April 23, 2022 Encampment Update (Kitsap County)

Five of us circulated the Veterans Park Encampment April 23. Unhoused tent campers remain within the camp with limited resources or plans to vacate, yet many verbalize the concern and anxiety associated with leaving. Surveys continued to be gathered as the day of eviction, April 29, draws near. Forteen unsheltered residents provided feedback via the surveys over the past two weeks. Some were offered housing or shelter by Kitsap County workers, yet there was never the perception from the Veterans Park campers of how they would practically be housed or find housing. Government and county leaders are being soliciited and gently pressured to consider the dilemna of these individuals and come up with practical solutions. Medical needs continue to be associated with wounds secondary to burns from explosive batteries, fires and agressive attacks with sharp objects. Surprisingly, many of these wounds are well defined, healing and medical care has been sought outside the encampment as needed. Mental health remains evident as problem solving related to plan of action remains evasive for many. Prayers continue to be needed. As you view the pictures from the camp (below), know that there is a significant rat infestation which has been very troubling for the campers and may be the reason behind the eviction by the county and city officials. Rats were observed throughout the campsite. No needles are seen on the grounds, but sharps containers are also available and are being utilized as needed. NW Hospitality has helped clear out 130,000 tons of garbage over the past year, but with the upcoming eviction, has stopped cleaning up the park which is technically the county's responsibility. Lived Experiences representative Jay and NW Hospitality director, Anton are instrumental in providing support and daily resources as needed, such as socks, tents, batteries, cell phone cards, transportation to/from medical appointments, COVID kits. Wound care has been limited to assessment and cleansing/covering wounds as needed. Encampment visits continue weekly on Saturdays at 2:30-5PM and open to anyone interested in providing presence and support to the campers. Reach out the NW Hospitality director (Anton Preisinger) if interested in offering your support as you are able to do so. https://www.nwhospitality.org/ Uncertainty exists for next steps if and when there is eviction follow through next week. Stay tuned for updates as they happen.

April 22, 2022 Update Kitsap County-Weekly Encampment Report

As we near the time of eviction of the Veterans Park in Port Orchard, wanted to update on what's been happening behind the scenes. St. Michael's Hospital, Kitsap County Public Health, and the Mayor of Port Orchard were contacted in an appeal to come up with solutions to caring for the medical and housing needs of our unsheltered neighbors in Port Orchard who are soon to be evicted from Veterans Park. 

Some resources were sent to the Mayor of Port Orchard and Kitsap Public Health director and could be helpful to others to share with your community that may be experiencing concerns regarding our homeless neighbors. Please review the following:

The Puyallup tribe had very similar problems to our community. This village is an answer. These solutions work. People are given the dignity they need and the surrounding community is not upset because the 'village' remains less of an eyesore than tents in a park. There are many examples of this working if you are interested in knowing more:

https://news.puyalluptribe-nsn.gov/puyallup-tribe-of-indians-tiny-home-village/

https://www.curbed.com/2021/04/tiny-home-village-homeless-los-angeles.html

People cannot afford housing right now. The demand is much higher than the supply. This is a temporary solution, but has been shown to be effective. Key to these interventions working is having codes of conduct for inhabitants and 24 hour surveillance. Safe Parking works effectively in the same way--24 hours surveillance and code of conduct.

There are many solutions that may not be well known or seem impossible, but these solutions have been shown to be effective. Please pass along to your local community members and leaders.

Additional Update: Please view video for vision for providing medical respite for our unsheltered neighbors. This was a Kitsap county program pre-Covid that was very successful, but was discontinued when COVID took priority. Goal is to consider a model such as this to get unsheletered, medically fragile populations into housing and providing assistance to navigate the medical system: https://vimeo.com/366366876

April 16, 2022 Veterans Park Homeless Encampment Visit

As the anticipated Veterans Park Memorial Park sweep draws closer, anxiety is increasing among many regarding the future for the residents of the Veteran's Park. Four volunteers ventured out into the inclement weather to survey the campers of services offered by Kitsap county public health officials prior to the scheduled camp sweep in 2 weeks. 

A new representative from Living Experience Coalition (LEC), "Jay" joined us this week to provide expertise and consultation related to the dynamics of living unsheltered. Goal is to continue to reach out to our unsheltered residents and offer help according to what they need--not what we think that they might need. Information on the Lived Experience Coalition can be found: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreLEC/

Surveys were distributed by NW Hospitality director, Anton Preisinger, and a few items, like socks, emergency blankets and batteries were handed out to some of the campers in the park. No medical care was accepted, despite hearing of one 62 year old male with a walker who fell and another woman who complained of issues with her feet; another accepted a COVID test kit when it was learned that he was not vaccinated. Education was provided on COVID vaccinations and he was encouraged to consider getting a COVID injection. 

