolution that will give officials permission to address the problems in Seattle’s infamous Jungle homeless encampment. The greenbelt along I-5 through Seattle has long been home to homeless residents, and is known for crime, drug use and other problems. Seattle has previously attempted to clear it out, but the council insisted the city wait and perform outreach before any action.

Murray is now saying that action has been taken and it is time for the council to give the go ahead.

According to the mayor’s office:

Outreach workers have contacted 357 people between 5-10 times each over these last three months, with each individual being offered shelter and services. Seventy residents accepted offers of shelter, services, and relocation assistance into sanctioned encampments or entry into recovery programs. According to the Union Gospel Mission, roughly 90 percent of the estimated 100 remaining residents in the Greenbelt struggle with severe mental health and substance abuse disorders and are considered one of the most vulnerable homeless populations in Seattle.

The resolution drafted by the mayor’s office states that outreach efforts have been completed in the Jungle, therefore, city and state officials should “proceed with an operations plan to refurbish an access road, clear debris and trash, and conduct overdue maintenance and inspections on I-5.”

That operational plan includes:

…continued outreach to Greenbelt residents along with maintenance improvements including the removal of brush, debris and human waste, repairing freeway and storm water infrastructure, and restoring access roads for emergency responders and WSDOT crews.

Welcome to the new Jungle

Last week, the city revealed that it was preparing a “holding camp” for people displaced from living in the Jungle.

That site, a new Jungle, is located at South Royal Brougham and Air Way South. It has portable toilets and dumpsters. It will also have continued outreach efforts from service providers such as the Union Gospel Mission.

Murray had previously tried to clear out the Jungle, but his efforts were halted by the city council. That led to an agreement in June, and a resolution that stated that Jungle residents should have considerable outreach and offered services and shelter prior to any clearing of the Jungle.

Should anyone be left in the Jungle while crews make their way through the area, the city also proposes a plan for them:

Those remaining in impacted areas will be notified in advance of construction and will be asked to relocate. Union Gospel Mission outreach teams will increase their outreach efforts to the Greenbelt continuing to extend offers of housing, shelter, and services including space at the transitional site located at S. Royal Brougham and Air Way South.

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