PORT TOWNSEND — Residents of a homeless encampment behind the Department of Social and Health Services building on Evans Vista were given until 5 p.m. Monday to vacate the premises.
The process comes after a Jefferson County judge denied a resident’s request on Friday to place a temporary restraining order on the city until housing, shelter or a sanctioned camping site could be established.
Superior Court Judge Brandon Mack denied Michele Goodwin’s request, saying he did not see legal grounds.
At the encampment on Monday, Port Townsend Police Chief Thomas Olson said 5 p.m. would mark the end of the 24-hour notice signs posted Sunday.
The main cleanup will take place on Thursday, Olson said.
In the meantime, a process will occur before trespassing or arresting the residents, he said.
That process, which will begin today, will first involve making contact with the residents. Residents will be given what Olson called a reasonable amount of time to vacate the premises. Then they will be given a criminal citation and trespassed or arrested if they remain beyond the reasonable timeframe, he added.
Olson said the police department will be flexible on timing to avoid confrontation with protesters, if a protest should arise.
Damian Hodges, previously identified as Damian Eldritch, one of six residents still on site Monday, said that while he would like to protest and resist his removal from the property, when the moment arrives, he is likely to comply.
The city has been cordial in the way it’s handled the situation, he said.
“To be homeless means that you are searching for a home all the time,” Hodges said. “They say home is where the heart is, it is where your heart can beat and it doesn’t bother yourself or anyone else.”
Hodges said he could never imagine being mad at someone for being homeless.
Resident Janna Hall, 71, said she was disappointed in the city of Port Townsend for evicting residents without ensuring an alternative location.
She was packing up her belongings Monday and said her task was not insurmountable. She said she is moving into a studio apartment in Portland, Ore., where she has lived previously.
“It’s kind of a problem, (the city) didn’t really give anybody a place to go,” Hall said. “They had suggestions, but none of it was substantial.”
Resident Aaron Speer was urgently working on deconstructing his infrastructure Monday afternoon. He needed more time, he said.
Speer has lived in the encampment with his partner for multiple years. He doesn’t know where they will go, he said.
Service providers also were on the site Monday. Bayside Housing and Services and Believe In Recovery both had tables set up at the south side of Evans Vista.
Believe In Recovery officials said they were offering on-site intake for case management and were offering bins to residents to store their belongings. Also, the nonprofit was offering to buy residents bus tickets.
Lead case manager Alicia Reynolds said the organization would purchase bus tickets for two residents who were going to Anaheim, Calif.
“I’m not saying that’s a perfect solution, but it is an option,” Reynolds said. “We also have a truck if they need help moving their belongings to another location.”
Believe In also would purchase a ticket for Hall or drive her and her belongings to Portland, if needed.
Also on site we’re members of Discovery Behavioral Healthcare’s REAL Team and employees from Jefferson County Public Health.
Potluck in the Parking Lot had a bake sale on the sidewalk near the encampment, raising money to purchase needed items for the residents. They sold items donated from Marina Cafe, Unholy Bagels, Crusty Crumb and home bakers.
In September, the city announced its intention to remove the camp on Nov. 3, citing public health, environmental health, consistency in code enforcement and increased law enforcement calls, among other reasons.
In spite of a notable outcry from the public across multiple public meetings, and requests from service providers not to stop the removal entirely but to extend the timeline until a suitable alternative or housing could be found for the encampment’s residents, the city stuck to its schedule.
The Port Townsend City Council passed an interim ordinance on Oct. 27 modifying the process required to approve permits, such that those applying for a sanctioned encampment, meeting the criteria outlined in Port Townsend Municipal Code 17.62, could see expedited approval.
On Friday, the city approved a Bayside Housing permit to expand capacity for tents at Pat’s Place. Residents would need to enter case management with Bayside, officials said.
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@peninsuladailynews.com.
