Those who remain in Seattle’s ‘Jungle’ have ‘less hope their lives will change’
Jul 5, 2016, 6:25 AM | Updated: 9:55 am
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray recently interacted with "Jungle" residents. The city will not force people living in the homeless encampment out. (City of Seattle)
(City of Seattle)
The organization that has dedicated so much time to helping people who live in Seattle’s most notorious homeless camp is scaling back its efforts.
Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission planned to remove regular daytime outreach to the greenbelt dubbed the “Jungle” by July 1, according to spokesperson Torie Rynning.
“We have scaled back, yes because at this point we’ve made contact with 99 percent of folks anywhere from five to 10 times each and are familiar with their unique situations,” Rynning wrote to 成人X站 Radio.
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The Mission increased its outreach effort in the Jungle after city and state officials announced they would begin efforts to start clearing the massive encampment. A deadline was originally announced but then rescinded as Seattle Mayor Ed Murray admitted that clearing out the Jungle would be a long process — completely clearing it out may be near impossible. Since the deadline was removed, reports have come in of people returning to the area.
The Mission began scaling back more than two weeks ago, sending people into the Jungle three days per week instead of five.
“As of Friday, the plan is to remove the regular daytime outreach and resume our typical two nights a week of search-and-rescue efforts, which we’ve been doing for the last several years,” Rynning wrote.
The Mission will continue helping the people who are in the process of securing housing. There are about nine people on that list.
“We are committed to working with them closely no matter how frequent or long that takes,” Rynning said.
The Mission has also started hosting barbecues in other encampment areas where people formerly living in the Jungle have relocated. The BBQs will be used as an outreach method while also feeding people and providing supplies.
Over five weeks, Mission workers and service providers contacted 338 people, according to a June 24 report. A total of 64 people accepted offers of housing, shelter, services, and/or relocation assistance.
The outreach team, according to the report, estimates it contacted or engaged 99 percent of the people living in the Jungle. About 90 percent of those people are struggling with substance abuse, according to the report. Of the people contacted, 21 entered recovery programs, which includes housing.
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“The predominant issue affecting the ability of those living in the EDGE [Jungle] to accept offers of housing, shelter, and services is addiction,” the report states. Heroin is the principal substance involved.
The Mission estimates about 75 percent (about 250 people) have left the Jungle in the past five weeks; 31 people have moved in or returned, according to the report.
The report ends by noting: “While the majority of the original population has either been helped or has moved on, those who remain are clearly more resistant and have less hope their lives can change.”
