Yakima Considers Its Options for Setting Up a Homeless Camp [VIDEO]

The Yakima City Council held a special meeting Wednesday to address the issue of homelessness in Yakima.  In particular, the city wanted to provide an alternate location for a city sanctioned homeless camp as an option to impromptu camps on Chestnut near 6th and 7th street and behind the Depot on Yakima Avenue.

City attorneys say law enforcement can't move nuisance homeless out of an area if there isn't another recognized place for them to go.  The siting of an "official city camp" will provide both a location and leverage for law enforcement.

The city had looked at a spot of city owned land north of the round-about on Bravo Company Way leading into the Boise Cascade Mill site near the trampoline park and a couple of hotels but concern from area businesses redirected the city to go back to the drawing board to consider other possible locations.

One example suggested is the underutilized and unnamed park between Race and Adams to the north and south and 2nd and 3rd street on the east and west which puts the park just to the north side of Minda Lanes bowling alley.  There is no decision on that location or any other, but the council will consider all the limited options of city land for what is called a TEMPORARY camp,

Council did decide to contract with Pastor Dave Hanson and Sunrise Outreach to operate the camp, wherever it ends up, until November 15th when the cold weather system goes into effect.