City approves temporary homeless camps

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening approved code amendment changes that allow community organizations to host temporary homeless encampments of up to 30 people.

The council in a 6-1 vote approved the code changes, with James Boad voting against it without explanation. The vote was the same when the proposal received preliminary approval by the council at its July 19 meeting.

Under the amendments, a community group could be permitted for an encampment on private property of up to 30 people for seven months, and after that could apply for a second seven months. A permit will also be available for a homeless encampments of six people or less, with most of the same rules and regulations.

The rules include prohibiting firearms, illegal drugs, flames inside tents and minors without parents; bathrooms must be available around the clock, and a kitchen available at least three hours a day; and visual screening from the neighbors is required.

The encampment cannot be run for profit, and will not be allowed on a vacant lot — it must contain a secondary use such as a business or home.

The requirements include an around-the-clock host, exterior lighting pointed downward, and a posted code of conduct. People with police warrants will not be allowed inside the camp.

The encampment will not be allowed to cause “material harm” to neighbors, who would be notified in advance of a proposed camp and have the chance to speak at a public hearing.

The camps will be required to comply with laws on drinking water connections, solid-waste disposal, human waste, outdoor fires and burning, electrical systems and fire-resistant materials.

Dean Jewett, who with wife, Jackie, owns Radio Fryer on First Street, said the amendments rely on the camp host to enforce the rules, but what if he or she doesn’t?

“Where is the enforcement piece in this?” he asked.

Jewett mentioned the real estate concept term “diminished value.” What if someone owns a $1 million house next to a church, the church hosts a homeless camp, and the home value drops to $600,000, he asked.

Jackie Jewett pointed out that Everett, Spokane, Bellingham and Aberdeen have adopted laws that forbid people from laying or sitting down on downtown streets during certain hours to help the business owners.

Athena Ayres, the executive director of Community Lifeline’s homeless shelter in downtown Shelton, said she knows the homelessness situation downtown is “complicated” and city officials, law enforcement agencies and her agency are seeking solutions. The city’s new homeless committee has increased its meetings from monthly to twice a month, she said.

Ayres pointed out that the people who are being discussed are not only homeless, but many suffer from childhood trauma, mental problems, and drug and alcohol addictions.

Colleen Carmichael of Quixote Villages spoke to the council. Her nonprofit agency established tiny home villages for homeless people in Olympia and Orting, and now is overseeing the construction of a village for homeless veterans in Shelton near Olympic College Shelton.

She pointed out that the Olympia tiny home village was borne from a homeless camp. She said she is happy to offer advice on successfully establishing a camp in Shelton.