Yakima City Council Stalls Action On Homeless Encampment

No answer yet for Yakima's homeless population. The Yakima City Council Tuesday decided against opening a homeless encampment anytime soon. The council Tuesday decided to hold another meeting in the future after after the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments works with non profit groups in Yakima on other options to help the homeless. The other options include financial help for housing or starting an encampment. The Yakima Valley Conference of Governments is expected to meet on June 20 to talk about the issue. If a decision is made it'll go to the Yakima County Commissioners for final approval.  The city however will use a $20,000 loan from the Yakima Health District to provide portable toilets and hand washing facilities for those living on property on Chestnut Avenue in East Yakima. Also on Tuesday the City Council didn't endorse a plan by the Yakima Housing Authority to open a homeless veterans center at the former Marine Armory on Tahoma Avenue. The council Tuesday held off an endorsement until it learns more about the project. The Housing Authority doesn't need the endorsement but wanted it to help convince federal officials to allow the authority to open the center at the armory which belongs to the federal government.