Keeping our kids safe: Addressing dangerous homeless encampments in Washington state | Opinion

Our kids deserve to be safe in their neighborhoods. It’s time to remove dangerous encampments.

Homeless encampments are sadly becoming a mundane fact of life in Washington. Our state has the third-highest number of homeless individuals in the nation, trailing only New York and California. This crisis remains a top issue in Washington, and there is no shortage of ideas on how to solve it.

In the last four years, Washington spent over $4.2 billion on homelessness and housing programs, a dramatic increase from previous spending. From 2015 to 2023, Pierce County spent $177 million to address homelessness. Just one cleanup in Pierce County generated 30 tons of waste and cost $70,000. Despite our ever-increasing spending, HUD reports a 12.5% increase in homelessness over the past year.

Several years ago, in my geographically small city of Puyallup, a homeless drop-in center opened in a neighborhood near an elementary school where 53% of the students were eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. In its first year, this center attracted over 500 new homeless individuals from around the region.

An adjacent business and the Puyallup library had to hire security guards to protect their clients. The elementary school had to install alarms and a six-foot fence. Public restrooms were outfitted with needle boxes; tons of garbage littered the streets, trails, and riverbanks; tents went up in the surrounding area; and crime spiked near the center.

The city insisted on safety and accountability measures. In response, the media denigrated that decision, while publicly funded organizations sued Puyallup numerous times. In all, the city incurred approximately a million dollars in legal expenses. This money would have gone a long way toward helping people, but instead, it went to litigation.

Make no mistake, Pierce County localities all want to do the right thing. In Puyallup, we have a network of service organizations to help. In addition to rented shelter beds, we have even allowed our local police to rent hotel rooms for those who are in emergent circumstances.

We all want to be kind. But homeless encampments are a risk to the public and to those who live there. A list of recent events at these sites includes murder, sexual assault, human trafficking, kidnapping, fires, explosions and substance abuse. Nearby retailers struggle with theft, scared customers and vandalism.

I introduced House Bill 1255 to help localities who are struggling with cleanup. This legislation would mandate and help fund the removal of dangerous camps within 500 feet of several locations, including schools, parks, and child day care centers. Children deserve to play in safe parks and walk to school without fear.

There have been instances in my town where parents have personally confronted homeless individuals and asked them to move. This is not a good idea. Parents should be able to live without constant fear and vigilance, but localities are notoriously strapped for cash.

Let’s help them remedy this situation. The government should handle this problem appropriately so citizens can live their lives in less fear.

It’s time to act and truly help people experiencing homelessness, not leave them to languish in unsafe camps.

This story was originally published February 2, 2025 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Keeping our kids safe: Addressing dangerous homeless encampments in Washington state | Opinion."