SEATTLE (AP) — Residents have started moving in to Seattle’s first-ever permitted homeless encampment.
The “Tent City Five Interbay” encampment, which can accommodate up to 80 people, opened Nov. 19. Organizers said they expected the camp to be full by the following week.
An encampment in Ballard that can accommodate 50 people was expected to open over the weekend.
Stu Tanquist, who is in charge of operations at Interbay, said the camp has a list of rules that residents must follow in order to live there. He said no drugs, alcohol or offensive language will be allowed.
The camps have met opposition by some nearby homeowners and business owners. But Mayor Ed Murray said the encampments are a better alternative to illegal camps homeless residents have set up in other parts of the city. (end)