Puyallup City Council: We’re doing the best we can for homeless during coronavirus
Puyallup elected officials say they are doing the best they can to help the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic, despite a recent complaint from a national advocacy group.
The National Law Center for Homelessness & Poverty sent a letter to the City of Puyallup April 16, stating that the decision to create a safe, lawful tent encampment for people without homes is appreciated but more should be done.
The city created a temporary tent encampment at the Puyallup Recreation Center in early April after more than 70 people were living in tents or vehicles on the Riverwalk Trail. The 30-tent site is monitored and includes portable sinks, toilets and 16 parking spots. Those who are elderly or vulnerable to the coronavirus have been placed in about 12 motel rooms.
“I think we are trying to do what we can with the typical population you see during this time of the year,” Deputy Mayor John Palmer said. “It’s not perfect, but it’s what we have the capacity to do.”
The letter suggests that Puyallup rent more hotel rooms, open the tent encampment to more people experiencing homelessness and cease towing and impounding of vehicles used as shelter.
“There is no time to wait,” senior attorney for the firm, Tristia Bauman, said in the letter. “To protect the health of the entire community, we urge the City of Puyallup to expand on its good work and take the additional steps recommended in this letter.”
‘I’m happy where we are’
The News Tribune spoke to five of Puyallup’s seven elected officials about the steps taken for the homeless. Mayor Julie Door and Council member Dean Johnson did not respond for comment.
Council member Cyndy Jacobsen said the Riverwalk Trail was a sanitation and safety issue before the city stepped in to provide a temporary shelter.
“It was untenable,” she said.
Palmer said the city has done an excellent job. He said creating the tent encampment, renting hotel rooms and opening up the second half of Helping Hand House’s city funds is the right amount of effort.
Council member Ned Witting, who ran last year with addressing the homeless population as his top priority, said he feels the city is doing what it can given the current pandemic.
“It’s hard to do anything right now. My thinking is: let’s cut some people some slack right now,” he said. “We’re not where I’d like to be, but I’m happy where we are.”
Council member Robin Farris said Puyallup is serving it’s homeless citizens as best it can.
“While I respect the National Law Center for Homelessness & Poverty and appreciate their opinion, we have space for people outside at the rec center and the Salvation Army in Tacoma,” Farris said. “People are choosing not to shelter, and, so in that regard, there is nothing we can do.”
Homeward Bound and its resource center New Hope have sued the city several times over laws restricting homeless services. Over the past five years, Puyallup has spent more than a million dollars in court addressing homelessness disputes.
The tent encampment is the first time since the lawsuits that the city has worked with the nonprofit. Homeward Bound, along with local churches, have been providing meals. Ric Rose, Homeward Bound’s spokesperson, said it looks to add case management services and transportation to the tent encampment.
Homeward Bound did not comment on the letter.
“We want nothing more than to work with the city on providing services,” Rose said. “We are here to help.”
‘Unjustified and unfair’
Some council members feel that the city has had to take on more responsibility for the homeless in East Pierce County.
Before the city created a temporary tent encampment, there were more than 70 lunches being served by homeless service providers daily on the Riverwalk Trail, New Hope director Paula Anderson told The News Tribune. Council members believe many came from neighboring towns and unincorporated Pierce County.
Some living on the trail did not go to the encampment and have been banned from the Riverwalk Trail. Police are citing those who trespass.
“We can’t take that all on, that’s the county,” Palmer said. “I just don’t think we can take on the rest of East Pierce County.”
Jacobsen said given the fact that sales taxes is 47 percent of the city’s general fund and there isn’t much retail going on, Puyallup is providing what it can.
“No other city our size is doing something like this,” she said. “We’re trying our best given the resources we have to make sure people can quarantine in place.”
Council member Jim Kastama believes the city has gone above and beyond other communities
“We do far more than other communities surrounding Puyallup,” he said. “Other communities need to take responsibility. They are putting the burden on Puyallup, and it is unjustified and unfair.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 11:12 AM.
