Community Corner

Public Hearing on Adult Homelessness Reveals Divisive Opinions in Puyallup

Council Chambers was literally divided at the first public hearing of the Task Force on Adult Homelessness, with residents hurt by homeless on one side of the room and supporters of the Freezing Nights program on the other.

All citizens who spoke at the meeting expressed goodwill toward charity programs for the homeless, but many doubted the benefits of the local Freezing Nights program, for the surrounding community and those they serve.

“There are real people in need, who want help and are looking for a way out. Then there is the subset of leeches and predators, looking to feed their addictions,” said Michael Wilson, a 9th Ave. SW resident. “One side of this room is seeing the visible side of that population, and the other side is seeing human beings.”

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The 6-member Task Force on Homelessness represents Freezing Nights, the Puyallup Police Department, the local business community, Good Samaritan Behavioral Health and citizen volunteers. It’s convened to address public safety concerns brought to the attention of the city council through reports of drug and alcohol use in local parks, increased break-ins and other illicit activity in Puyallup. 

The group, through a city mediator, will present ideas and solutions to the Puyallup City Council for consideration later this year.

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The Freezing Nights program began in 2004, to provide shelter for those in need and fill the gap of homeless services in East Pierce County. The program runs every night November through March at 10 participating churches across Puyallup.

Homeless guests of the program go to one of two pickup locations and are transported to the host church around 7 p.m. At the church, the guests eat, play games, watch movies and sleep, according to the program's website. At 6 a.m. the next morning they are given breakfast and disperse. 

Everyone is welcome, regardless of where they’re coming from—and they aren’t required to be clean and sober. Many Freezing Nights guests opt to stick around Puyallup during the day, in order to take advantage of the Freezing Nights program the next night. Their presence has been alarming to business owners and residents, who saw an uptick in illicit activity during the last winter season.

“I come to work, around 3 p.m. most days, to find people urinating, having sex on benches and crapping on the side of businesses […] our concern is that Puyallup has become a place that isn’t healthy, or a good environment,” said Tony Gamlieli, the owner of downtown's Elite Dance Academy. “We would be more than happy to donate funds and be part of a program, but we have hundreds of mothers and children who walk to our school, and in our 22 years we’ve never had the complaints we had last season."

Gamlieli said homeless people outside the studio have threatened his students and dance families, making them fearful to come through the door.

A downtown resident who lives near the Fair’s Red Gate parking lot told the group that he’s found human feces in his yard and syringes in the bushes on more than one occasion. A South Hill resident told the group that she never visits downtown anymore, because she doesn’t feel safe there. Another resident said he believes transients burned down his yard awning and is tired of seeing beer cans in alleyways and illicit activity on park benches.

Many Freezing Nights supporters and volunteers also addressed the group and spoke of the power of kindness in action; they offered perspective on how the bad economy has changed the lives of countless people who never thought they’d be homeless before.

“I encourage all of you to come and see us work. We don’t just let them sit, eat and play games,” said one Freezing Nights coordinator and downtown resident. “When you have no services in your city, [resources like] the Puyallup Library are overwhelmed. We need the community to not shun and degrade these people, but help us help them.”

Many pointed out that the program only exists for 5 months out of the year, while homelessness is a year-round problem.

“The elephant in the room is that there is no place for homeless people to exist that’s safe and doesn’t interfere with neighborhoods or disrupt the business community, or put pressure on public places,” said Freezing Nights program coordinator Ted Brackman. 

Some suggested that Freezing Nights give their guests breathalyzer tests before allowing them into the program, but supporters cited of the power of the philosophy, “come as you are.”

“Churches do not give breathalyzers and drug tests before services on Sunday,” said one Freezing Nights coordinator.

Between now and the next public hearing on July 25, the Task Force on Homelessness will meet three to four times to discuss the testimony and brainstorm options, which will eventually take the form of a recommendation to the city council.

The community is invited to learn more about the Task Force on the City of Puyallup website: http://www.cityofpuyallup.org/home/city-puyallup-task-force-on/

What is the solution to adult homelessness in Puyallup? Tell us in the comments. 


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