Local

Homeless encampment near Burien Town Square and city hall swept

The area around Burien Town Square is the latest to have a homeless encampment removed.

Residents that spoke to KIRO 7 were watching the clearance this morning, and signs have been posted that people living in tents at the square near city hall had until noon Friday to leave.

Residents say there have been as many as 15 to 20 tents at a time.

Brenda Davis has lived on the square for nearly a decade and said she feels for the unhoused living on the street, but also says it’s been difficult dealing with the camp. “It’s raining now,” Davis said. “It’s cold out here. It’s windy, so it’s frustrating. It’s hard to deal with it, there’s a lot of crime.”

A man who only went by Robert watched the clear-out and insisted it is the right thing to do. “I think it’s way overdue,” Roger said. “Just like all these other camps underneath the bridges everywhere.”

KIRO 7′s Ranji Sinha spoke to one homeless man off-camera who said his crucial belongings were stolen after only being here a week.

The man didn’t offer his name but did say that he didn’t know where he or anyone else would go.

Brenda Davis said she’s seen them scoping a new location. “(I) woke up to see them forming a new camp on the west side of Burien Town Square,” she said.

On its website, Burien says it’s part of an agreement with other communities in southern King County addressing homelessness.

Taking down tents is a step, but Davis says the problem goes well beyond Burien’s town square. “It’s going to take a lot of different solutions to get it taken care of,” she said. “It’s pretty overwhelming at this point.”