Homelessness: Tent city model could work here

Re: “Homeless sweep at the Jungle shines a light on a failing approach,” (TNT, 4/30).

I, too, am tired of all the “documenting” of the homeless described in Matt Driscoll’s column, and the profoundly inhumane disrupting of the homeless among us.

I am equally tired of the illusory”solution” being persistently chosen by our city leaders: shove them out of sight and they will all go away. This is worse than an illusion; it is insanity: Repeating the same old actions (at great expense) and expecting different results.

Wake and smell the flowers--or rather, the unwashed bodies and worse!

Hundreds of our fellow citizens are forced or choose to live outdoors in “camps” that are worse than most any pigsty. Almost all would desire something much better. Why not take one big step toward providing it?

With the money being spent on forced moves and cleanups, a well-managed “tent city” on Tacoma city property could be established. The model exists and is working well just 30 miles north and in many other cities.

One or more sites here could provide a safe and clean option for several hundred, at least those capable and willing to live in self-directed cooperative communities.

I believe this is a vital first step toward permanent housing, without waiting for construction of more expensive options.

This story was originally published May 14, 2017 at 6:09 PM with the headline "Homelessness: Tent city model could work here."