YAKIMA — The possible site of a new homeless encampment in Yakima has now shifted to North First Street, but questions remain regarding funding.
A city council committee raised the possibility of the site — on land that once held a Tiger Mart convenience store and is not far from the Union Gospel Mission — at a Friday meeting. But they said a more in-depth discussion will have to wait until January when the full council meets again.
“This site has the connections for electricity and water and probably has something inside that could be used for some sort of cooking station, and we could definitely fence that off,” Councilwoman Avina Gutierrez said meeting of the council’s Neighborhood and Community Building Committee meeting at City Hall.
Ellie Lambert, a homeless advocate with Justice Housing Yakima, said because the site near the mission where the presence of homeless people isn’t new for residents and property owners.
This is the second recommendation site for an encampment the committee has made. The first, on East Nob Hill Boulevard near State Fair Park, generated numerous complaints from residents and property owners in that area.
Councilwoman Dulce Gutierrez said an encampment is needed to provide the homeless a place to go when temporary winter weather shelters close in March.
The camp is not intended as a permanent solution, but to give those who can’t or don’t want to check into year-round shelters a place to go.
Yakima’s ban on camping on city property is considered unlawful by the American Civil Liberties Union because it doesn’t provide another option to those who don’t want to go to a shelter.
An encampment and subsequent bathrooms, shower access, and garbage and needle disposal are only the first steps in a 10-step plan to address homelessness presented by Dulce Gutierrez.
During Friday’s meeting, the committee also spoke with representatives from local nonprofit agencies which provide addiction, housing and other services to the homeless about possible partnerships for other steps in the plan, including helping those at the camp obtain and identification card, post office box and bank account.
