City Homeless Encampment Closed

Yakima's homeless encampment was closed at midnight on Friday and city officials spent the weekend clearing out a majority of people who now have the option of staying at cold weather shelters or the Yakima Union Gospel Mission. On Monday if people refuse to leave their items will be collected by the city, photographed and stored for 30 days. But Caruso says he doesn't anticipate anyone refusing to leave. The city will clean up the lot this week and the plan, according to Yakima City Codes Manager Joe Caruso is to turn the area back into a city parking lot. The camp was operated during the summer months and at one time contained more than 100 people. On Sunday KIT News counted only about 10 tents and only 4 people in the camp.
Yakima City Council members say they'll spend the winter looking at different properties to possibly open a permanent encampment in the spring.