Illegal camp that grew from ‘Jungle’ closure is on the chopping block

An illegal homeless encampment that grew after the city and state cleared out the infamous “Jungle” is being shut down for health and safety reasons.

Seattle Mission: Homeless crisis is not a partisan issue

The “Triangle” became the new home of more than 80 people who were cleared out of the “Jungle.” After this encampment became known, KIRO 7’s Amy Clancy launched an investigation and found child sex trafficking was going on in the area.

Since September of last year, the Seattle Police Department has received more than 100 calls for service at encampments in the SoDo district, KIRO 7’s Joanna Small reports. The fire department has been dispatched more than 40 times for encampment-related calls.

In the “Triangle,” there is such a significant rodent infestation and build up of biowaste that the land has to be cleared, KIRO 7 reports.

The camp, located under South Royal Brougham Way and Airport Way, features a berm in the middle, where most go to the bathroom, which drains down the hill to the tents/tarps surrounding it. In other words, the former green space has transformed into a cesspool.

The encampment is scheduled to be closed by March 7.

King County Sheriff John Urquhart argues nothing will change until the area takes some concrete steps rather than just the series of band aids and superficial measures local leaders have taken so far. And he says the unwillingness to seriously tackle the heroin epidemic that began more than a decade when he was a narcotics detective is at the root of the problem.

Mayor Ed Murray is proposing a new $55 million tax to fund new homeless programs.

Last week, Murray announced that the city’s Emergency Operations Center would be activated to tackle the homeless issue.

Q&A: Emergency Operations Center activated for Seattle’s homelessness

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