Dear Mayor Durkan,
As you know, The Whittier Heights Tiny Village, allowing open drug usage at the 8300 block of 15th Avenue NW in Ballard, has been operating in our neighborhood since July of 2018. It is operated by LIHI (Low Income Housing Institute), and they have amassed quite a public land grab and massive tax payer revenue since its inception. They have done very little to get vulnerable residents back on their feet, and instead are keeping these women oppressed, dependent on drugs and alcohol, and unable to move forward and create new lives for themselves and their families. All women deserve better in 2019.
LIHI has been less than transparent about their success rates, and when pushed, numbers magically improve. What they have done well, however, is accumulate massive amount of assets during this crisis. 2017 nor 2018 have yet to be publicly filed which should be of major note and created a state of infighting over the power and resources allotted to them, all of which do nothing to improve the lives of those they are supposed to be serving.
They’ve nearly doubled their assets from 2012 to 2016, going from $52 million to a staggering $94 MILLION DOLLARS
Source: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943155150
Whittier Heights, like most all of LIHI’s villages, allows for open drug and alcohol use (aka “low barrier”), but drug use is not allowed in its own public spaces. Therefore, the neighborhoods where these villages are put in have dealt with the dire negative impacts of the villages as the women and men must leave the villages to do their drugs in the surrounding neighborhoods, leaving needles, pipes and debris on sidewalks, parks and schools.
Crime goes up substantially around the neighborhoods, in most cases, at least 130%. In Whittier Heights/Crown Hill, we’ve seen a huge increase in prostitution, pimps, open drug dealing, open drug usage, camps set up on sidewalks, in our parks, on our ballfields, needle debris, residential burglaries, graffiti, RV’s, and more. The residents of these villages are also at increased risk for assault and harm, Our police are critically understaffed, and the criminals are taking advantage of this on a daily basis. The police confirm this, the businesses confirm this, and the residents are all living this.
This Village is also within blocks of our major schools such as Ballard High School, Whittier Heights Elementary, Loyal Heights Elementary and Whitman Middle School. We must and can do better for all.
The City is failing our unsheltered, and is failing it’s housed residents. We are signing this petition to demand that Whittier Heights to be closed immediately. We are demanding our city to focus its time, attention and money on services and providers that have real outcome based solutions to get people clean, and on their feet. This provider is not, and has never been, one that has enough of the good outcomes our city so desperately needs during a state of emergency.
We, the undersigned, are asking for our neighborhood, schools and parks to be safe for our children and residents. We, the undersigned, are asking our Mayor to stop funding organizations that clearly have little positive outcome for those they are intended to help, and having horrific negative impact in the communities in which they set up. We the undersigned are asking the city to redistribute funds to organizations like Mary’s Place that help women and children get back on their feet, and invest in treatment programs to ensure these women are safe from lives of addiction, prostitution, rape and assaults.
Please act swiftly, Mayor Durkan. Our city needs you.
Sincerely,
Your North Ballard, Crown Hill, Whittier Heights, Loyal Heights, Blue Ridge, North Beach Resident and Business Community Members
Sources:
- https://q13fox.com/2018/07/18/data-says-crime-rate-went-up-by-103-in-a-two-city-block-radius-of-a-tiny-home-village-in-north-seattle/
- https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943155150
- https://sccinsight.com/2017/02/24/council-fails-hold-hsd-accountable/
- https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/gates-are-padlocked-at-seattles-homeless-tiny-house-villages-as-dispute-escalates/
- https://mynorthwest.com/1328321/lihi-nickelsville-ends-relationship/?
Updates
May 28, 2019
Seeing this much energy build up around the situation at the 15th Avenue site is honestly kind of shocking but also feels totally right. I mean people are finally looking at these financial records and the lack of transparency from LIHI and it feels like we might actually get some real answers about where all that money is going now that so many of you are paying attention.
Reached 100 supporters
May 28, 2019
47 Comments
The crime and needles along MARY Ave by Safeway is unacceptable. I don’t feel safe in my neighborhood. Let police enforce the law and prosecute crime!!
I live a bit further north, but agree Seattle needs to find and implement more effective solutions to rampant drug use, property crime (most likely related to drug use), and criminal negligence of the health and safety of those they claim they are trying to help. Anyone who thinks encampments like the one referenced is doing anything good for the residents is blind, stupid, or both.
I live in loyal heights and worry when my home will be hit next. I read about thefts and break ins daily on neighborhood blogs. Shopping at Safeway has become stressful. This is primarily a residential area except for the businesses on 15th. Drug and alcohol tolerance is unacceptable.
I have lived in this neighborhood since 1985. It used to be a safe place for my kids to play in Baker Park, which we helped build. It used to be a safe place to walk or ride bikes to school. It isn't safe anymore. Now when my grandchildren come to visit, we stay in the house or play in our fenced yard. This is just no way for anyone to live.
I agree that the organizations mentioned appear to do little to end homelessness. They are enabling it and this is not fair either to the homeless or the rest of the neighborhood.
I was in the Safeway store when a violent and angry man (unkempt and obviously homeless) verbally attacked everyone in sight. He entered the store 3 times and was sent out by the staff. On his third departure he picked up a large planted pot and threw it in the street at the traffic. This happend about mid May. When if ever are we going to enforce basic laws and rules that keep the majority of our citizens safe? The Safeway store at 85th & 5th N.W. Where the homeless are camped and supposedly police presence has been increased! No police visible
This city is going down thanks to you, your cronies and city council! You forget, you all are serving the citizens of Seattle, not your own special interests! We ask that you DO something about the drugs, the criminals and city tent living!
