The City of Aberdeen-funded homeless tent camp behind City Hall will remain open through at least June 5 after the city was notified by the Attorney General’s Office its proposed May 15 closure would violate Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19-related order forbidding evictions.
Wednesday, the City Council, informed of the Attorney General Office analysis, voted unanimously to rescind a plan it made the week before to close the camp May 15. The camp currently houses about 35 and costs the city more than $35,000 a month to operate. There was no discussion surrounding the vote, because, said City Council President Dee Anne Shaw, the council had been advised of the Attorney General’s Office decision in advance.
“I’m not surprised we got challenged, it was just a matter of what form that would take,” said Shaw. “We rescinded the order in response to the state telling us we were violating the order.”
The temporary use permit required to operate the camp expires July 15. If the no evictions order stays in place beyond June 5 and approaches the July 15 permit deadline, the city will have to decide if the permit can be extended due to circumstances and state orders surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city has been in discussions with the county about sharing the cost of operating the camp but has been unsuccessful. Shaw, Mayor Pete Schave and council members are working on another plan in light of the Attorney General’s Office decision declaring clearing the camp would violate the order.
“We have resubmitted our request to the county to be part of the pandemic response,” said Shaw. “Otherwise, we are not eligible for any funding that becomes available, without the county affirming (the camp) is part of the response to containing the virus.”
A notice was sent to current camp residents describing the new order, describing why the city intends to shut down the camp.
“The (camp) was wholly funded by the City of Aberdeen,” read the notice. “From the time it was established, the city had expected there would be some financial relief from county, state, federal, faith-based organizations, or other private organizations. Other than occasional visits or meal drop-offs, no other entity provided substantive resources to the (camp). The city simply cannot continue to support the (camp) alone.”
The notice reiterated the strictly-enforced rules for residents. The camp is built to hold about 70, but the number of residents has decreased as some have been removed for violation of those rules.
“While (the camp) is still open, it will remain closed to all visitors and the rules of conduct will still be in place and enforced,” read the notice, provided by Community Development Director Lisa Scott. “If you are deemed to be putting yourself, other (camp) members, security guards or any city staff at risk for any life, health and safety issues, you will be asked to gather your things and leave immediately. This includes sneaking visitors into the (camp).”
The notice said the camp will be closed June 5 and all participants and their personal property must be off site by noon that day.
“By the time the location closes on June 5, 2020, the (camp) will have operated for 11 months at a cost of over $390,000 and provided secure overnight shelter and stability to over 125 individuals including through adverse winter weather and the initial phases of the international pandemic,” read the notice.