Additional Social Determinants contribute to the barriers for these residents: Some living in the park have been employed or are actively seeking jobs, but circumstances are barriers to day to day living: One young man, who was also a father, was trying to fix his motorcycle so he could have reliable transportation--he had been a reliable worker despite living unsheltered until his motorcycle broke down; two women told us of their car being broken into or stolen this week. Unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances contribute to challenges experienced by our unsheltered neighbors.

Approximately 15 people were counted, but many of the residents who have previously camped in the park have appeared to have packed up and left or were not found in their encampments. Encampment residents will continue to be visited weekly and hopefully will be supported regardless of where they end up. The expectation is many of these campers will end up unsheltered somewhere else due to no feasible plan in place to shelter them. 

Anyone interested in joining can plan on joining next Saturday at 2:30 pm at Veterans Park in Port Orchard (Kitsap County). Please connect via arisepc2017@gmail.com if interested.

April 9, 2022: Port Orchard's Veteran's Park Encampment Visit

Met with NW Hospitality Director Anton Preisinger to 'round' on the Port Orchard Veteran's Park encampment.  Anton and I were able to visit 14 people (7 of whom were women) in two hours. There were more that I was unable to visit due to time constraints. The encampment residents were forewarned of the upcoming encampment "sweep" scheduled on April 22 (https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/homeless-encampments-to-be-removed-by-end-of-april/) and some were provided some supplies/goods such as cellphones, batteries, garbage bags and light medical care: cleansing and dressing of wounds & assessment of a contusion. There was an additional outreach worker collecting sharps containers and exchanging sharps. 'Damage control' of infectious waste (needles) and potential for STDs (condoms) were also provided. There's a need for garbage clean up as there were some camps left abandoned throughout the park. 

It is overwhelming to see the tremendous need as well as the humility of our unsheltered neighbors accepting the little being offered (or not accepting anything at all), and the gratitude expressed when they are not forgotten. NW hospitality director, Anton Preisinger's efforts has built sincere trust in the forgotten few in our community which is commendable. I encourage anyone interested in joining his efforts to connect through NW hospitality or via the Arise of Pierce County 2017 email.

(Check out NW hospitality blog: https://www.nwhospitality.org/justonemeal/magnet-theory-response or  email arisepc2017@gmail.com).

Additional resources if interested in what's going on in Kitsap county related to homeless ordinances:

https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/KitsapCounty/html/Kitsap17/Kitsap17505.html

https://www.kitsapgov.com/BOC_p/Homes%20for%20All%20Documents/FAQ%20%2008%2028%2018.pdf

https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/city-council-passes-temporary-homeless-encampment-ordinance/

https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/upset-by-inaction-putaansuu-threatens-to-take-kitsap-county-to-court/

https://www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/PEP%20Documents/All%20Public%20Comments%20Received%201.24.22-2.21.222.pdf

No answer in sight: As one can see if they review these resources, there exists conflict between allowing for homeless encampments sites in the midst of lack of unaffordable housing in the area (per Kitsap county). There is the desire to ensure safety for the residents of Port Orchard, but the city's Mayor has little influence except through the court system, according to the article. The Veteran's Park, run by the county, sits within Port Orchard city limits. The Mayor of Port Orchard cannot enforce eviction since the county makes the rules for the park and the county has allowed concessions for the encampment residents until a proposed shelter is built.  A shelter run by Kitsap County Rescue Mission has been in the planning phases, but has not been built yet which would provide a place for encampment residents to go v. remaining outside. Meanwhile, encampment residents remain amongst reports of pest infestations (rats, squirrels and rabbits) in need of basic needs. I cannot confirm that drug use is occurring, but sharps containers are being used. I cannot confirm that "100" residents live in the park, as the article suggested, above. Typically (per Anton, and my observance), the number is under 20 residents, a few of whom are moving onto to other places as we surveyed the park yesterday. These individuals are fearful, angry, ashamed, want to remain hidden and undisturbed. City residents also are upset, unable to safely use a park that was established for all in the community. 

April 2022: Medical Respite Brainstorming Session

Arise! met with NW Hospitality Founding Director (https://www.nwhospitality.org/) to discuss ways to partner with this organization to provide support to our unsheltered residents, specifically within Kitsap county. Goal: Meet with concerned community members (healthcare providers: podiatrist, nursing student, Psychiatric student) to brainstorm ideas on how to support the medical needs of our unsheltered residents. Outcome: starting small-starting with a phone tree of providers willing to be a resource to NW Hospitality as needs present themselves. Encouraging networking among each of us as needs arise. Looking for medical providers willing to provide a resource to NW Hospitality in the form of consultation for medical, mental, behavioral needs on a volunteer basis. Email arisepc2017@gmail.com if interested or ask to be added to our FaceBook page Arise Facebook Group.