An efficient way to rid the city of unlawful encampments would be to build three or four decent campgrounds for unhoused residents. Most unhoused people have tents and camping gear already. Instead of just chasing them out of town, why don’t we allow people to set up their tents in specific areas with bathrooms, showers, recreational facilities, garbage pickup, a laundromat, employment services, drug rehab and mental health counseling?
The facilities could be built on city properties close to public transport and provide a steppingstone towards more permanent housing, which should be next on our agenda.
Peter O’Neil, Seattle
