City of Tacoma to clean up homeless encampments along Sixth Avenue near Evergreen campus
The City of Tacoma is planning to clear two encampments along Sixth Avenue at South M Street and South L Street in Tacoma, near the Evergreen State College campus.
A city spokesperson confirmed that notices were posted at the locations on Tuesday to alert people of the planned cleanup, which will start Oct. 26.
The city estimates 35 tents make up the camps, with 20 individuals living there.
“Based on this week’s shelter survey, we have 65 available shelter beds this week,” city spokesperson Megan Snow told The News Tribune on Tuesday. “As always, we are conducting outreach and working with people to connect them to resources and shelter beds.”
The city said health and safety concerns prompted the cleanup, as did the availability of shelter beds.
The encampment along South M Street drew attention last December after 38-year-old Patrick Nathan Shenaurlt, who had been living there, was shot and killed in a confrontation with two men.
Thomas Andrew Pearson, 33, pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, and Michael John Red Cloud, 31, pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree murder. They are awaiting trial.
Tacoma-Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness leaders said Tuesday in a statement to The News Tribune they are “adamantly opposed” to the sweep of the encampments.
“It is almost a year since a housed person shot and killed Patrick who was experiencing homelessness in this location,” according to the statement, sent by coalition policy analyst Maureen Howard.
The coalition also expressed concern about the potential spread of coronavirus with clearing the encampment and the accessibility of open shelter beds.
“The City tells us there are 65 beds available for the people living in these encampments but the City does not tell us if the available beds match the people living in their tent-homes,” Howard said. “Once again we ask: Where will they go?”
The city cleared another large encampment at South 8th Street and Yakima Avenue last month.
Stacia Glenn contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
