As the recession developed over the past year and a half, homeless encampments began making the news all over the country. Nickelsville, Seattle’s unpermitted tent city, has been operating since September 22, 2008 (though it was in planning long before). Nickelsville was created in part as a response to the sweeps of unorganized homeless camps on the edge of Beacon Hill and elsewhere last summer and fall, under the watch of Mayor Greg Nickels. Police recently evicted residents from the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 107 Park in West Seattle.
I’ve been following Nickelsville since they first set down on City of Seattle property in South Seattle, though I’ve spent only a little time actually there: I’ve dropped off donations of blankets and hats on a couple of occasions, assisted with packing for the move from Washington State DOT land to Terminal 107 Park in July, and observed the eviction and arrests on September 30. And yet when I arrived at Nickelsville on the 30th, it took only five minutes before a man said to me, “Haven’t seen you around here in a while.” I honestly did not remember him specifically, but he remembered me helping with the move in July. We chatted for a moment and he told me to “stay in touch” as I headed back to see if I could hear any of the press conference. Being recognized amazed me, but Nickelsville is a real community, and that’s the sort of thing that happens in a community.
The community power of Nickelsville is inspiring; they’ve organized an entity that’s bigger than the sum of its parts. They have daily meetings, and their own security team. They’ve built a kitchen, a security tent, and other things I’m sure I’ve never seen (though since the eviction, I’m not sure if all these items will make it back to the Nickelodeons in the same shape they were once). They have successfully made eight moves (now including the eviction) of up to 100 people, all over the city of Seattle and in Renton. They have built support networks with churches, organizations, and individuals for supplies, solidarity, and help with their moves. All they have asked for from anyone in the government is vacant land to live, be safe, and build a supportive community.
The city’s response to this has been that the encampment is illegal, that it is not the best way for homeless people to get help, and that the city provides all the services homeless people need. But the fact that Nickelsville exists indicates that the system is not working. Our shelter system is strictly segregated between men, and women and children; many couples and families are split by this arrangement. The time restrictions on entering and leaving shelters make it difficult for homeless people to obtain and hold jobs until they can afford a place to live. And while the city has signed on to King County’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, many have argued that the 10 Year Plan ignores immediate needs in favor of pouring money into permanent housing, which can take years to create.
While the people of Nickelsville are homeless, we aren’t going to end homelessness!
Instead of harassing these folks everywhere they go, instead of spending large amounts of money to send police to roust a peaceful, organized encampment from a park that is currently closed to the public ANYWAY (for environmental maintenance, I was told – did anyone at the Port consider asking Nickelsville residents if they’d trade maintenance labor for permission to stay?), instead of insisting that the bureaucratic, city-run/state-run solutions can work for everyone when clearly they don’t – what if the city gives this organized, enthusiastic group of people permission to take care of themselves and allows them to stop channeling their effort into clashing with the city? Find a decent piece of unused land near a bus stop. Work with Nickelsville to get permits, if permits are what the city needs to allow people to live somewhere. Then step back and see what amazing things the people of Nickelsville and their allies can create.
For more information:
Dignity Village is a similar community in Portland which managed to get land and support from the city.
The Nickelsville Flickr photo pool.
Here is a visitor's account of Nickelsville.
The University of Washington Daily did a piece on Nickelsville when it was located in the University District in February.
Comments
BTW, excellent article. I hope Nickelodeons find a safe place to call home soon. I think they only have a week at the place up north.
Excellent article, I think your points regarding finding a piece of land for a stable encampment near to a bus stop require some work by the city and the point about whether the residents were asked if they would provide maintenance for permisssion to stay needs to be looked at more closely by the Port authority since this can stretch the maintenace budget if nothing else. I hope there can be a more permanent location for this encampment.
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