Homelessness Topic Of Study Session Tuesday

The Yakima City Council will hold a Tuesday study session to talk about homelessness and a plan to establish another homeless encampment on East Nob Hill Boulevard near Fire Station 95.

Yakima Police Chief Dominic Rizzi says it's a bad idea. "They have to look at all the facts and all the resources available and make a valid determination on what's best for the city. But my personal opinion is that there's too many negatives associated with an encampment that I just don't see them working."

Rizzi says if the city can come up with options to curtail drug use and criminal activity in an encampment, maybe it could work. The chief says money spent on an encampment could be used in other ways to help homeless people rather than giving them a place to camp.

Rizzi knows firsthand the problems caused at a homeless encampment because the recent encampment that was closed last month was across the street from the Yakima Police Department.
The meeting is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Yakima City Hall.