3 who sued over Aberdeen homeless policy get $18,000

ABERDEEN, Wash. (AP) — Three people who successfully sued Aberdeen over the city's policy toward a longstanding homeless encampment say they'll use the money to benefit the camp's residents.

People have lived at Riverfront Camp — formerly known as Hobo Beach — along the Chehalis River for more than a century. The site used to be private property, but the city bought the land in August with plans to clear it out, saying it wasn't fit for human habitation. It is allowing people to remain there through the winter.

An Episcopal priest, the Rev. Sarah Monroe, joined two others in filing the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tacoma in November. They challenged a city policy that required anyone entering the camp — including social service providers — to obtain prior approval as a violation of their First Amendment rights.

This month a federal judge approved a settlement in the case in which the city agreed to pay $18,000, not including attorneys fees, and to end the permit requirement. One of their lawyers, Todd Maybrown, says they are using the money to support the camp and its residents.

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