Olympia clears out downtown homeless camp

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The city of Olympia cleared out a downtown homeless camp Tuesday.

City officials posted warning notices last week and notified the people living in the camp on State Avenue at Franklin Street, northeast of downtown that they had to gather their tents and belongings and move from the area by 9 a.m.

City officials said that health and safety concerns are behind the order.

The city-owned parking lot has been home to dozens of people since the city stopped enforcing its camping ban in September. That was in response to a federal court ruling on a case in Boise, Idaho, that said cities can't prosecute people camping on public property if they have nowhere else to go.

Olympia officials later announced they would move forward with camp removals, citing a subsequent court ruling rejecting an effort to stop removals in Oakland, California because that city offered shelter beds and other resources.

Olympia officials say their sanctioned camp has available space and that a new tiny home village can accommodate people.

Associated Press