TACOMA, Wash. — A homeless camp has re-established near the I-705 overpass in Tacoma, which city workers cleared just weeks ago, and business owners say the same problems are repeating all over again.
“Now they are back but the resources still don’t seem to be there and we were told they wouldn’t be back. We were told the city was going to watch for them,” said Terri Quintana, who owns Soulberry Coffee House nearby. “There’s nothing down there for them. There’s no food, there’s no water, just basic necessities aren’t being met.”
In September, more than 40 people were living in tents and vehicles along a green space on A Street and in the areas around South 24th Street and Dock Street.
Workers at surrounding businesses said they witnessed routine drug dealing and violence, including machete fights.
Episodes of violence and persistent safety concerns convinced city leaders in Tacoma to clear out the encampment on Sept. 9.
At the time, people who work in the area were assured the city’s Homelessness Engagement and Alternatives Liaison (HEAL) Team would monitor the site for the next 12 months to prevent it from being repopulated.
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Instead, tents and makeshift shelters are once again sprawled out around the overpass. Some of the same issues as before have also returned.
“The homeless are tweaking out. We see the obvious behaviors of people who are doing drugs,” said Nina Leibrand, who owns United Signature, a home remodeling company. “They are doing fires, anywhere, everywhere. In front of the businesses, in the parking lots, and there’s garbage everywhere.”
Even more concerning is the potential for violence.
“We had some guys that were camped here and we took some pictures of them to send to the city and they got mad because we took pictures and came over with a machete,” said Jeff Cross, who runs a car restoration business directly across from where the encampment is set up.
After the sweep in early September, neighbors said things did return to normal.
“In the beginning it was great. They were doing an effort, they were coming by but it kind of slowed down,” Leibrand said. “We haven’t seen anyone coming out to patrol, any city people coming to take a look, in the last probably four weeks.”
In that time, people who work in the area said customers are once again afraid to come by and employees are frightened to walk to their cars when their shifts are done.
“It just doesn’t feel safe, even to me, I don’t feel safe really,” Cross said.
Neighbors said what they want is for city leaders to follow through and help the homeless while keeping the space safe for their businesses to thrive.
“I’m definitely doing my part to do what I can to beautify and bring something good to the city but if the city’s not helping me, then to what end,” Quintana said.
A Tacoma city spokesperson said they have received complaints and plan to send a crew either on Wednesday or possibly the next day to address the issues. Over the past month, the city has also managed to get three of the people who are camping to accept help.
