Officials ejecting homeless who've been digging into levee

TACOMA, Wash. — Homeless people living along the Puyallup River in Tacoma are being told to leave after federal officials say their campsite has been scraping away at a levee.

A camp near Portland and East 18th is just one of many along the river.

Officials have tried to entice or force the homeless there to move. Their concern, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, is that the camp could damage the integrity of the levee protecting Tacoma from the river.

After federal complaints, the Army Corps of Engineers has turned to the city of Tacoma about clearing out the homeless camp along the Puyallup River in the Tideflats.

City officials say the upcoming flood season is another reason the camps need to go.

Starting Wednesday, the camp of about two dozen people has been offered services to help move them along after they were found to have been digging into the levee to build shelters.

While the people living in this encampment have been offered city resources, Tacoma admits that its shelters turn away an estimated 200 people a night looking for a place to stay.

A bit further down the river, there are more camps with about an estimated 50 people living there that the city says they will be cleaning up next.

Homeless people living along the Puyallup River in Tacoma are being told to leave after federal officials say their campsite has been scraping away at a levee.

A camp near Portland and East 18th is just one of many along the river.

Officials have tried to entice or force the homeless there to move. Their concern, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, is that the camp could damage the integrity of the levee protecting Tacoma from the river.

After federal complaints, the Army Corps of Engineers has turned to the city of Tacoma about clearing out the homeless camp along the Puyallup River in the Tideflats.

City officials say the upcoming flood season is another reason the camps need to go.

Starting Wednesday, the camp of about two dozen people has been offered services to help move them along after they were found to have been digging into the levee to build shelters.

While the people living in this encampment have been offered city resources, Tacoma admits that its shelters turn away an estimated 200 people a night looking for a place to stay.

A bit further down the river, there are more camps with about an estimated 50 people living there that the city says it will be cleaning up next.

Cox Media Group