TACOMA, Wash. — The City of Tacoma says a sprawling homeless encampment in the Hilltop neighborhood has become a safety hazard. Therefore, in a couple of weeks, crews will remove tents and clean up the streets.
It’s estimated 40 people are now living outside in structures near People’s Park. The tents aren’t confined to a single area and are instead spread out between South 9th and South 11th Street and along MLK and M Street.
A spokesperson for the city tells KIRO 7 the decision to take action was fueled by the high number of calls for service linked to the area. Data shows, in the first three months of 2022, there were 243 calls for service. For that same time period in 2021, there were only about 60 calls documented.
Within that 243 total, there were 23 for fires, 21 for shots fired, 16 welfare checks and 10 medical aid requests.
Some restaurants along S 11th Street say the encampments have been hurting their bottom line. Head chef Brandon Barrios at Bar Rosa tells us despite big praise for their wood-fired pies, people have been hesitant to come in.
“We’ve had people write food blogs about us and one of the first things they say in the first couple paragraphs is all about what’s going on across the street,” said Barrios. “People are writing about how they should be cautious when they come here: come in pairs, don’t come at night if you’re a single female.”
Encampments will not be cleared out until May 18. According to a city news release: “Although our encampment removal policy allows a 72-hour posting, we will implement a two-week posting period to allow for increased connection to shelter.”
The Homeless Engagement and Alternatives Liaison Team (HEAL Team) meantime will continue to visit the location and offer outreach. The city says the HEAL Team has been doing that since March.
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