What is the city doing about homeless encampments? Mayor Lund just provided an update
Bellingham is taking action toward removing a pair of large homeless camps by pursuing a lawsuit against one landowner and working with neighbors and property owners regarding another, Mayor Kim Lund told the City Council during a committee meeting Monday.
Removing the camps is a slow process, but city officials have taken several recent steps forward, Lund said as she gave an update on the status of site at Stuart and Deemer roads, and another camp near Bakerview and Northwest roads.
Both sites involve private property with several owners, she said in remarks to the council.
“While the city is responding as quickly as possible within our authority and resources, it is the private property owners who bear the primary responsibility for addressing unauthorized encampments on their land,” Lund said.
▪ City officials filed a response to a neighboring property owner’s request for summary judgment against the owner of a 20-acre camp behind Walmart at at Stuart and Deemer, where nearby residents said they feel terrorized.
▪ In addition, the city has created an “internal team” of officials to address large homeless camps and added a page about encampments at its website, Lund said.
“We are monitoring each situation closely and we are very aware of the impacts they have on area residents and businesses. We remain committed to finding long-term solutions that balance public safety, private property rights, and the well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders and/or behavioral health challenges,” Lund said.
Extra police patrols have been requested to help deter criminal activity and the city is offering technical assistance to property owners through the Police, Public Works, Planning and Legal departments, she said.
Private property owners are being encouraged to work together.
“For example, I convened a productive meeting with the property owners from the parcels impacted by the Northwest Drive and West Bakerview Road encampment, urging them to take action together to secure their properties. We participated last week in a community meeting with area residents and local businesses, whose employees are impacted, to discuss this encampment,” Lund said.
This story was originally published September 17, 2024 at 8:25 AM.
