Local

Crews cleanup homeless camp near I-90 before light rail work

SEATTLE — Seattle homeless crews will be back at an encampment just off I-90, clearing up the site Tuesday morning.

The cleanup near 10th and Dearborn will likely start around 8 a.m.

City officials say they're working to clear the encampment because the area will eventually be used to stage work for the construction of the East Link Light Rail.

The camps in the area are part of a larger area that's been dubbed "The Cloverleaf," because of its proximity to the freeway.

City crews have spent the past week reaching out to the people who live there to offer them alternative housing options or resources to help them become self-sustaining.

The cleanup is the second part of a two-week project the city hopes to finish this week.

Seattle homeless crews say weapons crimes, the trafficking of a runaway teen and health hazards forced them to come through and also make the camps a priority.

"This has become an area of high-crime and victimization of people who are already vulnerable,” said Meg Olberding with the City of Seattle.

But the homeless feel they're just being told to move along and neighbors say there isn't enough space for everyone to go.

"Where should they be? Tell me where they should be? In the homeless building near here that houses 50 people and is full?” said Sue Hodds with the Southeast Action Coalition.

The camp near 10th and Dearborn is much smaller than the last one cleared out, but city officials say they've offered assistance to people living there.

Officials estimate about half of the 56 at the camp accepted help.