Date:  Thursday, July 23, 2009

Contact: Lloyd D. Brown, WSDOT Communications, 360-789-9232

SEATTLE – Plans to relocate residents of a homeless encampment from state-owned property in south Seattle will move forward after a federal court ruling denying the issuance of a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

The Washington State Department of Transportation on Monday, July 20, posted a 72-hour notice to residents of the homeless encampment that they needed to vacate a nearly 4-acre state-owned property at 2nd Avenue Southwest and West Marginal Way in Seattle.

"We have been in communication with camp organizers and residents to plan an orderly process for them to leave the site," said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. "We expect people to begin moving today and we’ll be on site with the Washington State Patrol first thing in the morning to help relocate any remaining residents."

The encampment moved onto the state-owned property June 5. Organizers were given 30 days to relocate the encampment. Hammond negotiated a two-week extension with the Church Council of Greater Seattle for the camp to leave the site by July 20, which organizers failed to abide by.

The City of Seattle notified WSDOT Monday, July 20, that the state, by allowing the encampment to continue at the site, is in violation of city health and safety codes.

For the past six weeks, the state has worked closely with King County, the City of Seattle and both the Church Council of Greater Seattle and the Lutheran Public Policy office of Washington State to develop a long-term solution for the members of the encampment.

WSDOT is not equipped to manage homeless encampments, Hammond said. The agency is governed by state and local laws on the use of the property.

DSHS staff has coordinated outreach efforts over the past six weeks, and has visited the encampment on several occasions to assist food banks, and offer help with employment placement and health care.

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