HomeMy WebLinkAboutPamelaHTFCommentFrom:Pamela
To:Housing Taskforce
Cc:Shelter4jc@outlook.com
Subject:proposed homeless camp
Date:Wednesday, June 9, 2021 12:14:38 PM
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To the commissioners in Port Townsend,
I am extremely concerned about the plans to move the homeless encampment to cape george road.
1. I do not believe it will end up being temporary. You have been having meetings since
september looking for other alternatives and you have not found any. Once you move the
people out of town and out of sight, there will be little incentive to find another place.
2. There are severe limitations on the proposed site - it is not in the best interests of the intended
residents. There is no water, no sewer and no access to it anywhere nearby. How will people wash
and clean themselves and their clothing and their eating utensils? Where will they get water to
drink? How will they relieve themselves?
3. There is no transportation to health services, counseling, and other support. What if someone is
hurt and needs to go to the ER? In town they can walk.
4. There are no stores to buy supplies or anything.
5. The idea of a shuttle will not work well. What if someone get’s a job with hours from 3 to 7 pm?
Will a twice a day shuttle allow for that? It will make getting jobs harder for the people.
6. There is severe fire danger! If people need fires to cook and stay warm, the surrounding forest is
vulnerable in our rain shadow dry area. There is no water nearby to put a fire out either. I would
hate to see a large forest fire on our peninsula as a result of a bad decision.
7. It will damage habitat for wildlife and birds in the area.
8. There is very limited cell service in that area so communication will be difficult.
9. Brotherton’s email to people who are concerned states that the interested parties have decided this
is the best solution. What other options have been offered?? It may be the best solution compared to
eviction but it is not the best solution overall. The best solution would be to find a permanent
location with existing infrastructure and transportation close to services, grocery stores and work
opportunities. Don’t waste our tax money setting up a “temporary” area to then have to move it and
set up new facilities.
This is not just a NIMBY email. We live in cape george about 2 miles from the proposed
encampment. I do believe people will come here looking for something because there is no place
else for them to go, but there is nothing here for them - there are no stores, no health care, no job
opportunities. If the proposed site had water, sewer, transportation, cell signals and was close to
grocery, health care, services and jobs then I would support it.
Please, please reconsider this idea!!
Pamela Bouchard