Seattle proceeds with second homeless camp cleanup this week

SEATTLE — For the second time this week, the city of Seattle proceeded with a cleanup of homeless tents, this time in Westlake Park.

Around 9 a.m., crews came in, cleaned up and cleared people out.

A small group of people looked on during the early morning cleanup and for some, it was tough to watch.

Others tell KIRO 7 the cleanup was necessary for everyone’s safety.

Activists and protestors have said people need services, not sweeps that uproot them.

In some cases, homeless people often refuse those services.

The City says the HOPE Team, within its human services department, has been doing homeless outreach.

It’s likely that effort will continue, but Mayor Bruce Harrell has said that efforts to get camps off public sidewalks are a priority.

The camp in Westlake Park was far smaller than Wednesday’s cleanup across from City Hall on Fourth Avenue.

That camp stretched for several city blocks and had been there for months.

People there admitted they were not sure where they would go.

The City of Seattle tells us that roughly 15 people from Wednesday’s camp were referred to shelters or tiny homes.

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