The new Sequim (Seattle, Ronald: universities, cost, homeless)

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

I do think the majority of homeless are addicts and people that suffer from mental illness, but hey I could be wrong.

You are probably wrong. See my post upstream about the visible homeless versus the invisible homeless.

You are probably correct in that the majority of visible vagrant types living in blue tarp dumpster explosions are suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. But those "visible homeless" are not the majority of homeless in any city. And they will be the last ones to actually get helped by any housing program.

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

I gotta think in a cashless plastic society, panhandling is going to decline. I pretty much NEVER carry any cash anymore. Never. So even if I ever wanted to give a couple bucks to a panhandler out the car window or on the street I can't. Sorry dude, I don't carry cash.

What are they going to start doing, swiping your card with their smart phone or beg on Venmo? I don't think so.

I don't see that strategy working with panhandlers who are paranoid schizophrenic or bipolar & on meth.

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

WE need to be a lot more creative about what we consider and allow as housing. Cities and towns used to have thousands of SRO hotels that were basically a room with maybe a small kitchenette and probably a shared bath. They were cheap and often scuzzy, but they were still a roof over your head which beats a blue plastic tarp.

Yes, I remember SROs. There were many of them in downtown San Diego & they weren't that bad. I was there often to see clients who lived in them. I never felt afraid or threatened.

Then, to *re-vitalize* downtown San Diego, the SROs were torn down to make way for a a now-obsolete shopping mall (Horton Plaza), a tourist restaurant-bar area (Gas Lamp Quarter) & high rise condos. Nowdays downtown San Diego has tent cities & more homeless than ever before.

I recently was on NW 45th in the U district in Seattle & saw what I realized is the tiny home village there. I had gotten lost & was concentrating on driving as the area is heavily trafficked & had road construction & is very crowded, so just got a glimpse of many small, closely spaced roofs surrounded by a tall chain link fence. I remember thinking that the old school SROs were a better, more humane place to live, IMO.

The irony was, when I got going in the right direction, there were tents & tarps & many people crammed together on the tiny dirt area next to the NW 45th St. bridge that crosses I-5. This is less than a quarter mile from the tiny home camp.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by bartonizer

THIS.

For all the "discussion" I see about homelessness, there's very little mention about a lack our housing, and the huge effect that nearly fifteen years of underbuilding and low supply created throughout the country. There are a number of reasons as to why this occurred, and there are other reasons why people go homeless, but the bottom line is that being able to afford putting a roof over your head- especially on the west coast- is not easy for many people.

Cities like Seattle spent million for a few outdoor toilets...so what do you think 'affordable' housing will cost the tax payer? Affordable housing that most homeless won't want as it would interrupt the life 'style'.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Just outside of Sequim in the unincorporated areas there are homes on acreage with old travel trailers rented out to people, probably illegal but not enforced. Some have turned out to be drug dealers and one I am aware of on Blue Mountain Road was a convicted sex offender.

In Seattle there are now 9 Tiny Home Villages. The "houses" are 8'x10' so 80sf. For those in the more industrial areas there have been few problems, but some others have had complaints from neighbors of noise, trash and crime. Regardless, the City is budgeting for more, but even those are not cheap, at about $6,000 per. That doesn't include permits, grading, plumbing for shared restrooms/kitchens, and electricity connections. Most are on City or Port property, looking for private land with a willing owner would be futile.
No developer is going to buy land and build a tiny home village for what they would sell for.

Port Townsend also has those tiny houses and have had for years.

[rantiquity]

Sequim city council is considering mobile showers for the homeless...I wonder what that will cost the taxpayer.

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by rantiquity

Sequim city council is considering mobile showers for the homeless...I wonder what that will cost the taxpayer.

Really? Where will they be located?

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by CalWorth

Really? Where will they be located?

Unknown at this time...Since they are supposed to mobile I think there are numerous site being considered.

[mayfair]

Mt. Vernon has mobile showers for the homeless and they park the trailer at a church. Being mobile they have options and can adapt where they put it: https://www.goskagit.com/news/local_...490e7b4fc.html

It seems like a good idea compared to building a facility.

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by mayfair

Mt. Vernon has mobile showers for the homeless and they park the trailer at a church. Being mobile they have options and can adapt where they put it: https://www.goskagit.com/news/local_...490e7b4fc.html

It seems like a good idea compared to building a facility.

Thanks, that was an interesting read. I wanted to read the article a second time, but that requires a subscription. I did find it interesting (paraphrasing from memory) that the individual who spearheaded the shower trailer idea did so because he felt that the churches in Skagit County did not do enough to help the homeless; that the 4-shower trailer cost $80,000; and that the money for the trailer came from a non-prof that helped charities in Mt.Vernon/Skagit County.

Sequim has many, many MANY churches for such a small community. Perhaps they will take note.