Seattle Sweeping More Homeless Camps: Report

SEATTLE, WA - The city of Seattle has increased sweeps of illegal homeless encampments over the first eight months of 2018, according to a new analysis. As of this week, the city's Navigation Team was clearing about six encampments per week, double the number at the beginning of the year.

The analysis comes from the C Is For Crank, which obtained public records showing the increase in sweeps. The city has conducted 153 sweeps since Jan. 1, according to the data.

According to the city's Homelessness Response Blog, the Navigation Team has referred about 474 people to shelters so far in 2018. The city prioritizes encampment removals based on "public health and safety impacts." An update published on the blog Aug. 1 states that the city has removed some 742,000 pounds of trash related to encampments around the city.

In response to questions from the C Is For Crank, Mayor Jenny Durkan's office highlighted and intention to increase shelter space to accommodate 500 people. About 150 people have been sheltered under that plan, according to the mayor's office, and another 100 are supposed to be sheltered before the end of August.

File photo by Neal McNamara/Patch