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Dear Mayor Durkan,
As you know, The Whittier Heights Tiny Village, allowing open drug usage at the 8300 block of 15th Avenue NW in Ballard, has been operating in our neighborhood since July of 2018. It is operated by LIHI (Low Income Housing Institute), and they have amassed quite a public land grab and massive tax payer revenue since its inception. They have done very little to get vulnerable residents back on their feet, and instead are keeping these women oppressed, dependent on drugs and alcohol, and unable to move forward and create new lives for themselves and their families. All women deserve better in 2019.
LIHI has been less than transparent about their success rates, and when pushed, numbers magically improve. What they have done well, however, is accumulate massive amount of assets during this crisis. 2017 nor 2018 have yet to be publicly filed which should be of major note and created a state of infighting over the power and resources allotted to them, all of which do nothing to improve the lives of those they are supposed to be serving.
They’ve nearly doubled their assets from 2012 to 2016, going from $52 million to a staggering $94 MILLION DOLLARS
Source: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943155150
Whittier Heights, like most all of LIHI’s villages, allows for open drug and alcohol use (aka “low barrier”), but drug use is not allowed in its own public spaces. Therefore, the neighborhoods where these villages are put in have dealt with the dire negative impacts of the villages as the women and men must leave the villages to do their drugs in the surrounding neighborhoods, leaving needles, pipes and debris on sidewalks, parks and schools.
Crime goes up substantially around the neighborhoods, in most cases, at least 130%. In Whittier Heights/Crown Hill, we’ve seen a huge increase in prostitution, pimps, open drug dealing, open drug usage, camps set up on sidewalks, in our parks, on our ballfields, needle debris, residential burglaries, graffiti, RV’s, and more. The residents of these villages are also at increased risk for assault and harm, Our police are critically understaffed, and the criminals are taking advantage of this on a daily basis. The police confirm this, the businesses confirm this, and the residents are all living this.
This Village is also within blocks of our major schools such as Ballard High School, Whittier Heights Elementary, Loyal Heights Elementary and Whitman Middle School. We must and can do better for all.
The City is failing our unsheltered, and is failing it’s housed residents. We are signing this petition to demand that Whittier Heights to be closed immediately. We are demanding our city to focus its time, attention and money on services and providers that have real outcome based solutions to get people clean, and on their feet. This provider is not, and has never been, one that has enough of the good outcomes our city so desperately needs during a state of emergency.
We, the undersigned, are asking for our neighborhood, schools and parks to be safe for our children and residents. We, the undersigned, are asking our Mayor to stop funding organizations that clearly have little positive outcome for those they are intended to help, and having horrific negative impact in the communities in which they set up. We the undersigned are asking the city to redistribute funds to organizations like Mary’s Place that help women and children get back on their feet, and invest in treatment programs to ensure these women are safe from lives of addiction, prostitution, rape and assaults.
Please act swiftly, Mayor Durkan. Our city needs you.
Sincerely,
Your North Ballard, Crown Hill, Whittier Heights, Loyal Heights, Blue Ridge, North Beach Resident and Business Community Members
Sources:
- https://q13fox.com/2018/07/18/data-says-crime-rate-went-up-by-103-in-a-two-city-block-radius-of-a-tiny-home-village-in-north-seattle/
- https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943155150
- https://sccinsight.com/2017/02/24/council-fails-hold-hsd-accountable/
- https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/gates-are-padlocked-at-seattles-homeless-tiny-house-villages-as-dispute-escalates/
- https://mynorthwest.com/1328321/lihi-nickelsville-ends-relationship/?
Updates
May 28, 2019
Seeing this much energy build up around the situation at the 15th Avenue site is honestly kind of shocking but also feels totally right. I mean people are finally looking at these financial records and the lack of transparency from LIHI and it feels like we might actually get some real answers about where all that money is going now that so many of you are paying attention.
Reached 100 supporters
May 28, 2019
47 Comments
Let's be clear: It's the "Low Barrier" aspect of these encampments that's make them unwanted/unworkable.
The crime and needles along MARY Ave by Safeway is unacceptable. I don’t feel safe in my neighborhood. Let police enforce the law and prosecute crime!!
I live a bit further north, but agree Seattle needs to find and implement more effective solutions to rampant drug use, property crime (most likely related to drug use), and criminal negligence of the health and safety of those they claim they are trying to help. Anyone who thinks encampments like the one referenced is doing anything good for the residents is blind, stupid, or both.
I live in loyal heights and worry when my home will be hit next. I read about thefts and break ins daily on neighborhood blogs. Shopping at Safeway has become stressful. This is primarily a residential area except for the businesses on 15th. Drug and alcohol tolerance is unacceptable.
I have lived in this neighborhood since 1985. It used to be a safe place for my kids to play in Baker Park, which we helped build. It used to be a safe place to walk or ride bikes to school. It isn't safe anymore. Now when my grandchildren come to visit, we stay in the house or play in our fenced yard. This is just no way for anyone to live.
I agree that the organizations mentioned appear to do little to end homelessness. They are enabling it and this is not fair either to the homeless or the rest of the neighborhood.
I was in the Safeway store when a violent and angry man (unkempt and obviously homeless) verbally attacked everyone in sight. He entered the store 3 times and was sent out by the staff. On his third departure he picked up a large planted pot and threw it in the street at the traffic. This happend about mid May. When if ever are we going to enforce basic laws and rules that keep the majority of our citizens safe? The Safeway store at 85th & 5th N.W. Where the homeless are camped and supposedly police presence has been increased! No police visible
This city is going down thanks to you, your cronies and city council! You forget, you all are serving the citizens of Seattle, not your own special interests! We ask that you DO something about the drugs, the criminals and city tent living!
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Let's be clear: It's the "Low Barrier" aspect of these encampments that's make them unwanted/unworkable.