Recreational vehicles are large and unsightly and take up Seattle’s already limited on-street parking space, but to more than 700 people in this city, they’re also home.
Mayor Ed Murray received the Seattle City Council’s backing last week to use his discretion under a civil emergency on homelessness he issued back in November to create safe lots for drawing in RVs from neighborhoods that have had it with their presence. The former Yankee Diner parking lot in Ballard, owned by Seattle Public Utilities is one, and the city is negotiating with the state transportation department to acquire another lot for the Delridge site for implementation in less than 30 days.
It’s easy to be annoyed by the presence of these vehicles; they idle for days, and police rarely take action because the occupants tend to disregard notices and tickets. They line Seattle’s industrial district daily, but real action by the city regarding these safety lots didn’t start until a community meeting took place earlier this month in Magnolia, where residents demanded a moratorium on RV parking in their neighborhood and others across the city.
“Last year in the One Night Count, volunteers found approximately 760 vehicles with people living inside them. I thank the mayor for acting on the clear need to assist these people and, in doing so, addressing the impacts on people living without access to water, garbage and bathroom facilities,” stated City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, following the council’s amending and ratifying Murray’s order.
It’s rare to catch a glimpse inside these vehicles, and many might just assume junkies or criminals are using them. More likely, they are loaded with the people the city wants to help: the families who are scraping by and have no other housing options.
An RV or car is still preferable to a tent under an overpass, and to look around the city, it appears there’s not much room left for that, either. The city will also permit a third encampment under Murray’s call to action. While these lots will only be able to fit about 50 RVs and other vehicles being used by homeless individuals and families, the hope is that added access to case management assistance from Compass Housing Alliance will allow users to eventually ditch their homes on wheels in favor of better housing.
Still, 760 vehicles as of the last One Night Count means this emergency action isn’t a long-term solution, nor is laying out temporary parking zones in Ballard, Interbay and SODO. As mentioned before, people living in these conditions are not easily moved.
Murray admits the city still needs about $50 million more each year to address the homeless crisis, which stretches far beyond Seattle’s borders. It seems like no matter what the government does — be it local, state or federal — there was a time when it was possible to manage the homeless population, but that time has passed.
Everyone is playing catch-up, but the homeless population continues to grow faster than services can match. One bad trip to the emergency room can cause homelessness. The uncontrollable increases in rental and housing costs are also adding to this problem, and the Housing Affordability and Livability Committee recommendations are still a long way from implementation. Even once those codes and policies are in place, it will still take more time to see affordable housing availability increase in Seattle.
Moving these RVs and other vehicles somewhere else is an action based on good intent, but it’s still the city addressing a critical issue by seeing how far it can be pushed down the road.