WSDOT clears homeless camp under I-5, KIRO 7 looks into decision process

CHEHALIS, Wash. — Over the past two weeks, the Washington Department of Transportation has been clearing out and cleaning up a homeless camp under I-5 near the Chehalis Park & Ride.

WSDOT says there hundreds of homeless camps on property it owns, so KIRO 7 looked into why this one was cleared and not others.

“We started getting reports, as did Washington State Patrol, from concerned parents whose children use this pathway,” WSDOT spokesperson Tamara Greenwell told KIRO 7.

She says the other big factor was huge piles of trash and human waste washing into the creek under the I-5 bridge there. The people living there put concrete blocks in the creek to create a path to the other side.

“This material could wash down and into the Cowlitz River,” Greenwell said. “So our maintenance crew will need to come out later this month and clear it out.”

Homeless camps under elevated sections of I-5 can be found across Western Washington.  You may recall the infamous Jungle under I-5 in Seattle.

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Two years ago WSDOT told KIRO 7 trash from there regularly washed into storm drains and into the Duwamish River.  Yet, for decades, the camp was allowed to exist. It was only cleared after two people were murdered in January 2001, and KIRO 7 reported on teenage girls being trafficked and raped there.

“If the criteria is met here to clear this one, then why not clear those other ones?” KIRO 7 Morning Anchor John Knicely asked.

“I think a lot of it comes down to resources and time,” Greenwell said. “How quickly we’re able to get to something. In this case we were able to partner with State Patrol, Department of Corrections, us and some volunteer church groups.”

The total cost to clean the area was about $10,000. It would have been a lot more, but DOT used a pilot project with the Department of Corrections. Eight inmates came out and cleared much of the area.

Local church groups connected the 20 people living there to shelter and service, and the State Patrol is doing daily check-ins to make sure people don’t move back.

As for the inmate program, WSDOT hopes to expand it, but it's not the only state agency looking to use them.

Cox Media Group