All,

I’m still gathering information to understand more fully what transpired, but I know of more than one instance where a case manager is trying to locate a client who was displaced during the J Street Encampment Removal on the Hilltop last Friday. 

If any of you have clients whose personal property was removed, I would encourage you to help them recover it through the process identified in the City’s Encampment Removal Policy (https://cms.cityoftacoma.org/NCS/HSD/HomelessnessServices/CMO-TMB12-MPC8002-W_Exchange_06-29-2017_13-29-57.pdf).  I would also encourage those of you who work with clients residing in this or other encampments to ensure that you, and your clients, are familiar with their rights and the City’s obligations under this policy.  I just read it, and found several useful things, including paragraph 8, which states that

“8.1 Prior to removing an encampment, the City shall offer alternative locations for individuals in the encampment or identify available housing or other shelter for encampment occupants.  The alternatives shall be available to the encampment occupant starting on the date an encampment removal notice is posted and shall continue to be available until the encampment removal is completed.  The City shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, an updated daily list of alternatives, which list shall be shared with Neighborhood & Community Services and outreach staff.

“8.2  The alternatives may include housing programs, shelter programs with or without day programs, authorized encampments, and other authorized shelter or encampment programs.  The City is not required to provide additional alternatives to individuals who have been previously or are currently excluded from all usual and appropriate alternatives because of the individual’s behavior.”

I’m also sharing the link to the City’s Encampment Cleanups and Site Reclamation web page (https://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=94667 ).  It provides a summary of the policy above, as well as a link to the Encampment Removal Response Map.  I knew this was out there, but hadn’t really looked at it much.  This might be a useful resource to understand what Encampment Cleanups are about to begin, as the City indicates that the most recent J Street Cleanup was a result of a high volume of 311 calls. 

I would encourage all of us to be deliberate about helping our clients recover their property, and exercise other rights, and holding the City accountable for complying with their policy. 

Greg Walker

Community Development Entrepreneur

253.279.2795