Seattle's 'The Field' Homeless Camp Will Be Cleared Tuesday

SEATTLE, WA - A large homeless encampment near downtown Seattle will be cleared on Tuesday morning, although residents there are mounting a last-minute effort to persuade city officials to let them stay.

The encampment, known as "The Field," is located near the intersection of Airport Way and South Royal Brougham Way, underneath ramps connecting I-5 and I-90. Many residents of the camp are from "The Jungle," a defunct homeless encampment formerly located underneath I-5.

But the residents of The Field are trying to mount a last ditch effort to convince city officials to let them stay. According to the Seattle Times, a group of residents on Monday will ask the Seattle City Council for a reprieve, and present plans to organize rules for the camp.

If the residents are not successful, the camp will be cleared at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Recently, two sexual assaults involving minors took place at the camp. James J.A. Walker, 27, was charged on Feb. 23 with raping a child in his tent there. The week before, Nghia Nguyen, 47, was charged with raping a 16-year-old girl.

The Field was temporarily evacuated on Feb. 27 after a tanker crash along I-5 directly above the camp. The camp was revealed to be full of mud and standing water, and infested with rats.

However, Seattle officials do not have a place for the camp residents to go. The city's planned "low-barrier" Navigation Center was supposed to provide shelter for the camp's residents, but it is not open yet.

A representative from Seattle's Union Gospel Mission said the organization will provide shelter to displaced residents.

"We are offering each of them shelter,” Jeff Lilley told KING 5. “And meeting with them individually (as much as they are willing) to offer additional services ranging from legal services, health and dental, addiction recovery services, as well as connecting them with housing providers and case managers."

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