This public/private partnership with homeless shelters needs to end

I’m boosting the signal because this particular grievous act needs a resolution, not swept under the rug.

So first some background. I’m collaborating with a loose network of homeless and immigrant activists and journalists. I’m working on my own piece with the working title, “Seattle, you don’t know who is homeless”, which I’ll post here when it’s ready.

Now on to what you’re looking at. I live on the same street as the homeless shelter the video is recorded at and witnessed all of the outdoor part of the interaction while on my way to catch a bus. I stopped out of sight and listened. The video was recorded by the person who initially confronted the security guard.

The incident started when the security guard went through the sleeping area shouting (actually shouting) “Good morning!” to all the people in the sleeping area around 7am. At the time I’m walking by, I hear one of the residents politely remind the security officer that there people back there that work nights and to please not do that again. The security guard then explodes on the guy, going for zero to whatever the fuck this is immediately. The fellow being yelled at in the video then pipes up saying something like, “no, really. That’s not a cool thing to do. Also half the neighborhood is watching now.”. As the guard turns that guy, I get the first guys attention wave my phone and point to the camera. That’s where this footage begins.

The rest, I think speaks for itself.

I’ve seen security from this shelter start actual fights with random people on the street in my neighborhood. He seems to think that it’s his job to enforce everyone’s sidewalk and parking behavior.

This guy needs to be fired for the safety of the neighborhood as well as the for the people within the shelter.

This is also part of a broader trend at all the homeless shelters in Seattle. Every person I’ve spoken to has either witnessed treatment like this or been on the receiving end. Think what you like about homeless people, but they do not deserve to be berated like this. This guy had to sleep on the streets that night for daring to ask for abuse to stop.

This video was recorded at Sea’Sha Inn, run by the Seattle Indian Center. Their office is on S. Dearborn in ID. If you’re appalled by this, please let them know.

EDIT: I forgot to include some important information. I made the post because I walked by the man being berated and asked what happened. He informed me that he spoke to management and all he got was “we will look into it” and was quickly dismissed. Yes, even after seeing the video.